The Seraphic System
Chapter: 102
Disclaimer: I don't own High School DxD or any other universe used in this story. However, all original characters, plotlines, and world-building elements created in this story are my own.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(The Prison In Ice)
For a moment we all stared at the massive black structure in the distance.
The only sound around us consisted of the harsh bellowing of frigid air. The barren wasteland of frost spread out with no end, only the vague silhouettes of mountains made of ice showing more than a flat icy land.
A glance up revealed that the sky was a dark void, making the place seem even more strange. With the absence of a light source, it made me wonder where the light was coming from.
My Angels fanned around me, evidently feeling comfortable as my holy power caused a wave of visible power that fought with the ice of Cocytus in a show of steam.
I took in the sight of the abandoned prison curiously.
There was a lack of windows or well anything beyond its walls, almost making it look like it had been moulded from clay.
"Can you sense anyone?" I asked after a moment, my question directed to Azrael.
Azrael stepped forward, her expression turning serious. "No. I can't sense anyone but I still think it would be prudent to scout ahead before we approach."
"As we discussed." Michael nodded seriously. "It's best we don't take risks if we already suspect that this organisation has broken into it."
"Do you intend on using your shades?" I questioned her.
Azrael nodded. "They'll be able to enter through the front gate and check relatively unharmed."
She paused.
"With your permission of course." She finished, staring at me.
I blinked.
"Go ahead."
She beamed, briefly ruining her gothic look before she turned, raising her hand.
Which summoned dark forms that began to materialise around her.
"Can they enter?" I asked curiously. "Since Cocytus is meant to be heavily defended right?"
"Through the front gate," Azrael confirmed. "There's a lock on the front gate but it's the entrance that you have to worry about. With my authority with them, they'll be able to enter freely."
Dozens of wraith-like figures emerged from the shadows, their forms barely visible against the ice. Then they promptly disappeared into the grey landscape.
I watched the Shades fly towards a certain structure positioned on a massive pillar that connected to the main structure. The pillar jutted out at an odd angle and seemed unconventional for an entrance.
It was at that moment that I couldn't see an actual entrance to the massive fortress. As the first shade approached the entrance, a sudden red glow erupted from the doorway, pulsing against the void that served as a sky.
'Appraisal.'
[The Prison Within The Ice]
[Description:A fortress carved from Empowered Glacestone that serves as both the primary containment facility and a foothold for Heaven.
The prison operates as a vertical gateway system, with each floor corresponding to a different level of Cocytus.
[Empowered Glacestone]
A supernatural building material created by compressing millennia of accumulated despair and suffering into crystallised ice.
Glacestone appears as a deep black stone with veins of frozen azure running through it like trapped lightning. The material naturally absorbs heat and light
This material is being empowered.
Empowered Glacetone?
With interest, my eyes twinkled and everything sharpened beyond the already supernatural senses I possessed. The moment my Rinnegan activated, the world exploded into hues of colours I normally couldn't see.
Massive streams of power were flowing around the prison like rivers of energy, creating an intricate web of barriers and defences. The sheer amount of magical force protecting the area was staggering, layers upon layers of containment spells.
The ice was powerful and dangerous. I had to wonder just how it was formed.
A quiet sound of surprise broke me out of my focus.
"Father?" Michael's voice held confusion. "Your eyes..."
I turned to see both Michael and Azrael staring at me with raised eyebrows, looking clearly surprised. The concentric circles and tomoe patterns of the Rinnegan were clearly visible. Something I could see with a brief reflection being shown on the ice below.
At that moment I realised I hadn't told them of my new physical change.
Which made their following reactions predictable.
"Kaiel?" Azrael said, tilting her head. "What's happening with your eyes?"
Michael looked puzzled. "I've never seen that before. Is that... normal?"
"Did something change?" Azrael asked, glancing around briefly.
Naturally, the legion of Angels around me weren't blind or deaf. And they all turned to me with curious looks, their attention focused on my eyes.
I cut him off, holding back a slight smile at their reactions.
"Relax," I said calmly, allowing the Rinnegan to fade back to normal. "Nothing's wrong. It's an ability I developed. A new technique that provides enhanced perception."
That was the best explanation I was able to come up with. They had seen me develop all sorts of abilities by now, so Michael was accustomed to it at the very least.
What followed was a more in depth explanation of what it was and how they operated. There was a brief silence as we waited for the wraiths' report on the scan of Cocytus.
Azrael seemed to be deep in thought.
"So I've been meaning to ask, what exactly is Cocytus?" I asked. I gestured toward the prison, then looked around at the desolate landscape.
I hadn't had a chance to read up on it in the library.
Michael blinked.
"Since the prison is kinda referred to Cocytus and the entire realm we're standing in is referred as the same." I explained my confusion.
Michael paused, considering his words carefully.
The legion of Angels gathered closer, clearly interested in the discussion.
"Cocytus is the realm, but the prison has been here for just as long. And the prison is widely known to use the ice of Cocytus itself as its foundations. The walls you see are just there to stop others from using the prison." Michael explained. "Hence they are one and the same. Especially with its reputation."
"It's more complex than a simple prison," Azrael added, her attention split between our conversation and monitoring her shades. "Cocytus exists beneath the deepest layer of the Dimensional Gap's shadow side. Even Father back then didn't know how it came to be-"
Azrael suddenly stiffened, dark forms returning like wisps of smoke that circled her briefly before dissolving back into shadow. The shades faded out of view.
"How is it looking?" I asked immediately.
Her expression grew contemplative. "The prison appears to be empty of any beings not trapped in its confines." She paused, frowning. "But something feels wrong about the whole place."
Michael stepped forward. "A trap?"
"Possibly," Azrael replied. "Or something worse. There are lingering energy signatures... that are chaotic. There's definitely been an attempt made by a powerful being to do… something. Primarily at the main entrance."
I considered our options for a moment.
"Do you still wish to enter?" Michael questioned dutifully.
We could retreat and gather more intelligence, but that would mean leaving potential threats unaccounted for. I wasn't one to shy away from danger.
If enemies of Heaven had been released from Cocytus, we needed to know.
"We're going in," I decided.
Michael tensed.
"But carefully." I added.
The legion of Angels around us shifted into a combat formation without needing direct orders. It was from there that we took flight.
We shifted mid-air and toned our flight down so the massive legion behind us could fly protectively around us.
While it might appear insignificant, the empowerment had pushed every angel firmly into the high-class tier or elevated them within it. If they coordinated together to create even a simple barrier, they could easily deflect an attack from a powerful god-class being.
We approached the entrance.
The red glow from the doorway pulsed more intensely as we drew closer, casting eerie shadows across our faces.
As we reached the entrance itself, I felt compelled to activate my Rinnegan again. The world sharpened and immediately I could see the massive residue of power lingering in the air like smoke from a recent fire.
Azrael apparently could see it too as she followed streams of energy that only we could see.
We both came to the same conclusion.
"There's been a large amount of power used here," I said, studying the energy patterns. "As you said there's been a massive assault on the front entrance specifically."
Azrael nodded, her own senses confirming what I was seeing. "Yes, but strangely enough, the prison managed to repel what was clearly a serious heavy hit to its defenses. Because the defensive barriers are still fine, they definitely didn't succeed."
Michael frowned, looking around at the intact entrance. "Then how did they get in? The Egyptians were definitely sealed in here. Which means some breach had to have been made."
I hummed in thought.
"Perhaps that strange device that temporarily disabled the barriers at the front of Heaven?" I questioned.
"Perhaps." Azrael considered. "But I can't sense the same type of power that strange structure emitted. And I doubt there're many of them just lying around. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a one-time use structure as well."
That made sense. I had been more than a little bit worried about more of such a thing existing. Despite my respite, the questions of its origin still clouded my mind. As talented as the Architect had been, it seemed way above his level.
Azrael's nose scrunched as she caught a familiar scent on the frigid air. "That dragon was here."
I paused. "Azi Dahaka?"
"Yes," she confirmed. "This happened a while ago though. The signature is faint but unmistakable."
Michael's expression darkened considerably.
The evil dragon's involvement explained a lot about the scale of possible destruction we were sensing.
"It wasn't just him though," Azrael added, still analyzing the residual energy. "There was another potent signature. Something equally powerful."
"Azi Dahaka showed he had the ability to use space magic." I commented, mostly to see if the others had any inclination as to if that would help.
"If someone equally as powerful as him was here. They could have done a pinned assault. With one of them attacking with all their power and making the barrier focus on them." Michael said thoughtfully.
"With a mixture of space magic and forbidden rituals without caring about the backlash." I continued. "Is it possible he used that combination to temporarily breach the prison?"
Azrael nodded slowly. "They could have used a large frontal assault to focus the barriers' energy on one point, then used spatial magic to punch through at another position with a concentrated surge of power. The barriers are powerful, but there's only so much they can do when undefended and under coordinated attacks."
I made a mental note about the tactic. It can prove to be useful for later.
Not wasting any time, we passed through the entrance into the prison.
The interior was even more imposing than the outside suggested. Massive corridors carved from the same material as the walls stretched out before us, with frozen cells lining the walls.
The temperature was brutally cold. Even with my holy power providing protection to the Angels, we still experienced a level of cold that was uncomfortable.
Yet we definitely weren't suffering from its worst.
Bodies were visible in many of the cells, prisoners frozen solid in blocks of ice. Their expressions were frozen with them. Condemning their faces with eternal suffering, eyes wide with terror or rage.
"Lower level criminals," Azrael explained, noticing my gaze. "Weaker beings that didn't require true ensealment. Heaven used to be active in capturing those with bad intentions."
Interesting.
I had to wonder what the supernatural world used to look like.
"Where would the Egyptian Gods have been held?" I asked.
"Higher levels." Azrael gestured toward a massive spiraling staircase built directly into the glowing ice. "Even with the danger posed by them, since they had already been sealed we mistakenly thought they wouldn't be an issue."
"My Lord," Azrael said, her voice heavy with regret as she bowed her head. "I must apologize profoundly for this oversight. The security protocols were my responsibility to oversee and I failed in that duty."
Michael stepped forward, his expression pained. "Father, the blame is mine as well. I should have anticipated that someone with the right resources and knowledge could breach even sealed containment."
"Relax." I said, placatingly. "I'm sure it wasn't a priority considering Heaven's position. We will have to make sure it doesn't happen again. Perhaps you could oversee Cocytus Azrael."
They both beamed and I resisted the urge to laugh.
They had such childish tendencies sometimes.
"Maybe I'll create an Arch-Angel to help you all out." I joked.
They both looked at me like I had killed their puppy.
We descended the staircase, our footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence.
The ice grew darker as we went deeper, the veins of frozen azure becoming more pronounced.
Only a level down, we emerged into a hallway and I found myself following Azrael, who seemed the most familiar with the prison.
The legion of Angels streamed out behind us and spread out across the maze-like prison. Some seemed more familiar than others as they grouped up with quiet words being exchanged.
Then I found myself in a vast chamber.
"This is it," Azrael said grimly, looking around the devastated chamber. "This is where they were held."
Massive spikes of ice jutted from the floor and ceiling, creating a forest of crystalline pillars. Throughout the room, pedestals sat empty, obviously having been where the Egyptians were meant to be sealed.
I counted the empty pedestals.
"Each one would have contained a Shabti, a specialized containment vessel designed specifically for holding divine essences." Michael said with a frown.
"It was done quite some time ago," Azrael continued, examining the broken restraints. "And with no attempt to cover their breach. Spatial magic was definitely involved in the extraction process."
"This is troublesome," Michael commented, his voice tight with concern. "The Shabti that we sealed them into contained the full essences of the Egyptian Gods. With their desire of vengeance I imagine we will be seeing them in the future. Especially the ones who reform."
"Full essence?" I asked, needing clarification.
"Yes," Michael explained. "Gods have the unique ability to split their consciousness and power, creating multiple avatars at the cost of losing chunks of their total strength. Capturing a full god's essence is incredibly difficult and dangerous. It means we were holding the complete power of these deities."
I remembered Hades and his Pluto form during our previous encounters. The difference between a split avatar and a complete divine essence was enormous.
Troublesome.
"We need to assess how much damage has been done," I said firmly, my voice carrying the weight befitting a command. "We need to know exactly how many enemies of Heaven have been released back into the world."
Perhaps it was worth taking the prisoners to a place even safer than Cocytus.
My inventory.
"I'll do a quick check of this floor. Along with the lower floors. Hopefully they didn't have time to grab many." Azrael replied seriously.
I gave her a nod and Azrael moved away from us, her footsteps echoing through the chamber as she began a systematic search of the area. Her shades materialized around her again, spreading out to cover more ground efficiently.
Michael remained at my side, his expression grim as he surveyed the empty pedestals.
"Tell me about the prisoners' Cocytus houses. It'll be good to know who we have to worry about." I said, switching the subject.
"The deeper levels contain far more dangerous entities," Michael said, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "Beings that required more than simple containment."
I followed his gaze toward the staircase that descended into the prison's shadowed depths, where the darkness seemed to swallow even the faintest light. "What kind of beings are we talking about?"
Michael's hand drifted unconsciously to his sword hilt, fingers curling around the pommel as if seeking comfort from its familiar weight. "Gods who committed acts so heinous that even their own pantheons cast them out. Monsters that crawled from the void before most creation myths were even conceived."
He paused, staring into the abyss below. "The further down you venture, the more ancient the evil becomes and the more desperate their hunger for freedom."
We began walking toward the next level down. The ice grew thicker around us, and I could feel the temperature dropping even further despite my protective artifacts.
"Why capture them at all?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Why not just eliminate them entirely? It seems a lot easier."
Michael was quiet for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "For a multitude of reasons. Some include being used in ways that benefit Heaven."
Sacred Gears.
That made sense. The most powerful Sacred Gears would require equally powerful souls or essences to create.
"And then others are here for rehabilitation and punishment," Michael continued. "Father was kind, but for those who went too far, they earned a rare sight. His wrath."
"I'm guessing the Egyptians got a healthy dose of that?"
"Yes. Father gave them opportunities to change their ways." Michael's expression was uncaring and apathetic. "They chose their path."
We descended the spiraling staircase, our footsteps echoing off the frozen walls as we passed level after level of crystalline cells. Some contained nothing but ice and shadow, while others held forms that made me avert my gaze instinctively.
I knew exactly where Michael was leading me. Earlier, I had told him about my desire to meet a certain well-known figure from the Bible, and he had agreed to make the introduction.
Above us, the Angels of our legion had spread throughout the upper levels. Their voices drifted down through the corridors.
The staircase seemed endless. The ice surrounding us had transformed completely, shifting from pristine blue to obsidian black, with only the faintest azure veins threading through like frozen lightning.
Throughout our descent, Michael continued sharing details about the prison within the Ice, his voice steady but cautious.
When we finally reached the bottom level, everything changed.
Gone were the rows of individual cells that had lined the upper corridors. Here, only a handful of massive chambers stretched before us, each one entombed behind layers of ice several feet thick.
Detailed sealing formulas were carved deep into the walls, glowing faintly with residual divine power.
We approached the first chamber and Michael's entire demeanor changed. His confident stride slowed and his face became somber. I followed his gaze to the chamber ahead of us.
There weren't many down here and the ice was eery. Like a void that was only being held back by the coat of ice. It made me once more wonder just what this place was and what it held.
In front of us, through the thick ice, I could make out a figure bound in chains that seemed to be made of frozen light itself. The chains wrapped around the prisoner's arms, legs, and torso, holding them in a standing position.
My face became serious and Michael tensed nearby, almost instinctively finding his powerful sword. As we drew closer, I could see more details.
The figure was humanoid but wrong somehow. Too tall, with proportions that didn't quite fit together properly. Its head hung forward, obscuring most of its features.
Then it moved as if sensing us.
Just a slight shift, barely perceptible, but definitely movement. The chains clinked softly against each other, the sound echoing in the silence.
Michael paused completely and his arm came out protectively.
The figure's head slowly lifted, revealing a face that had once been human but was now something else entirely. Its eyes were covered with bandages and blood had frozen against its cheeks in crimson streaks that caught what little light filtered down from above.
The figure's head turned slightly in our direction, those bleeding sockets seeming to focus on us despite the absence of his sight. The chains around its body began to glow brighter, responding to the prisoner's movement with increased restraint.
The ice around the chamber thickened visibly, adding another layer of containment.
'Appraisal.'
{Name: Samael}
{Title: The Dragon Eater / Poison of God / The Left Hand of God}
{Race: Fallen Angel/Dragon (Unstable)}
{Power Level: 65,130}
"Father." A croaky voice said, a grin slowly twisting across the beings face.
-{?}-
A golden cup sat on a laboratory table, its surface reflecting the dim light of the fluorescent tubes.
Mismatched eyes gazed lazily over its surface.
A fragment of something far greater.
However, it wasn't enough on its own.
He could feel it pulse with dormant power. The power was immense for just one fragment and it had proven invaluable.
But it still wasn't enough for what he needed.
Over his time experimenting with it, his idea that the holy grail truly was the most powerful Sacred Gear in existence had only become stronger.
Unfortunately, getting it in its entirety was a hard job.
It annoyed him to no end that only one fragment had been removed. Especially with all his hard work.
He hummed under his breath, creating a satisfied sound.
After centuries of searching, he'd finally found one piece of the puzzle. Not to mention, this fragment was reacting to something.
He focused back on his current task.
Only being interrupted as a pulse caught his attention. The Holy Grails energy was acting strangely and the more he focused on it, the more he felt it.
His eyes caught sight of it, a lazily outstretched hand had the golden cup floating towards him. He turned it slowly in his hands.
The devil focused, channeling his demonic power to invade the Holy Grails power. As the Grail fought back he simply nullified its attempt with an amused smirk.
After taking control of it, he attempted to discern what was happening through the next few minutes of pure concentration.
The pulsing intensified when he faced a particular direction. Towards the prison.
Ten minutes later his eyes opened.
"Interesting," he muttered, his mismatched eyes narrowing.
The cup was pointing him toward Cocytus. More specifically, something within its confines. He focused again and a startling realisation dawned on him.
The other two fragments of the Holy Grail.
They were in Cocytus.
A Sacred Gear user or more precisely, the wielder of the Holy Grail.
His hands shook.
Finally!
How long had he been searching for what was the last part of his long-term plans? He hadn't kept count. He had been looking for the next wielder to extract the last two fragments from.
What were the chances they would come out all the way to him, on their own?!
A wild excitement spread through him.
Just as he went to retrieve the gear from whoever was messing around within the prison, he paused. He felt two immensely powerful presences. His momentum was taken from his sails and a scowl formed on his face.
He could sense them now that he was paying attention.
Powerful entities, far more dangerous than he'd initially realized. What gave him pause was who they were.
Angels.
His lips curved into a cold smile.
At least two of them had to be within his realm of power.
They were serious threats. Serious threats and a wall that had just formed in front of his fun.
What were they doing with the Sephiroth Grail user? Who would have thought the angels were hiding such a dirty little secret?
No wonder the Architect's plans had fallen apart so spectacularly. The pieces were finally clicking into place.
Naughty heavy-hitters like this were normally well-known.
His mind raced through possibilities.
He needed the other two fragments to complete his plan.
But the Angels had the grail.
How despicable.
A slow rumble caught his attention and he peered through the Holy Grail.
"Oh my." He smiled.
That would work.
If he couldn't get it now, he could scout the new core of his obsession.
This would serve as a good cover.
An image formed and he watched the mass of monsters dashing through the icy wasteland.
With that, he vanished. Leaving his hidden lab.
-{Kai}-
"Father... mm, you smell like Father. Weren't you meant to be dead?" His voice cracked between a giggle and a snarl, eyes darting wildly between my face and something only he could see.
"Dead, dead, dead, but here you are, breathing and bleeding and being so alive."
Unstable.
That's what my appraisal said.
Shouldn't it just be Fallen? Or Dragon?
I felt taken aback by the sheer madness swirling in his eyes.
"Your Father did die. I am his successor in a sense," I replied calmly.
He hummed, tilting his head at an unnatural angle that made his neck crack audibly. "Came to check out the family fuck-up?" His grin stretched too wide, showing teeth that seemed sharper than they should be.
"The broken toy? The poisoned angel who got a little too enthusiastic about Daddy's work? What are they calling me these days? It's hard to get news around here…"
The casual way he referred to himself was unsettling.
"Not peticularly." I replied blandly. "But I decided I wanted to see you."
The words were soft.
I didn't hold any feelings for the Fallen in truth. They felt like traitors besides Kokabiel and the Fallen with him. But Samael felt like a different case.
"Ooh? Maybe it's about the assault? Hmm?" His eyes suddenly snapped to Michael with predatory focus, pupils contracting to pinpoints before dilating again. "Oh, Michael. Brother."
"Brother, please. Tell us what you know." Michael asked gently.
It was different from the way he regarded normal Fallen Angels, making me even more curious about how he came to be.
"Not much to say." He giggled, the sound fragmenting into broken hiccups of laughter. "But I could smell that delicious being, mmhh. He wasn't here for long, no, no. It was quick."
He went off into a tangent of incomprehensible words. They reeked of disappointment, as if he regretted not having been fast enough to get to them himself.
"Thank you." Michael said sympathetically, probably understanding that was all he was going to get.
The powerful Fallen Angel scowled.
I turned to Michael.
"They were quick, which is good." I commented.
"Indeed, if Cocytus had a total breakout, then that would have been a disaster of unprecedented proportions." Michael replied. "Cocytus needs to be secured."
"I agree, I've got a plan for the more dangerous prisoners we truly don't want to risk. But I feel it's about time Heaven becomes active once more." I replied, gauging Michael's reaction.
At the end of the day, despite my power. Michael was far more ancient and clever.
"I believe it is prudent as well and a place such as Cocytus is a good start. It's well-defended, communications can be set up with Raphael's help." Michael thought it through.
"I'm just worried about Heaven. That attack from the Architect was massive, bigger than I had ever suspected." I replied with a frown. "Perhaps spreading our heavy-hitters too wide isn't a great idea."
"If Heaven was as it was last year, I would have strongly insisted that we don't. In fact, I'd have begged." Michael revealed. A small frown then turning into a small smile. "But since you have arrived, Heaven has been growing at unheard rates. With your affinity for making unlikely allies, seemingly getting powerful beings that should be well-known to join with ease and your own rising power. Heaven once more has a bright future. Your light has shined even the future,"
All the while he said this, Samael went quiet.
I had to hide a small flattered blush.
"Perhaps you're right. I just feel like I've been solely focusing on Heaven as well, I've all but completely ignored the church and the other Factions dealing with us." I replied with a sigh.
Michael's eyes flickered to Samael.
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Heaven comes first, as bland and shallow as that may seem." Michael replied simply. "As for the other factions, I won't deny that things have gotten difficult with all the inquiries about our activity. But that's why you have us to handle that."
I'd been so focused on rebuilding Heaven that I'd neglected the Church, which was closely tied to our operations and apparently I hadn't been as involved as I should be regarding the other Factions.
Right now, holding a prison of this caliber was manageable, but it required permanent staff. The thought of sending Angels away from Heaven left a bitter taste in my mouth, even with support.
My [Pantheon] ability had cooled down enough for another use, but leaving newly created beings here seemed risky.
I'd think about the staffing later.
We turned to leave, going to explore and see the other beings sealed within the lowest floor of Cocytus. Only for a raspy voice to stop us.
"You know, I wasn't meant to stay like this." Samael's voice cracked and splintered, words tumbling over each other in a mad rush.
We paused.
"Dear old Father said I would only be here temporarily, until he could deal with the other problems before healing me." His laugh shattered into fragments, high pitched giggles mixed with sobbing gasps. "Temporary, temporary, TEMPORARY! But I keep counting days that don't exist!"
His head jerked violently from side to side, eyes rolling wildly before fixing on mine with manic intensity.
"I wonder what you plan on doing with me. Fix the broken toy? Glue the pieces back together? Or maybe..." His voice dropped to a hissing whisper before erupting into a shriek. "MAYBE YOU'LL FEED ME AGAIN! LET ME OUT TO PLAY AGAIN!"
He convulsed against his chains, laughing and weeping simultaneously. The chains dig into his already mangled flesh. Fresh blood seeped out and covered the chains more. As drops fell down onto the ice, it sizzled, and smoke rose and became ice once again in another instant.
"How did you become like this?" I asked with a genuine tone, my heart was shaken.
This was a former Angel.
An Angel like Michael.
Would this have been the fate of Gabriel if she had been captured by the Architect? Driven to this level of madness, by beings who seemingly wanted every chance they had to pull down the purest of races in my eyes.
I had asked Michael, wondering why God had supposedly poured all his hate into one of his Angels and the answer was he didn't. Once more it was a lie that had come from nowhere yet spread everywhere.
Samael's smile was sharp, predatory. "Oh, you know how it is. Daddy's orders, righteous fury, a few too many dragons to kill. The poison... it changes you after a while. Makes you hungry for more. It was all him."
"Eizel, EIZEL."
A lance of shock passed through me and Samael turned into a raging mass of flesh.
There was an endless hate directed towards me, an image flashed up. An angel infinitely better-looking and with no madness stared back at me adoringly.
It was gone in an instant, replaced with a mad twisted grin that cracked at the edges of his mouth.
I tried questioning him again but he was gone in a fit of insanity. As if those brief tainted moments of lucidity were dragged back to a black Abyss by red fleshy hands. He no longer looked like anything words could describe, just a mass of flesh trying to tear apart everything.
His actions caused blood to spill, and his blood melted the ice. The ice, however, didn't give up, and kept regenerating back. His misplaced eyes still wished death upon me.
Which left me studying him carefully.
He was too dangerous. Far too dangerous. If the Khaos Brigade could break into the prison once, they could do it again. Which was why I wanted to take the ones that posed the biggest threats.
But I couldn't let Cocytus go to waste, it was a strategic asset that Heaven needed.
Michael seemed unnerved.
I observed the corrupted Angel with a sense of wrongness.
I couldn't just leave him here. It felt like a force I couldn't identify would win if I allowed that to happen.
For a moment, as if the shard was sensing my thoughts, an image overlapped the crazed and twisted face that glared back at me. A man with red hair and two joyful green eyes stared back at me with a beaming smile. With a face that closely resembled Michael's.
It faded and his hair turned green, with his eyes bloodshot and his skin gaunt.
"It would be a shame to let you stay here," I commented, more to myself than to him.
Samael's eyes widened, something like hope flickering in those corrupted golden orbs.
"Knock him out," I ordered firmly, sealing away the image.
Sometimes the Shard could be so troublesome, I'm sure recently gaining the Holy Grail wasn't helping with that particular aspect.
Michael stepped forward eagerly, holy energy crackling around his fist as he struck a precise blow to Samael's temple.
The unstable Arch Seraph slumped forward, unconscious.
"Michael." I called, breaking the Angel out of his stupor. "What happened to him?"
Michael frowned.
"I apologise, I have no idea. It's been a mystery that's plagued everyone for a great many years." Michael replied resignedly.
I had thought that was the case.
"What do you know?" I questioned.
"I know he came back changed, that he acted with Lucifer to trick Adam and Eve. After he fell he was twisted and unstable." Michael said sadly. "Most assume God cursed him but that wasn't the case. This is truly a mystery."
Eizel. The Demon that had tried to kill me.
The Demons were involved.
Demons that had convinced most of the world that they didn't exist. That Devils were the real 'Demons' and the beings who had retreated away from reality to the point of being considered non-existent.
It was becoming more and more evident that there was something strange at play here.
I missed my thoughts and went up to the chained body of Samael.
It'd be best if he was in my custody.
I attempted to store the Fallen Angel in my inventory but it failed and I realised the problem in an instant. He was technically sealed to his cell and attached to the prison.
I'd have to unseal him.
"Michael…"
"Yes Father?"
"Do you know how to unseal him?" I asked, hiding my embarrassment.
"Ah, no…" Michael replied with a blush.
"Not even the slightest idea?" I questioned.
He thought about it.
"Perhaps the core? I am pretty sure Samael's bindings are specially linked to that." Michael replied.
"Great, where's that?" I questioned happily.
He pointed. "That vein of power leads towards the Prisons core. All the dangerous prisoners that weren't already sealed have their own vein for permanent containment."
"Then perhaps it's even more imperative to guard the prison, removing all of them seems like a long and dangerous process." I replied thoughtfully.
"Indeed, I had the same thoughts." Michael replied.
"Stay here and secure Samael," I ordered. "I'll handle the core."
"Yes Father." Michael replied obediently.
I followed the glowing vein of energy through the twisting corridors carved from the same dark ice.
The power line pulsed steadily, leading me deeper into the prison's heart.
After several minutes of walking, I emerged into a circular chamber dominated by a massive structure at its center. The structure gave me pause at its appearance. It was a sharp-edged diamond-shaped monolith hovering in the air.
Black surrounded the construct, as if no light was able to escape its inky claws.
It had a symmetrical, elongated form with a vertical groove or lighter strip running down its center, giving it the appearance of being split into two mirrored halves.
I didn't have to activate my ocular abilities to know there was a staggering amount of energy within this room.
The core was impressive. Streams of energy flowed from it like a spider web, connecting to various points throughout the prison. I could see dozens of power lines, each one maintaining a different containment system.
The webs formed by the crystalline wire was so intricate, that it just left me in disbelief. It was chaotic. There was no obvious shape or pattern to the rhythm of its arrangement.
And still, I knew that every connection, every overlap, every gap, and even the brightness of the string was intentional.
Despite being marveled by it, I regained my composure quickly. I traced Samael's specific vein to where it connected to an artifact embedded in the core's surface.
The moment I focused on it, my breath caught.
There, it floated.
A white dense rod.
It almost looked like some sort of wand but it was obvious it connected to something larger.
'Appraisal.'
Salvation, Segment Of the [Star of Hope]
Description:
The sixth segment of the Flaming Sword [Star of Hope].
This piece embodies the concept of nullification and suppression, forged in the dimensional gap with a special crystal that was crafted from a small part of the flesh of a Primordial.
A part of the [Star of Hope] Crafted by God.
Abilities: Nullification Imbuement: Adds a nullification attribute to any source it's connected to, allowing it to suppress and negate the abilities, powers and essence of whatever it contains or strikes.
Holy shit.
This alone was powerful.
The flesh of a Primordial God? It felt wrong even looking at it.
I summoned my Holy Grail and held it up, comparing the two artifacts. The fragment was providing energy not just for Samael's cell, but for another containment system as well. The power flow was enormous.
Suddenly, the Holy Grail pulsed in my hands. Energy spiked wildly throughout the chamber. Just as I tried to focus on it, something else caught my attention.
I felt something stir. Deep below, far deeper than I'd imagined Cocytus could possibly extend, something massive shifted.
A wave of energy quaked through the ice, traveling up from the abyss like a tremor. For a single terrifying moment, I felt like something ancient and vast was watching me.
My heart trembled as that presence pressed against my consciousness before disappearing entirely.
What the hell was that?
I didn't recognise that energy… it had been immensely powerful and that being? What was it?
I couldn't sense it anymore. It had been so deep in the ice that I doubted I could even attempt to locate it without its exact location. Perhaps it was some sort of core?
My eyes stared into the abyss the thick ice created and I found myself slightly unnerved.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Azrael's voice came from behind me as she materialized next to the core.
I spun around, pulled out of my thoughts and slightly startled.
She was staring at the sword fragment with something like longing. "It was originally yours before it became clear you didn't need a weapon."
"What's it doing here?" I asked, my eyes coming back onto the weapon.
"I felt compelled to help with Samael's imprisonment. With the fragments I had, I decided to give up one of the only two pieces I had left." Azrael revealed.
I titled my head.
"How did it end up in fragments?" I questioned.
Her expression darkened. "There was an attempt to break it by Lucifer. She used it to try to revolt against God. In the process, it was shattered into seven pieces. It ended up scattered. Since it was made to function individually as seven pieces as well."
I reached out and carefully extracted the fragment from the core. The power flow to Samael's cell immediately cut off.
I added it to my inventory with the two other fragments I had.
"Secure the other prisoner this was powering," I told Azrael. "I'm going back to collect Samael."
She nodded, vanishing.
I made my way back through the corridors, the sword fragment warm in my hand. Michael was waiting exactly where I'd left him, standing guard over the now-unpowered cell.
"Father," he greeted. "Any trouble?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle." I reached down to pick up Samael's unconscious form.
The moment my hands touched him, his eyes snapped open. Golden orbs filled with malice and hunger locked onto mine. His arm shot up toward my throat with inhuman speed.
It never connected.
Michael moved like lightning, grabbing Samael's wrist and twisting it behind his back in a brutal restraining hold.
His sword was out in his other hand and ready to shred the unstable Angel.
The unstable angel could only let out a crazed laugh as Michael had to evidently calm himself down. Sending multiple brutal punches resounding booms which forced him back into unconsciousness.
"Father, are you okay?" Michael questioned urgently.
I blinked and the magic that had already thrummed to life under my skin dissipated.
"Good catch." I replied, letting out a breath. "I should have suspected that might have happened."
"It's my fault father, please forgive me, I didn't suspect he would awaken." Michael apologised.
I knelt down. I successfully stored Samael in my inventory this time.
"It's not your fault." I quickly calmed down the distraught Angel. "He must have woken up from being unsealed and pretended to sleep. The fact you caught it was impressive. He's not exactly weak."
"His movements were wonky from a lack of usage, I didn't expect him to pull such a move with his lack of sanity." Michael sighed, his eyes like burning coals. "I can't believe he got so close."
"Michael," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You did perfectly. Stop beating yourself up about it. He wouldn't have been able to hurt me anyway. I am not that weak."
His expression remained troubled, golden eyes still flickering with residual anger at himself.
"You're being adorable," I added with a slight smile. "Worrying this much over something that didn't even happen."
Michael's cheeks flushed red. "F-Father, I'm not adorable. I'm the General of Heaven!"
"Aww, sure you are." I said, making him forget about the close call.
"Father!"
"Now, come on. We need to secure the prisoners on this level before we leave." I said, watching him snap to attention.
We made our way back through the lowest levels of the prison within the ice, collecting the remaining highest-level threats. All of them required various unsealing processes.
Each one went into my inventory without any repeat of the previous incident, mostly because half of them were asleep and the other were knocked out by an over enthusiastic Michael, who had taken the earlier incident as some sort of challenge.
The process took multiple hours.
As we left, my mind was abuzz.
The attack on Heaven had shown me that we'd been too passive.
It was time for Heaven to rise again.
-{Gabriel}-
Gabriel stared at the pile of "attempted correspondences" on her desk. She sat in a comfortable room that served as her area of work. As the Messager of God and His Herald, foreign affairs fell largely under her jurisdiction.
Michael had once mentioned that her "charm" made dealing with unpleasant emissaries much easier.
The Devils were requesting an immediate audience with Heaven. Then there was the Fallen Angels silently prodding through their proxies. Which made sense, they probably knew. While the Norse pantheon was also prodding.
That also made sense, Heaven had been close with them at one point and their sudden close off hadn't been good for them.
A year ago, she would have treated each request with careful consideration, knowing Heaven's precarious position. It always meant that they couldn't afford to offend potential allies.
Now? Now they were just annoying to her.
Oh, don't get her wrong. The Norse was a welcome one. But the Devils and Fallen held no favour with her. Especially with all they had done to undermine Michael.
She picked up Serafall Leviathan's latest message, scanning the flowery language that barely concealed what amounted to a summons.
A gentle sigh escaped her lips as she set the letter aside.
The feeling in her chest was almost overwhelming sometimes, that obsessive, all-consuming love for her Lord that made everything else seem trivial by comparison.
Her nails softly drummed against her desk and she found it hard to focus.
How should she deal with these persistent factions?
It wasn't only the Devils, though they were certainly the most pushy. The Norse had sent three requests this week alone and the Fallen Angels seemed to think their shared history gave them special privileges.
It wasn't hard to tell why they were all suddenly so interested. Everyone could sense the shift in Heaven's power, the change in Heaven's attitude and how they were mobilising their troops. It had left them scrambling to maintain their previous advantages.
Gabriel was glad her Lord had the wisdom to schedule another meeting soon.
While it appeared casual, all of the Seraphim and Arch-Seraphim were genuinely busy these days. Setting a specific time gave them a chance to clear their schedules properly and address these mounting diplomatic pressures.
For now, though, she had more immediate and important concerns.
Her face morphed from its usual gentle expression into something cold and distant.
Serafall had finally "requested" a meeting in kind words that fooled no one. Gabriel would have to go deal with whatever the King of Devils wanted this time.
With practised ease, she activated her heavenly domain, stepping through Heaven's barriers and materializing in the neutral town they'd agreed upon for their discussion.
Time to see what concessions the Devils thought they could extract from Heaven this time.
-END-
What abilities do you think Michael's project should possess? The one made in collaboration with Uriel and Raphael.
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