Chapter 14
The Emperor points, and we obey,
Through the warp and far away.
Attributed to old imperial guard song millennium unknown.
Northern Italy Exorcist rest station time unknown.
Kanagala looked at her new wings. The gold was beautiful. She had first had it happen when she had entered Weaver's service. She had considered it a freak accident. It had been one feather then. It was now on all of them. They glowed so much. She found that she vastly preferred the gold to her old white.
It felt like her father was back with them. He who was dead. She saw new things in her dreams now. Of her and the rest of her race serving an empire that would be eternal. An empire whose power and strength would be felt throughout a galaxy and beyond. She had met here her new father.
He had a face she was unaware of until she remembered the description of that little boy that had died in that horrible tragedy in his home city. The thing speaks to her.
"Hello Kan. I am sure you have many questions."
"Who are you and why do I feel like you are my father. Your not him."
"I am not. I am the new god that you and eventually the rest of your race will serve. Fallen or pure it will not matter. I can not ever replace your first. But I will be your second. I who had an avatar on terra. The one you took the leap of faith with. The one who will make your children into the mighty bulwark of humanity. The one who is the hope given to the hopeless."
"And what if I or the others do not want you. What then? We you leave us alone or anything else."
"No. You who are also the children of humanity. I will never leave you alone. I said I will never be able to replace your maker. But I will try to earn your love. Like you said to the first seven. Your opinion matters. Please think on that."
That had been the first conversation. More followed. Each time it tried each time it got better. He was not her father. But he could be one day. He cared. He wanted her to be happy.
Kananglia had been broken out of her thoughts by her Lady Gabriel entering her office. She had been visiting more often. Her two agents were with her.
They had been desperately trying to slow the bleeding of the exorcists who in many cases were now outright deserting. They humans were finally reaching the breaking point.
That point had been when the Catholic Church had excommunicated a young nun that had healed many of the fighting forces of the church. She the exorcists had long believed to be deserving of sainthood. They had been pissed when her excommunication was made public.
Over a thousand warriors had resigned immediately and spat at the church calling them monsters who had forgotten them and had killed the chance of someone who had been truly pure. More resignations were still happening. Kan and others were sending them to the Master of Mankind. To be the new army.
Tensions between the church and heaven were now on very thin ice. The Seraphs had snarled in hatred at the stupid humans who had done that. Gabriel had actually almost fallen because she had very much wanted the nun on her team.
Despite all of the ever growing hatred and resignations that were now doubling every few weeks. The system had not failed. The Seraphs had not understood why that was. It should have failed at the massive scale revolt. But it had not. Kan had a hint of why now. Because the other was helping it stay alive. He who was her possible father had given her hints of it.
"Lady Gabriel how can I help you today? If this is for another request for today's resignations it was double of yesterday."
The seraph has almost cursed. Her agents had also been grim. The brown haired woman had been increasingly saddened by the news. She genuinely cared. The other woman a blue haired holy sword user had been angry before remembering why the resignation and desertions were happening. She too had admired that nun.
"Please talk to the ones remaining Kan. I beg you. The news is spreading further and now the Muslims are starting to lose their exorcists they have had a comparable situation break. The Jewish warriors are now beginning to show doubt. Please help with this."
"What can I say to them? They are utterly right to leave. The church has now started to become a massive liability. They have spat on the sacrifice that our warriors have made. That nun healed so many of them. She was beloved. How can I tell those left that they should stay with this sinking ship? If my oaths to you were not as strong I would be joining them. The way they have long been treated was disgusting."
The words hurt all three others. It was true.
"We were lucky the system has not failed yet. Kan I know you hate the churches, but you have to talk with them. They respect you."
"No."
"No!"
"No, I will not tell them to continue fighting for them. They are the true heart of faith. They will now fight for another. One who will not throw their lives away like they are nothing! The one we should be looking at and seeing the example that he is leaving. That will be their new master!"
The blue haired girl spoke anger that Kan would say that to her lady.
"And who is this person! This dog that is taking advantage of faith!"
"The Red Angel."
That shut the holy sword user up. Gabriel gasped in clear disbelief and shock.
"They are now serving a monster! A thing that is worse than the Morning Star! Your saying that we should be looking at it and commending it! Kan what has made you say this! What evil has made you think this!
"What evil? What evil! I say this because you and the seraphs have spent so long in those white towers of yours that you have become blind to the fighting and dying that has been happening! You who had not held men and women crying for their mothers and fathers! As they pass in my arms! They who you would have utterly forgotten about! They who made the sacrifice! They who unlike the curs you are telling me to tell them to continue fighting for have utterly not forgotten what faith is.! The Red Angel has done more good in the three years he has been active than the last two centuries! He is giving these warriors a dream to fight for that does not forget them! If that is evil then I do not want to keep serving you who has clearly forgotten this!"
That hurt Gabriel so very much. For Kan to say that. To forsake oaths. This had eaten at her like a virus. How long had her subordinate felt this? Irina spoke softly for her lady.
"How is he better than God. How can we ever trust him? He who leaves bodies in his wake."
"Because he cares! He cares more than anyone else on this planet! You see a monster. I and the others flocking to him see hope! You do not see the mud. You tried to reform this cesspit of darkness. I have nothing but respect for you Lady Shidou. But these men and women who follow him the see the future of our shared world. I will not take that from those who still have faith and still want to fight but will not under the church. The system will not break."
"You cannot know that! How can you you know that in any way shape or form!"
"Because I have faith Gabriel! Have some of your own for once! I will not quit my service to you. But do not ever ask me again to make these warriors keep serving cowards. They the warriors who are coming to know no fear!"
That last bit hit the three in separate ways. Gabriel in relief that Kan was not evil and had definitely not fallen. Xenovia was hit by shame and a bit of fear. Irina was hit by something else.
Her eyes were filled with visions of the red angel and this dream of his. Irina started to thrash and fell from her chair to the floor and let lose a scream.
Her first gift had been awakened by those last three words.
Gabriel, Xenovia, and Kan rushed over to help Irina who was thrashing and still screaming. They had to hold her down or she might have really badly hurt herself.
"Kan what is happening! Why is she screaming? What did you do!"
Kan realized the screams.
"Keep holding her down! I am going to get someone I think can help. Do not let her up!"
"Kan!"
"Just do this Gabby! He will help her."
Kan had not called her that name since the Great War. The angel immediately summoned a spell and contacted someone by phone and that person who ever they were had silenced the phone immediately.
"Keep her down. Help is coming!"
The screaming continues and the thrashing gets worse.
Kuoh academy student council Tuesday morning.
Issei had been asking a question to Ruruko about what the two of the would be doing sharing the same position on the council. She was now senior treasurer and he the junior. Ruruko had teased that he should call her senpai when they were like this, and he had been smiling at that when a call came in on a cell phone. Issei had paused before looking to Ruruko for permission to answer.
She nodded to him.
He takes out the phone before his eyes widen significantly and he then books it out of his chair and to Sona's office. Ruruko also joins the run.
Issei slams the door open surprising Sona and Tsubaki and momo.
"What is the matter Ise! Why did you?
"So. Is this place safe to open a portal? Someone just touched the sea for the first time!"
The three faces paled badly. Sona nodded immediately.
"Your good Ise. Where!"
Momo saw a bit more. She gasped.
"So. It is in Italy. With the church. This person needs help now!"
"Open it now!"
Issei opened the portal and on the other side was another office space with four people. One was being held down by two others one of which was a pure angel. The last person had been waiting for the portal and Issei quickly put on a psychic mask and charged through the portal.
Kan felt the portal open, and she felt her lord come through it. She could not see his face. But she knew this was the avatar.
The figure runs to the now thrashing violence log movement that is Irina. The screams had gotten so much worse.
"Move out of my way! Keep her down or else something really bad will happen!"
Xenovia snarled at this person with no face.
"Who the flying fuck are you! You probably did this to her!"
"Shut up and do as I say, or a bomb will go off and there will be no survivors!"
Gabriel felt the power of the stranger and obeyed instantly unconsciously.
"Xen do as he says now! This I order you!"
The other woman snarled further but obeyed her lady. The thrashing was reaching new heights and Irina was now screaming so loud that the room was shaking. The stranger knelt beside her and put a single finger ready to touch her forehead.
"Kan."
The angel understands the order.
"I will watch you."
The finger touches. The screaming and thrashing stopped instantly.
Inside Irina's mind.
The ever-present pain and suffering that she had gone through was now pillaging her soul. She was seeing so many different lines and she was still screaming.
In so many lines Issei was still alive! He was different in every single one! He was a devil in so so many. In others he was something else. Irina kept screaming at these things that were not yet were so real!
"This is my punishment god please end this why! Why now! Why when those words! Please oh mighty lord and father end this pain!"
The lines continued and Irina could see that they were all branches of an enormous tree. She was going to merge with it! A hand grabs her and pulls her back.
"Iri! Do not go to the tree! Whatever you do do not merge with it!"
It is his voice.
"I cannot! It is pulling me in! Ise I am so scared please help me! I know your dead but please help! Please by God the almighty help me!"
The tree drags her forward but that pull halts when a gold wall goes up in front of her. This slows the pull. It is enough that she can look over her shoulder. It is him. It is really him!
"I will not let that tree hurt you my dearest friend! Just like when we first met! Believe me I am real! I am not dead!"
"You are dead! You were at the center! Please Ise do not lie to me! The tree is calling to me I cannot stop it! Please be real!"
"I never died! Iri please stay with me! You will go completely insane and then explode if you touch that tree! Believe in me now like you always have!"
"I am trying! Ise the song is so beautiful I."
"Ignore it and focus on only me! There is a way to break the connection long enough that you will be safe! Have faith in me. You will have to die but I will be with you when you return! You who share my gifts! You must believe me! Akio is like us too! We will never leave you alone ever again. Have faith in me and know no fear!"
She was going to die. But his words called to her.
"I have faith Ise. I have always had it. I trust you please do it now! It is growing stronger!"
The wall was breaking down and Issei did the only thing he could do. He stopped her heart with a psychic thought.
Kan's office a minute later real space.
Irina stopped breathing and her heart stopped beating. The stranger had moved and was next to the two living and the one now dead body.
Xenovia howled with pure rage and dropped her sister in all but bloods body and smashed herself into the stranger. She punched and slammed his nonexistent face into the floor.
"You were supposed to save her you bastard! Why is she now dead you fucking cur! I will kill you in vengeance for lying in the presence of a Great Seraph you dog!"
Punch after punch landed on him yet the stranger does not try to defend himself. He did not say a word.
Then a miracle happened. Gabriel had started crying seeing her daughter in her arms dead. She would join in the murder of the stranger with Xenovia in a second. Was this what Kan had experienced so many times! Why had she not fallen!"
Then the heart started beating again. The breathing started again! What has he done to do this this was like Jesus come again! Gabriel cries turned from grief to joy! He had saved her! He had done what he said he would!
Her daughter opens her eyes. They are different now. There are hints of gold in her now. Irina opens her mouth and says so softly.
"I am ok mom. Please stop Xen from killing my friend. He would just come back like me now. Please stop her!"
Gabriel has now seen a true miracle. One that had not happened since the time her father died. Kan rushed to try and defend the avatar! He who is her new and utterly eternal lord now. She had some faith before. Now it would never fail. The angels' wings are out and her six turns to eight and she rushes to her lord and tries to pull the woman beating him into the floor off. The voice of Gabriel who has seen the wings and the miracle joins in helping the stranger.
"Xenovia stop this now Irina is alive! Stop this now please! He saved her you must stop trying to kill him!"
"That is a fucking lie! He needs to die for telling this lie! She is dead because of him! I will kill him even if I must take excommunication because she was all I had! I will do this in her name!"
The rage builds in the blue haired woman and she prepares a blow that will definitely kill him. The voice of her sister stops her.
"Please do not kill him Xen he who is my utmost friend. I am alive. I have returned. For me please do not kill him!"
Xenovia looks over to her sister. She is moving. She is alive!
Such deep and all consuming shame and love fill her entire being to her soul. Love for her sister and now him who had not lied and had not tried to defend himself in her rage. Shame because she had doubted him and almost killed him. His breathing had been dropping to a painful gasping. Xenovia dropped him and ran to her sister hugging her in pure adoration. She was crying now.
"I am sorry! I am sorry! I am so very sorry!"
A short black hair woman with glasses covering violet eyes had run through the portal to the stranger's side and was holding him like one would a lover.
"Please stay with me! I cannot lose you! You who understands me so much please do not leave me!"
The blood that had been flowing from his face ceased and the wounds heal so quickly that the girl and Kan are amazed. He spoke just as quietly as Irinia had.
"I will never leave you. So, I am here with you till the end. Do not hurt her. She had the right to do this. I will explain later, remember what I said? The other is like me. No more blood needs to be spilled. Please do not do anything to her for me."
The now named So just started crying more over him. The crying stopped from Xenovia. She and Irinia crawled over to the stranger. Xenovia still cannot see his face. But Irinia can. The mystery woman was on his right side so Irina grabs hold of the left. It is really him!
She joins in the crying and touching his face she understands everything about him. About what they are. They are perpetuals. He really would never leave her side ever again.
Her faith had always been with him. But now it shown through the warp and this light will never pass from it.
The crying continues and his breathing gets better. He is looking at the woman named So with so much affection. Irina wants that so badly. But they were all but strangers. He had still come to help her despite that. He her first real friend.
"You are alive. You are real and here. Ise. Why?"
So many whys.
"You moved. I did not know where you were. When I did find out it was five years later. You were doing better. How could I reopen that wound."
He puts a hand on her face.
"I know what you did. What you are still doing. Iri it will not work. The rot is too deep. They will never grow back from the evil. You cannot stop them. He cannot either. He has been gone for a very long time. Do not blame the angels. They are trying so desperately to keep us safe."
That confession shakes two of the now six. Irinia is not one of them. She touches him more.
"I always knew. But that is ok. Ise please do not lie to me about the church. It can be saved."
While Xenovia and Sona are both coming to the realization about the stranger to one and what the close friend of the other had said. Kan and Gabriel both look ashamed. The truth was out now. The stranger continued.
"It cannot. It can never be saved. Iri I know this because it is collapsing. The system is only still standing because I and another are keeping it working. The army that I am building is protecting and strengthening the system. Please believe me. I know it hurts. Like when I lost my parents.
They are now sadly the past. The Imperium is the future. It must not be stopped. They are out there. They have gods too. They are mostly hostile to us. We need one that is alive. He is not. He was the best of them. We were not made by him. But we were his children. He took pity on us and gave us so much. But his dream is now dying because of us. Something new has to be made to replace it. The Imperium will be that something."
Irina can see the truth in his words. It hurt so badly. To know what she and the others had done to save the faith had and would never work. That it had been all for naught. The rest scares her. She remembers a book that they had both read as kids. It had been about the alien.
Her blood and Kan's chill. They understand. Gabriel and Xenovia do not. Sona knows and squeezes the one she could now she herself with forever say that.
"You cannot really mean that. Ise. How do you know this?"
He puts a hand on hers. She sees the lines. She gasps. They are real. They are very advanced. They would crush them all.
"The new one is protecting us. We would have been invaded by one power if he had not been shielding Sol. Iri. The old needs to die. The new and Unification are the only few lines where we live. He will be remembered. He will be no longer a god but a saint.
The new one will take his place. We dodged a bullet that was aimed at our world. We must do this, or we will die. You know I hate religion. But this needs to happen. For all who come later. We will never leave. But we need to make this world better. It will be much better when the church dies."
She sees the lines. He is correct. She saw a line where the exorcists were betrayed so utterly that they had to be brainwashed back into accepting the new status quo. That was a kick in the gut because it would be done by a human who had become an angel.
"Ise. This."
"I know. Give up the old. Let the weed die. Let the imperium grow from that weed's ash. We have to do this. The angels and us humans will lead better lives. They will be the future that we both deserve. We humans because we have been at the bottom for so long. The angels because they will not have to betray what they stand for."
Irina weeps while Xenovia and Gabriel try to understand what he was saying. Sona burrows into his right side. She has renewed her crying. Irina looks at him again.
He will be an emperor. Because the imperium would be immortal. It needed to be and thus needed him to be there forever. Once the crown was placed it would never be taken off. Every single second would be tormenting every decision would be needed. He could not run from this. It was his fate. His destiny to be the emperor who was the avatar of a god. He would hate himself every single second for being its slave. But he would do it for them.
"I will follow you. Just like how you will be there forever so will I. What will be my fate? I saw Akio. I know his. What is mine?"
"I do not know Iri. But you will be the third of us who will never leave. We will never enter the sea of souls. We are condemned to always and forever now be here."
Irina looks to the devil across from her. She has seen her now highly likely fate. She was not the first Sigillite. Irina could not be the first nor any. Her other was out there. He was handsome. He was also a perpetual. But he was not Issei. That path was gone.
That hurts so very much. But he would never let her be alone again. She finally saw her role. She would be an angel of war. But also, one of peace. She would take away the pain that the mortals would feel. She would be a new Celestine. She who now would be a saint of this new god and its avatar.
"Together. Until the seas boil and the stars fall. I am with you to the end. I see what I must do. I do desperately want you. But your first is coming. She will fix a part of our problems."
Irina looks at Sona. Her eyes narrow.
"You are so lucky. You will have him. But you ever do anything that hurts this beautiful man. I will find a way to give you this curse. I will make you scream in agony if you destroy my friend and his heart. He that will be beloved by all. He that is the Master of Mankind. He that will be the Emperor. Am I perfectly clear?"
Gabriel and Xenovia are shocked by those words. Sona just nods.
"Crystal. I will never hurt him. He who sees me utterly. He who is going to make my dreams a reality. I wish you were one of us."
"Do not wish. My other is amazing. He will click with me. Just like you have with my friend. Have faith. Because the night is remarkably close to over. The dawn grows ever stronger. With each breath more will join the bulwark. More will join the wall of guns and swords. We will endure and survive. Just like when Ferris Manus said. The flesh is weak, but it endures."
"I have not heard that son yet. I want to hear his tale. I want to hear all of them."
The face of the Emperor was finally revealed to Gabriel and Xenovia. They each see different things.
Xenovia sees herself on a field of battle with great gold wings extending from her back. She is leading a charge of humanity against the evil of the stars. She shouts to her warriors to know no fear and give these Xenos the blade and the las shot. They are defending a planet. A world of the Immortal Imperium. She sees Great War machines. The cog and skull of humanity are there on them.
She sees a new sisterhood of warrior women who will show the Xenos and the stupid men that will remain in humanity that they are just as strong and worthy of being an equal. They will be his fury. His righteous wrath. The Xenos will learn to fear them. She sees Irina leading with her. They the sisters of battle.
Let the Xenos come. Let them learn the strength of humanity! Let them die like the plague most of them are. Let humanity take up the standard. They would not kill every single species. They would kill the monsters.
Gabriel sees her place. She sees him that is the avatar of this new god. She understands now. He had hijacked the system. He was keeping it alive and for the first time actually making it stronger. He who would so desperately try to become her race's new father. Her old would become a saint. The saint of martyrdom. He would live in memory. But the Emperor was right. The old had to die. The Imperium was the future.
The wings on Gabriel changed to gold. Like Kan's. She and Xenovia kneel to the Emperor of man. Xenovia crying out in such shame and regret for almost killing her planet's savior.
"Take all of me my Lord Emperor! Make me feel your wrath for what I almost did! Make me into your warrior! Make me into what I must become. A daughter of the new god of humanity! God is dead! But a new one is rising! Make me your strongest warrior! Make me into a sister of battle! I will pay any price! Give anything!"
Gabriel follows.
"I swear my cadre to you who is the avatar. I swear myself utterly to the Imperium. To your destiny and your rule. Give us angels a new fate. We struggled without a purpose. Let us build this Imperium. For you. I never want to hold another in my arms again. Kan was right. I did forget the humans in my push for peace. But your way of peace is beautiful and better than mine."
The Emperor glanced at them both. His face softened at Xenovia.
"I bear no grudge warrior. You will not feel my wrath. Turn it on the Xenos. They deserve it more."
He looks to the first Seraph of heaven to join them.
"I will only take you. Not your cadre. Not unless you ask them each personally. Their opinions matter just as much as yours. They should be asked not forced."
Gabriel crying tears of purpose. He was right. They should all get to this point. Not forced to accept it.
"Yes milord! I will help funnel warriors to the bulwark. I who sees the truth. For Terra!"
Unknown location China.
The land had been bought and secured two days ago. The ones who were Alpharius had come. They had built the training center of Unification. Many who made it would stay. They wanted the world to be better. They joined the warriors of the church and now Islam who were being sent here.
Many more drill sergeants had stepped up from the first company. They and now Comandante Jasper were now beginning the training of regiments of the Astra Militarum.
The new guardsman had been shown the banner of theIimperium that they would wear fight and kill for. The church warriors were of stronger faith. The Muslims were now feeling the start of it. Jasper had with a sergeant chosen from amongst the Muslim numbers began a speech.
"Whatever was your faith before you came here does not apply to us anymore. Our faith must be to the Emperor. It must be to the Imperium. Do not abandon the past. But you must work with the man or woman next to you as your new family. They who you must trust utterly. I see the doubt. I see the fear. You are not nor will ever be expendable. We are humans first and whatever we were before second. Our world is dying. But we can stop this. You will see things that would be considered impossible. They are real. Believe in the faith of humanity. Believe for the children who will come. Harden your hearts. We will fight gods. The ones who have abused us for so long. There are enemies who want nothing but eternal war. Let us give them a war where humans will show the supernatural that we are not at the bottom anymore. You will fight. You will be joined by more of us and the supernatural beings who are also sick of how the world is. When they come they are also your new brothers or sisters. Devils who are slaves also. Fallen who are fighting for redemption. The pure angels who are searching for purpose. It will not matter who or what they are. They will join the wall of guns and swords that we forge. The Emperor will point us at the enemy. He points and we will obey! Through the fields and far away! You will be the fortress! You who have taken the leap of faith! For The Emperor! For the Immortal Imperium that we will build with our sweat blood and Sacrifice! For Terra!
Silence reigns for but a moment before hundreds of voices scream forth in reply while making the sign of the Aquilla.
"For the Emperor! For the Immortal Imperium! For Terra!"
Squads are made and the numbers are not split between Christian or Muslim. The squads will be forever mixed. Two adepts of the children of the Omnissiah hand each warrior their las gun and chainsword.
"Treat your weapons well. They are your spear against the darkness. We are like you. We serve the emperor too. We will teach you how to maintain the war gear."
Many just nodding in pure acceptance. Some ask the questions they have had start to appear to them. The lead adept smiles from her red robes.
"We have a chapel here. Come during down time. We will share the vision of the great work. Do not immediately dismiss the idea. You who will be like us will understand."
Those who were hearing the call immediately nodded furiously. The others just shrug.
Training would begin tomorrow.
Commandant's office Camp Of light.
Jasper sits with his second in command Janet. Before the two are the officers who have stepped up. They are eager to begin.
"You each will read theses data slates as we build. The Tactica Imperialis has great wisdom. But it will never be completed. If you find insight into war. Add it to the wealth of knowledge for future generations. Infighting is to be broken up immediately regardless of what your faith was before. Shame the perpetrators. But do not utterly humiliate them. Show them the emperor loves them like his children. Show them we are all the wall. More will come. They will never stop coming now."
"Yes Lord Commandant!"
The officers move out and begin heading to where their companies are being formed.
Kuoh academy Lunch time. Tuesday.
Rias noticed immediately that there was a new face at the student council table. She was quite pretty and was sitting next to Issei like they had known each other their entire lives. She would get her answers morning Star be damn!
She moves with no fear. Akeno is about to join her, but a look sends her queen back. Rias marches to the table and she sees Sona leaning on Issei slightly on his right. Rias stares down Issei after stopping in front of him. The student council unconsciously moves to protect their new member from Rias. That devils would do this for just a human makes the rage return.
The rage stills as Issei looks at her and understands her questions.
"We will talk after school Gremory-san. I see what has happened. I will tell him immediately."
"You better talk. Or you will be in serious trouble. Be at my building after or there will be little for your boss to find after. I do not fear him anymore."
"I will be there. I am sorry Kat-chan, Mura-chan."
The two kendo club heads see the sorrow.
"It is ok Issei-kun. You do anything to him, Gremory you and yours will pay in blood. He is amazing and does not deserve this shit."
The two young women were glaring at Rias not showing fear like they should have. The new face looks at Rias before a sneer comes across her face too.
"I will come with you Ise. How in so many it is this? You do not ever deserve this."
"Rias is fine Iri. She has problems too just like we all do."
Sona turns her face from happiness at her one to Rias and the look she sends the others way hurts.
"I am coming too. I will not leave you alone. Just like you will not me. They are right Rias. He does not deserve this shit you are throwing at him who is helping you. You said you would give Issei a chance."
"I will when I get my answers. Why did I hear a voice talk to me about believing in you! You will tell me!"
The scene was being played out but thankfully Issei had dampened the noise from the table. The fan girls were so pissed now because they could see the onee-sama of the school saying something to the king. She was angry. The girls in her year were equally as mad. The club had spread to them too.
What right did Rias have to be that angry with him. He was so nice. He was so good for the school. All the clubs had been disappointed when he joined the student council. But they all saw how much happier Sona was now. Their story was so very romantic. The genius and the serious president. It was making so many young women swoon at that. They still wanted to be the second or perhaps third. They were willing to try that.
The men were also angry. Rias had one of her club members treat the other like shit called him a coward and Issei had forgiven him. The man had calmed the four of them down with good gifts when they had been scared by something and yet the king had done something to help them. This made many ready to come help him. He was the role model at the school. All the men wanted to be like him. He backed up words with action. This was not right.
Two young men did get up and ready to move to support him. But a look from Issei had made them stop. He had mouthed to them that he was good. The two growled sitting back down but still glaring at Rias. This made the red head lose the top spot in the pecking order.
"Gremory-san I will be there. Your questions will be answered. So. Iri. You do not have to come."
The two had looked at him before shaking their heads no.
"We are coming."
Rias felt the hateful glares being sent her way more vividly now. She had fucked up. But she did not regret anything. She simply turned from the table and went back to sit with her club. The hate was now spreading to them. Koneko got the least because she was nice and had humbled herself before the king. Kiba got the next most hate. That had been utterly gone before it returned now because of his king. Akeno had actually moved a bit from Rias. That hurt but Rias was not mad at her queen.
Rias just continued eating.
ORC building after school Tuesday.
More than just Sona and Irina had come. Momo stood with him in support. Ruruko had come to back her senpai. Tsubaki was here because she now saw the look that had once adorned her own face when speaking about the angel. She hated that. Her Emperor needed to have support. She would not flinch. Rias had been very much in the wrong. Sona was on his right. Irina at his side like a true guard.
How was he ever with this spiteful woman. This woman who treated him so badly. Irina had seen several trees where this Rias treated him so very badly. What was worse was that she helped Rias treat him like that in some. How could he not hate the redhead? She knew the answer. Because he was an incredibly good man. The other hims had been too. Yes so many were deeply perverse. But the same good was always there.
When they had all entered the club room properly Rias was standing and facing him. She was supremely confused about why so many had come with him. Two more joined barreling in after the main. Katase and Murayama had come when they gave up fear for the one who had protected them from Gustav and had helped them both fight back.
The support each gave was amazing. Akeno and Koneko had backed up at the show of support. Kiba had too. The shame returned.
"Answer my question now human. I do not fear your boss anymore. Who was the fucking voice!"
The anger was very much there. The supporters of Issei bristled at that. Rias had heard a voice and was taking her anger out on him! Sona and Irina understood the context. The god was growing stronger.
"I understand. The voice is a growing god. The red angel is his avatar. He will still help."
Rias had snorted at that pathetic answer. There were no new gods. The gods were all here and already fixed. New gods do not just pop up from nowhere. All gods hated devils because their race was evil. A ball of destruction gathers in Rias's hand.
Her peerage looked horrified at what their king was going to do. She was going to kill their last hope. If she killed Issei the Red Angel would immediately reject his offer of help and then he would kill them all.
Koneko throws herself in front of Rias to shield him. Akeno prepares to attack their king. Kiba prepares blades to support his two friends. The cat girl is not the only one who moves to protect him. Momo preparing a magic shield. He was her kin. Tsubaki summoned her naginata in his defense. Sona throws herself in front of him. Mura and Katase draw their kendo blades. Ruruko prepares Irina does nothing alongside her lord.
Koneko begins pleading with her king to not kill their chance.
"Ria you cannot kill him! We will all die if you do this!"
"He is fucking with us! There are no new gods! No god would help me. Not when Big G cursed us all! Get out of my way both of you. The fact the rest of you are defending his utter bullshit makes me even more pissed! Fuck him! I do not care anymore! I will willingly go stray rather than dealing with the lies of my parents and the fucking fire chickens. Get out of my fucking way!"
"Stop."
That voice was the one Rias had heard in the bathroom earlier. The entire room turns with wide eyes to the voice. There standing in the corner of the room watching them all was a ghostly figure. It wore the face of a very handsome man in his early thirties. Long black hair and gold green eyes look at them all. It is wearing a frown. None but Irina and Sona see Issei's eyes narrowed at the thing in pure white hot hatred.
"I said stop child of humanity. The agent is correct about my presence. I am real. I am indeed new. Agent I thank you for what your boss is doing. I now have the strength to be here to help you as he is helping me."
"You are not real! Why would you care! All gods hate our kind!"
"I don't."
That shocks them all except Issei and Sona.
"I said you are not my first choice of child. But you are still human. I am the defending champion of all that share the human form. You have bits I do not like. But I understand that you cannot help them. Please do not kill the agent. He who has only ever truly tried to help you besides your brother. I know. My avatar knows. He will help you still. I have seen what you four have done and will still do. Truly and utterly have faith one last time."
Rias looks ready to break down and cry. To know that there is truly a god that does not hate her. The other devils feel that too. Sona does not like the ghost. She remembers Issei's words. You could never trust them. But the hope it is giving Rias is worth it. She will never trust it. But it was a Faustian deal.
Sona now sees why her other hates it. It does want to help. But it will always be a warp being. She did not like this aspect of it. The machine aspect made more sense to her, but she would never truly be its follower. She sees that Irina is now the same.
"Believe. That is all I can ask. It is all anyone can ask. Agent tell my avatar that they are doing exceptionally excellent work. More gifts will come."
Issei's hate is so strong. He wants that thing dead. Like Big G. He wants to drop his mask and drive a psychic blade into its chest. Ddraig and Revelation are the same. The dragon had come to hate gods just like they did. But it had saved the mask. Sona and Irina see the truth of it. That is small victories enough to drown out some of the hatred. He will always hate gods. Odin with Argus had made the hate worse. The one eyed fucker had created a monster because he could not keep it in his pants.
Rias let us a few tears fall. To know that a god was giving her its avatar to help her settles doubt forever. The ball goes away. She drops to her knees weeping in pure relief.
The figure disappears and the stand off breaks. Mura and Kat are amazed to know that a god stands with them. Ruruko begins to utterly believe. Tsubaki had watched Issei and Sona. She would not trust it either. Momo had fallen to her knees as well praying to this god. This god who had given her Issei's guidance. There was no pain! No agony from this prayer. Momo wept too because she had been devoted to the Shinto before her rebirth and they now hated her. She could now pray again to a god that accepts her as she is.
Rias and her peerage watch in shock and awe at the words flowing from Momo and that they are not hurting them. Koneko wants to join in. She was Buddhist thanks to her father but even the Buddha had turned his back on her. It had been filled with so much regret. The Buddha had still wanted her. But devils were anathema to the cycle of life. The cat woman wants to join so badly.
Akeno wants it too. She wants the acceptance of something bigger than her. She was darker than most of the peerage. But the god said he did not hate them and that he would try. She had also been devoted to the Shinto. The legacy of her mother. She wants the faith so badly.
It is Kiba who breaks. Here faith was renewed. Pray without pain. A miracle. He had loved Big G. That is why he had joined the holy sword initiative. To defend his people. They betrayed them all. Here was a god that cared. A god of humanity that he had felt sundered from for so long. It was his biggest regret to give up faith.
Kiba fell to his knees praying to this god. Momo grabs his hand and the two pray together they did not matter from which peerage they had been from originally. They were together in being believers. The Red Angel was its avatar. This god of humanity. How could they ever doubt him when it was like its patron!
Rias became the harbinger. The first pure blood devil to believe. She joins the prayers she weeps to know that she is truly loved. She would finally have someone beside her brother looking out for her. The belief in the Morningstar had never felt like this moment and every moment that would come. She now had utter faith in this god and its avatar.
They pray. Rias stopped long enough to look at Issei and cries her apology.
"I am so sorry for doubting you and him! I will do anything to earn your forgiveness! You who have brought me hope! Please name whatever you want! Land, money, power, influence, or anything else. Please take it! Please see my willingness to repent for almost killing my final hope!"
Issei shakes his head. Irina now sees why the others hims love her most often. She had been in a dire situation. Just like then for the other branches he had helped her. She forgives Rias. She still does not like her. But her situation must be bad.
Seeing the shake Rias is about to cry more apologies. But he stops her.
"I do not need any of that. He does. But give only faith. Do not sweat it like a mummer. Put it into action. I never held a grudge. There were reasons to, but I did not. Give that all to Unification. Not me."
Rias nodded fervently and agreed.
"I am his. Now and forever. I will put my words into action."
She rejoined the prayers she knows only true faith.
Irina knows faith. It is not faith in the god. It is faith in the martyrs they who will come to her. They who will pray to the saint of martyrdom. Big G. She had seen his death. That traitor fallen who had killed him under the flag of truce. He would be the center of the cult of sacrifice. The one that all who would hear the sacrifices. An aspect of him would return. It would be vastly different from its original. But part of him would live on.
Forge of Dreams Tuesday night.
Their conclave is together once more. Akio had joined Irina and Issei in a small room that was very well hidden. It would be their room. Issei had let his public face down as had the others. They had all hugged each other. They the immortals. They were all psykers and perpetuals. Irina had asked how Akio had learned his gift.
"I died just like you did. Mine was bad. My aunt is a police detective. It is why I have followed in her footsteps. I had always wanted to find out what had caused that night. My gift was triggered when my aunt and I were busy at a store and an accident happened. We went outside and a truck slammed into me. I broke every bone in my body.
I love my aunt. She has taken such diligent care of me. Even though I wear my dad's face. I know that hurts her so much. But she has been wonderful to me. The truck driver immediately tried to help but I was dead. I touched the sea at that time. It kicked my second gift into action. My aunt was ready to bury me. But the thing said to her to wait. I hate it too. But for that hope to my aunt, I will give it some doubt. When I returned my aunt hugged me so tightly that she broke two more bones. That hurt. Issei contacted me that night. And I am here now. I will never leave you either sister."
Irina told her story. They the trio of children who were now adults. They both had wanted to kill her parents. To be so blindsided by that purity. Their families had never really liked her parents. But they had kept the relationship going between them for the little girl they very much liked.
"I have a new mom and sister now. I love them both so very deeply. The others are dead to me. My father did try this year to reconnect. But when I saw the letter I guess my gift told me his true intentions. He wants a connection with my new mom not me. I burned that last letter. Do not try to kill them. Let them both suffer in knowing that I will be an immensely powerful person in our Imperium. Let them regret that they turned on me for brownie points with a church that will be very dead soon. Let them know that I will never forgive them for trying to make me into a worse person than I am now."
They had laughed at that, and she had joined them. She was very petty when it came to them. They had alcohol for the very first time. Not much but it had been two sips. They did not like that. But their nature would keep them healthy forever. Irina had asked when they would have nights like this for all the future ones.
"Once every two weeks. I will tell my people to let me have this. My Sigilites will probably swat me for the fun we will have. But it will be worth it. I do not see the next one yet."
"Same with my acolytes and my eventual other inquisitors. We will always welcome those who will come next. I want to know our next kin."
"I will definitely tell Xen to cover those days. I really missed each of you. Is it my other Issei?"
The other junior members looked to the one with the highest potential in the field. He would always be almost god like in his abilities. They were both just upper high class psykers.
"It is not your other yet Iri. And I am quite sure she is a woman. But the skeins always fuck with me."
"A true pity then. At least I will not be you Akio. You get her. How will you stand her? She is not a good person."
"I will give her a chance. I think today will really help with her. It is what your others do with her."
"I mean she serves that bitch I met today. But I just want you to be happy too. But really the black haired one?"
"We both like the same things. Remember that time you found that one mag that was lewd."
Irina blushed.
"It was an accident."
"It is your fault I like that stuff. I was never able to get rid of the images. Fuck you for that!"
The three had broken into a laugh at the fighting words. Akio teased his friends further.
"At least I will have a fun one. Issei gets the student president. I see her sometimes and she is so grim. Is she the first?"
"I like Sona you bitch Akio. She is grim but she is wonderful I saw that today when she rushed to Issei's side."
Irina had shot that back at him good naturedly. Issei did not look perturbed by the comments.
"So, is not my first Akio. But after today. She is most definitely my second. I cannot see even a hint of the first. But whoever she is will help our cause so greatly. I want to meet her too. But we are immortal and there is no rush. Gabriel talked with you today since the incident?"
There was the business back. But the mood was still good natured.
"Mom did message me before we spoke to redhead. She said she will begin talking to her cadre tomorrow or Thursday. How bad are the desertions? I mean how bad is the bleeding?"
"Very bad. Asia was the very last domino keeping the house up. The resignation and desertion will jump more now. The warriors of the guard will tell those not in yet. The Muslims are beginning the same path. But they too were mistreated. The churches at least gave their warriors decent training. The Muslims were used like the Death Korp."
Akio grimaced. Irina did not understand the reference for a second before Krieg's story flashed before her eyes. She wept for them. For those born in factories to pay a sin they did not commit. They who had all been male and female clones of an extraordinarily strong but crazy man. They who had never once turned from humanity.
"That is horrible. Was it really that bad for them?"
"Not as bad. But you were just a body. Your weapons were not good. There were few veterans because of that, and it was a feedback loop. They suffered too. We will treat these brave warriors better. They got tired of it really fast. But they had nowhere else to go."
"Did Krieg ever earn forgiveness?"
"They never lost acceptance. The rebels were pieces of shit. But they were right. Krieg was giving too much and getting nothing back. I love Malcador. But he and Revelation were also pieces of shit. The tithe system was so badly made and deserved all the hate it got. But Horus had to listen to Erebus in that dream that killed hope."
"We will never do that. The Krieg and so many others deserved better."
"We will not. All of humanity deserves better. Punch me into the ground with my Sigilites and kill me painfully if I ever do that. If I ever touch the dark."
They both saw the very badly hidden plea. Akio nodded.
"I will make it extra painful. It will hurt me, but I will do it for you."
"I will just make you life hell for a few weeks before I do the deed."
Their Emperor smiled. He had meant it.
ORC building Tuesday night.
Rias was in a small room she had converted in the building into a chapel. Momo had been with her and Kiba. The three had never been so close than at the moment the bird had gone up. Their chapel had been so welcoming. They never felt the pain being in a holy place would be like. They only felt acceptance. The god had not lied to them.
This was beautiful. Rias would not lie. She would give whatever the Red Angel asked for. He who had brought her to this moment in front of the bird that had once inspired fear. It would only now and forever show hope. Rias loved that bird now.
She had found God. A god that was not perfect but was trying it is best to love them. The drought of despair was over. She was going to give everything to Unification. When she touched the bird she saw the dream. It had made her weep further.
Rias saw the way. She would be a warrior of faith. She would show everyone this truth. Nothing but faith would ever leave her mouth again. She had started this path by knowing no fear against Issei and the Red angel. She had almost failed the test. But she stayed her hand. She would never know fear again.
Akeno and Koneko wanted to believe too. They were so close. But faith should be your commitment not pressure. She would be happy if they joined or not. They mattered. Her greed had lessened significantly. It was still there. But she knew now she would never have to feed it again.
She was in the room by herself looking at that bird. She would fight Riser now with more strength. Nothing would stop her or them. She had seen her future. She saw the stars. She had so desperately wanted to touch them! To explore. To see the galaxy and go where no child of humanity has ever gone before. This dream of exploration lit a fire in her so deep and burning that it would never be clenched.
"For Him on Terra. For my new dream. Thank you my lord!"
The bird's heads for but a hint of a moment seemed to smile at her new oath.
Akeno was so desperate to be in that chapel. To see God. To truly know no fear. She wants it so badly. To be like her king. Koneko had almost done it tonight. The nekoshou had almost joined the trio. But fear held her back too. The queen had heard Rias make her oath. Akeno was not one of the light. But she had when looked at that bird seen what she so desperately wanted.
Him. Her other. He was so much like her. He was shadows too. But he would be a hero. Not from tales of glory. But a true hero. He was wonderful. She would not have him as she was now. But she wanted him so badly. His face was blurry, but he was strong.
That want. She will join the service tomorrow. She would contact her father. She would do anything to be worthy of him! Rias had left and Akeno had entered that chapel. She was welcomed.
She kneeled before that bird.
"Please God. Make me better. I have doubts. I am afraid. But I want him so badly. Please help me a worthless hybrid find him. I who is weak. Please help me!"
That voice again comes to her. It is her mother.
"Then be better for him. He is doing the same for you. Believe in yourself. Forgive him. Your father has been in just as much pain as you. He misses you desperately. Do not blame him. He tried extremely hard to get back to both of you. He just trusted the wrong person. You knew Grigori is a snake pit. He wants you back so badly. I hear him crying for both of you. I am not perfect. No one is. Try for both your sakes.
To face that truth. To know he fought to get to them. Akeno now sees the certainty.
"Thank you."
The voice does not reply.
Akeno opened a communication spell. She called him.
Baraqiel's quarter's unknown location.
He had made it another night. He was so sad to wake from his dreams again and his beloved wife was still not there. The rope in his closet was there always tempting. But he stayed here in the ever dwindling hope his daughter would consider contacting him. He was ready for another day of disappointment.
Azazel was now so close to exiling that fucking crow that was snarling for war. He did not want to have to kill his baby girl. He knew she was a devil. But that did not matter to him. He was desperate to have his baby back.
He had once agreed with the angel of the stars. But after one of his rats had betrayed them so badly he fell from that camp with so many other cadres. Those who looked to him for leadership. He had spat at the other feet and swore he would never help him again. The peace faction grew triple its size. He was a war hero for the fallen.
He was entering the small kitchen in his flat when what he had desperately wanted for over ten years finally happened. She called.
He jumped to answer the call. He knew it was her! He knew because he had taught his wife and daughter personal spells so that way he would always know it was them.
He answered.
An. Pretty evil of me yes. The god of humanity is a highly active deity. Now dispel disbelief that Issei would have died with Xenovia beating the crap out of him. Gabriel's team are family. If you saw your loved one pass and the person who had promised to help could not and it happened. I personally would beat the crap out of them. I would do my damn hardest to get anything that would stop the pain for a second. Issei knew that. That is why it happened. How can he explain that Irina would come back? How can you explain what a psyker and a perpetual is in that dire of a situation. You cannot. Irina is a perpetual. Just like Akio and Issei. There are more. No, the first wife is not one. That next one is a surprise.
Rias. This is difficult. I said that I vastly prefer Sona. That is still true. But Rias is not bad. I do not like her for several reasons. I was actually 75/25 on making her a hard antagonist. But she deserves help too. Yes she is now a rogue trader. She will have an interesting career.
Big G. He was an incredibly good god. He had faults. But here he really tried so hard because he saw the crap the Olympians and Asgard did, and he hated that so very badly. He will be the figure of the cult of martyrs.
The comparison of the Islam exorcists to Krieg. They were often just picked up off the streets and given no training. They had horrible weapons. It is not because I hate Islam. I actually took inspiration for that from another. They had a similar Asia incident. They are not bad people either. Power progress is stepping up.
The Xenos of the galaxy. Most are really bad. That is why the plan is so important. If you caught the hints left by me the closest Xenos are from a book series I read when I was a kid. They are not too bad. But others are. They are not the good federation. That good federation only controls at most 5 percent. The next big enemy in the stars control more. They are extremely bad. They are like the drukari. Not exactly them but their society is actually like pre m 35 drukari. They are vicious. A bolter shot is way too kind for them. There are other Xenos too. This faith growing within humanity is militant. But it is not fascist. My spin on the new imperium is quite different.
Ann. to the most recent reviewer who likes the story but has to suspend disbelief. Issei is not Revelation. Your right that the presence and psychic might did do that to people. But Issei is trying to be better than before. The presence does leak out. But its mostly not as overwhelming here. i also will be doing a repost of all chapters tonight after work with corrections. im very far ahead now. expect more chapters this week. the big thing is a rework of the land grant. its now a country instead of a town.