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FICTION
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Chapter 70: Cut thy Strings, Godless Death
Eons ago, Terra…
At first there was a lack of… everything.
Azrael's purpose in life, the one God gave to him, was simple, yet very complicated for his primitive mind. It was incredibly confusing, yet clear, so odd, but also very easy to understand.
Kill and escort away from the mortal plane of existence those that were ready to go to the afterlife.
Logically, that was a straining mission to have for eternity but Azrael knew better than contest the wisdom of his creator and thus he went through with his important task without protesting, without sporting any of the silly emotions that had been there since its creation but had gone silent when he took the first life.
He could still remember the pain, it had been at first quite unbearable. So much that he had to grit his teeth to not let out an unplanned shriek of sorrow.
Tears had swelled, but he hadn't cry. He couldn't afford to show mercy upon his responsibilities as the souls had to interact only the least with their guide, something that God had been keen to drill within his childish brain.
The job was troublesome at first, the pain being rather difficult to get a grip of, but soon things started to swing to a somewhat mild platform. His whole being started to slowly grow capable of suppressing the sharp and searing emotion by merely locking up those within his first soul.
A burden that was doubled, a sacrifice that nobody would have known about and for that the Angel was glad of. Nobody was ready to face him, a creature born for the sake of guaranteeing a safe passage to the afterlife for those that died. The Angel of Death.
Azrael had been certain that this would have been his fate for the rest of its existence, until life persisted in this dimension. Kill, escort, and redo.
A process that turned an incredibly easy work, something that somehow eased the stress growing within Azrael, but also deprived him of the chance of… feeling.
Time passed, uncertainty stirred and he found him.
Heliel wasn't a normal Angel, not someone born out from God's unique energy. Heliel was a superior being, with an array of emotions that went long and beyond the mere fatherly touches that the ruler of Heaven was keen to show around his children.
The silver-haired angel was… a mystery. Not even his clairvoyance failed to grasp the full extent of the powerful being's limits, nor it could truly get a reading over his mind and thoughts.
A pretty light that floated in the clouds, bringing novelty to the world within his mere presence. A precious light that brought intrigue and happiness to those that sought him.
A majestic spectacle that ended up finding him. Azrael had been surprise, the proper term being… 'shocked?', when Heliel arrived to his 'home'. The prison was meant to keep him from lashing out at the struggle within, the anguish of the souls cracking within his inner being, a place to protect the others from his own burden.
Yet the unknown being reached for him willingly and… he could still remember his expression.
There was kindness, there was curiosity and… there was sadness. About finding him? About knowing of his despicable task?
No. Azrael's eyes went wide the moment the angel rushed at him, no ill intents present in his body's language and… he blinked as he was pulled in a loving embrace. There was tension enveloping his humane shell, the suddenness of the action more than enough to get him… trembling at the wave of pleasant warmth reaching from the fellow Angel's core.
"Hello, my sad brother." His ears caught the words, yet his mind failed to understand what was going on.
It was so unexpected and yet… so welcomed! His arms trembled, lifting off from the previous position as they returned the hug by wrapping slowly around his brother's torso. He blinked again, he felt his eyes growing wet as red slowly trailed off his cheeks.
"B-Brother?" He repeated unsure, the embrace lessening just a little as his unsure eyes found Heliel's red orbs.
"Yes. Brother." The determined tone cemented their connection, formally declaring a bond between the two. It was a frail one at first, one born from need and desire of company while escaping the loneliness of his prison.
Azrael enjoyed what happened in the following years, the events that would fully blossom his genuine interest in Heliel as a good sibling. Family, someone that truly wanted to be close to him even though it was known that he wasn't trustworthy.
Someone that lived by death itself wasn't someone to be near to… and yet Heliel still sought him. Always bringing news, always bringing him gifts that the lonely Angel would hide in his special corner, a spot away from his minders' sight.
Toys, pictures and… that pretty flower crown.
Heaven's flowers were prettier than Earth's, but the way the frail crown had been offered, the love and the appreciation represented in such a gift… Azrael blinked in brief sadness.
He could remember when Heliel brought Lilith for the first time. The red-haired lady had been scared, his mere presence being more than enough to cause disgust on those that were in his proximity.
Yet it was Heliel himself that gave her the strength to truly greet him. The young woman was peculiar with the bravery she ended up developing from that first encounter. A curious soul, one that he knew about from the copy within his body… but also not.
Something was different, in a positive way. It was intriguing, maybe a little less than with his brother's, but his sister was still endearing to have around.
Their friendship, that was how the silver-haired angel had called it, grew quickly and to a delightful degree. Bantering about random topics, even exchanging simple questions and answers with them brought to him a sense of being part of something meaningful.
His job continued as usual, yet something had changed. His purpose was finally explained to him by Heliel during one of those times spent together. Lilith had been there too, but she didn't join in that discussion, deciding to merely listen to it than ruining his moment of learning.
"Why do people hate me, but God is loved?" Azrael had asked quietly, the relaxed presence suddenly tensing up at this heavy query delivered in such a soft tone.
The redhead's eyes had gone wide open at it, her sight darting from Heliel to the other Angel.
But his brother… merely smiled. His smile lacked any happiness and contained only pity directed at him.
"Because God is a pretty lie, one of eternal love and understanding. You, my dear sibling, are the harsh but just truth for everyone. You are the true end of what is good… but also of what is bad."
So simple, yet so complicated.
But Azrael understood it all as… he would find it easier to go through his task without the pangs of pain reaching out from his chest. He wasn't responsible for something terrible, nor he was bringing joy to the world.
He was a neutral change, a change that was a must for everyone that was mortal. A limit to those that lived a normal life.
But in that logical understanding, something more was born. Something that was fueled by love and affection for his good brother.
Heliel was eternal. He was beyond Lilith, beyond God and… beyond Azrael.
A deity beyond deities. He could still remember confirming this idea by his mind and heart, a powerful mantra that lasted for eons.
Then God kicked Heliel and Lilith from Heaven.
No explanation was given, only that they had 'sinned beyond reparation', something the creator had said for the humans too. There was no chance of return for the two beloved beings, something that had saddened him to a moment of depression.
A moment that spanned until the beginning of the Great War.
It was a sign, he reckoned back then, that his brother was still alive and… considered God's actions quite unfair, just like Azrael had. He had smiled, giddily ready to see his brother return but… things became complicated once more.
When the King of Heaven had called upon his Angels, he had refused for the sake of neutrality.
Death was beyond petty conflicts, no matter how his father had been demanding of his very presence in the battlefield. Ridiculous and unquestionable, he was neutrality itself and he wouldn't accept neither of the sides.
His heart had ached at the idea he couldn't be with his siblings but… he had a duty to keep up to.
His job increased, grew harder and harder the more the war escalated and… centuries passed.
A slaughter far worse than anything Azrael had ever seen and… it did hurt when he learned of his expanding family.
Children, he knew of the spawns of Lucifer and Lilith, but he also couldn't truly understand some of them.
So difficult and yet… so intriguing. He had prayed for a quick peace between factions, something brokered for the sake of not having the world destroyed and…
Then it happened.
He had felt something wrong, something foul being forced out to the world before being sealed away. He could recognize God's signature energy and… then Heliel's light started to slowly turning weaker and weaker.
Panic had surged and he stopped mid-work to rush to the site of the battle. The land had been ravaged, lava bathing the nearby areas as volcanoes born from the shortly-ended fight shattered the planet's skin.
God was there, his energy very dim and close to fail, but not ready to pass on just yet.
But it wasn't his creator's state that worried Azrael and… he found him.
Lucifer's eyes were open, staring at the dark-clouded sky as he lied motionless on the darkened ground. He was bloodied, his body broken and sporting cracks all over his exposed skin. He was smiling… but that smiling was dead.
He knew it. He knew it.
HE KNEW IT!
Something snapped within Azrael, something far worse than his first time taking a life. This time, the life being taken wasn't from him, but from God himself.
The smiling husk was once his brother, his sunshine.
And father decided to take it away from him!
The Angel of Death had been cheated, betrayed by his Maker and- He snarled as he roared in pain.
God tensed up quickly, shocked by the outburst but unwilling to truly react to it as the crying angel fell on his knees and drove his head on the Lucifer's still chest. There was sobbing, his tears staining of blood the corpse even more before a sickening realization struck the angel.
It was God himself that spoke. "H-He is dead." He tried to keep calm, but after the beating he had received, the deity could hardly think straight. "H-He will hurt us no more-"
Azrael's mind was too fragmented, too lost in his agony, to properly react. Anger took over, his fury driving his hands to lift the blissfully ignorant creator off the ground in a choke-hold.
"G-Gah- W-Wha-" The hold tightened, his hands pressing strongly as these compressed his throat.
He gawked, eyes going wide open as air was painfully denied to his lungs, his body growing even weaker. The deity closed his palm and tried to attack his traitorous 'child' but…
CRACK
It was too late. Too late for hatred, too late for love, too late for… dreams.
God was dead… and Azrael felt his entire being cracking even more. His mind splintered painfully, his consciousness divided between emotions and logic, between hopes and truths.
He gawked and… fell into oblivion as he returned to his jail. Distraught, aimless and… horrified by a single realization.
Heliel's prophecy. He had almost forgot about it.
A plan, something about his unique ability and… Azrael gasped, feeling his lucidity slipping away. He had to remember, he couldn't never forget!
And as he spiraled down in insanity, his balance forcibly stolen and his hopes tainted, the shadow of Azrael survived the agony-filled 'transformation', a new mantra fiercely instilled within his core.
A plan proposed by his sibling, a plan that would save them all.
Because Azrael's God had gone just for some time and… he will make sure that he would return back to him.
Like he had promised him!
Leaving Heaven was… not something that Raphaeline had expected to experience after centuries of inactivity.
It had all happened so suddenly, so unexpectedly but… not so unpleasantly.
She woke up in the darkness of the containment room where only a handful of her 'sisters' had been 'deactivated' as per Michael's order. Her eyes flickering as these tried to adapt to the lack of lights and… soon she found the reason of her unplanned awakening.
The Proto-Angel tensed a little at the sight of the still face that was Azrael's. The Angel of Death tilted its head and… smiled widely.
"Good morning~." His cheerful whisper was quick to send some chills down her spine, her confusion growing as her cheeks were cupped by his cold hands. "I need your help, Raphie."
She blinked at the nickname, but before the young woman could have asked what was going on, a sharp pain entered her brain. Her entire body went still, eyes going wide in agony as something… changed.
The process was brief, but it did feel eternal to her soul from the outstanding pain she had to endure. From the sharp burn to… pleasant silence, Raphaeline knew that something had incredibly changed because of that sudden interference.
Her green orbs losing part of their divinity and… acquiring more life. Freedom, she almost breathed loudly, she was… free?
She blinked as her mind felt less endeared by her Heavenly duties and more… centered. Another blink, she stared up at Azrael and frowned. "W-What?"
"I need you, Raphie. It's about Heliel's dream." He mused quickly. "It's about peace, it's about true peace!" He pressed on, his voice turning quite… forceful.
"I-I don't-"
"Sapphire's father!" The Angel interrupted tiredly. "Her dad, do you wish to help your lover's father?"
...Sapphire?
Memories shifted quickly within her soul, a brave red-haired woman, someone that had connected to with back in that seemingly endless War between Heaven, Hell and Grigori.
Her smile.
The freed woman felt her lips twitch in a happy curve as Azrael nodded. "That's right, do you want to help her and her father?" He continued with the same tone. "We don't have much time, choose!"
S-So much pressure, her mind contemplated quickly about the sudden request- no, demand from the least-known inhabitant of Heaven… and yet she had to do it. It was for her.
The Proto-Angel nodded and before she could say anything else to confirm her decision, Azrael's hand grasped at her shoulder and… they teleported away from the dark room.
Raphaeline's eyes squinted at the sudden light brightly encompassing them and… then she realized that they were falling. A gasp drowned by her collected mind at the unexpected warp, her attention shifting at the ground swiftly approaching.
This place… it wasn't Europe. The 'Prime' Continent could be seen from that height, but it was far from where they were supposedly going to land. Instead the area was… far on the right.
It was Asia, her knowledge finally resurfacing as she still was recovering from the tiring effect of her slumber. Azrael cackled as his wings started to flap madly, his hand still holding strongly at her shoulder.
The young woman yelped as she was yanked by the sudden pull, her eyes widening once more as she saw the speed of the fall had doubled- no, tripled with a mere action of his wings.
The Angel's crazed laughter endured through the entire flight, her lips trembling as she was having trouble herself to keep from screaming at the terrifying situation and… then they stopped.
His bare feet touched the ground, breaking without any damage the speed and… leaving both to walk towards the large assemble of people forming right in front of them.
Young men and women talking to each other, some deities from other Pantheons walking nearby but just a few actually daring to mingle with the mortals waiting in that large patch of green land.
They were now staring at them, having seen their arrival moments before they touched the ground. Eyes wide open, surprise, shock and… intrigue playing in their features as they approached.
She blinked as they finally reached up to them and… she could understand that those weren't mere humans. Sacred Gears, numerous of those within the grand number of people making this huge crowd and… then one of the Gods walked up to them.
Indra, she remembered quickly, frowned in annoyance at Azrael. "I thought I told you to not do anything this outlandish to reach this meeting of ours." He chided the Angel, the being merely smiling sheepishly.
"My bad~!"
The Indian Deity scowled but nodded. "At least you are both here in time..." He muttered under his breath.
Time passed and nobody daring to approach their little group, afraid of the deadly energy exuding from the Angel.
Finally, one of the youths decided to spoke and… her eyes shifted at the weapon in his hands.
The True Longinus?!
The lance was 'comfortable' with its current user but… to think that someone could have grouped up so many Sacred Gears users and the holder of the strongest one.
It was absurd but… maybe this was truly a crusade for a good cause.
"Fellow heroes of modern time!" He called upon the other humans, their focus suddenly on him. Raphaeline stared in awe at the fact those were indeed 'heroes', so this has to be a good thing.
"Today we are here united to face the greatest threat turned against mankind and against all Pantheons." He bellowed strongly, his voice attracting everyone to this charismatic man. "A threat formed by those that seek to impose their decadent rule upon us! People that wish to enslave the free folks and turn them in their servants."
The crowd started to chatter with one another, not loud enough to stop the lancer from continuing.
"A threat caused by what was once part of the group we were part of, a traitor that managed to trick the leaders of the Christian factions and more powerful individuals to band up and go with his twisted and sickening plan of domination!" The chattering increased and a small smile appeared on the youth's face. "Rizevim Lucifer, the chief in command for the former Qlippoth faction, has hypnotized Michael, the Four Satans, Azazel and… our long-beloved heroic brother, Hoitsu Sakakibara!"
An uproar exploded at the mentioning of the last name, her mind failing to grasp anyone she knew by the two words. Why would someone relatively new be able to have a better following in the group rather than the more familiar beings and-
Hypnotized? She could see Rizevim, the deviated son of whom was once known as Heliel, trying to accomplish something this massive but… it sounded just too far-fetched to believe it. That large-scaled hypnosis, coupled with the fact the individuals listed were incredibly powerful- some even more than Rizevim himself – it was clear that something was… off.
But maybe it was just her, the Proto-Angel mused quietly. Maybe Rizevim did manage to attain something that could get him to truly control the major leaders of the Christian Pantheon.
"Indeed! Hoitsu Sakakibara, the Hero without Sacred Gears, the defender of Tokyo and the Protector of Innocents, has succumbed to the tricks of the dangerous fiend, further increasing the power of Evil and bringing a noticeable danger to the world as a whole!" The uproar intensified, many screaming angrily at the outrageous news.
"But there is hope!" The Longinus-wielder stated determinedly. "For I, Cao Cao, will never allow the freedom of the world to be consumed by the ambitions of a terrible tyrant. I will never allow your hopes and dreams to be shattered by the rampaging greed and ambitions of the spawn of Lucifer." He lifted his hands up. "But I request your help for this long journey. A journey for justice, for truth and for equality!" He yelled powerfully, the collective roar that ensued agreeing to this emotion.
"Then please, unite and fight with us. Join this United Front to crush the threat growing worryingly in Japan!"
Another roar, this time Cao Cao didn't continue to exalt the crowd, but rather decided that it was 'mature' enough to continue his speech on his own. A tactic used by major leaders when the people listening were enough convinced of the task proposed, of the idea passed upon their soul.
A fire that was growing in an inferno, a splash becoming an earth-cracking wave.
Raphaeline blinked at the growing animosity, uncertain about the emotions sparking from the speech as she could hardly keep up with what was going on. An attempt to subjugate humanity as a whole? To what end?
Sapphire. She could remember the red-haired woman saying that her brother wasn't… that much devious.
Evil, that was a strong point of his.
But plotting of taking over mankind? That was… kind of sketchy.
Plus there was something about this Hoitsu Sakakibara, the name unfamiliar… but also not. It was kind of annoying, her mind failing to truly grasp the full identity of this individual.
A hero? That was what she learned from the speech. But what else she knew about him? Nothing.
Still, he was important and… now one of the enemies she would have to face in a less-than-friendly way, it seemed.
Her mind slowly returned to Sapphire and… to the fact that her lover could have been enslaved too. Her eyes hardened at the thought, such an unacceptable situation that she will gladly make sure to deal with.
For their love's sake!
Just as the crowd and the Proto-Angel thought about the situation, Azrael's smile widened at the good sound of the trumpets.
War was going to return in what he could call… romantic. A war killed God and… he would be brought back thanks to another conflict.
How symbolic, what a symposium of death and murder close to happen for the sake of the truest deity, the truest justice to be restored!
He will be resurrected, his face, his voice, his smile and his passionate desire of bringing an end to the injustice that had ruined the world as a whole!
Yes! He cackled. His dream will be restored and brought forth to completion!
And then true heavens shall descend upon the poor, unknowing sinners, as the new era will be glorious and divine! For Heliel!
AN
I frigging hate having to go and get my annual shot. It's something that leaves me incredibly frail, with my mind close to a zombie's (minus the brain's need issue) and with a strong writer's block.
I'm back from the super-ded and I bring you news!
The first chapter of Amnesiac Danger DXD is already out! Check out the DxD/Tokyo Ghoul xover as… the world isn't prepared for what is going to happen in that story. Protagonists? Junichi, Raynare and… someone else that we saw in this story too. Antagonists? Aogiri Tree's former leader and… someone that has been seen here too… just not in Tokyo.
Lastly, this is the official 70th chapter of Magical Trickster DXD! If things proceeds as smoothly as they are, then I think we will breach my current record of 84 chapters made in FPO's original draft. And we also reached 950 Followers! (OMG! This is EPIC!)
Can we reach-
Future milestone 1: 1000 Followers and Favorite?!
P a treon . com (slash) socialistbukharin
REVIEW Q&A!
King0fP0wers: I would ask you to look at the schedule in the profile. Right now I've cut off/put on Hiatus some of the stories so I can free up more space and… not get buried by everything.
Victorsan12345: It started slow, they both were picking up the pace and, mid-distraction, Yasaka went full-power on Hoitsu. It wasn't an equalized fight as Hoitsu was overwhelmed. It's like Base-form Goku going against LSSJ Broly without being able to transform.