The Seraphic System
Chapter: 97
Disclaimer: I don’t own High School Dxd or any other universe used in this story. However, all original characters, plotlines, and worldbuilding elements created in this story are my own.
(Heaven’s Aftermath)
After making sure that he was settled, and pointing him towards some quarters where he could rest, I finally made my way toward the heavenly throne. I needed to think, to process everything that had happened.
I walked up to the silver throne and promptly fell back into its embrace. Leaning back for a moment, I took a moment to enjoy the feeling of the Heavenly System’s presence.
The connection was back.
It was interesting to know that I couldn’t access the system outside of Heaven, but it did make sense.
I took a moment to reflect on what had transpired.
The Architect.
The being who I had been anticipating for so long hadn’t disappointed me by his attempt to destroy Heaven.
The fact that the Architect was the child of Angra Mainyu made sense. From the faintest memories I had of canon, he was incredibly smart and dangerous.
The attack had been massive. In truth, it was only the opponents lack of coordination and ability to work together that left us coming out so relatively unscathed.
I shaked off the sorrow that instantly shot through my bones at the word “relatively unscathed”.
Uriel… I would have to do something about that soon… his presence, the lack of thereof, was becoming more and more noticeable by the minute. I did have an idea but I wasn’t sure if it would help.
That would have to wait for now.
Gabriel's terrified face flashed through my mind.
I shook my head.
My eyes opened and multiple screens appeared around me.
The front gates of Heaven came into focus.
The pristine white expanse that formed the natural flooring of Heaven's dimensional space was stained dark with a liquid that looked like the mixture of all possible colours.
This was the result of Angels and Monsters of all kind bleeding into each other. This was the mess that had still not been cleared off.
It was a nightmare of burned corpses and hacked limbs, now only colours remember the tragedy.
There was a slight darkened hue to the front space, ashen clouds that thundered with sparks of energy.
My eyes flickered to the biggest concern I had.
Heaven’s barriers.
The barriers that had seemingly vanished for an entire hour. The defenses were present and, thankfully, apparently undamaged. The multitude of barriers that all served multiple functions were still up.
They were active now, their presence visible as they slowly pushed the hue away from Heaven’s walls.
But it raised a troubling question. How had the defenses been disabled for an entire hour? It was concerning, especially since Heaven's primary defense lyed in its barriers.
I knew it had something to do with that flesh tower and the strange Domain it had created above Heaven. The sheer amount of power, the flesh tower had produced was staggering.
Had that Domain temporarily disabled the barriers?
They hadn't been broken or even attacked. It was as if they had been confused and somehow shut off for an hour. Which meant the effect wasn't perfect or even permanent, which was a slight relief.
An option appeared in my vision, provided helpfully by the Heavenly System.
[Dimension Scan]
I tilted my head curiously.
I hadn't seen this feature before, but then again, the Heavenly System was so thoroughly and complexly designed that I still hadn't been able to go through all of its features to this day.
My finger raised and I selected the option, watching as the Heavenly System immediately begin its work. A pulse of holy energy spiked. The scan initiated across the front gates of Heaven, energy sweeping through the area to analyze what remained after the battle.
A new screen appeared, it was the same as the one projecting the front of Heaven’s boundaries but this time it showed colours that pervaded the white expanse. Making it hard to actually see beyond the staggering amount of energy present.
I knew what this was, since my chakra eyes had the same effect. It was similar to my chakra eyes, just more… powerful in a sense.
Seriously, not for the first time I had to wonder just what God was thinking when he made the Heavenly System. I would have no clue how to even start creating something like this and to my knowledge there weren't any other systems like this.
The scan began streaming across my vision as the system catalogued every trace of foreign energy that lingered in the aftermath. Multiple energy signatures appeared, each one tagged and color-coded for identification.
Golden traces of angelic power were scattered everywhere, expected given the number of Angels and Seraphs who had fought. There was an even larger amount in the sky, which was also to be expected, since that’s where my Arch-Seraphs had fought.
But mixed within them were far more concerning signatures. Crimson streaks of demonic energy crisscrossed the battlefield like infected wounds.
Dark purple traces that felt wrong just to look at. And draconic energy I'd sensed earlier, appearing as writhing black lines.
Then an alert flashed across my vision, highlighted in urgent red text:
[Alert: high concentration of Demonic energy detected]
[Alert: high concentration of Draconic energy detected]
Demonic energy…
I shifted the system's view to show me the encampments that had been erected near the gates.
A massive encampment had been set up by the titanic gates of Heaven. It was a place that had acted as a headquarters during the battle, a place where Angels could be switched out and healed with a rapid response time.
The healing tents were fifteen feet high with peaked white canvas roofs. Metal poles supported the structures. Wide arched entrances had rolled-back flaps tied with silver cord. They all held an emblem on the side, a silver symbol.
While the tents that held the deceased possessed golden embroidery and were made more lavishly.
My heart clenched at the sheer casualties there had been.
The amount of tents gave a clue as to how many had died. I had only gotten a few glimpses at the battle below but for every ten or even thirty monsters, one Angel had died. It was a good number and it made sense with how long they had been alive but it didn’t make their deaths any less enraging.
They’d be revived. But not all of their bodies would have been recovered…
My teeth clenched at that.
At least I could start working on reviving them with my new God-class magic reserves. But if there wasn’t a body or if they were too strong I wouldn’t be able to revive them.
I watched my angels at work. They were all alert, moving around doing various tasks. Many stood guard on the walls, scanning for movement beyond. Healers worked in the medical tents while others built up the camp.
The encampment itself was surprisingly well-made. Main roads cut straight through in a grid pattern, dividing the space into clear districts. Canvas tents stretched in every direction.
The scale was massive. Main roads remained packed with Angels moving between posts. Senior officers stationed at intersections directed traffic flow. Signs marked routes to different districts.
Scouting parties had been dispatched to investigate the flesh tower remnants and the large mech wreckage. The operation ran with precise mechanisms and required no additional oversight.
Angels traveled constantly between the distant silver city and the encampment, creating steady streams of movement in both directions.
In my sweep of the encampment I found Asia.
She was in one of the smaller healing tents, kneeling beside a young angel whose face was pale with blood loss. Her healing magic flickered weakly around her hands, the green light looking like a candle in the wind.
As I watched, she swayed dangerously, catching herself on the edge of the cot.
She was about to collapse.
I frowned. I didn’t know how long I had been asleep for but my angelic magic reserves weren’t fully replenished so it couldn’t have been long.
I decided that I needed to go down. I should check on everyone. It would work well as a morale boost for my children to see me resurrecting some of their siblings. And I needed to check on Jeanne specifically, she had been pretty hurt when I had last seen her.
I rose from the throne and began the journey down to the first realm of Heaven.
With a zap of light, the first realm materialized around me gradually.
I appeared at the edge of the massive encampment, my feet touching the smooth ground just outside the main perimeter.
My attire consisted of a simple kimono, my favourite type of clothing these days.
As I arrived, I only managed to take a single step forward before my presence was noticed. The effect was immediate. Angels throughout the camp noticed my presence, their movements becoming more energetic as word spread quickly through their ranks.
I could see heads turning in my direction. I smiled for a brief moment. And I was met with beaming faces. I walked through the main road, nodding to the angels I passed.
Their posture straightened despite their exhaustion, and many offered respectful bows. The atmosphere shifted from weary determination to something more hopeful.
Then I found myself crowded by overprotective Angels.
They wore flowing tunics made of silk-like fabric in deep forest greens and rich browns. The garments had long, tapered sleeves that extended past their fingertips, and the hems reached nearly to their ankles.
Embroidery decorated the edges, the edge being that of a silver thread forming leaf patterns. Their tunics were cinched at the waist with braided leather belts, and some wore lightweight cloaks that draped elegantly over their shoulders.
I had to admit I felt briefly anxious.
I was surrounded by Angels that were far older than me.
Then it vanished.
A young angel near the front stepped forward hesitantly. "Father!”
The shout drew the collective gaze. Her voice broke the spell. Suddenly angels were moving toward me from all directions, not rushing, but drawn by the simple need to be near their returned leader.
"We've been worried sick," said an older angel with silver hair, his voice steady but relieved. "When you didn't return immediately after the battle..."
“Are you hurt?” Another asked in rapid succession.
"I’ve barely slept," another added with a pout.
Another Angel, a higher rank one was slightly more composed. “We heard you had been taken and forced into a one on one fight with the Architect.”
I gave them an apologetic smile. “Sorry for worrying you. I was forced into a portal that led to the Architect’s secret pocket dimension. You needn’t worry about it, I was able to prevail.”
It was meant to lighten the mood…
Yet.
It really didn't help. I found myself being embraced from all directions as hundreds of hands suddenly tried to support me like I was some frail old man.
"Are you alright, Father?"
“If you do command it, I shall lead a legion to search him down if he had been able to escape.” The higher ranking Angel said eagerly.
“There’ll be no need for that.” I said with a feeling of warmth. “He won’t be causing problems any longer.”
“So it’s over?” Another one of my Angels asked.
“The attack from the Architect is, but I’m afraid there are larger threats behind him.” I broached the subject hesitantly.
I wasn’t sure what Michael had announced.
“The Khaos Brigade?” One questioned.
I titled my head.
“Big Brother Uriel told us.” Another Angel said.
That made me wince. I had to keep my face composed and the genuine twist of pain in my chest obscured. Still they could sense something was amiss.
I didn’t allow them to dwell on it.
“Yes. Though I don’t think they’ll make a move in the immediate future.” My eyes became cold. “And I don’t intend to allow them to do so.”
All my Angels gained a fire in their eyes.
“Elder Sister Raphael said that you captured a prisoner.” One of them said, another higher ranking Angel judging by his clothing.
“Would you like us to handle the negotiation for information, Father?” Another Angel said, a sweet smile on her face.
Yeah, somehow I didn’t believe any negotiation would be taking place.
“That won’t be necessary.” I replied. “I’ll take care of it.”
I decided to quickly change the discussion.
“That leaves the question though, how is the aftermath going?” I questioned. “I’ve been stuck sleeping within my room since I arrived back in Heaven.”
A burly angel with a scar across his cheek nodded grimly. "The cleanup has been... extensive, my Lord. We've been working around the clock. Raphael is coordinating with the elven mage Freiren.”
I could see the exhaustion on all their faces now that I was closer. Dark circles under eyes, shoulders that drooped despite their attempt to stand straight.
“Perhaps you all need a rest…”
“We’re fine.” They all beamed.
Yeah…
They definitely weren’t, but they were being oddly stubborn.
Sensinf that they wouldn’t listen, I decided to drop the matter.
"How are the wounded?" I asked, and immediately several angels began speaking at once.
“It’s slow but it’s been going well, those who were saved have mostly been stabilised to the point they can be slowly healed.” An Angel said happily.
I held up my hands gently. "You've all done well. Better than I could have hoped for,"
A small angel near the back called out, "Father, are you hurt? You look tired."
The simple concern in her voice made something in my chest tighten. These were my children, and they'd been taking care of Heaven while worrying about me.
"I'm fine," I assured them. "Just a bit sore from the battle.”
“Why aren’t you resting?” She asked.
“Why aren't you resting?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She flushed.
-{Raphael}-
Raphael rubbed her temples as she walked through the corridors.
She was exhausted.
It had been non-stop since the Architect had attacked. She had forced everyone who had fought to take a rest. Raphael herself hadn’t felt like she was worthy of a break, considering she had been relegated to merely coordinating.
The exhaustion wasn't physical, she could handle that. It was the mental drain, the constant awareness that fifty thousand angels depended on her decisions.
It had been so long since she had such a responsibility.
At least things were stable now.
The angels in the city had wanted to fight, of course.
She'd had to forbid it. Rusty fighters would've been liabilities, not assets. Better to have them man the walls and keep Heaven's essential functions running.
There were many Angels within Heaven that had been hesitant to join the Heavenly Army, but they had been quickly joined by the way. Mostly training before joining so as to not hold anyone back.
Heaven had roughly two hundred and ten thousand Angels in total. Including those in the army and not in the army.
It wasn't comparable to Heaven’s golden age and even among those that lay within the crypts or had been lost to the many wars that had been inflicted on Heaven.
The battle had brought her and all of her siblings a lot of unwanted memories.
Raphael pushed those thoughts aside. She opened the lab door, walking inside only to stop dead.
A new sight that hadn’t been within before made her pause.
A massive cannon sat in the middle of her workspace, clearly not of angelic make.
It was massive and immediately drew her fascination.
She walked up to its golden surface.
A simple note was attached: "Thank you for your hard work - Kaiel."
The tiredness vanished instantly. She found herself grinning like a child with a new toy.
Foreign construction. Unknown materials. Completely different design principles from anything Heaven produced. Her fingers itched to take it apart, to understand how it worked, what made it tick.
She sent up a quick prayer of thanks, already moving toward her tools.
-{Kai}-
Picking up on Raphael’s prayer I grinned, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
I had decided to give Raphael the cannon to study both as a reward, the Arch-Angel had a passion for studying and creating artefacts.
With all of her hard work, I knew this would cheer her up and judging by the happy prayer the Heavenly System had transmitted. I could say my assumption was correct.
I walked through the encampment.
After a while of merely spending some time with my Angel. I began making my way around the encampment.
I found Asia exactly where I'd seen her through the system, in one of the smaller healing tents, still kneeling beside a pale angel. The Angel would be fine since it seemed more like exhaustion than any life-threatening damage.
She looked up as I entered, her tired eyes widening.
"My Lord," she said, attempting to stand but swaying slightly.
I moved quickly to her side and wrapped her in a gentle hug, feeling how she trembled with exhaustion. "Asia."
"Mm-yes, my Lord?"
"I think you need some sleep," I said flatly.
An angel working nearby looked up. "My Lord, we've been trying to get her to stop for hours, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted on helping everyone first."
I looked down at the sweet girl who was definitely an angel in human form.
I smiled, though it was tinged with concern. "That sounds exactly like the Asia I know."
She tried to resist, saying she needed to help more people, but I simply hugged her gently.
Was I abusing my holy power by flooding the area with it? Yes, judging by the way her body was starting to slacken.
I could understand why she felt the need to, but she was trying to keep up with Angels. Beings who didn't need sleep, except when they were magically and physically drained. Which meant sleeping would be a chance to recover properly.
As I held her, I felt her body go limp as exhaustion finally claimed her. She'd fallen asleep standing up.
"Take her somewhere comfortable to rest," I ordered the nearby angels. "Make sure she's not disturbed."
"Yes, Father," they replied, carefully lifting Asia and carrying her toward the sleeping quarters.
That left my next objective.
I made my way through the encampment to the tent where Jeanne was being treated.
The sight inside made me pause. So many of my angels were hurt, lying on cots with various injuries. Pieces of Golden Fleece cloth were draped over the most seriously wounded, their restorative properties clearly working.
Jeanne's armor had been stripped away, revealing the extent of her injuries. Even with the healing, I could see the massive bruises and partially healed cuts covering her arms and torso.
Ares had done a real number on her.
Her eyes opened as I approached. "My Lord."
"Jeanne, how are you feeling?" I asked. "You weren't looking so good the last time I saw you."
"Much better," she said, managing to smile. "I think I might have been a bit hasty with my decision to take on a War God."
The admission was so bashfully honest that I couldn't help but be amused. "Well, you were certainly brave about it. Besides, Ares will get his judgment. Perhaps even multiple," I added with a small smile.
"I apologize for being taken out of the fight so quickly," Jeanne sighed, her face dropping.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Don't apologize. The fact you fought for Heaven was enough. You gave some much-needed time to focus on the other gods," I assured her firmly. "Besides, trust me. The battle only escalated from there. Everyone except maybe Azrael was exhausted and beaten up by the end."
She frowned.
"Were there more Gods attacking?"
"There were," I confirmed.
"I can't say I've ever been in a battle so huge and weirdly constructed," Jeanne said after falling back. "It was more like two battles."
I grinned, leaning against the bed she was lying on. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and plush, something I would expect nobility to sleep on.
She tilted her head in an adorable display of confusion. "So, I'm assuming we've won?"
The question hit me harder than expected, and I felt my expression fall. "We did, though it came with a cost."
Jeanne tensed immediately, her warrior instincts picking up on my tone.
"I'm afraid Uriel died in battle," I said, feeling a genuine stab of pain as the words left my mouth.
The color drained from Jeanne's face. Her hands gripped the edges of her cot so tightly her knuckles went white. "No... Uriel? But he's... he was..." She couldn't finish the sentence, her voice breaking.
I hated this. I had grown massively in my time within Heaven, first as a mysterious Angel and then as the King Of Heaven. But that didn't prepare me for things like this.
Heaven needed to become stronger. I needed to become stronger.
"Did anyone else die?" she asked in a whisper.
I nodded solemnly. "Many angels died as well."
She sat up despite her injuries, wincing. "You can bring them back though?"
I looked at her with mixed emotions. "Those who have been retrieved, yes. But there were some whose bodies couldn't be recovered, and as for Uriel... he's too strong to be revived right now with just my resurrection skill."
The admission felt heavy. "I'm used to battle... I'm used to losing people. But it doesn't hurt any less, especially with how many new friends I've made in Heaven."
I understood how she felt.
I nodded, sending her a blank smile.
"It won't go unpunished," I promised.
With the sadness of this situation came an anger I was familiar with. For now, I kept a tight lid on it. I didn’t want my Angels seeing the darkness that had plagued me since being reborn come to the surface.
I spent several more minutes with her, carefully checking over her wounds.
The bruising was extensive, dark purple marks across her ribs and contrasting with her unblemished skin, a nasty cut along her shoulder that was still healing.
All the while she looked at me with a strange adoring gaze.
“Are you okay?” She questioned. “You look like you’re in pain.”
I paused. "I will be. I got into a fight with the Architect and it was closer than I would have preferred," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck.
“You got into a fight with the enemy's leader?” She questioned confusedly. “Where was everyone else?”
I chuckled. “Well, that was the problem. I kind of followed him into another pocket or sub-dimension. Which left the two of us alone.”
It was poetic in a way.
Her eyes widened. “Didn’t Lord Michael or Lady Gabriel stop you?!”
“No… the battle became a lot larger at the end. The Architect was frighteningly prepared. Many Egyptian and Aztec Gods with past grudges joined the fray.” I explained.
“You went alone with the enemy's leader?” She asked, aghast.
“Yeah… it want by choice but I needed to be done.” I said darkly. “This attack couldn’t go unpunished.”
“Did you beat him?” She asked.
“I did.” I replied firmly.
She smiled softly.
I looked at her for a moment, entranced.
Then I stroked her hair which earned me a blush.
"Rest," I told her finally. "Let the healing continue its work."
She nodded and I could see the sadness in her eyes.
Jeanne was a sort of an apprentice to Uriel.
Once more I found myself clamping down on the sadness. I’d have to find a way to revive him soon.
As I stepped outside the tent, I was greeted by Remiel, one of my Seraphs. Her expression was carefully controlled, but I could see the weight of recent events in her eyes.
"My Lord," she said with a respectful bow.
“Remiel.” I said, slightly surprising. Before me a smile adorned my face. “It’s good to see you:”
Remiel beamed.
“I’m glad to see you too, Father.” Remiel said, looking relieved.
We began walking to the location where all the dead angels were.
I asked grimly, "What was the death count?"
Remiel frowned, choosing her words carefully. "The numbers, considering the scale of the attack, can be considered relatively low. The enemies relied heavily on quantity over quality, and while they were deadly, most of our siblings have lived longer than many Gods. Compared to other supernatural battles in recorded history, our losses were... manageable."
I could tell Remiel was trying to stay positive, but I needed the real numbers. "But how many died?"
Remiel sighed.
"Out of the tens of thousands of angels systematically deployed into battle, over five thousand have fallen."
My fist clenched.
That was actually a good ratio for a battle of this magnitude, especially a supernatural one. But it still didn't mean I wanted it to happen.
At least they could be revived.
That left a question I almost didn't want to ask.
"How many couldn't be recovered?" I asked after a moment.
Remiel's mood shifted noticeably. "One hundred and three. Our siblings put everything into immediately withdrawing any fallen or injured angels. It was difficult because of the sheer number of monsters, especially with them being empowered by that Domain overlapping Heaven's boundaries."
"I see."
They couldn’t be recovered.
It was a normal occurrence for the other Factions but I had never enjoyed playing fair.
We walked to the tents where the dead were kept. I looked over my fallen angels briefly, their peaceful faces a stark contrast to the violence that had claimed them.
Remiel remained beside me throughout.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"A day, Father. When Gabriel and Azrael found you, you were exhausted beyond measure. They immediately brought you back to your room." Remiel replied immediately.
"What's happened since then?" I asked seriously, slowly gazing across the Angels who had died.
"Raphael has been coordinating the aftermath efforts, organizing the wounded, debriefing survivors, and working to calm everyone down after the battle. She has also been managing supply distribution, overseeing the cleanup of the battlefield.”
I was silent for a moment, digesting the information as I thought about my next steps. "How is everyone faring?"
"As well as can be expected. Many of our siblings have experience with battles like this, though Gabriel usually handles the emotional support afterward."
Guilt twisted in my chest at that reminder.
"You needn't worry. Your presence here has already started making its effects known," Remiel smiled. "You may not realize it, but you hold a deep connection with all of us."
I felt a smile inadvertently slipping in and covering my lips..
Perhaps this would work to calm my heart and bring some joy back into Heaven.
I opened my inventory, and gold began pouring out from seemingly nowhere around me.
Remiel's eyes widened, and it didn’t take her a long time to figure out what I was planning. "Father, are you sure? You must be exhausted."
I activated my resurrection skill, feeling my recovering angelic reserves plummet again as green energy formed around me. The obscene amount of gold I'd stored vanished as I poured all my reserves into the magic.
Suddenly, thousands of angels began waking up in the death tents.
Remiel immediately sprang into action, commanding the situation as confused but joyful angels emerged.
I had to stop myself from collapsing, immediately leaving so as to not distract Remiel.
I stepped outside, feeling drained again but satisfied.
My heart lifted at seeing so many of the angels revived. The gold helped but my new God-class reserves would work wonderfully in reviving my Angels. Especially the many more gold coins that lay within the Heavenly Crypts.
"Kai," came a familiar voice.
Frieren appeared beside me.
I sat down heavily, looking up at her arrival.
"Hey."
She raised an eyebrow. "Judging by the commotion, I'm guessing you've revived some of the deceased angels?"
"I did.” I breathed. “Not sure how many, but it's a good start."
“I must admit having such an absurd spell is baffling.” Frieren idly responded.
I shrugged.
Being able to download skills from characters that existed in literal different realities would do that.
“I suppose it comes with being the reborn God King of Heaven.” She mused, then paused. "Are you sure it's wise to push yourself?" she asked, sitting next to me.
I shrugged once more. "It's worth it. Enough Angels have died. You haven’t seen the Heavenly Crypts. There are tens of thousands that would probably double or even triple Heaven’s population if revived.”
I shook my head. “And that’s only the Angels who were able to be recovered.”
She smiled. “I find your care for Angels admirable. I knew of many that wouldn’t mind using Angels as disposable golems.”
My lips tightened.
“I can’t say I made any of them. Except my twelve Angels technically. But they are all mine.” I said, the last part firmly.
I needed to find a way to empower them.
My aspirations for Heaven were large.
“I find it equally baffling that you have a spell that can create a living being with a considerable amount of power.” She said next. “I wonder how this cooldown you told me about works.”
I watched the renewed energy from the Angels around us as they rushed to greet their newly resurrected siblings walking out of the tents. Even Frieren allowed a small smile to show on her usually apathetic face.
She observed me for a moment. "So, what's the plan?"
I tilted my head.
"The plan to get back at this Khaos Brigade," she elaborated. “The organisation behind the Architect that I assumed you defeated.”
“Sealed.” I said idly.
“Sealed?”
“Yes, though I can’t say it was because of my own efforts. I used his own sealing spell against him.” I replied.
Frieren’s eyes shined. “May I study this seal at some point?”
“Of course.” I smirked lazily. "As for the plan. I guess I'll start with Ares. The Architect is sealed and I don't want to tamper with that for now." I replied thoughtfully.
It was annoying, but I couldn’t kill Ares. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. While the Olympian’s were stopping me from outright erasing him, I’d be getting my revenge.
Perhaps a battery for stronger barriers or something a bit more aggressive. I don't quite know for sure, but getting limbs cutt off must hurt. Especially small ones.
"I was able to capture one of the Gods as well, Tezcatlipoca." Frieren revealed.
I looked at her in slight surprise.
"You know how to seal?" I questioned.
"To a degree," she nodded. "It wasn't easy."
"That's good," I said, my face growing serious. "It'll make gaining information easier. And I can think of a few uses for them," I whispered darkly.
"Where is everyone else?" I asked a moment later.
"The majority are resting within your sub-dimension. The battle was large and left most of us exhausted." Frieren answered.
I nodded, thinking I should go talk to them soon as well.Our conversation began to fade as exhaustion crept back in. Before I knew it, I was lying back on the stone, my eyelids growing heavy.
When I next stirred, I found thousands of angels had quietly arranged themselves around me while I slept, creating a makeshift camp with me at the center.
They lay curled up like sleeping kittens, peaceful expressions on their faces as they rested near their returned Father.
That was how I found myself falling asleep with the fearsome armies of Heaven around me.
-Scene Break-
Zaps of light sparked around me, teleporting me back up to the Heavenly Throne.
I went to sit on the throne to continue looking through Heaven state only to pause, looking at the slightly panicked gothic Angel that stood waiting by the throne.
There was a brief moment of silence as Azrael stared at me incomprehensibly.
“Father… or should I address you as Gabriel does?” Azrael began.
“Either is fine.” I replied comfortably, sitting on my throne.
She nodded, looking awfully intimidated for someone who was far more powerful and skilled than I was.
“Is Michael or Gabriel awake?” I asked curiously.
“No, they must have been exhausted. Normally my siblings could wake up at even a shift of someone moving within the air.” Azrael admits. “It’s just the both of us.”
“I felt it when you resurrected so many of my siblings. Which was what awoke me.” She explained.
“Oh? I’m assuming you wish to speak alone?” I questioned.
After all, I imagine there was a lot to talk about.
Her gaze was firmly on my face.
“I did.” She breathed, her gaze flickered down. “I imagine you have a great many questions, I have been briefed on your situation.”
“So you know that I am not the God from the past.” I asked sharply.
She flinched. “N-no of course not, I’m sorry if I gave that impression.”
I looked at the Angel in puzzlement.
“No, I was merely making sure.” I replied, a smile blooming on my face. “I must admit it’s been rather overwhelming.”
She came forward with a shy smile, before it dimmed.
Azrael kneeled. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I asked in bewilderment.
“Abandoning Heaven when it needed me most.” She replied, tears beginning to stream from her eyes.
I frowned.
“I got so close to my duties that I shut everything out. I left my Shades to guide the souls belonging to Heaven. While I looked for a way to revive you.” She said sorrowfully. “It doesn’t excuse my absence. If you wish for me to repay with my life-“
I was next to her gothic Angel, wrapping her into a hug as I felt that connection I had with all my Angels.
“What is it with you Angels wanting death as a punishment?” I sighed amusedly.
Seriously, Yahweh didn’t seem the type to be so cruel. In fact he was kind to the point it killed him from what I knew.
She froze.
“I admit, I was surprised to see you alive.” I admitted. “Michael and Gabriel had told me of you, perhaps the strongest Angel in existence.”
“W-well, that title goes to Michael. I simply retained my empowerment due to different circumstances.” She admitted slowly.
I looked at her and found her face reddening at a rapid rate.
“In any case, I don’t blame you. It’s actually comforting to know the length you’ll go to see me back if I meet an unfortunate end in the future.” I replied.
It seriously was.
The loyalty I felt from here was insane.
I had learnt that people could hide their emotions if they tried.
“Absolutely not.” She said, her voice becoming thunderous. For a second I met the true Angel beneath her surface act. “That will not be happening again.”
Ah.
Another Gabriel.
Wonderful.
“Of course.” I replied soothingly, as if talking to a child.
She deflated, her shoulders sagging with a weight.
"How can you ever forgive me?" she whispered, gently leaning into me for comfort. "After everything I've done..."
"You came to Heaven immediately when you realized the truth, didn't you?" I said, deciding to go for a logical move.
It was more of an assumption, but her body language told me I was right. Sure enough, she nodded against my shoulder.
"That alone shows me who you really are," I said softly, stroking her dark hair slowly. "Though I'll admit, I wish you'd found your way here a few months sooner."
She pulled back slightly, her lips pursed in that way that meant she was trying not to cry. "I was so scared... and so ashamed. I thought you'd never want to see me again."
"Hey," I said gently, tilting her chin up so she'd meet my eyes. "You're here now. You chose to come home when it mattered most. That's what counts."
It was safe to say.
I had learnt how to console my rather dramatic and overprotective Angels.
A tear finally escaped down her cheek. "I missed you so much, Father. I'm sorry it took me so long to be brave enough to come back."
“I felt your presence a year ago. I-I was just too nervous to face you.” She admitted, her face turning sour. “Which I’m now wanting to hit myself over.”
I chuckled.
“That reminds me. I have two Seraphs with me, they joined me in my quest. Aziraphel and Jophiel.” Azrael suddenly announced.
I grinned.
One Super-class and two Seraphs certainly would add to Heaven’s power.
“It’s good to have you now.” I commented. “I’m sure the ending of that battle would have been completely different without you.”
Azrael’s face soured. “Yes, that nuisance of a Dragon. While I’m sure Michael and the other Dragon could have won. I can’t say I didn’t enjoy putting it in its place.”
She looked at me, still in my arms with a serious look.
“The Architect was part of the Khaos Brigade right?” She said, surprising me with her knowledge.
“Yes, did Michael tell you?” I asked.
“No.” She shook her head. “Michael captured the Architect’s assistant.”
“That makes another of the captured bunch we managed to obtain.” I commented.
“Another?” Azrael questioned.
“Yes, Frieren, an Elf that is a part of Heaven, managed to capture the Aztec God, Tezcatlipoca. While I managed to capture Ares.” I replied with a nod.
“An Aztec God and a Greek God?” She frowned deeply. “That’s troubling, it seems this Khaos Brigade has its roots growing far. I’ve never heard of it.”
“Do you interact with other Gods often?”
“No, not anymore. But I thought I would have heard of such a thing being formed in my attempts to find a way to revive you.” Azrael said thoughtfully.
“What did you do with the Architect’s assistant in any case?” I asked, wondering where they had put him.
Azrael gave me a cold smile.
“He’s been dealt with, his information was limited.” Azrael replied.
Ah.
Oh well.
“What did you manage to glean?” I asked.
“Just a few locations, my Shades are currently scouring the place.” Azrael replied.
“Your Shades?”
Her eyes lit up.
“Ah, they are constructs akin to the reapers of the Greek Death God. But they are non-physical. They act on my behalf to collect souls.”
“I see, that was the being that found me?” I questioned curiously.
“Yes. One of many.” Azrael replied enthusiastically.
“How many do you have?” I found myself asking.
She smiled.
“Around one hundred thousand.” She said innocently.
“…”
“That’s a lot…”
“Yeah… but they can’t do anything beyond collecting souls and finding things.” She replied. “They take quite a few souls to make.”
“You use souls?” I asked in surprise.
“Only the souls of the pure bad. The souls that would go into the deepest Depths of the underworld.” She replied blankly. “It’s the least they can do for being worthless.”
I found myself agreeing.
“So souls are good for creation?” I asked.
I was curious about why souls were used as energy. There must be something special.
“They are, souls possess a Primordial spark so to speak. Akin to Faith energy that Gods covet so much. Not much is known, but the older you get the more powerful that soul becomes. Like fruits.” She said excitedly. “In a sense anyway. You… or well, the you before gave me the ability to use them instead of letting them go to a… old enemy.”
That last part caught my full attention.
“The demons?”
“Indeed.” Was all she said.
We continued speaking for what turned out to be an hour before I decided I had other matters to attend to.
By the end, Azrael was looking at me with a dazzling smile and bright eyes. She looked as if a weight had been removed from her and a facial expression that didn’t match the gothic look she was going for was firmly set in place.
“Is it okay if I stayed with you?” She asked hesitantly.
I blinked.
“Sure.” I smiled.
It would be good to have someone guard me for the next task I had in mind.
My next course of action.
Checking on the church and speaking with Pope Hadrian.
-{Percy Jackson}-
Percy grinned wolfishly as he arrived back at Camp-Half blood.
It had been so long.
He felt like a different person.
Well, not in terms of personality but his sheer knowledge of the world that had taken over his life had expanded beyond belief. His training at Atlantis had been productive.
Atlantis had been interesting, but he couldn’t say that it felt as homely as camp half-blood did.
He shook his head, adjusting his sword.
He thought about what had happened at the end of the divine quest.
Turns out Kai knew Hestia… like, personally.
His friend being an Angel had apparently been one of the more tame things about the chaotic life of Kai.
Hestia had taken him down to Atlantis, bypassing the laws set that stopped Poseidon from helping his son. Turns out there was nothing stopping another God from doing so.
Once down there, he had only met the man that was his Father briefly.
Before a residence was set up for him and one of his other sons had taken up his training…
It had been strange.
Atlantis was quite literally a city underwater.
It had been an abrupt adjustment and he had found himself missing home. But there was a reason he had agreed to it when Kai and Hestia had spoken about what to do with him.
He huffed.
As if he was even half as chaotic as Kai!
Well… maybe a bit.
But Percy had known he needed to grow strong.
He had learnt Kai was mostly right even if he was a bit cynical sometimes. So when he said chaotic times were ahead, Percy had been a good friend and nodded his head.
So a year had been arranged.
A single year where he would be able to be trained.
And training it had been.
It was perhaps the most gruelling experience he had ever had. It didn’t help that he couldn’t help talk shit to pass the time, resulting in beatings disguised as training.
Despite that, his water control had become downright frightening and his power had risen exponentially. His physical ability had shot up under the times when he had been forced to resist highly pressurised water.
Then he had been tasked with controlling said water, which wasn’t easy. In doing so he had gained an understanding of water that had made him quite the force. Along with his rising magical energy.
Even Triton had been pretty impressed… it didn’t help that he kept beating his ass though.
His older brother had mostly been amused.
Coming around to speak trash and then beat him into the ground every month.
His training had been overseen by one of his subordinates that technically wasn’t a part of Atlantis as to be careful with the laws regarding helping Demi-God children.
Percy shook his head, clearing his thoughts.
He stepped into camp.
Percy shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He stepped into camp.
"Percy!"
The voice hit him before he even fully processed who it belonged to.
Annabeth came sprinting across the camp grounds, her blonde curls bouncing as she practically launched herself at him. He barely had time to brace himself before she collided with him in a bone-crushing hug.
"Annabeth!" He laughed, spinning her around once before setting her down. "Looks like I’m not the only one who’s gotten stronger." He commented, feeling her firm grip.
"Look who's talking, Seaweed Brain," she said, stepping back to examine him with those calculating gray eyes. "You look... different.“
He grinned. “I’d hope so.”
“Did your training go well?” Annabeth questioned immediately, stepping forward.
“Extremely well. I can’t say it was enjoyable but the benefits have been rewarding.” Perry replied. “Then again, a year of getting beaten up by your godly older brother will do that.”
“Oh?” Her eyes gleamed. “Which one was it?”
“Ah, Triton.” He said, pausing at the focus that flickered in on him before vanishing. “He occasionally came round, my actual training was led by some sort of octopus dude. A lot stronger than he looked.”
She giggled.
“That’s such a you thing to say. So tell me, did you get to meet your dad?” She questioned.
“Ah, well. Not for long. I couldn’t interact with him lest we break the rules.” He admitted quietly.
Annabeth’s smiles dimmed slightly.
“Anyways, enough of me. What have you been doing?” Percy asked.
“Oh, not much unfortunately…” Annabeth said thoughtfully.
“Really?”
Annabeth hesitated.
“Well, I went with my family to a church…”
Percy hummed. “I thought you didn’t like your family?”
“It’s complicated.” She huffed. “Anyways… it got attacked by monsters.”
They walked into the main area of the lively camp, all the while talking about what they had been up to. Right until Chiron caught their attention.
The Centaur left one of the large buildings, his face abnormally grim. The Centaur’s face was practically etched with worry and a solemn expression.
“Chiron?” Percy called.
Chiron paused, his eyes wide.
“Percy.” Chiron said, inclining his head. “It’s good to see you my boy.”
“Welcome back to camp.” He said, trying to smile and yet failing miserably.
“What’s wrong?” Percy asked seriously.
Chiron’s tail swished anxiously.
He hesitated.
“There’s been a development.” He shook his head. “The fates are truly cruel. To do this just as you returned as well.”
Percy felt a growing dread.
“What happened?” Annabeth asked.
He took a breath.
“Two Nights ago.” Chiron began. “Lady Artemis vanished while on a solo hunt. She had been looking into a serious matter according to her lieutenant, Zoe Nighshade. Who managed to send a brief message through an Iris-message. Before she too vanished…”
Annabeth looked shocked.
“Vanished?”
A Major Goddess didn’t just vanish.
-{Kai}-
I held out my hand, Azrael grabbing it as we went to teleport down to the church.
Suddenly, a foreboding sensation filled me. Making me pause.
-END-