I own neither Highschool DxD, nor do I own Code Geass.
And yes, to those who guessed correctly, the Seventh Heaven is loosely based on Shirou's UBW.
Lelouch glanced at the Seraphs before him, a small smirk playing on his lips as he took the barely veiled looks of reverence he was receiving in stride.
His sharp amethyst eyes scanned the realm before him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
It was a sight fit for the grandest of kings. It's beauty peerless, without equal. He had witnessed the majesty of royal palaces of an empire that had conquered half the world and had tasted all of its treasures, yet he had seen none could match the splendour, the glory that was laid before his eyes.
Golden gates were in the air, floating a hundred kilometres above and yet gleaming with a flare that could burn every shadow in the world, its aura inherently capable of soothing all those who possessed a pure soul and conceptually erasing darkness with a single touch.
Encompassing the entire stratosphere in their totality and stealing the place of clouds themselves as they glittered underneath the bright sun, they reflected warm sunlight better than any diamond could and shined with a holy aura more intense than anything he had seen before.
Despite its overbearing density, the conceptual weight of its aura enveloped him. It was warm, almost welcoming, feeling light against his skin as if it were patiently waiting for the arrival of the one who may never appear.
The Sixth Heaven…
Also known as 'Zebel', it was the realm that was created to protect the current material core of Heaven and the place where the Seraphim reside.
"It does feel oddly nostalgic…" Lelouch muttered, "This Heaven of yours…"
Lelouch glanced at the Seraphim who exchanged undecipherable glances at his words, their eyes flickering with emotions that he could neither explain nor understand.
He could feel the power radiating from them, far more than anything he had ever seen before, yet it was not oppressing or overwhelming. It felt warm and welcoming...
They were the Seraphs of the High Seraphim Council, the archangels who imposed the Heavenly Principles of God to safeguard the peace and serenity of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The seven of them stood tall, proud, and ever vigil under the light of the Heavens above, occasionally gazing at him with brimming eyes. At their helm stood Michael, the leader of the Seraphim and the current ruler of Heaven.
"The Sixth Heaven…" Michael began softly, as he stepped forward.
The leader of all Archangels looked infirm, almost as if all his strength had been sapped away.…
His delicate body was fragile, trembling slightly as he drew in slow shaky breaths. His haunting emerald eyes blazed with an untold agony as he leaned on his sister Gabriel, unable to even stand on his own while his soft cheeks, once full of colour and lustre, now seemed sullen and pale.
Yet even he stood tall despite his weakness, an aura of untold power and wisdom surrounding him…
It was a testament to his strength, that his will remained unbent and unbroken even as his body helplessly crumbled to weakness.
"Also known as the first of the seven singularities that together form the totality known to mortals as the Kingdom of God," Michael continued explaining as he gestured towards the golden gates encompassing the sky above with his thin shaking hands. "With its impenetrable defences that were painstakingly erected by our father himself, this realm was built for angels alone and serves the noble purpose of guarding the core of Heaven"
"The first of the seven singularities?" Lelouch raised a curious brow,
"Through the combination of his own power and the assistance of his System, our Father perfectly isolated the existences of the Seven Heavens within themselves. An impossible feat that only Lord Vishnu has ever been able to replicate with Vaikuntha." Raziel stepped forward to explain, "The very nature of these Heavens now resembles that of a perfect singularity. They are perfectly secluded and segregated from the outside world, existing within a sealed imaginary space that could only be accessed through the Gates above us. A perfect barrier that has proven to be impenetrable."
"As long as the grace of our Lord's protection shines upon us, Heaven can never be breached from the outside." Metatron proclaimed, and all the Seraphs nodded in agreement.
"That is indeed… impressive," Lelouch murmured, his amethyst eyes darkening in contemplation.
"The power that protects our Heavens resonate with yours, which is perhaps why these lands feel familiar to you, Lelouch." Michael stepped forward. "These realms accept your presence at a conceptual level and this resonance would only increase as you continue to master your inherent domains."
"To gain control over my domain…" Lelouch asked after a while, "What exactly does this mean?"
Michael looked at him with his emerald green eyes and smiled, "To begin with, it is important that you know what a domain actually is." His voice took on a lecturing tone. "A domain is a metaphysical concept that exists as part of our natural world, a concept over which a God has absolute control. To use a simple example, observe this realm we are currently in."
"Okay." Lelouch nodded.
"The task seems simple since I can just point you towards it yet remains incomplete. Like every other palace in our endless world, this realm too has both a physical and metaphysical side to it. The one you can see, and the one you can't, at least not yet anyway." He added. " 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."
"Hmm…" Lelouch hummed. "I think I get it." Sort of, anyway.
"I now want you to close your eyes." He did so without complaint. "I want you to expand out your senses and feel the Sixth Heaven below us."
He nodded and did what was asked, purging all thoughts from his mind, Lelouch instead focused inwards.
It was a little bit harder and required a little concentration but within seconds he had tuned out the rest of the world and, he'd locked on to the realm below after a single instance.
Michael just seemed to know he'd accomplished his task and as he continued on without his affirmation. "Now, I want you to really hone in on it. Delve as deep as you can and once you do so, you should be able to feel something respond to you if it is done correctly."
"Hnn." Lelouch's posture relaxed even more, as he focused his like he'd been told to.
His senses were on high alert as he went deeper and deeper still, searching for the response Michael was talking about, and in less than a moment, on a more 'spiritual' level, he could feel himself diving deep into the palace.
The process was eerily familiar and reminded him of the time he had spent in C's world, an entirely metaphysical dimension that he had once manipulated with his will alone.
It took a few good minutes, but eventually, Lelouch did feel a response once he'd gone as deep as possible. It was hard to describe what the response was like, but if he had to give his best guess, it almost like something… brushing off him?
"You've got it." Gabriel's melodious voice intervened even before Lelouch himself could affirm it.
"It felt like something brushing against you, yes?" Michael asked, taking over his sister and Lelouch nodded. "What that was, was this realm's metaphysical essence interacting with you."
Think of it like a blanket a mother wraps around her child right after he is born." He explained. "The essence of whatever domain you wish to take for yourself can be thought of like an abstract blanket. One that rather than wrap around your physical body, wraps around your soul itself, and intertwines with your very being."
"Wraps around the soul, and intertwines with my being, huh?" Lelouch murmured.
"That's the basic gist of it, yes." The Archangel affirmed with a smile. "Through the use of their unique souls Gods can spiritually latch onto a concept that they feel connected to and in time can even use their souls to manifest and manipulate it."
"Only the unique existence of a God can perform such a feat and it is perhaps the most terrifying part of a deity's arsenal. Every God has the inherent ability to weaponize concepts themselves through the inherent properties of their unique souls." Michael nodded, "They can seize absolute control of a concept along with everything that it encompasses and use it as a tool of mass destruction. This innate ability is what separates beings like the Ouroboros and the Dream from normal dragons, it is the reason why they proudly bear the title of Dragon Gods."
"Is that so?" Lelouch thought about it for a moment, before nodding.
"That's correct." Michael said, "Gaining absolute control over their domains is the last step Gods have to achieve before they can completely master their inherent divine abilities and it that what you shall master in time."
Lelouch tentatively thought about it for a while before he slowly nodded. The world of supernatural was entirely foreign to him, but matters related to it were crucially relevant nonetheless.
In a world where power ruled supreme, the strength he had inherited could easily become the greatest weapon in Heaven's arsenal, loath as he was to admit it, he may even have to personally step foot into the maws of war in the future. Thus, information on such topics was always welcome.
"Many thanks, Michael." Lelouch nodded, "I am glad to hear your explanation. It has answered many of the questions I originally held."
"The very fact that these realms resonate with your soul at a metaphysical level proves your place in Heaven." Michael smiled at him, gently. "This is where you belong."
"Where I belong, you say…?" Lelouch raised an elegant brow, before turning to face the Seraphim directly for the first time since his awakening.
His seemingly omniscient eyes scanned each of the Seraphs assembled before him, penetrating their very soul themselves as they all subconsciously straightened their backs under his overbearing gaze before he looked away.
"Tsk…"
The silence that followed was awkward, to say the least. The oppressive atmosphere had made it a difficult task to bridge the gap, physical or otherwise.
Perhaps that was the wrong approach, though, as he'd certainly never had their trust in the first place. Introductions, then, coupled with the truth. The foundations of an amicable relationship.
"I imagine," he said, catching their attention, "that my side of things would be quicker to explain. As much as I would like answers; efficiency implores me to give them first."
He paused and let his words sink in, he was standing aside, facing Michael and Gabriel, while trying his best to ignore the strange smile he was receiving from Uriel behind him. Raziel was the quickest on the uptake, and his inquiry made him pause for its seeming simplicity.
"We have conducted our own investigation and have certainly reached our own conclusions, but I would like to hear the truth from you before we begin." Raziel's eyes bore into his own with an intensity that he could not avoid, "Who are you, really?"
The question was rather innocuous, yet invasive. He could just give them his name, but imagined it would be met with dissatisfaction. Fragmented question-and-answer was perhaps not the best solution to this ordeal. The others were looking at him expectantly, as if the answer he provided would somehow explain everything. He took advantage of their patience, and spent the next few seconds in silence, considering his next words.
An idea came to him; one to convince them of his story. It was perhaps not the optimal way to conceive an association with angels, and certainly the method would have been dismissed by Schneizel without a second thought. His half-brother's game was one of diplomacy and manipulation, and while he himself had partaken of his own fair share of the two, he had been burned too often by repercussions of the latter to consider it as a major tool of his repertoire.
Schneizel had presented himself as an equal; the amiable comrade who shared in both defeat and victory. The image made him an excellent leader of men, and had thousands falling over themselves to curry favour with the affable prince. Such an approach was effective, and had very nearly cost him everything.
His own methods though, had won out in the end. Knowing he would not be able to be the drinking buddy; the friendly peer, he instead settled for the alternative. Crafting an image of superiority; he became the untouchable leader, the invulnerable Zero, inspiring admiration in man and woman alike, forsaking the bonds of camaraderie in favour of unshakeable faith.
Schneizel could keep his string-pulling and whispered words. He would simply make do with what had always been his by birth: theatrics and ingenuity.
"…Every one of your conjectures about me is most likely true, so there is actually quite little to explain. Forgive me for being crude, but in simpler words, I am an 'avatar' of the deity you call Father. An aspect sent to Heaven to guide all His subjects towards the future they desire."
They all nodded in agreement. Lelouch was surprised; he'd expected disbelief and thought it would be directed at his rather impossible claims. It was, after all, the event he imagined would arouse the most suspicion. It seemed that they put more stock than him than he initially assumed.
"My conjectures turned out to be true, after all," noted Raziel, one eyebrow raised at his claim.
"It's only natural for Father to set up such contingencies, not even death can stop his grace from shining down upon us," stated Azrael, and the rest nodded at his words.
Lelouch raised a brow at their quips, but didn't intervene. This situation was surprisingly favourable. The Seraphs were not simple tools to be disposed of, they were the greatest resource currently at his disposal. He would be a fool to reject their amiability.
Their Lord had bestowed upon him, the duty to protect all his children in exchange for the happiness of those he loved. A bargain he would have accepted upon thousand times over, even if it denied the people of his world the justice they rightfully deserved.
But its completion entailed two crucial steps, successfully identifying all those who threatened Heaven's interests and then exterminating them all from the face of this world without leaving a single one behind.
The fact that he was yet to create his own information network to find the said threats, and the fact that conventional warfare in this strange universe was completely different from that in his own, made the Seraphim a thousand times more valuable.
The fundamental rule of power which everyone in this world regarded as the absolute truth clashed with the fundamental principles of warfare that he was familiar with.
Tactics, strategies, ambushes, traps, and even rebellions were rendered obsolete by the simple truth that entire armies could be singlehandedly decimated by lone individuals. In this world, power ruled supreme and pure strength dictated the matters of victory and loss.
He was a master of complex strategy and subtle manipulation, having honed the art of winning disadvantageous wars to utmost perfection.
A small part of him played as a critic, constantly watching his own moves while another part of him remained as an observer watching the critic — watching him.
But here, his complex strategies were rendered obsolete.
What harm could landslides and natural eruptions inflict upon ancient devils that preyed upon the sufferings of humanity? Which army could face Gods that brought about calamities through presence alone?
His opponents were not humans anymore...
Dark demons who dwelled within the night, fell beasts that couldn't die, the fallen who could lay waste to nations with a snap of a finger, omnipotent gods that didn't know the concept of defeat, all would deny his desires.
In an absurd world that defied the common sense of mankind, the Seraphs were indeed the greatest weapons in Heaven's arsenal and without them, the power of God's Kingdom would inevitably be halved.
Securing their loyalty was indeed his most crucial objective. But even so, he was reluctant to completely deceive them.
"Angels of Seraphim," Lelouch spoke, having witnessed the shine that gleamed within their eyes as they glanced at him. "This must be a monumental occasion for you all, and loath as I am to intervene, prudence demands that I interrupt lest your thoughts wander in directions unknown. You shall have to forgive me for betraying your expectations, but I wish to make myself clear before proceeding forward."
Lelouch paused and glanced at all of them, knowing how their hearts were moved by his unexpected appearance. But such dangerous buds must be cut before they bloom, the entire predicament was caused by him and he shall be the one to finally settle it.
"Contrary to what you all may believe; I am not your Father nor shall I ever be."
The way their smiles faded, told him exactly how his words stabbed at the strings of their hearts. But Lelouch remained firm, it was impossibly tragic, showing them the light of hope and then mercilessly snatching it away. But Lelouch believed that deceiving them just for the sake of his plans was even crueller.
He had witnessed how expectations could destroy entire organizations. It had happened to him before. Even the Black Knights were— Lelouch shook his head and steadied his heart. That past was behind him…
"My current form may resemble that of an 'avatar', as most might call it, but at the same time, I am an individual with my own dreams and ideals." He calmly stated, coldly blunt in his assertions. "I regret rejecting the expectations placed upon me, but at the same time, I refuse to shoulder responsibilities that were never mine, to begin with. For all intents and purposes, the only connection I have with your Father lies within the duties that were assigned to me."
A despondent melancholy hung upon them all at his words, a painful sense of deep loss that made Lelouch's heart clench with emotions unknown. Their wounds were centuries old, yet the scars within their souls had not even faded even under the omnipotence of time.
"But that can't be?" Uriel's voice quivered, his haunting emerald eyes shining with rare desperation as he lowered his head. "You have to be…"
"I apologize." Lelouch sighed and looked away, "But my emergence has not changed the fate of your Father. His soul rests in peace as it did before."
Michael's perpetually sad eyes dropped even further, as his quivering shoulders sagged with sorrow. His tired gaze heavy with burdens that Lelouch might never understand.
A deep silence engulfed the entire Seraphim, as a despondent gloom permeated the room.
Lelouch would never claim to understand what Michael was going through, what all of them were feeling...
But he too had experienced loss…
Lelouch too had lost those he loved, people he would not hesitate to sacrifice the world for. He was intimately familiar with the intoxicating darkness that accompanied love and knew that the pain it brought sometimes felt unbearable, so intense that it washed away all reason and left nothing behind but an empty heart.
Lelouch too had experienced this excruciating pain in his life, far, far too many times.
Euphie, Shirley, Nunnally…
Almost as if driven by some greater instinct, his eyes sought out Gabriel, who was uncharacteristically silent, a pang of guilt stabbing through his heart when he saw her flinch at his words and lower her eyes in sorrow.
She was… unlike anyone he had ever met before.
She had shown him generosity that he had never expected to receive, kindness that he did not deserve. She had healed him, protected him, and even stood up to her own beloved siblings for his sake alone.
Lelouch knew better than most how difficult it was to fight someone you loved with all your heart. To stand against those who you cherished more than life itself for the sake of the greater good. The sweet face of Nunnally came to his mind and he closed his eyes, remembering the most painful battle of his life.
And yet this Archangel had done it for a boy that had not even known her for more than a single day.
He sighed once again, and in a move completely uncharacteristic of him, slowly walked towards Gabriel with a gentle look in his eyes.
The angels tensed slightly at his sudden movement but did not intervene, as Lelouch quietly approached their sister and kneeled down in front of her.
With surprising softness within his amethyst eyes, he gently took her hand and looked right into her shimmering emerald eyes.
"Gabriel…" he said, in a tone so kind that it sounded foreign to his own ears.
Her emerald green eyes shined with raw emotion as a dull pain throbbed within her heart.
Pain, that she had experienced time and time again as sibling after sibling fell to darkness, the sting as her beloved Kingdom was forced to bear untold humiliation, the agony as the light of the Father that once illuminated her life faded away. It was the torment bitter that accompanied loss, and even though she had learned to cope with it, being reminded of Him after all this time still hurt.
"I shall never claim to know him as deeply as his true children ever could nor shall I presume to understand the bond he shared with his children," Lelouch stated, his voice heavy. "But even though I may not understand him completely, he has still earned my respect, not because he is a God but because he is a kind God, one that tries to teach to love one another."
A large hand covered hers, the smooth texture of a hand that had never seen a day of training feeling strange against her own. His hand was much warmer than hers and the heat seemed to fill her, lightly dusting her cheeks and driving away any cold doubts she had.
"I respect him because I believe in his dream and his ideals. To do good even when it is hard. Be kind to others even when there is nothing to gain from it. Help a stranger as you would a brother. Tell no lies even if the truth is a difficult burden to bear. To love and forgive one another, even when it is easier to hate. And above all else, remember, to always have kindness."
Lelouch bowed his head in respect, though his words were spoken for Gabriel's sake, they were nonetheless genuine.
"It makes no difference whether he is here with us or not. I can tell that you did not follow God for his strength or for promised rewards. All of you bent your knee and prayed to him to thank him for his kindness, for the love he gave us though we may not have been worth it at times. You followed him because you believed that his words, the message, and teachings he bestowed upon us, are true."
Lelouch glanced at Gabriel, and his heart clenched when he saw her beautiful face marred by tears.
"And God's passing, no matter how tragic it may be, has made his words no less true. His will and his legacy now have been passed down to us, and it is now our duty to ensure that his dreams, his ambitions never fade away. Today I can offer you nothing but my heartfelt condolences."
Though he could never understand her pain, he still wanted to help her. She was kind, far too kind for this world. Just like Euphie had been….
"But rest assured, for as long as this body of mine draws breath, the noble light of your Father would never stop spreading comfort and warmth through this dark world." Lelouch said, unshakable determination in his eyes. "I shall never allow his dreams and his ideals to fade away."
Lelouch's haunting amethyst eyes bore into Gabriel's own, and she was forced to look away as she felt heat rising from her chest, warming her core and driving away the despair that had taken over her mind.
They were simple words, yet hearing them from him made her feel infinitely better.
In a moment dictated by pure impulse, Gabriel reached out with her hands and brought Lelouch into a soft hug, suddenly pushing herself up against him, as her arms wrapped themselves around his torso.
Lelouch could almost feel the wind getting driven out of him as her hands planted themselves on his back and pushed his body further into hers, in a near smothering embrace and even worse, he could feel his cheeks getting warmer as her ample breasts mashed into his chest through the thin fabric of her clothing.
"Thank you…" she whispered into his ear, warmth rising within her as she expressed her gratitude. Her thoughts as she tightly held her first friend in her arms were of acceptance.
Lelouch smiled softly as he gently pried himself away from the grip of the blond Seraph and gently took a step backward.
"This cruel world shall change; this I swear before you." Lelouch spoke, with intent strong enough to shake the world. "I will create a gentler world, no matter what it may cost."
"I…", she smiled after a moment, a pleasant warmth bubbling in her chest despite being reminded of a loss so profound that it would haunt her for the rest of her life. "I believe in you."
If she couldn't bring herself to regret saving the boy in her arms on that fateful day, which seemed so long ago, then she probably never would.
Lelouch could feel the appreciation of the Seraphs, even as he peered at Gabriel's soft face.
His words while meant for Gabriel alone, were also heard by all the Archangel around them, and he could tell that their opinion of him, already high enough as it was, had reached even greater heights.
He had always ruled through reverence. Crafting an image of superiority; he became the untouchable leader, inspiring admiration in man and woman alike while forsaking the bonds of camaraderie in favour of unshakeable faith. That had been his way of Kingship.
To become a distant symbol, one that couldn't be grasped but only admired from afar…
In the end, though, even his methodology had proven ineffective. The Black Knights had betrayed him. He successfully became an ideal, but the worth of a symbol only remained as long as it remained untainted.
Lelouch had inspired awe and reverence, from masses and rebels alike, but neglected to nurture loyalty. That had been his shortcoming.
Lelouch could be called many things, stagnant was not one of them. Repeating the same mistake twice was a shame he could never bear, neither in his previous life nor in this one.
Though he still strived to become a symbol, his words meant to comfort Gabriel also created comradeship, an intimacy between ruler and subject.
Even now, he still could not truly say whether his words were spoken out of genuine empathy or they were crafted to inspire loyalty. That was the kind of monster he had become.
Lelouch shook his head, and dismissed his ridiculous thoughts. He would continue to move forward…
Immediately, his back straightened and the aura around him completely changed, radiating charisma and confidence that made the Seraphs straighten their backs as they all subconsciously snapped into attention.
"Before we begin, I would like everyone present to introduce themselves, so that all of I may know whom I will all be working alongside with, to prevent any misunderstandings and doubts," Lelouch ordered, receiving firm nods in return.
There was no need for a formal introduction, but there were certain formalities that had to be observed on occasions like these.
One by one, all the Seraphs present stood up and announced their names, after which they sat down again.
"Michael, the Regard of God"
"Gabriel, the Power of God"
"Uriel, the Wrath of God"
"Raphael, the Glory of God"
"Metatron, the Voice of God"
"Raziel, the Knowledge of God"
"Azrael, the Vengeance of God"
Lelouch smiled at each one of them as they called out their names, an aura of confidence surrounding him that made the angels subconsciously lean towards him.
"Lelouch vi Britannia, the Hope of God…"
Despite the mind-shattering revelations that had been made earlier, Uriel, sat silently on his throne, lost deep in thought.
A young boy born again as our Father's reincarnation! The System, the Seat of God, and perhaps even the fate of Heaven itself now lies in the hands of a boy that we don't even properly know of. Was this all part of your plan, Father? Is this what you really wanted?
As much as he wanted to deny it, the divine powers within the boy before him that so closely resembled Him were indeed genuine and the authorities that Lelouch claimed to possess did exist within him. It was true, their Father had chosen him…
His claims had been verified twice, once by the Seraphim itself and then again with the assistance of the System, and as if that wasn't enough, the conceptual weight that reverberated through the air every time Lelouch spoke made the entire situation clear enough to understand.
It had been apparent from the very start; they all recognized the conceptual authority which subtly accompanied every word spoken by Lelouch, and knew instinctively that this boy carried the blessing of their Father within him.
Every order spoken by him was a divine ordinance unto itself.
To oppose him would be akin to opposing the will of their Father himself. Though, he wasn't sure about it, directly confronting Lelouch might very well cause the fall of an angel.
He sighed, his fist clenching tightly with an unknown emotion as he glanced up at the book floating above, illuminating the room with its gently holy light.
He sighed remembering the glory this light once represented.
The Heaven of today was pitiful, so much so that sometimes even he questioned the point of it all. Their majesty had been tainted by the fall of their great Lord and the glorious days of the Kingdom were all but over. They had been so, ever since they abandoned their battlefields and retreated into Heaven like a bunch of cowards.
The Great War was the greatest insult that tainted the honour of their Kingdom, one that they were still suffering from.
Those dammed Fallen came out on top, capturing half the Underworld and carving out an empire for themselves out of nothing. The Devils despite the loss of the Satans, still emerged with half a planet to their name and a population that was burning with ambition.
Uriel had heard about these so-called Super Devils that had risen from the ashes of their civil war and instinctively knew that the dawn of the Devil kind was not yet over. Like the Fallen, they too would continue to grow.
Heaven alone had stagnated…
It had lost its dreams, its once-proud citizens forced to accept resentful defeat after countless insults and bitter losses as millions of their siblings fell during the Great War. The death of their Father had crippled their morale.
A nation that had no ambition, a country that refused to grow was fated to die a slow death.
He had watched as his sisters and his brothers had slowly learned to accept what had happened to them. He had witnessed sinners spitting upon the grace of his Father, as the human will that they once fought to preserve, was slowly corrupted by the poison of the Fallen and the honeyed whispers of the Devils.
Only the fear that once accompanied the name of their Father had kept Heaven alive. The world may mock them now, but it had not forgotten their deeds.
Heaven needed this...
They needed a decisive leader to guide them, to remind them of their pride once again. Without a greater purpose to follow, they were truly lost for they were created to be guided by a higher hand.
Hmph…he snorted, let the foolish waste their thoughts on matters of life and death and of being reborn, let the simpletons waste their minds on matters of other worlds, it was his world that required his attention. Everything else was but noise.
Whoever he may be, Lelouch was still his ruler by the will of his father and will be his liege lord, all that he needed to do was to discharge his duties as the spear of Heaven in his Father's name.
He would follow Lelouch, till his very last breath. It would be a lot better than the slow death they were dying now; this he was certain of.
The sound of knocking knocked him out of his thoughts, even as he uncrossed his folded arms and sat a little straighter. "Please enter."
Three Seraphs entered the room, and Uriel faintly smiled at the sight of them. "Brothers, early as usual."
Raziel, Metatron and Azrael…
All three of them were Seraphs crucial to the survival of Heaven, and together they held enough influence to directly change the path Heaven might take in the future. If publicised, such a meeting between angels of significant power, both political as well as martial, would have been mentioned in the footnotes of history, alas these Seraphs were not here as officials devoting themselves to the field of duty but rather as brothers visiting their elder sibling.
"I hope we haven't disturbed you, we can come back again if you find yourself busy at the moment."
"Worry not, Metatron, I was expecting you all." Uriel smiled at his brothers, who had directly teleported into his hall at his own behest, "I shall not stand on formalities and I ask you to do the same, for the High Seraphim has been asked to assemble again tomorrow and I fear we may not get a chance to speak again like this before that happens…"
With a wave of his hand, four thrones made of gold rose from the ground along with an equal number of tea sets, materializing before his siblings as they entered his palace and elegantly took their seats with practiced motions.
The fourth golden throne glittering with gems worth a King's ransom, the largest of them all, was conspicuously empty and the absence of its would-be occupant was noted by all four of them. It was meant for their eldest brother who hadn't graced them with his presence despite being invited.
"What of Michael?" Uriel asked, his eyes brushing over the empty throne before glancing at Azrael as he poured himself a cup of tea, "Has our elder brother made himself busy yet again?"
"The young Lelouch has kept him occupied for two whole days." Azrael answered, gently blowing the steam rising from the cup before taking a slow sip, "I fear he may keep him busy for even more."
"They have been going at it for two whole days?" Uriel felt his brows rising, "And you say they have been doing this without a single break?"
As soon as he had finished with the introductions, Lelouch had asked, no demanded, to be familiarised with the affairs of Heaven and the supernatural. Understandable, given his position and what he might have to face in the future.
As the eldest of them all, Michael had volunteered and taken up this task himself despite being fatigued from recent events, much to the protest of them all, perhaps thinking of it as a simple affair that he would be over with soon. Yet none of them had expected his report to last for more than a single day…
Immortal though they may be, angels were still subject to fatigue. Even Gods couldn't escape the throes of lassitude. Yet his brother and the newcomer, Lelouch, had been at it for far too long.
Either Lelouch was unable to comprehend such simple matters or the explanations he demanded were too intricate to be completed in short periods of time. Uriel had a feeling it wasn't the former…
"It is what it is." Azrael shrugged, "Raziel may know more about it since he was actually present for the initial parts of Michael's report."
Everyone looked over to the next angel in line, only to find that he had been zoned out the entire time. The spectacled scientist Raziel had been curled up in his throne the entire time, his eyes looking at them all in disinterest.
Metatron's forehead throbbed in a rare sign of annoyance. "Raziel!"
The authoritative yell was enough to literally knock Raziel out of his chair from the shock and he slowly got up, wiping his eyes to readjust them. "What?"
"Care to share your thoughts, brother or would you rather sleep all the time"
"Well, if you want to know then I think this does make it easier for us." Raziel said, slowly pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, "Educating him would prove to be a lot easier if his recent actions are of any indication, less work for me is always appreciated."
"Huh, I knew you would say something like this." Uriel sighed, making Raziel lazily smile at him before his eyes turned serious, a rare display that surprised all three of the Seraphs.
"I say this on a more serious note, Uriel, you should not make the mistake of underestimating Lelouch. His mind is almost as quick as mine and will not be sated by simple explanations. Michael has his hands full at the moment, I would not envy him."
Uriel's brows rose even further at his words, while both Metatron and Azrael shared meaningful glasses. To think that Lelouch's wit would even surprise Raziel, the Archangel who had inherited the Knowledge of God…
"Interesting, so even the ever-elusive Raziel had been forced to acknowledge Lelouch…"
But then again, this should have been expected. He refused to believe his Father would choose to send a simpleton our way. If Lelouch had been chosen, then he must have possessed both the temperament and the capability to rule over the Heavens.
"That boy surprises me yet again," Azrael muttered, closing his eyes in thought. "Have any of you noticed it?"
"Yes, I know what you mean." Uriel nodded, instantly recognizing what Azrael was speaking of, "His charisma…"
"The way he holds himself and the way he speaks," Azrael affirmed, "That boy knows how to stir the hearts of men and incite crowds with his words. The aura that surrounds him is intense, and subconsciously draws in all those that look at it."
Silence followed his words, not because they were stunned, but because they were all contemplating the implications of Azrael's observation. The air was tense and pensive, yet none noticed the corner of Uriel's lips curling into a satisfied smile.
"In truth, none of it really matters, our personal opinions about Lelouch are simply irrelevant when considering the greater picture," Metatron spoke after a contemplative silence. "What we must truly contemplate at the moment, are our future actions in regards to this unexpected situation."
They all glanced at each other, even the languid Raziel, the cups of tea at their sides long forgotten as the air in the room suddenly changed, anticipation and trepidation stabbing through their hearts in equal measure.
Each understanding that their choices today would shape the destiny of the future to come…
"The situation is simple enough I say," Uriel spoke, a thrill of excitement passing through his thumping heart. "We are duty-bound to follow the will of our Father, and his will has been made clear to us. Our allegiance shall belong to him for as long as Lelouch carries with him our Father's blessings."
"But is it really that simple?" Azrael asked rhetorically, leaning back against his throne. "What of Michael? Have any of us given any thought to our eldest brother?"
And there it was, the biggest point of contention.
Technically, Lelouch occupied a higher position than Michael in the chains of hierarchy, and his claim over the throne of God was also greater but in truth, Michael had ruled Heaven for two whole centuries, and held all the authority that should have belonged to Lelouch.
Though none of them had confronted each other yet, their respective positions at the chain of command created a point of contention.
"Uriel speaks truly; the legitimacy of our regime lies on our Father's authority. To undermine that would be equivalent to undermining our own credibility and sincerity." Metatron glanced at Uriel, taking a sip of tea before his eyes slowly slid towards his brother, "But Azrael also has a point, for recognizing Lelouch for what he truly is would place him in a position higher than that of Michael who commands Heaven."
There were a few seconds of silence in which they all calmly took a sip from their cup of tea, their hearts, contrary to their outward appearance, in deep turmoil.
"As things are now, a direct contention of power that may erupt at the slightest conflict of interests if the current status quo continues," Raziel smirked as if he found the whole affair highly amusing. "At its best, this whole affair might just fracture the unity that ensured our collective survival after the Great War while at its worst, it may end up in civil war. The question now remains: which one are we headed for?"
"Civil War?" spluttered Azrael, almost choking on the tea he was sipping, "Surely, this can't—"
Civil war at this point in time would completely decimate Heaven. Their strength was already waning and their legions turning upon each other would only fracture it further.
Besides, while Lelouch his charisma along with his decisiveness had already charmed many of the legions of Heaven, his arrival was too sudden, and though the boy was chosen by his father, he was yet to prove his capabilities. His worth was still untested...
To him, the words of his brother were simply incomprehensible. He just couldn't see why anyone would choose an untested boy over his elder brother, whose abilities were tested and true…
"As I said before, you must never underestimate Lelouch," Raziel ran a hand through his hair, accurately predicting what was going through Azrael's mind, "Things are not so simple. His sphere of influence has penetrated our innermost circles, even though his time in Heaven can almost be considered negligible."
Azrael's eyes widened, his mind quickly shuffling through countless possibilities.
"You can't mean—"
"Gabriel would choose Lelouch over Michael, just as Raphael would forever back his brother," Metatron continued, "Lelouch was already her friend, and you must know how our sister is, she loves her brother more than the world itself, but she loves her father even more."
Gabriel's actions were not driven by altruistic motives, they were driven by faith and love. With the approval of her Father and her own friendship backing Lelouch, it was obvious she would choose to place her faith in him.
Moreover, the power and influence within her hands were not insignificant.
As the messenger of God, she was in charge of propaganda along with gospel and sat upon a position that allowed her to directly influence the citizens of Heaven.
"And Gabriel is not the only one who would follow Lelouch," Raziel spoke, turning towards his brother, "Isn't that right, Uriel?"
Uriel smiled at them, ignoring Metatron's contemplative gaze and Raziel's mollified eyes, "I have devoted my loyalties to my father, I am a simple man, and will remain and die such a man. Anything else is not my concern."
His views were justified, after all the arrival of Lelouch was a divine ordinance created through the will of God. The very reason why the angels and the fallen were divided into two factions was that one side swore to obey the will of God while the other rebelled against the Heavens.
An angel could not proudly call himself a member of Heaven if they disobeyed the word of God.
"I can understand your choice, brother." Metatron nodded, seemingly in agreement "Even I am torn between two the choices, but for now I shall and observe wait before declaring decision."
It was just too sudden, and such decisions could not be made on a whim. They had to be contemplated thoroughly for days and nights on an end. While Lelouch did have the right of inheritance, he had not yet proven his worth.
But for Azrael, it was completely horrifying. Two of the Seven Seraphs had changed camps while another was already contemplating it. For the first time, he seriously considered Raziel's words.
"You—"
"The fate of Heaven shall ultimately fall into the hands of Lelouch vi Britannia." Raziel interrupted before Azrael could continue what would ultimately prove to be an endless argument, "The future shall be carved by the path that the boy decides to take, for now, all we can do is wait for the inevitable and pray that his actions be reasonable."
They really had no idea what was to come…
The Assembly where the High Seraphim council convened was only a quick walk away from the medical facility with only a market in between, so the Seraphim had opted to walk, rather than teleport directly, giving Lelouch a chance to witness firsthand, the wonders of Heaven.
Though angelic magic could replicate every single modern commodity he once enjoyed, a simple walk through the streets was enough to remind him that this world was still stuck within the early seventeenth century.
He initially hadn't paid much mind to the timeline shift between his old world and this new one, but witnessing the beauty of early renaissance architecture that he had only read about was indeed a novel experience.
The angelic architecture that heavily emphasized symmetry, proportion, geometry, and regularity of parts as opposed to the irregular profiles of gothic structures was mesmerizingly beautiful.
Every single structure standing within the Sixth Heaven was an invaluable masterpiece of art, created subtly with more elegance than any human monument he had ever seen before. His trip felt more like a visit to an art museum rather than a simple walk down.
Lelouch had long thought of himself as someone unable to appreciate the beauty of finer arts, but the Sixth Heaven had proven him wrong.
Their architecture was interesting, but even more interesting were its people…
Though time and age may change, Lelouch had always believed that people would remain the same.
There was a time when they lived in caves, fighting and killing others over the smallest of things, and remained the same even as time moved on and technology progressed.
Sure, they liked to pretend that they had changed, that they became more civilized and forgot their old barbaric ways, but it was a lie. Just like before, when they fought over food and water for their tribes to survive, and to be more powerful than others. Now they waged war over entire continents to expand their authority and ensure the survival of their states.
Methods and reasons might have changed, but the main idea behind it all stayed the same. After all, he considered humans to be the most predictable of all living creatures.
Which was why it had been so interesting to observe even the mundane lives of a different species altogether, living together in harmony and peace.
It was even more fascinating to observe how the angels tried to mirror humanity, despite being inherently inhumane. Their sciences, cuisine, fashion, and even their cultures were an emulation of those used by mankind. As if for all of their immortality and eons of knowledge, they still needed to imitate human science and rely on human discoveries to progress as a species instead of discovering them on their own
A single glance was enough for him to realize that aside from the glowing wings behind their backs, these angels were no different from ordinary humans.
A fact that assured him more than he could have imagined.
There was a saying that says the scariest animal on Earth were humans, but Lelouch thought the opposite. Humans were animals that he felt most reassured with.
He could not trick a bear or a tiger. If he encountered a rampaging lion, the most a weakling like him could do was get killed.
But humans...
Humans could be deceived, and angels, as he had found, were no better.
"I see…"
The charismatic voice of Lelouch snapped the Seraphim out of their thoughts as they all glanced at Michael who bowed and slowly retreated to his throne within their assembly hall, where they had all once gathered to judge Lelouch.
They glanced again at the boy, Lelouch who staring at Michael with a sharp glint in his cold amethyst eyes as he finally reached the conclusion of his analysis.
Michael had been speaking for almost three days, explaining the financial structure, the military affairs, the inner politics, and the foreign policies that kept Heaven running.
But that sharp intelligence with endless depths hadn't once faded from the cold amethyst eyes of Lelouch vi Britannia, as he intently listened to the report without taking a single break.
Lelouch always nodded at the right time, intervened at the appropriate moments, and never failed to ask the right questions. As if the young boy was already well-versed in the matters of rule and had mastered the arts of administration. They had all been watching the successor of their Father intently for almost three days and had seen him pick up on intricacies and details that even he had missed.
The cold intelligence and the blazing ambition shining within his eyes would have scared them, had they not witnessed the compassion Lelouch had shown Gabriel.
Michael had finally finished his report, his shoulders slumping in exhaustion as the fatigue cumulated while speaking continuously for three whole days without a single break and the pain caused by the extraction of the command matrix of their System finally crashed down upon his tired body.
But the Seraphs didn't spare their brother much thought, for they knew that Michael would be fine. Such discomfort was naught but a trivial annoyance for an Archangel who had survived the battlefields of the Great War.
No, their eyes were glued on Lelouch, watching his every move like a fanatics gazing upon a miracle for the first time in his life.
After a few minutes of contemptuous silence, Lelouch finally stood up and slowly walked towards the centre of their sacred hall. His gait had changed entirely, filled with regal poise and dominant strides, completely unlike the expressionless posture he initially assumed when he was first brought here.
They all found themselves subconsciously leaning forward in anticipation as Lelouch came to a stop right in the middle of the sacred hall.
"Attention, Seraphs!" His voice was strong and reverberated across the hall like a clap of thunder and Uriel's back subconsciously straightened in response, while a single glance told him that his siblings did the same.
"I imagine, that it may seem strange to hear this from a boy who has not yet experienced the sorrows of this world, but I have been able to infer the general gist of the situation from what Michael's report entailed." Lelouch paused "Thus, before we move onwards, I humbly request the honour of addressing the impending matter of my immediate future before the High Seraphim Council."
There were murmurs at his request, but none dared to refuse. Lelouch observed the way these Seraphs earnestly waited in anticipation for what he had to say and nodded in approval.
Though it felt surprisingly refreshing, their way of diplomacy was not one that he was used to. This was almost tame compared to the intricacies of the Royal Britannian Court.
Unlike the despicable nobles who fought for their own interests first and then looked at the interests of their nation, every Seraph had devoted their very souls to Heaven. This made them easy to predict…
"Before I begin," Lelouch spoke, "I would first like to commemorate the Seraphim for guarding the Gates of Heaven with unparalleled devotion and peerless vigilance. The power of God might have shielded Heaven in the past, but it was the struggle of the Seraphim that secured our future. You have earned my respect."
"I thank you for your kind words" Michael broke the stunned silence, "It was but our humble duty."
"This realm was our Father's home." Raphael added, "Of course, we would protect Heaven with our lives."
"I am grateful nonetheless." Lelouch bowed with a flourish.
The importance of the act was lost on neither of them. It signified an acknowledgment, the preliminary steps to reconstruction of their shattered perceptions of one another. No longer the Council that once tried to sentence him to death, to him they were now the High Seraphim, the Guardians of Heaven.
"Nevertheless, moving onwards, I now realize the significance of my appearance and the precariousness that my identity carries. For the sake of Heaven, I request that my identity not be revealed to the greater world for the time being."
The Seraphs all glanced at each other, before they nodded in apparent approval, surprised that his thoughts lined with theirs. If anything, they had initially assumed that the boy would want his identity revealed before the greater world to consolidate his authority but it was obvious that they had underestimated him.
"We have already made preparations to do so," Raziel stepped forward, "Naturally some of us were hesitant to partake in such a plan, but considering the circumstances, the High Seraphim has no choice but to meddle in affairs that must remain untouched, for the sake of Heaven."
"The throne of our Father must remain empty, the shield of reputation that protects Heaven shall never be pierced." Michael gently cut in, realizing that his brother was being too blunt, "We only ask that you consider our circumstances while keeping the interests of Heaven in mind."
Lelouch raised an elegant brow in contemplation, but he nodded in consent nonetheless.
A normal man might have fought over this, deciding to seize power first before looking at the greater picture. But Lelouch had always been far removed from bounds of normalcy, always ready to sacrifice lesser gains for greater accomplishments. He knew the consequences of his appearance, his audit with Michael had him well acquainted with the politics between godly pantheons, thus was willing to sacrifice at least this much.
"I admire your efficiency" Lelouch spoke, "But all information regarding my arrival must still be suppressed, lest wanton rumours ruin your preparations."
"Heaven is currently isolated from the greater world, and the flow of information through the Gates of Heaven has been severely restricted." Azrael spoke, "Moreover, I have already created an information block to suppress all rumours regarding your existence. Those who witnessed your arrival have all been sworn to secrecy while those who refused to do so have already been silenced."
"I see…" Lelouch nodded, expecting the response, Heaven would have long fallen if the Seraphs weren't at least this capable.
He sighed whimsically, elegantly bringing a hand to his mouth as he tried to hide the small curl of his lips that had twisted into a slight smile.
"Since you have obliged me so much, I shall not trouble you anymore than necessary. With the matter of concealing my identity dealt with, I have but a single topic to address before I surrender this stage." Lelouch smiled and bowed elegantly with a flourish. "Please bear with me for a bit longer."
Lelouch paused, looking at all of them with his deep amethyst eyes. He was not done yet...
And as he opened his mouth to speak, Uriel had no idea that his next words would rattle the very foundations of Heaven and change its destiny for years to come
"I see no point in talking around in circles, so forgive me for being blunt this one time." Lelouch closed his eyes, his smile was cold. "My request is simple, I want Michael to abdicate the Throne of God. The current regime is to be abolished and the High Seraphim Council must surrender all their power."
A moment passed…
…
…
And then, pandemonium erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!"
"THIS IS NO TIME TO MAKE JOKES. PLEASE, RESTRAIN YOUR TOUNGE OTHERWISE I AM GOING TO…"
"You are going to do nothing," a curt voice interrupted, as Lelouch vi Britannia, the Demon Emperor who had trampled upon the world opened his cold amethyst eyes and interjected.
Absolute silence fell upon the Council as the conceptual weight behind his words struck their very cores, reminding them who exactly were they addressing.
"My words must have confused you, so I shall forgive your impudence this one time, but I am not a man fond of mercy," Lelouch said, "Taking your loyal service into consideration I shall allow you to speak this one time, but do remember to restrain yourself lest you repeat the same unsightly debacle."
The Seraphs glanced at each other, their voices suppressed due to apprehension, with helplessness written within their gaze.
They were unable to move.
The sheer implication behind his words made her knocked the breath out of their chests.
But before that, the amethyst-eyed demon who had suddenly appeared was simply too frightening. This was different from the primal fear induced during fatal situations. The feeling was different from that easily understandable surface fear. It slipped into the deepest portions of people without them noticing and the next thing they knew, strength had left their limbs.
It was like how domestic violence carried out behind locked doors was accepted as the normal routine even by the victim. It was like the climax of a discussion about who to eat first while trapped in a small snow-surrounded cottage with no hope of rescue in the near future. It may have been described as a great fear, but it was not something that could be rejected on the surface like a flame that you reflexively pulled your hand out of.
This fear permeated them so deeply that it created a cycle that at a normal time one might not even realize something was strange. Just by standing there, the raven-haired emperor could likely even destroy the morals in the hearts of all those around him.
"B-But, that's not fair." Gabriel stammered, silent tears shimmering within her emerald eyes. "Faced with an ultimatum like that with no choice but to agree. That's not fair, at all…"
"Life can rarely be called fair. The world truly is a cruel place." Lelouch's eyes softened, snapping them out of their trance. "I truly apologize, Gabriel. But this is something that has to be done."
Yes, none of them had realized it at that time.
Not a single one of them was able to identify the wrongness that permeated the very since Lelouch had woken up.
Every one of them had forgotten that the boy before them who now shined with divinity once stood powerless, that just seven days before the very same boy seemed so mundane that the entire Seraphim had mistaken him for a human.
Yes, Lelouch vi Britannia had been kept in Heaven for an indefinite period of time during which the Seraphim had tried to pry his origins from his vulnerable body using countless means.
Their tests had revealed nothing…
In the eyes of Heaven, aside from the odd sense of familiarity, he was an ordinary boy. A victim of circumstance who seemed powerless at a glance.
Yet something had changed within him since his awakening, something that the Seraphs had subconsciously ignored.
Nobody had noticed anything when he woke up, speaking Echonian with the conceptual weight of a divine ordinance accompanying his words. None of them had said a single word of complaint when the boy they once assumed to be ordinary stepped forth, bringing with him enough power to suppress the seven Seraphs entirely through sheer raw strength alone.
Every single angel of the Seraphim had ignored the way the air around him seemed heavy with the weight of his existence.
None of them had overlooked this oddity, but they had ignored it nonetheless because they had all been afraid.
So full of fear that they had wilfully refused to acknowledge this distortion until Lelouch had slapped it right at their faces.
The System of God had been under his command from the moment he had woken up.
They had not realized it until now, but the control of the situation had been wrenched from their hands the moment Michael collapsed. They had truly been in checkmate right from the beginning.
"I do not understand why you seem to be insisting on the usage of such extreme measures." Metatron tentatively stepped forward, his pupils, dilated trying his best to act as a mediator. "But these things cannot be rushed, at least proper dialog must be established before even considering such steps."
"Ho?" Lelouch raised a brow, "So you acknowledge my origins, yet are reluctant to impart with your own power when the situation calls for it. Quite unreasonable, wouldn't you say?"
Everyone winced, recognizing the trap that they had walked straight into. His coming was the last divine ordinance of their father, that much was certain. That the System of God had accepted him as its administrator proved the absolute fact.
His existence was not something they could reject, not without crumbling the very foundation of legitimacy that the Seraphim stood upon.
To do so would debase their faith, the very morals that they prided themselves upon proudly would be lowered should they choose to walk down that path.
After all, what right would they have to call themselves pure, to deride their misbegotten brethren for their heresies, if even they themselves refused to accept their Father's will?
"Disbanding the current regime, abolishing the powers of the High Seraphim Council, and forcing Michael to abdicate?" Azrael shook his head, "We do recognize your authority and are even willing to negotiate in lieu of your position, but such demands are simply unreasonable."
Lelouch raised his brow, surprised by the fact that they were willing to negotiate. It seemed that the Seraphs were finally beginning to understand their situation.
They finally seemed to realize that Lelouch was the one who firmly held the reigns of their existence within his hands.
Alone, he was frail and powerless, no better than a human whose soul was tainted with divinity. But with the System within his hands, he held the power to shake the very foundation of Heaven itself. Truly, God's last gift was not to be underestimated.
"I do agree with Azrael. At a glance, your demands do seem to be quite unreasonable." Michael finally spoke, and everyone fell silent. "Which is why I must first ask you this, Lelouch vi Britannia. Why?"
Michael couldn't really blame his siblings for their frustration, after all, he too felt the sting of familiar bitterness stirring within his chest, only his was a hundred times worse…
Michael was the one who should have opposed this, to resist what Lelouch was trying to do. Out of all the angels in Heaven, perhaps he was the one with the greatest right to be contrived this one time…
After all, this was something he had spent centuries nurturing, a regime that he had devoted his very heart and soul to. It was a government that he had spent countless nights on, working himself to the brink of utter exhaustion day after day, for the sake of duty and love.
But duty once again stayed his hand…
He had bled for Heaven.
He had worked so hard for the sake of his sibling's happiness, for the sake of his people's dreams, so that his Father would be proud of him when the time came for them to meet again.
Ruling over the realms of Heaven was not an easy task; maintaining the System and keeping it active, managing the distribution of sacred gears, presiding over miracles of God, and filtering the prayers of the world all at the same time was utterly exhausting.
He was Michael, an Archangel of Heaven.
God's System was made for the protection and betterment of Humanity…
But he wasn't God.
He wouldn't ever be God…
Michael had never felt the truth of this fact as profoundly as he did now, facing the one bearing the hopes of his Father.
"Heavens fell and the skies turned red when the grand vestige of God faded away and reality itself bled.," Michael spoke, profound loneliness in his voice that couldn't be explained by simple words. "With our hopes and dreams ruthlessly crushed, the people of Heaven turned towards me for guidance."
"To protect those dear to me, I was forced to step forward at such a time, promising them an eternity of peace and prosperity." Michael said, "An eternity where we could smile happily again with our hopes secure. I promised them harmony and order, a kingdom where they could dream again."
"The paradise that our father created was what my brethren desired and every action that I took thereafter was to ensure the completion of this simple wish." Michael paused, "I dreamt about recreating the light that once comforted us, my promise to them was an eternal utopia, a paradise unchanging forevermore."
An uneasy silence spread across the room, all the Seraphs looking down in shame as they remembered how they had all been rendered helpless, directionless without a higher power to command them.
Their weakness had forced Michael to step forward and assume command, accepting a burden he wasn't prepared to bear.
"And to recreate the utopia of our father's kingdom, you forced us to retreat, seeking shelter behind Heaven's gates." continued Uriel, his gaze heavy, "You took advantage of Heaven's absolute defences and accepted isolation to protect us from the world that had rejected us, planning to rebuild what was once lost. To regain our glory behind the safety of God's protection and to salvage our power without any foreign intervention.
Uriel sighed and closed his eyes, while he still disagreed with Michael's decision, he respected and loved him like no other.
"When all's said and done, all you really want is to protect your beloved Heaven, forever and ever." Gabriel murmured, "Isn't that right, big brother?"
Michael slowly nodded, as his haunting emerald eyes shined with untold emotions.
"At least tell me this much, Lelouch…" Michael continued, his voice resolute, "Is this really necessary? Is our regime really so flawed that it has to be discarded like this?"
Lelouch frowned, though vastly different in both intentions and methods, Michael's ideals reminded him of his brother and his desire to enforce an eternal 'present'.
His refusal to embrace the future was not something he could accept…
"The regime that you created was not perfect, but it was better than any I have personally seen before. Heaven enjoyed prosperity through radiance, and survived the darkest of nights under its guidance." Lelouch nodded, "Your principles protected Heaven for centuries, and your rule would have ensured its security for eons more. Though your ideals could not be called perfect, they were not flawed either."
A shocked silence spread throughout the room at his words. Praise was the last thing they had expected to hear from Lelouch.
"If that is true…" Gabriel hesitated for a moment, "Then why does it have to be discarded? Why does the government that my brother shed sweat and blood for, have to be repudiated?"
Lelouch closed his eyes, unknown emotions stabbing through his heart as he thought of an eternal present, an unchanging eternity without any progress, before sighing in derision.
"I am doing it because change is more eternal than any God could claim to be, because I know that stopping progress is impossible." Lelouch answered, his voice cold, "Did you really think that the world would stop moving forward as you hide behind Heaven's gates? That our enemies would not grow as much as we would, if not more so? Did you presume that the world would stay the same for centuries?"
"By isolating us from the rest of the world, you tried to create an eternal present, an unchanging eternity of peace." Lelouch softly scoffed, "But you forget that progress comes from strive, and development is fed by need. In an attempt to recreate the past, you denied Heaven the chance to make progress, and because of it, the rest of the world has moved forward without us. The people strive for a better tomorrow, to be greater than they were yesterday, and yet you have forced them to remain the same."
"Heaven has forgotten its duty. Your beloved God is dead and his dying wish was to protect his children. To guard them against the beings that would hunt them in the dark, which would feast on the young and weak, and that would corrupt the good and strong among them. Just as they are doing right now."
"And yet where are Heaven's legions? Where are they when the innocent call out for help? Where are they when children are hunted down and killed like cattle? Where are the promised protectors, where are the shepherds to guide the faithful, the guardians to protect the weak in their time of need? Where are they?"
Lelouch paused, looking at the Seraphs with his amethyst eyes, waiting for an answer that yet went unanswered while the angels lowered their heads under his gaze.
"They sit within the gates of Heaven, enjoying its spenders while the innocent suffers beneath their feet." He answered, his tone furious.
"Even worse, the legions that your Lord trusted are slowly becoming the very thing that they were supposed to guard humanity against, feasting upon their beliefs and exploiting their faith, all the while claiming it is for their own good. Chaining and controlling them by masquerading as God, forgetting that is a sin to pretend to be one, and for what?"
Lelouch asked, gazing at each of the Seraphs one by one, even as they averted their eyes in discomfort. Shame written on their faces, all too aware of their own weakness, the helplessness that had reduced them to this state.
"To protect Heaven?" He continued, "Heaven was meant to stand guard over its people, Heaven was supposed to be the home of the righteous and brave, and yet, Heaven's legion sits back, their weapon lay untouched in their sheath and their rusted armour lay abandoned on the ground, as they watch the people they were duty sworn to protect are pillaged and exploited, all so that Heaven may survive. I ask you this, what is the point of Heaven when it serves no other purpose than its survival?"
Lelouch spread his arms as he asked this, scoffing again when he received no answer. The Seraphs were silent, knowing that his words while scathingly cold were no less true.
"One only needs to take a look at the way the supernatural deliberately aims for humans with Sacred Gears to see how bleak our situation is. They were God's gift to humanity, bestowed upon your race to protect them, to give them the means to fight back the monsters that hunt them in the night. Sacred Gears were meant to be used for humanity and their sake alone.
"And what happens to them? They became tools for the Devils instead as they exploit Heaven's lack of vigil. The very thing they were meant to fight. They steal humanity's greatest and strongest with promises of riches and power, and the moment they get hold of them they turn them into little more than slaves. They promise to love and protect, while in truth they are the source of the danger that they need protecting from."
Lelouch took a deep breath, though Heaven has prospered under Michael's eternity, the isolation that was designed to protect had led them to stagnation, cut off from the outside world Heaven has forsaken the very reason for which it was created. It has forgotten God's sacrifice...
"Stripped of ambitions, deprived of the potential for change, a Heaven that does nothing more than simply... exist." Lelouch sighed, "If there is one good thing that came about with your Father's passing, then it is the fortunate fact that he never lived long enough to see how his gifts were perverted in such a way by the very children that were meant to protect them."
Lelouch closed his eyes, and a bleak silence followed.
"Though I hold the power to rule all of Heaven within me, I still respect your sovereignty and your rights. I have no desire to intervene using the force of arms. But can any of you honourable Seraphs truly claim with their heads held high that you are completely satisfied with the way things are now?"
The Seraphs blinked yet none of them stepped forward.
"Listen well Seraphs, no matter what you do death comes to us all in the end. Whether it is a single day from now or a million, all of our time is limited. And when our time comes, and we look back upon our lives, we do not judge whether our life was a good one or not by the number of days that we lived but by the number of times we laughed and the number of regrets that haunt our minds. That is how we decide if our lives were worth living. Can you all truly say that Michael's reign has given you no regrets?"
He spread his arms wide as if beckoning Heaven for divine judgment.
Charismatic. No other word could accurately describe the boy. The Seraphs had once thought that their Father had a charm that could make even kings envious; if so then this boy can make even the Gods jealous. His charisma was just that unnatural.
"That's right, before creation there must be destruction Heaven must move forward, embracing their new future. This Heaven of yours that remains frozen in the past must first be destroyed before a new one takes its place, I will ensure that it does." Lelouch smiled, "I shall leave the final decision in your capable hands. I do not ask you to trust me, but do you have faith in the judgment of your Father?"
"Do you even understand what you are saying?"
"If I deliver to you the impossible, then I might have earned your trust."
Thanks for reading.
This chapter is based on Lelouch and the actions he took after waking up and has some info-dumps about Gods and their domains along with the Seven Heavens.
The idea of domains was shamelessly taken from PJO as well as the fanfic the Olympian God of Destruction, moreover, changes are made to the titles of Archangels to fit the convenience of this story. If that offends you, well I am the writer here please so suck it up guys.
Usually, Lelouch would not actually straight-up demand the Seraphs to surrender their power unconditionally. In normal circumstances, Lelouch instead would infiltrate Heaven, earning political power and authority before moving so openly and even then he would rather install a puppet regime that he can control rather than directly seizing authority.
But the situation at hand is completely different, he already had power, the legitimization, and the authority to directly rule Heaven the moment he inherited the System of God. A single command from him can blacken the wings of even an archangel. Basically, no angel can oppose him in Heaven, that was the power vested in him through God's final gift, and with this, he does not need to act covertly.
This is not Lelouch being ooc, this is a repeat of what he did to Britannia, but instead of the Geass controlling the nobility, he has the System.
Will the Seraphs resent him for it?
Some might, and some won't. There are some that are dissatisfied by Michael's rule and wish for the Great War to continue to rid of their shame like Uriel, and there are some who are loyal to their father above all else and will follow his ordinance that declares Lelouch the ruler of Heaven like Gabriel.
At the end of the day, please remember, angels are not human. They are artificial life forms created to be loyal to their Father, given souls and sentience. Their priority is not their self-interest, but the welfare of heaven and the will of their father, a sharp contrast to humans in power.
In their eyes, what Lelouch is doing is enacting their Father's will and Lelouch is well aware of that, which is why he feels so comfortable doing this.
Another change is the fact that Lelouch does not want to repeat the path he took as Zero and the Demon Emperor. He always presented himself as a distant symbol, but here he actually tries to show his humane side, to inspire loyalty and increase the empathy people feel for him.
This was also why in end, he left the final decision to the Seraphim rather than imposing his absolute will, so they view him as someone who actually cares and is actually willing to listen to them.
The image he wants to create is basically that of a firm but also a secretly kind leader.
Sorry for the monologue.
This chapter was written only by me, my friend who is also the co-author of this story was not available this time. I was not completly satisfied with this one but without my friend, this is the best I can do. Please bear with the drop in quality.
Finally, I would like to thank varunsrivastava who proofread this chapter.