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A Holy War

~The Visiting God~

Thanks for reading! My thanks of the day go to babylovee and Soveriegn64 for all the supports you've given me! Also thanks to Flickaspirit and rhea, as well as Didi for reading and reviewing! Now please enjoy！

The pink and blue morning skies had just been tainted with a few golden clouds when a lone dark wizard emerged from the interiors of a crumbling, semi–demolished temple. While he stalked across the mossy vestige of an ancient stone path, a small frown tugged at his lips as Jellal contemplated on his own decisions from merely a minute ago.

Dammit, what the hell? A gleam of annoyance lit his golden eyes as a single question haunted his mind. Why the Hell was I so nice toward that little, churlish village girl?

He was irritated. Very irritated.

After all, what in the five Hells had he been thinking?

Wendy Marvell, a young brat who couldn't have been older than 12 years old, actually had the audacity to roar at him, the universally dreaded Master of Sacred Akuma. And instead of snuffing out her tiny, menial existence, he freed her from the metallic shackles and reserved for her a room within his headquarters. What was more, he even ordered his subordinates to have her protected after she had defiantly screamed at him and tarnished his once inviolable and fearsome reputation as the Master of Sacred Akuma...

He was a dark wizard whose hands had already been drenched dark red from the thousands of unfortunate lives he had massacred. He had survived harrowing nightmares and committed irrevocable crimes that would break the valor of even the bravest knights and destroy the sanity of even the wisest kings. His calloused heart was supposed to be on par with the blackest diamonds, impenetrable to kindness, mercy, and remorse.

But he had just gone out of his way and safeguarded this impudent, wretched, presumptuous, derogatory and foolish little twelve-year-old brat with whom he had been acquainted for less than 10 minutes.

What made me so soft all of a sudden? A snarl curled at his lips. Maybe I am so protective of her only because she knows where Lost Magic: Demon Seeker is.

But why in all of the Three Worlds would the deities divulge to a helpless 12-year-old the one secret that they had been hiding from him for nearly two decades?

Simply incomprehensible. What the absolute Hell is going through that mind of yours, Guran Doma?

When Jellal had first gazed into the infuriated chocolate brown eyes of the incarcerated young girl, he was both relieved and disappointed, to say the least. Wendy was apparently helpless and defenseless. She had not even the faintest trace of Magic or capability to protect herself from an overexcited puppy...much less a universally feared criminal like him.

Surely you–the Holy Ruler responsible for all of the Three Worlds–are not as naive as to trust a nondescript human child with a secret as dangerous as this.

It was impossible for the forever sagacious and omniscient deities of Heaven to divulge to a vulnerable human child the one dangerous secret that can easily destroy all of the Three Worlds.

His eyes narrowed. Unless she is different. Unless she isn't just some random little girl.

Suddenly, a dull pain throbbed at his forehead and immediately forced him to released a low, irritated growl. Summoning a gloved hand to rub lazily at his tormented temple, Jellal turned to the peachy morning sky overhead before he allowed those annoyed golden orbs to slip closed.

Or perhaps she is merely a bait for my attention? A smokescreen? But...

Suddenly, his musings were interrupted as those golden eyes snapped open with a malevolent gleam.

Turning around slightly, his frozen golden eyes burned furiously and intently onto a semi–destroyed, mossy stone column surrounded by chunks of debris. One of his gloved hands slowly snaked forward before a deadly blue flame spiraled into existence within his palm.

"Who is there?" Animosity almost radiated from his narrowed, golden eyes as a hollow growl emerged from his lips. "Show yourself."

Someone had shadowed him without his knowledge for a considerable length of time. The ability to trail after him–the treacherous Master of Sacred Akuma–for so long without his notice alone was enough to indicate how dangerous and proficient this mysterious stalker was. But what was even more precarious was the fact that Jellal suddenly recognized the traces of suppressed aura as something resembling his very own divine essence.

An angel, or a God? Immediately, his golden eyes narrowed further as he realized that this would be a much more convoluted meeting than the ones he would have with the average mortals. Whatever. This will be troublesome.

Only silence greeted his threatening hiss, and had his divine senses not been enhanced by his own godhood, Jellal would've easily wondered if he was finally losing his sanity. But he was no mere mortal, and he knew fully well that another celestial stranger had appeared within his periphery.

"I do not wish to repeat myself." He growled maliciously as the sinister fire at his palm exploded and flared around him protectively. "Will you not come out and play? Or must I destroy you before I even learn of your name?"

Another moment passed before a familiar, deep voice finally echoed. "It has been a while, hasn't it, Jellal?"

Suddenly recognizing what formidable being had deigned it appropriate to materialize before him, an amused grin rippled across his lips. Slowly, he allowed his virulent flames to die away as a figure emerged from the shadows of the temple ruins.

Slowly and cautiously, a strikingly handsome and tall young male with wild, spiky strawberry blond hair approached him. While the stranger wore a mesmerizing and disarming smile that would leave hundreds of girls swooning over him in his wake, Jellal could easily sense the icy flame of enmity that radiated from both his black eyes and fearsome aura.

The newcomer was garbed in a simple but elegant black suit, which was adorn by a white button-down and a velvety tie. His handsome and polished gentleman appearance was further embellished by a pair of impeccable black dress pants and shiny black leather shoes.

Despite the animosity that gleamed within those midnight orbs, the dark wizard still released a small sigh and noticeably relaxed. "I, for a moment, thought it was the others. Why, it is only you, Leo of Light."

The God of Light smiled, but it was apparent that he was contemplating his words very carefully as he slowly readjusted his sky blue sunglasses. "Greetings to you as well, Jellal. It has been a while since the last time I have had the pleasure of casting my eyes on you. Though it is disturbing, I must say, that you are still so obsessed in your endeavors to tamper with the secrets of Lost Magic."

A small humorless chuckle escaped into the suddenly heavy atmosphere before Jellal gazed dangerously into the other Immortal's vigilant black orbs. "Why the tease? So you did intrude upon my thoughts once again. Oh, my dear brother Leo...must you always–"

"Silence!"

The dark wizard was immediately interrupted as a streak of lightning suddenly raked across his cheek, leaving in its wake a thin trace of metallic blood. Somewhat surprised by the sudden attack, the smile on his lips vanished as the faint amusement that had once flickered within his golden eyes cooled into splinters of ice.

If ever possible, those black orbs of the Light God darkened even further as a potent mixture of rage and hatred exploded from his aura, a snarl distorting his once handsome features. "I am no brother of yours, Jellal. I exude neither sympathy nor tolerance for a renegade of my own holy race. You relinquished and deconsecrate the sacrosanct title of a God the very night you perpetrated the Unimaginable. As such, you are no longer the elder brother I once harbored an admiration for, but a pathetic stain of existence to our sacred race."

Golden eyes glittered dangerously into those ferocious black ones as Jellal slowly wiped away the dripping blood from his face before he returned his gloved hand back to his pant pocket.

But while his golden orbs were cold, they contained no traces of rage nor indignation. Because Leo was absolutely right. He was an irredeemable traitor. A despised anathema. A feared exile.

"Consider that a warning, Jellal." Leo hissed savagely as his dark eyes burned in fearsome hatred, "Challenge me again, and I will not hesitate to humiliate you. While I do dread to aver, you do still possess the divine blood of the Gods in your veins. Therefore, wounds and scars would mean nothing to you, as they will immediately heal due to your own godly Magic. Of course, that is not to say you deserve such divine privileged, as you have again and again tampered with and violated the unquestionably pure reputations of the other Gods."

Despite his brother's venomous words, Jellal released a lazy smirk as his cut vanished almost instantly. "Violated the unquestionably pure reputation of the other Gods, Leo? Perhaps, but do you not wonder why Guran Doma and Belno guard Lost Magic with such fervor? Why, it tempts me so to know what secrets lie within. Can you not hear its alluring call?"

Annoyance burned within those darker orbs as Leo curled his lips into a frown. "I am different from you, Jellal. I respect and adhere to the laws within the Codes of Gods..."

Suddenly Jellal threw his head back and released a devilish cackle, thereby igniting a spark of murderous fury within the God of Light. "Oh, I am surprised that you remember, Leo! That it was I who lacerated and destroyed the engraved Codes. It was so fun, and I will never be able to forget the expressions on the other deities' faces! All of them! All of them stood there, stunned and mad, and yet not capable of doing a single thing to preserve their precious Codes. How hilarious!"

To recount his sins against the Codes was always a sure way to infuriate the others in Heaven, for the Codes of Gods were as important to the other Immortals as their own lives.

An enormous and engraved stone–the final, lasting legacy of the World Creator Org who had died 49 years ago–had lived on undisturbed for millions of years. But he was the one to end it all. As expected, this mockery incensed Leo immensely.

"Shut up, Jellal, you bastard!"

Suddenly, the God of Light dashed forward with deadly alacrity as a lethal orb of golden light concentrated onto one of his hands. Murderous fury leaked from his aura as those dark eyes glowed in rage and abhorrence. "You do not deserve the prestigious title of a God, Jellal! You are a traitor and shall always remain so. You are a stain in the list of existence, one that should have died at least a million times fifty years ago!"

Roaring ferociously and drenched in bloodlust, the eternal sovereign of the fastest element in existence soared forth with a deadly speed that no one else could ever hope to contest.

No one else, except for one demon, of course.

"Heh, what an absolutely insolent way to answer your elder brother, Leo."

A taunting and sadistic voice mused as the dark wizard suddenly materialized inches away from the infuriated God of Light, who couldn't help but widen his black eyes in absolute horror and disbelief. Deadly golden orbs narrowed in amusement as Jellal drank in the delicious raw fear that the other deity radiated before his presence. "Thanks for the thought, but I wouldn't have preferred that."

A shocked and pained croak erupted from the Light God as Jellal suddenly and violently gripped onto his throat, venomously crushing his windpipe with fatal force before lifting the younger God into the air. With a taunting grin, the dark wizard casually tucked his other hand back to the pocket of his baggy pants, emphasizing that he wasn't even trying as Leo snapped his black orbs close in excruciating pain.

Agonized grunts permeated the otherwise oppressive morning atmosphere as Leo desperately struggled in a vain attempt to escape from the suffocating grip of the dark wizard. As for sadistic wizard, he simply scrutinized the rising fear and desperation of his brother with impervious composure and even disdainful subjugation.

"Apologies, my dear brother." Those golden orbs narrowed in disappointment as the God of Light continued to struggle. "I had mistakenly assumed that you would have gotten much stronger by now. But if anything, your prowess has deteriorated drastically since the last time we met. Negligence of training, I suppose?"

"S...shut...shut up..." The other deity growled virulently as he desperately tried to dig his nails into Jellal's malevolently constricting hand.

Displeasure gleamed within his irritated golden eyes as Jellal tightened his stranglehold, tormenting his younger sibling even further as he released a dangerous growl with obvious distaste. "As expected, the Code of Gods only restrict the power and divine quality of the Gods. I seriously cannot understand why the rest of you Immortals choose to adhere to that trash."

Gradually, the struggles weakened against his murderous grip weakened. The abhorring gleam within Leo's dark eyes dulled, as he could endure the suffocation no longer.

"Absolutely pathetic," Jellal growled mercilessly as he shook his head in disdain before he carelessly tossed the stagnant body of his brother onto the floor. "Leo, I had looked forward to meeting you in battle. But given such a display of your capabilities, I could only say that you are too far behind me to worth the anticipation."

Slowly, he allowed the silence to reign over the atmosphere as he reluctantly waited for the other God to stir on the ground. Finally, Leo released a small tremble as he slowly but gradually regained consciousness after his faint brush with death. Impassively, the dark wizard gazed on as the God of Light slowly and awkwardly struggle to his feet, his golden hair hiding those presumably indignant black orbs.

"Surprising." Jellal taunted as a sly smirk rippled across his lips. "You can still get up? A word of advice, if you really do wish to defeat me, get stronger! Until then, do not even attempt to chase me down and challenge me. If you choose to remain as pathetic as you are, pray to Org that we will not convene again, for the next time I shall not be so benevolent and merciful. But as of now, I will be leaving, little brother."

With a lazy wave of goodbye, he turned away without a second glance.

"W...wait."

A hoarse whisper sounded behind him and immediately caught his attention.

With a small, soundless sigh, Jellal slowly turned around to check on the other deity, who had by now staggered up and was slowly patting away the dust on his regal attire.

"What do you want now?"

The rage that had once dominated his black eyes had faded as the God of Light adopted a more tranquil and dignified composure, although his voice remained accusatory. "Why in the name of five Hells did you confront Lord Guran Doma and Lady Belno two days ago? Have you actually forgotten that you are now a fallen God? An execrable exile? That any deity or angel from Heaven reserves the right to kill you on sight without any retribution?"

A moment of silence ensued as expressionless golden eyes met passionate blacks orbs.

"No." He sighed at last, "I didn't forget."

"Then why?" Leo nearly exploded in exasperation. "Why did you appear before the leaders of the Gods–the Holy Rulers–as though you have not a care in all of Three Worlds?"

"Heh, and just what terrible, lasting repercussions have I again regretfully incurred by appearing before them?" The dark wizard retorted, golden eyes flashing in irritation. "Their disapproval? Annoyance? Disappointment? As though any of it matters to me at all. It's not as though they had not detested me even when I had still been a god."

"You idiot!" The God of Light hissed back as an eccentric flame of fear and rage flared within his widened black eyes. "You transgressed on what little tolerance they harbored toward your existence to begin with. By appearing before them with no other stupid purpose than to taunt them, you openly challenged their authority as the Holy Rulers of the Three Worlds! Do you not understand? The entirety of Heaven will now hunt you down and erase your existence!"

"Then I welcome them to try."

The vivid emotions that swirled within Leo's widened black eyes simply could no longer be described as confusion and shock, for bewilderment and speechless disbelief had drenched through his soul. "W-what the Hell?"

The dark wizard released a humorless chuckle as those golden eyes narrowed with amusement, "And just how do you think I, a despicable exile, survived an encounter with the two Holy Rulers that despise me to the core?"

He allowed the other God to dwell on that thought before he continued, "It's because while they may scream obscenity behind my back, pray for my death, and articulate eloquent speeches to have me slain on the spot...there is nothing they could do when I do actually appear before them. In short, you Gods and Goddesses of Heaven actually pose no tangible, feasible threat to me, Leo."

"In...insane...You're insane..." The God of Light whispered in utter disbelief as he shook his head, unblinking. "I cannot refute the fact that you are strong...much stronger than any one God from Heaven. But...there is absolutely no chance for you to defeat the alliance of all the Immortals in Heaven! This is a war against all of the Gods and Goddesses! You will die, Jellal!"

"Would you like to try me?" A demonic growl seeped from his lips as the fallen God ferociously turned to regard his brother, "I don't understand, Leo. I am an anathema despised and banished by your beloved leaders, cursed by your kin, and damned by your friends. So why are you suddenly so interested in my well-being?"

"It's because I..."

Slowly, silence descended upon the ancient surrounding as Jellal expressionlessly gazed at the suddenly, impeccably quiet Light God. A vibrant concoction of sadness, confusion, and even pain appeared within those black orbs before Leo finally turned away, ever so soundlessly.

"I thought so." The dark wizard murmured, even as a wave of sadness drenched through his usually unfeeling heart. "There is absolutely no sane reason for you to care about me, so stop wasting your time on me, Leo. While I do appreciate the thought, we are no longer on the same side anymore. So leave me, Leo."

His softened golden brown orbs gazed tenderly at his younger brother one last time before he reluctantly turned away. "Leave me, and forget about me."

"No!"

A desolate scream suddenly erupted behind him, and all of a sudden Jellal could no longer move as a strange force suddenly immobilized him.

Stunned, the dark wizard turned around only to find Leo gripping onto him with all the desperation a helpless, reluctant young boy would reveal when he had been abandoned by the world.

But Leo wasn't a vulnerable young boy! This is the fearsome, imperishable, and esteemed God of Light that was trembling beneath him, who was furiously grabbing onto his departing body as raw fear and sadness radiated passionately from his wounded aura.

Stunned beyond speechless, Jellal made no attempt to untangle himself from his younger brother as tears suddenly rained down from behind his golden mane, his voice a pained, broken whisper. "P–please...Rurcorlus...Come back...come back to us. I...I really missed you...All..all these years since you have been exiled...I have desired nothing more...than to see you again, my...my brother. Please...I beg you, return to us...return to your family...Rurcorlus."

A rare vulnerability appeared within his golden eyes as Jellal gazed at his sobbing little brother. "I thought the rest of you Immortals had perceived me as an irredeemable disgrace, Leo. A minute ago...you yourself had said I do not deserve the title of a God...and now, you ask me to return with you? You are quite unpredictable...Leo."

"That was a lie!" If the Light God hadn't been crying before, he certainly was now as scorching tears dripped down his cheek. "I...I cannot bring myself to hate you, Rurcorlus, even...even if I refuse to admit such to any others...You used to be so kind...so gentle to me, to everyone else. All the other Immortals have grown used to hating you for your sins over time...and, and I thought myself...as such as well...But the truth is that deep down, I can't hate you!"

Lowering his head, the dark wizard released a remorseful, melancholy sigh as he slowly began to comb through Leo's golden mane with his free hand. "Brother, I appreciate the thought. But both you and I should already know...that it is impossible for us to return to the old times. I am now an embodiment of terror and hatred. No other deity would even dare to approach me without fearing for his or her life...not after what I have been and done."

"No...no...I don't want to hear that, Rurcorlus...Please..." Leo mewed tearfully as a vigorous tremble possessed his body before his frail whisper suddenly broke into a feverish scream. "I need you by my side, brother! After today, I will no longer have the desires of vengeance and my hatred to justify why I am thinking about you! For the truth is, I have no hatred toward you!"

Silence consumed the crushing atmosphere for a moment before Jellal closed his saddened golden eyes with a heavy heart, a tormented whisper escaping from his trembling lips. "I... I'm touched, Leo. But...I've gone too far to retrace my steps."

All of a sudden, Jellal venomously drove his knee into the tender, vulnerable stomach of the God of Light, who immediately screamed in pain before he was violently thrown back.

Immediately, the dark wizard turned away with gnashing teeth as deep breaths escaped from his trembling lips as he forced his poignant, moistening orbs to gaze into the distance.

A few suffocating seconds passed before a brokenhearted whisper sounded from behind. "W-why...brother? Why, why must you be like this?"

"Keep hating me, Leo." A soft, breathy whisper escaped from his quivering lips as the fallen God melancholy lowered his head. A rare, iridescent dew suddenly dripped down his trembling cheeks. But he knew he could not let the other deity see it... He could not let his most beloved little brother witness the incriminating evidence to what little remained of his humanity.

"Keep hating me, Leo." He murmured as he struggled to keep his voice detached. "Hate me for everything I have done, and everything I will have done. Hate me for abandoning you. Hate me for the genocide I have committed 50 years ago. Hate me with everything that you have, Leo... Because...because as long as you keep hating me...you will not be troubled and pained by what tender sorrow you feel for me now."

Another scorching tear rained from his agonized golden orbs before Jellal released a soft hiss, cursing himself for having evidently exposed such an emotional weakness. "Do...do not ever come before me...Leo, for the sake of both of us. I...I will pretend you have not seen me today."

Shining blue tendrils enveloped him as he faded away, sorrow and remorse piercing into his heart. "Farewell...my little brother."

Burning tear rained from his golden orbs as Jellal faded away. But even long after he had dissipated into the cool morning gales, he could still hear Leo screaming brokenheartedly for the one elder brother that he loved most.

I'm sorry, Leo...but what had been done cannot be ignored.

I hope you liked this chapter, even if it is a bit sad. Please leave a review on the way out and have a good day!

First uploaded on August 20, 2012.

Revised on October 23, 2016.