I own neither Code Geass nor Highschool DxD. _
A gentle breeze flew past Lelouch, blowing the bangs of his hair past his face. The grass beneath his feet swayed with the wind, their calf-high stalks bending in the breeze, sending a slow-rolling wave running through the fields of grass that surrounded him.
The grass rose out from the ground as far as Lelouch could see, standing side by side with golden trees that littered the land they grew from. There was nothing else in this place, nothing but a land of rolling grass and golden trees. It should have been a world of greenery and peace, this place of grasslands and forests.
But this world was anything but peaceful.
Dyed under the rays of the setting sun, the world around him was painted in the colour of crimson-gold. The falling leaves of the golden trees reflected the rays of the sun, setting them ablaze with a crimson fire as they continued to stand over the fields of rippling gold.
It should have been a beautiful sight, a wonder to behold but Lelouch felt no joy when he saw it. Instead, his eyes watered and his vision blurred as an emotion he could neither name nor understand swelled in his chest. For a reason, he did not understand his soul ached at the sight of this strange world.
Nostalgic.
So that's what he was feeling, he was felting nostalgic. The mere sight of these rolling grasslands reminded him of times long past. Of his sisters and his friends who he cherished more than anything else in his world, of a promised future that never came to be…
Before he could ponder more on the matter, Lelouch was distracted by the sound of grinding gears coming over head. He looked up, his eyes scanning the sky but there was nothing unusual there. Just the red and orange hues of the dusk sky.
Still, Lelouch knew he heard something, so he kept looking. He kept looking until-
Lelouch almost lost his balance as he leaned his head further back to look at them, "What happened to the sky?"
In the gold and crimson skies above him, hung massive metal gears. Larger than any building, they must have weighed thousands of tones easy, but they hung there in the sky above Lelouch as if they were weightless, suspended above him like the clouds themselves.
With nothing holding them up they turned ever slowly, rotating and grinding against one another. Their metallic exterior was so smooth that it acted like mirrors, reflecting the sky and the clouds around them on their surface, allowing it to blend in with the rest of the sky.
"Lelouch…" a smooth voice called out from his left. He turned and found a familiar man standing next to him, looking at right him rather, with an emotion he couldn't recognize brimming in his eyes.
He was clad in a simple white buttoned-up shirt with plain black trousers. Around his neck hung a small silver cross that dangled on the middle of his chest.
Beautiful. No other word could accurately describe the man.
The wind gently caressed his tresses sending it drifting slowly about his face. His hair curled ever so slightly as it fell down from his head and onto his shoulders, so dark they seemed to have been painted from the night sky. His skin was a healthy and flawless pink, unmarred in any way by even the slightest imperfection.
Sky blue eyes shone out of his aristocratic face, which was currently held a look of relaxed contemplation as he studied the bible with a small smile. Slim shoulders and waist, he could have easily been mistaken as a girl from afar. The hands with which he turned the pages of the bible were soft and smooth, a scholar's hands, free of callouses and scars.
He looked like an adult, yet also a child; like a man, yet also a woman; like a saint, yet also a criminal. A living contradiction that captured human nature perfectly
When did he get here? Was he always there and he just hadn't noticed he or did he just appear? What was happening?
The last thing that he remembered was the gilded golden halls and the tear-filled acceptance of the Council that had gathered to judge him. Had something happened? Or had he just been transported here?
Teleportation…
He had never pondered much on such topics, preferring to focus his thoughts on more important matters than the supernatural, but if his hypothesis was correct…
"We finally meet, Demon Emperor…" the man softly stated in a haunting voice, snapping him out of his thoughts as he glanced at the man beside him. Noticing his perpetually sad eyes which flickered with an unknown emotion as he glanced at the sky above. His golden tresses flowed in the wind framing his beautiful face in rivers of gold as he turned to him and smiled. "You successfully accomplished all our current objectives, even with the meagre resources you had at your disposal. But then again, I expected nothing but success from a man of your calibre."
"Hmm…" Lelouch hummed in acknowledgment, easily recognizing the voice that had spoken to him, the one that had guided him through space and time and dropped him past the gates of Heaven.
"You did scare my children though…" He gently laughed, his voice tinkling melodiously. "I never expected you to use the powers I bestowed upon you in such a surprising manner."
"There is no better way to attract attention than to bestow upon the masses a miracle that they believe to be impossible. Showing them the residue of your divinity would help me establish my authority and position in the future." Lelouch shook his head, "Besides, these children of yours are an unruly bunch, they proved to be far more troublesome than I initially expected. My life would have been forfeit had I not acted appropriately in time."
He still remembered the killing intent that was directed at him, the might of seven Seraphs that bore down upon him at their assembly was truly overbearing. He had taken a risk, counting on that power to protect him and it had paid off.
"An unruly bunch they may be," The man stated, "But you must forgive them nonetheless, for they only acted to protect their faith. They did what they believed was right."
"What one believes to be right isn't always necessarily so," Lelouch responded with a sigh, "Though in this case, their actions were somewhat justified. I would not blame them for it."
He refused to hold a grudge for something this trivial. While the Seraphim may have tried to execute him, he understood they were just doing their duty. He too would have tried the same if asked to judge an unknown entity that had infiltrated his stronghold through questionable means. Moreover, he had did not intend to slight those who would be working beneath him for the foreseeable future for something so trivial.
Lelouch blinked before turning around to directly face the man, the voice he had made a deal with. "Where are we?" he asked.
"The Seventh Heaven." The man replied, his smile growing. "To be more precise, my children are tending to your wounded body in the Sixth Heaven but your soul is here with me." He gestured towards the endless plains that stretched beyond the horizon. "In the Seventh Heaven from where my System governs the world."
"The Seventh Heaven?" Lelouch muttered, his eyes widening slightly. "But how could that be?" He wondered even as the man beside him chuckled.
"Like every other palace in our endless world, Heaven too both has a physical and metaphysical side to it. The one you can see, and the one you can't, at least not yet anyway." He explained. "Just as its physical part is made up of matter that you can touch, its metaphysical part is made of essence that can be as well. Both of them can be interacted with by us, but in this context, the metaphysical side is much more important. Look at the realm around you…"
Lelouch raised a brow and nodded, observing the scenery around him and what he saw was…
…a world full of cold steel.
The gears hung from the sky like tombs of a grave, standing tall, proud, and ever vigil above the rays of the setting sun. Each one was an unparalleled masterpiece, a peerless machine that moved flawlessly. They were laid out before him in their thousands, stretching out in every direction towards the distant horizon and beyond, far farther than my eyes could ever see.
Instinctively, Lelouch understood the magnificent sight before his eyes…
The System that governed Heaven.
"This Seventh Heaven does not exist physically. It is a conceptual realm that only exists spiritually, operating under with its own set of laws and rules." The man shook his head, "It was necessary for the Seventh Heaven to possess such unique properties for its own protection, considering it contains my System whose purpose is to manipulate the metaphysical laws of the world. Fortunately, its unique conceptual existence allowed me to finally manifest before you like this."
"Why am I here?" Lelouch quietly asked, gazing at the sky above in awe.
Dyed under the rays of the setting sun, the world around him was painted the colour of crimson-gold. The steel of the slowly turning gears reflected the rays of the sun, setting them ablaze with a crimson fire as they continued to stand vigil over the endless grassy plains below.
"The release of your powers within the vicinity of the System acted as a beacon that allowed me to pull your soul into this spiritual realm." The man explained, "You were in the Sixth Heaven when my Seraphim confronted you, and the close proximity of that realm to this one allowed me to sense your powers and bring you here. I have always wanted to meet you like this so I brought you here as soon as the opportunity presented itself."
"I assume you did not bring me here not here to merely inquire about my well-being." Lelouch tilted his head, instantly regaining his composure at the explanation, "I hope that these meetings will not turn into regular occurrences. That would indeed be far too troublesome."
"How cold of you, Emperor Lelouch…" the man laughed, his gentle voice oddly soothing as it softly reverberated through the air. "But I assure you, this shall be our final meeting."
"Our final meeting?"
"I fear that is the case." He answered in a tone that was both gentle and firm at the same time. "Most of the energy that remained on the mortal world after my demise has already dispersed. The act of creating a connection between two separate universes through the Dimensional Gap almost completely drained my remaining reserves. With this, my strength has faded away and my time has finally come to an end."
He sighed, his voice tinged with relief. "The cycle of Samsara is a natural order that even Gods are bound to. This forced existence of mine would have dispersed in a few years even if I hadn't summoned you into this universe. This venture may seem costly but it has been more than successful for me. I can now rest peacefully, entrusting the fate of my world to your capable hands."
Lelouch watched him from the corner of his eyes, the sight of someone yearning for death making his heart clench in dull agony. He wondered if this was how C.C felt when she saw the grim acceptance in his eyes.
This must be what it feels like to be on the side of the martyr. Granted, only a few were aware of his true plan, but when he finally managed to end it, run through by a blade in his best friend's hands, these must be the feelings they had on that fateful day.
Pity, sorrow, anger, sadness, and frustration. This must have been what they must have felt at the realization that it had to end this way, that there was nothing they could do about it. Lelouch especially hadn't considered what Nunnally would feel at the culmination of it all.
She deserved better. A better brother…
"If your powers have really faded away…" Lelouch hesitated, and his breath hitched for a moment. "Then can I assume you have completed your end of the bargain?"
"Do not worry, Demon Emperor," the man answered with a small smile. "My word has always been absolute, and I do not intend to break it now. I have accomplished what was asked of me, though it drained me of the little energy I had left to spare. The future of all those you love has been secured. Your sacrifice was not in vain, Lelouch."
"Thank you…"
Those soft words made his eyes widen as the man turned around and witnessed Lelouch, the arrogant Demon Emperor who had conquered the world, lowering his head in gratefulness.
But Lelouch did not feel a single shred of shame as he bowed low, his heart clenching with an emotion he could neither understand nor recognize as his lips twitched, stretching into a genuine smile for the first time in years.
Gratitude…
Lelouch felt light, almost as if an unseen burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
"No need to thank me, Lelouch vi Britannia." The man's tone was soft as he gazed at the glowing horizon with a small smile on his face "I shall acknowledge your gratitude when you achieve what I could not. Nothing would bring me more satisfaction than to witness you settle all my affairs and finally complete our bargain."
"To lead Heaven in your stead as your heir and to ensure the safety of your children." Lelouch frowned as he remembered the exchange that he had agreed to. "In exchange for Nunnally's safety and the success of my Zero Requiem."
Even remembering their deal caused him discomfort. But it was a fate that he had already resigned himself to. A fate he would suffer a thousand times for Nunnally's sake…
In the end, he too was one of the great sinners, and he too was meant to be punished by the Zero Requiem, and yet once again he was escaping his atonement, a punishment that he rightly deserved. Dying would have been much easier…
"I still don't get it…" The man admitted after a few moments of silence, as he glanced at the emperor beside him who tilted his at the admission. "Why did you wish for something so trivial?"
Lelouch's eyes flashed red and something ugly reared within him as he turned around to face the man who called himself God.
What right did he have to judge his desires? Who was he to call his wish trivial?
"I apologize, I did not wish to demean your desires." The deity calmly raised his hands, quickly sensing his darkening thoughts. "I just wanted to know, why did go through all this trouble? To break through the walls between universes and even making eternal pacts with the likes of me just for the sake of a sister whose safety was already ensured?"
He glanced at the man known as the Demon Emperor, not understanding what he gained from all this.
"I have been observing you for a long time, Lelouch." The man stated, "Your Zero Requiem truly did not have any loose ends. I am familiar with your methods and I know your sister would have been protected, even after your death."
The God who stood before him was correct. Lelouch had ensured that his loved ones would be able to smile forever before dying, that they would remain safe and happy even without his protection. His contingencies combined with the corporation of men like Schneizel and Suzaku all but guaranteed Nunnally's absolute protection. But doing this had still given him closure…
"So why wish for that which is already bound to happen?" The man tilted his head, "Do you not wish to erase your regrets? Do you not desire to correct the mistakes which still haunt your soul?"
"Why should I?"
"…Huh?"
"My pain, my sorrows, and my regrets…" Lelouch sighed and closed his eyes, "It's because of them that I became who I am. I will not allow my scars to be taken from me. I may regret my mistakes, but I have no desire to change them. I was prepared to shoulder all the sins that come along with the Geass when I accepted her contract just as I am prepared to shoulder all the responsibilities that come with yours."
There were many regrets that gnawed constantly at his heart, many mistakes that should have never been. There were things he did that were never meant to be, and his actions had consequences that were too devastating to bear. His decisions had taken precious lives which were meant to be treasured. Euphie, Shirley…
The thought of changing it all?
It had never even crossed his mind. No matter how bad he might think of his rule, no matter how many people died during his reign, wishing to rewrite history would not fix anything. He would just end up making all his sacrifices and those of the people who followed him meaningless.
"You regret your mistakes and yet you would not correct them, even when given a chance." The man shook his head ruefully, "Only humans can show such hypocrisy and yet stand tall with pride."
"You have not yet completely understood humanity, despite your love for them." Lelouch smirked as he turned towards him, "I thought you would have understood my thoughts, considering you claim to understand how Christ felt when he was about to be crucified."
"Why do you compare yourself to Jesus?" asked the man, frowning slightly. "The age of gods in your world has long ended and I never thought you the type to believe in such things,"
"It's simple really," he replied instantly.
"You're right I don't believe in such things. I use him as an example because he was all-powerful but powerless at the same time, he was considered divine but also human. He was greater than a king but at the same time our slave,"
"Your point being...?" the man asked after a moment.
"Ask me how selfish I am," he replied instead.
"I fail to see what this has to do with anything" the man replied, frowning slightly.
"Just ask and you shall understand what I mean to say."
"How selfish are you, Demon Emperor?" he eventually asked.
"I am the most selfish man ever born, now ask how selfless am I."
"How selfless are you?"
"I am as selfless as the kindest of saints" he replied. "It's because we're human that we can be both. Like Jesus who was powerless and powerful at the same time. And like myself, who has no chosen to walk only the path in front of me. That's what separates us and other animals. Just because we are one thing doesn't mean we can't be the other. We constantly deceive the world, that's just being human."
"So tell me what are you then?" The man asked, tilting his head. "A demon or an angel?"
"Neither, an angel doesn't doesn't kill the lives of innocents and a demon doesn't try to save those who scorn him," Lelouch replied, "I am just a human," he replied eventually. "This is why you have chosen me, am I correct?"
God nodded knowingly at that. "That is true. Even I cannot deny those words. It is why I have always compared humanity as a whole to the night sky."
Lelouch frowned in confusion, "In what way?"
"An endless darkness. The night sky is so dark and foreboding, and what little light you do find is always outnumbered by the encroaching darkness, fighting a battle that it will eventually lose."
"The human soul is somewhat similar. There are so many lies, hypocrisy, betrayals, hatred, and rage that it stains their very souls black. It is why when I look over the sea of human souls all I can perceive is a nearly endless sea of darkness. It is enough to paint the entire sky black and the few good souls, those flickers of light that shine so bright are so very far apart."
He shut his eyes for a moment before turning and staring right at him, "But do you know what is the first thing that I always think of when I imagine the night sky?"
"What?"
"The stars," he looked back up to the sky as if he was staring at the very stars that he spoke of, "I think of the stars.
"Why is it that when we think of the night sky we do not picture a pitch-black sky but a sea of shining stars? The human soul is like that, a flicker of lights on a backdrop of darkness. Our eyes can't help but be drawn to them, enthralled by their light."
"Each human is capable of unthinkable cruelty, but they also contain within them impossible kindness that cannot be measured. That is why I adore humans and that is why I chose you."
Lelouch looked away, unable to bear the weight of his words as the constricting feeling of responsibility crashed down upon him.
"I see…"
Though he loathed the man with all his heart, his father had a real tangible solution that might just have removed suffering from his world had he not stopped him, had he let him do what he wanted. Though bereaved of the choice and will, hatred would have ceased to exist had his father succeeded.
He had witnessed the plague of lies, oppression, war, and death that mankind had brought upon itself again and again. He had seen the darkness of humanity which would always be tainted with strive and greed. Every human yearned to be better, greater than they were before. They had dreams of their own for which they would keep moving forward.
Humans were cruel creatures, and desire was a part of their very nature. As long as desire existed, those who would not hesitate to act on it would also remain. Even Lelouch understood that war was a constant that would loom over mankind's head so as long as human ambition continued to exist.
The only permanent solution to end conflict itself was to change the very nature of humanity. And yet, Lelouch had still rejected it.
Not because he was deluded enough to believe every single problem would miraculously end if his Requiem succeeded, that hatred would disappear from the world if he focused it all on a single person and then removed the anchor bearing all the resentment of the world. He had not rejected his father's world just because of foolish ideals and hopeless dreams.
He had rejected it because he had witnessed the kindness and love humans were capable of. He did it because he realized there was more to humanity than war and hatred.
To him, humanity was not the many who do wrong, but the few who do right despite how very hard it is to do so. And they do it for no other reason than it is right.
He had destroyed his world, ruthlessly disbanding the corrupt governments and bloodstained armadas of his old home while sparing only the new Britannia ruled by his sister and the UFN guided by Kaguya, for the sake of those like Euphie and Nunnally, who would always shine bright like stars and forever strive to make the world gentler.
The world needed to be taught a lesson, they needed to know the consequences of allowing a world ruled by people like his father to exist, and what better way than to show what happens when the ruler, if unchecked, becomes a power-hungry madman.
Zero Requiem, a perfect play about a young emperor who started with noble goals but quickly got mad with power and conquered the entire world. A ruler so drunk with his power, he was ready to kill anyone who even dared to speak against him.
One that would never allow tyrants like him to rise again.
With their precious weapons destroyed and their ruthless militaries long disbanded, the few nations left intact after his tyrannical rampage would have no choice left but to join the UFN for the sake of their own protection. Lelouch knew that power-hungry tyrants won't disappear but the new system built by his sister and Kaguya wouldn't allow them to reign freely if at all. People would start to see his ghost in every dictator and stop him before he could do too much harm
His tyranny and his death which followed soon after were just meant to be a reminder, so that people would never forget his tyranny and never allow another like him to ever rise again. His role had been to destroy.
But the true essence of his plan had always lied with Nunnally and Suzaku. Destruction was necessary before creation but destruction alone, without any purpose was worthless.
Zero Requiem had destroyed the system which had given birth to people like his father. Lelouch had entrusted Nunnally to put a new one in its place. A better one that would make the world a gentler place…
He died and took all hatred with him. He had given people a new start to create a world where no monsters like him or his father could ever exist, a world where no one ever again will be able to become another Demon Emperor. He had killed millions and sacrificed his life, not because of mere ideals but because believed in the kindness humanity was capable of.
In a way both he and the God standing along him were similar, both of them believed in the infinite potential of mankind, even if Lelouch only did so because of Nunnally and the kindness of her smile.
"Like stars in a dark night…" Lelouch mused to himself, finding the analogy strangely appropriate.
"My world needs peace, Lelouch. It needs your peace." the man said, and his gentle voice softened even more, enough to make Lelouch start. "You know this as well as I do."
"…I do, God of Heaven."
"You do, what?" the man asked insistently.
"I know the world does. I am aware of what it needs."
"Then are you prepared to create your own path forward, as my successor?" The man asked, so quietly Lelouch wondered if he was a different person altogether. The God he knew was not uncertain, not afraid—It made him swallow. "Will swear to see a new world be brought to light, no matter what it takes?"
He didn't want to. He wanted to face the consequences of his actions as he was meant to. In the end he too was one of the sinners, and he too should have been judged by the Zero Requiem.
"Lelouch vi Britannia." The man prompted.
Lelouch squeezed his eyes shut, refusing to face the man and stare him in the eye. He hated what it had all come to. But he knew his choice. He knew what he had to do; chaos could devour even the most meticulous of plans and he needed to ensure the success of his sacrifice. He needed this God's strength to protect what he loved. No matter what it brought or what the path it led him them to.
"I will…" Lelouch whispered, his voice demure and his throat felt sore, as though it had betrayed him. He regretted his answer the moment he said it, but he knew there was no going back.
Not for Lelouch vi Britannia.
"Good," The man said, and he sounded satisfied. "You show the world a new stage and our actions will give birth to a new peace."
Lelouch nodded silently. His feelings had no value, he must sacrifice them just as he had sacrificed everything…
As Suzaku once told him, the best way to remove your lies was to make them come true. He had done it before and he was ready to do it once again. For the sake of those he loved…
"You have completed your end of the agreement, and now it falls upon me to do my part." Lelouch told him quietly, "If a miracle is what Heaven needs then a miracle is what they shall receive. I shall destroy the world that you so detest and create a new one in its place."
"I acknowledge your resolve, Demon Emperor." The man said, his voice tinged with relief as he smiled at him. "I have high expectations, Lelouch…"
"Are you certain this will work?" Lelouch asked instead, "Will the Seraphim really accept me as I am?"
"They have no choice but to accept it." God gazed at Lelouch with resolute eyes, "Breaking any of my ordinances is considered to be the highest form of heresy in the eyes of Heaven. The High Seraphim Council exists because my authority legitimizes their rule. If they cannot accept this then they have no right to scorn their Fallen brethren that they so detest. They may not like it but they shall accept it nonetheless."
"And if they do not?"
The man's eyes hardened. "Then they shall fall"
He paused at his own words and let his gaze fall upon Lelouch, a million emotions flying through his eyes as Lelouch met his stare without flinching with his own.
And it was at that moment both men were able to get a true read of the other for the first time that day. Although divided by their language and culture, both were men of character, whose desire for power and political influence was not one derived from wishing to become the dominant ruler but for wanting to be the man who complete the desires of those they loved.
"Shred my very humanity itself, huh…" sighed Lelouch, feeling oddly bitter as he sighed. "If that is what it takes then I am prepared to pay the price."
Lelouch didn't know for sure but he could have sworn that he felt happiness flash across the man's face as he looked into his eyes and nodded.
"It was supposed to happen gradually but there is no point in tarrying now that you are here. Since I have direct to your soul thanks to a miracle, I intend to transfer the administrative key of the System to your soul." The man said as he held out a delicate hand towards him. "I hereby give you my blessings. The fate of Heaven now rests upon your shoulders, do what you want with my world…"
Lelouch nodded solemnly as he held raised his own arm without a shred of hesitation and tightly clasped the outstretched hand that had been offered to him.
And then pain shot through his body…
It started from his hand and steadily coursed through his whole body, digging into his flesh and bones like red hot knives stabbing into his very soul. Hot magma was poured down his throat and every atom in his body was burned aflame, crumbling into ash and then coming back into existence anew.
A pain like none-other cascaded through every cell in his body and the Demon Emperor screamed, the agony too intense to realize that he could just drop the hand he was holding. He could feel his mortal flesh crackling and burning with golden energy from the pure power coursing through him. His mind seemed to regress as well, only capable of single thought as long as the pain ruptured through his being.
Colours surrounded him, and he couldn't care less about them. All he wanted to do was sleep, and he couldn't even do that.
Then, a red blur popped into his degraded vision. The red was akin to blood, and the Demon Emperor forced himself not to think of that night-
-His mother and his sister, laying in a pool of blood, blood pooling around their bodies, painting the floor red-
- "You are dead." His own father told him, disinterest and apathy shining in his cold eyes, "You were always been dead to me, dead from the moment you were born"-
- A pink-haired girl smiled with deluded happiness as screams of pain and despair reverberated throughout the stadium. Her bright blue eyes once full of innocence were now tinged red.
- "Farewell, Euphy." He told her, eyes stinging with tears and chest constricting with pain, as his finger trembled on the trigger "My first love..."-
His breathing accelerated, his chest heaved, his heart was erratic, and Lelouch just wanted to get outoutoutout-
His heart stopped. His brain stopped thinking. His body pulsed. And his head forced him to remember-
-So is that okay then, Lulu?" gasped out Shirley, looking at him with love that he didn't deserve as red blood pooled around her…Red…So much red… "And as I'm reborn… I'll fall in love with you over… and over... I'll keep falling in love with..." -
- "That's right. I thought so." Rolo gasped out, eyes dropping as he smiled one last time, lying to himself even in his very last moments "Because I know who you really are inside your heart. I know everything about you, big brother.-
- "Despicable! Cowardly!" cried out Nunnally, falling down as her legs failed her, and yet he kept walking, not turning back even as every fibre of his very being cried out in pain and despair "How can you… how can you so be cruel…"-
- "I love you, big brother."-
All those memories, all those flashes of things he'd put behind him which still pained his very soul, that kept haunting him...!
He couldn't take it anymore.
Lelouch didn't know what he was doing, but he needed to get away. He shoved the ground back pathetically, trying to get up but all it amounted to was a pathetic push like a drunk would give.
"No...!" He rasped out, trying to think of how to get out of here-"I...will...not…submit!"
Lelouch tried drawing his Geass, but his body was full of pain, stabbing into his heart, soul, anything it could find like a hot knife or a cold spear.
His vision was completely red, and he coughed violently before falling on his side. He could taste metal on his tongue- was he coughing up blood again?- but the coughing just kept getting worse, until Lelouch felt something sticky cover his chest.
And then something inside of him pushed back. He couldn't understand what that something was, or why felt so familiar; not that he was trying to understand it in the first place. He just clung to it. A light in the darkness to beat the pain away.
He noticed slowly, that the more he clung to the light, the more of his power seemed to be funneled into it, fanning the flames and making God's direct influence lighter. So, he fed more and more power to the golden light, until finally, the pain began to subside. It was still there, but not nearly as profound, allowing for the return of his mental faculties.
Lelouch continued to pour the power that God gave him into his core, but then he realized exactly what he was doing.
He dropped released the hand had God had given, allowing it to tumble into the sand below, and promptly collapsed to his knees. He took a deep breath in, and let it out slowly, darkness taking over his vision. All-in-all, that couldn't have lasted more than two minutes, but he was pretty sure he had been screaming that whole time. And now his throat felt raw, and he was tired. Too tired to move properly, and the world was getting blurry.
He was out before his head hit the ground.
But when he came back to his senses, he was standing alone in a desolate world without a hint of God around.
He instinctively knew that God was now gone forever and that he had done something to him that had changed his entire body...
Lelouch didn't know how but he felt lighter as if the gravity holding him in place had suddenly decreased a hundred-fold. He tentatively raised his hand, noticing how the simple movement instinctively felt more elegant and flowing, as if air resistance had suddenly disappeared.
The strange energy that was within him swirled and Lelouch winced for a split as it flowed through his brain. Immediately, the world around him stopped moving, standing frozen as if locked in time.
His eyes widened in realization as information flooded his brain, numbing all his nerves in a nightmarish mixture of pain and ecstasy, and suddenly he just knew…
They all stood in shock- Michael, Uriel, and the rest of the Seraphim- as a team of medics led by Gabriel swarmed Lelouch's body, using every bit of their divine knowledge to locate wounds that could not be seen.
They were failing completely…
The body of Lelouch, which had been carefully teleported to the best medical facility that Heaven had to offer, convulsed in sporadic bursts of pain that were accompanied by sobs of Gabriel which sent pangs of sorrow through the heart of every Seraph standing vigil.
"How could this be?!" muttered Raziel, frustration written clear on his face as he paced outside the operation theatre. "It is impossible. This wasn't supposed to happen…"
No, it was not…
Everyone in the room silently agreed.
It was supposed to be a minor meeting, a simple trial to judge an intruder who had unknowingly crashed into their realm that had soon escalated into an event bound to the fate of Heaven itself.
"Raziel, what is happening to him?" Uriel calmly asked, perhaps the only Seraph whose mask of composure was still intact. "Even our best medics haven't found a single injury on his body and yet he seems to be in incredible pain. Have you identified the cause of his pain?"
"I…" Raziel sighed, running a tired hand through his purple hair. "I honestly don't know…"
His statement sent shivers of shock through all their spines as each angel of the Seraphim glanced at each other helplessly. If Raziel, the Archangel of Knowledge himself, couldn't find a solution then who amongst them could?
"Our systems cannot identify the cause of his suffering…" Raziel sighed again, his voice laced with frustration. "But our analysis indicates that the molecules within his body are constantly fluctuating between conflicting states of existence, almost as if an unknown force is spontaneously disintegrating the very particles that constitute his body into nothingness and then recreating them anew again. I have never encountered anything like this before…"
A sullen silence fell upon the room as the air itself turned sombre, the very atmosphere darkening along with their thoughts as the Seraphim contemplated the unprecedented situation they suddenly found themselves in.
This situation had rendered almost all of them helpless and they hated it.
"This boy, Lelouch…" Azrael quietly spoke, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence as his raven eyes hardened. "I don't know who he is or where he came from, but he has to survive… every single instinct in my body screams so."
"The Dimensional Gap…" Raziel muttered, drawing everyone's attention. "According to our readings, he was somehow hurled straight through it before he crashed into the Sixth Heaven. The Dimensional Gap, that's where he's from."
Cold sweat dripped down all of their spines in response to Raziel's words. They all knew of the Dimensional Gap- it was common knowledge among the supernatural. An ever-changing realm of nightmares and horrors housing which was ripe with void energy that ate away the very existence of those who dared enter this realm. And just as commonplace was the knowledge of a great being that dwelled inside that space.
Great Red. The Dragon of the Apocalypse.
"If that's true, Raziel…" Metatron replied, his eyes narrowing a little as a bead of sweat dripped down his brow, "Then his safe arrival is indeed a divine miracle. The dangers of the Gap are enough to make even our Father cautious. I've never heard of anyone who met the Dream and lived to tell the tale."
That was certainly true. Great Red was an existence that 'could not be challenged.' Some had tried before, but none had managed to survive or even make it back from the Dimensional Gap.
Nobody even knew what it was capable of, all they knew of was its infinite power and the fact that it was an equal peer of Ouroboros itself. The Dragon God that embodied infinity itself and that in itself was enough to know that the Dream could end existence itself if it so wished.
"And as for his origins…" Raziel murmured. "His metaphysical essence indeed resembles our father's but upon closer inspection, minute flickers of humanity can be found lingering within his soul… It's almost as if the authorities and domains of our Father were recently inscribed upon his soul."
"An avatar would be the closest term that could define an anomaly like him." Raziel looked up and adjusted his spectacles, "There is no doubt about it. Our Father has reincarnated into the body of this young boy."
That wasn't something that the Seraphim wanted to hear…
In their shock and excitement, they almost deluded themselves to think that Father was finally was here and he was going to stay, especially when they had felt his aura blaze forth before.
So identical that for a moment, they truly believed that it really was Him. So similar to their Lord that it almost hurt.
But Raziel had never been wrong before and according to him, the boy before them wasn't their dear Lord wearing a new body but an avatar, a completely new existence that might not even remember them.
"If he really is His reincarnation then his very existence is a fact to be celebrated," Michael softly spoke in his gentle tone.
Reincarnation...
It wasn't something they had ever wanted to consider excitement, because their father was here and he was going to stay here, but the Seraphs forced themselves to look at the facts.
It was still better than nothing...
It proved that their great Lord was watching over them and that in itself brought them great joy.
"But it also creates a set of contentious problems that must be addressed sooner or later." Michael stated as he glanced at Lelouch's prone form through the glass panel that separated the operation theatre and the hospital bay.
"Problems?" asked Raphael turning to face his brothers.
"There are two that I can think of." Uriel answered, "Firstly, the mere knowledge of his existence, should it be callously revealed, can unveil the shroud of lies that protects us from our foes."
"It would be ridiculously easy for other Pantheons to infer that our Father fell in battle at some point in the past if they learn about Lelouch." He further, "The consequences that we might face if this information spreads are too dire to be ignored. This boy can't protect us as he is now, not like our Father once did."
"No, such an issue would be easy to resolve," Azrael interjected, running a hand through his raven hair. "Creating an information block to suppress all knowledge of Lelouch's existence should be within the scope of our capabilities. Heaven has been isolated from the outside world since the end of the Great War and that currently works to our advantage."
"But as Uriel mentioned, two problems obstruct our way" Raziel interjected, his eyes clouded with apprehension. "And I fear that the second one might prove much harder to solve."
Raphael glanced at his brothers, his heart sinking as he realized that his brave brothers, the same ones who once fearlessly faced fell demons who could not die, beasts that could ravage countries, and gods that could bring ruin to entire worlds were now afraid.
"The entire matter is indeed far from simple." Metatron nodded, a bead of cold sweat dripping down his brow, "If the aura with which his soul shines so brightly is indeed genuine, and if Lelouch really is our father's avatar sent here for a greater purpose then what shall become of the High Seraphim Council?"
"Is it not Lelouch's right to rule over us and is it not our solemn duty to follow every single one of his commands?" Metatron's words held a tangible weight as he looked above and sighed, "If what we see before us is indeed genuine, then what shall become of Michael's regime that we all have spent centuries working upon?"
All the noise in the room seemingly disappeared as Raphael's breath hitched as unbidden, his blazing eyes sought out his eldest brother, Michael who was silently staring into the operation theatre.
Feeling the eyes on him Michael glanced at them and gently smiled, "Worry not, my dear brother. These are not matters to be discussed here, especially with the dire situation at our hands," He announced, trying to introduce order into the chaotic maelstrom of emotions that they were all currently experiencing. "In our haste, we must not forget the burden of the duties we all bear."
"Gabriel is already doing her best and it falls upon us to assist her and her healers to the best of our ability. Uriel, Raphael share your powers with our-"
…
…
"Michael…" Uriel hummed, the first to notice that Michael had fallen completely silent. "Are you all-"
And then Michael screamed…
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
A blood-curling scream erupted from the mouth of the eldest Seraph as he dropped down to his knees while his entire body twitched with spasms of pain. Excruciating anguish tore through the depths of his soul as every muscle in his face tightened and waves of agony coursed through as every nerve in his brain burned with torment.
Michael's scream, laced in pain and agony, sent shivers down the spines of the Seraphim. It was a scream created from such intense anguish that it bypassed the ears to speak right to the heart, so intense that it raddled the entire building like a chaotic pinball machine relaying more than one ball.
The Seraphim barely had any time to react before the wings of their eldest brother unfolded with the sound of a thunderclap, shining with an intense silver aura that announced his presence as one of the Great Seraphs.
Each wing was flawless, a streamlined piece of art that glowed amongst the purest white in the universe but every angel in the room felt a cold sweat drip down their foreheads as they looked at them with eyes wide in agitation. A precarious unease welled deep inside of them as their hearts clenched with apprehension.
His wings… They were meant to be golden.
The golden glow of Michael's wings was something that went beyond mere aesthetics. It was a unique shine that could resonate within the hearts of every angel of Heaven.
It was a symbol of his absolute authority over Heaven as the sole inheritor of the Throne of God.
It symbolized his power over the System that governed this world, his position as the leader of the High Seraphim Council, and even his strength as the strongest of amongst the Seraphim. The golden glow of his wings shining as brightly as the sun itself was a symbol of the hopes entrusted upon him by the people of Heaven.
And if his wings had lost their shine then that meant…
A wave of pure power washed over them at that instant as gravity around them increased tenfold and the air itself became heavy with pressure, sending blood pumping through their veins as they all collectively turned their heads towards the source of this very familiar power.
Lelouch stepped out of the medical room, in perfect health and without a trace of pain on his aristocratic features with Gabriel tearfully clinging onto his arm with all her might.
A familiar smirk played on his pink lips, painting a graceful picture of beauty and arrogance that would forever be etched into the minds of the Seraphs.
"I am Lelouch vi Britannia, it's a pleasure to meet you, angels of Seraphim" His charming voice was filled with a conceptual authority that crashed onto them with the force of a falling star. "I do believe we have much to discuss."
Thanks for reading.
This one here was basically both an info dump and a filler all mixed into one.
The analogy between Humanity and the night sky is from A Demon Lord's Hero, I recommend you read it while the comparison between Lelouch and Christ was also inspired by some work whose name I don't remember.
As you all must have already hypothesized, Michael collapsed was because the administrative privileges of the System were wrenched from his soul and transferred to Lelouch's.
Angels don't speak any mortal language that we know of. Rather they talk in Enochian and use a vague passive ability that translates what they hear along with every word that they speak so that others understand them. But the mechanism that this ability uses to do so is never explained.
Either it uses a database of known languages to do this or some sort of mental magic is used to communicate with their 'intent'. If it is the first case, then it shouldn't have any records of the language used by Lelouch considering that the Code Geass continuity is a separate universe that has a single language used and understood by Britannians, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, and Europeans. If it is the second, then the magic shouldn't be able to penetrate Lelouch's mind to perform translations, considering he has an innate magic resistance as a god which he can't yet control.
In this fanfic, the first case is assumed to be true and now that the System has access to his mind, it can analyze and translate the language used by Lelouch which it couldn't do before. This is why he can understand Angels.
This is a headcanon of mine, so please bear with it.
Thanks for reading. I apologize for the inconvenience but there was a major plothole in this chapter, so I had to remove it and post it again.