Don X Don (High School DxD Miracle Child SI Chapter 18)
Rachelle thought it was odd how much her mind was speed past thoughts, memories and ideas in her final moments.
She thought on Father Cornelius, the man that was always kind to her for as long as she remembered, but now wondered how much she might have missed about him and his motivation. She remembered how in the beginning, he was always happy and proud as her powers grew, but at some point, he began to look guilty when she spoke about how well or how hard she worked on her powered. She thought, he was worried that she was being too harsh on herself.
She thought on the sisters in the church, how they changed when her identity as the "Miracle Child" was revealed. Yet she also remembered whenever Milo dragged her into a game, and had one of those nun join them. She remembered how they would fool around, or be strict when Milo and her made a mess. They wanted to treat her normally, and befriend her, but felt they couldn't due to her status.
She thought on Xenovia, always stern and frowning, and how childish she can be when surprised by something. She thought on Irina so devoted and cheerful, yet so deeply in pure love with her childhood friend, that Milo and her couldn't help but tease the cutely flustered girl.
And finally, inevitably, only he remained in her mind. Milo.
She was suppose to protect him, to be his shield and guardian, yet...
Ever since he arrived to Bolsena, it was like he was the one saving her. Her days of having to wear that mask, of being cold and empty were washed away by his sunny smile.
Over and over no matter how she tried to distance herself from him, or make him leave her, to even hate her, he kept extending a hand to her. No matter what, he kept warming her heart, despite the coldness of her life, her duty. He made everything bearable-No.
He made her want to live. In a way, when Father Cornelius said she was always meant to die, she wasn't surprised. It made sense that, that was how it would always end. It was just a feeling at the back of her mind, so it wasn't shocking if that's how her story was going to end anyways.
And yet...
She really wished Milo was more like the persona she kept trying to put on. If he was childish, selfless, obnoxious, impatient, temperamental or just...anything she could hate him for.
Because...Because...
Because then her treacherous heart wouldn't be wishing to see him right now, rather than accept her death.
Yet she was also glad not to see him, otherwise her frail resolve would completely shatter. Her last glance at the bracelet he gave her before closing her eyes, showed that the red snake wasn't glowing, that Milo was safe. That knowledge should have been enough.
If only I could see you again.
Yet she couldn't and so waited Rachelle for death.
...Death that was taking too long to arrive. We're the Fallen Angels so sadistic as to prolong the flight of their Light Spear this much.
No. She realized. The spear felt very close.
Slowly, cautiously, Rachelle opened her eyes, and cried at the sight before her.
"Why?" Rachelle cried out, a smile forming even when she tried to stop it.
She saw him. She saw Milo with Xenovia and Irina behind him. Milo stood ahead of them, the giant Light Spear between him and everyone else.
A giant Light Spear that was stopped dead in it's tracks by his hand.
She hated this. Hated her tears that turn from sorrowful acceptance to pure joy. Hated emotions that were pouring out of her heart.
And about all.
"Why are you here!?" She shouted.
Rachelle hated how happy she was, to see him come back to her.
"Sorry we took so long, Lady Rachelle!" Xenovia cried out, holding her Holy Sword out, yet it looked like there was no need.
"Y-Yeah, who would have know a hundreds of devils would take so long to take out." Irina said, just as taken aback as Xenovia.
Yes, both Exorcist girls were somewhat familiar with how strong Milo was, as after he unlocked Fighting Spirit, he no longer lost any spar, and against Xenovia going all out would always draw.
But now, seeing him fully stop a Cadre's attack with one hand, they began to get a closer look at just how powerful he really was.
Milo brought up his other hand, grabbed the spear, digging his fingers into it, and pulled, ripping the magical attack in half, and dispersing the energy away.
"I told you," Milo turned his head and smiled at Rachelle. "The bracelet has a teleportation function. I should have clarified that the teleportation range can reach anywhere, when it comes to its twin." He said with a cheeky look.
Rachelle and Cornelius had stood up, the girl felt her will to fight return as she stepped forward, only for Milo to shake his head gesturing for her to stay back.
"M-Milo," Father Cornelius said in shock before gathering himself. "I know you may not believe me, and there isn't enough time. You aren't who you think you are, Rachelle can explain everything." He said desperately. "So please take her and run away."
"Hey, Father Cornelius," Milo spoke, his tone more flat than he would normally use with the old priest. "Did you never think it was odd for an infant to grab a rosario which was sharp enough to cut them, and not let go till the magical link it was trying to establish was complete?"
Cornelius blinked in confusion for a moment, before faced paled so much, one would think he was bereft of blood. I immediately dropped himself to the ground in pleading.
"M-My lord, I beg your forgiveness! I place myself at your merc-"
"Stay there." Milo turned to face the two Fallen Angels, while pointing back at the kneeling priest. "Stay right there, until the fight is done. I more or less have the full picture, but I still have some questions to ask you."
"Milo! How could you talk to Father Cornelius like that? And Father why are you..." Xenovia looked between the priest and Milo in confusion but didn't let go of her main focused on the Fallen enemies.
"Err, Father, Milo, why are you two acting like that? The Fallen are the ones we should be angry at." Irina tried in her own way to get everyone to work together again.
"It seems like," Satanael spoke, drawing everyone's attention to him. Rachelle and Cornelius looked on in shock that the Cadre was holding the edgy golden roasrio Rachelle always wore. Rachelle looked down, and touched where the cross was, but it really was gone. It must have gotten snatched up when she was busy fighting the Fallen Angel. "The priest deceptions run very deep."
"What do you mean?" Kokabiel said heatedly, his eyes never leaving Milo since he teleported in, feeling an old rage resurface just from looking at the blond's face.
"When I managed to deduce that the girl was Gabriel's Miracle Child from the sheer density of Holy Power she had, Cornelius refuted that claim saying she was just a decoy. I thought he was lying, which is why I told you the boy was the decoy. Thinking back, it seems I was fooled by the truth." Satanael explained. "This magic artifact here works like a Sacred Gear Extractor, I've worked with and designed a few, so it's familiar to me."
Kokabiel started laughing. "Seriously, how many plots and hidden secrets are there in this quent little place. Are you sure you're on the side of Heaven, priest?"
"Everything I did was for the sake of Heaven!" Father Cornelius stood up and shouted.
"This artifact works by transferring the Holy Power Gabriel's child, into the Divine Sanctum wielder." Satanael continued, mostly explaining his thoughts out loud, as he looked on in intrigue. "So Sacred Gears' growth can be affected like that, this opens a whole new avenue of research." He said with some excitement. Then his eyes narrowed. "This artifact was modified." Satanael said, to which Cornelius' eyes widened in fear, as he looked away in shame. "It seems like when it's deactivated, rather then return the Holy Power, it would remove it all from the original owner to place in the Divine Sanctum wielder."
"What!?" Irina shouted.
"Wait, wait this is all too fast, are you saying...?" Xenovia looked between the Fallen Angels, Cornelius and Rachelle, and finally Milo.
"F-Father, why? How could you?" Rachelle shouted at the priest.
"I'm sorry." He kept his head down. "I'm sorry, it was all my fault. The fault of my weakness, I realized too late the horror of what I committed, and couldn't corrected in time."
"What do you mean?" Irina asked.
"That girl," Satanael spoke. "She had a part of the Nephilim in her all her life. Removing it now, would be the same as removing someone's Sacred Gear. It's would be ripping apart someone's soul. Of course instant death is the result."
Shock fells down on all who listened to this other than the Fallen, as understanding came to them on who Rachelle was and who Milo was.
"W-Wait, so Milo is actually..." Irina tried to say.
"I... I all this time, I..." Xenovia tried to focus on the enemies present, but it was on too many revelations one after the other.
"Kokabiel, this matter is new intriguing to just discard it. Let's just take the Miracle Child and the Divine Sanctum with us." Satanael asked.
"...I have to admit," Kokabiel looked at Milo before giving a malicious grin. "I'm finding this drama so entertaining, that I think I might just not kill everyone here right away. Alright, if Gabriel's real child comes with use, and the Divine Sanctum girl, we'll let the rest of you live."
"And," Satanael continued. "Don't forget," he held up the golden rosario. "If you try anything, we'll destroy the artifact and the boy will definitely-"
A blast of energy occurred with a loud boom like a railgun, engulfing Satanael completely in it's beam.
Every Exorcist has a certain set of times as a standard issue gear. Even if they don't use those items, they have them just in case.
Those items being a pocket Bible, some Holy Water, a Light Sword and of course, a Light Gun.
While the Cadre were monologue their threat, Milo too his standard issue Light Gun, overcharged it with Holy Power made of his own faith and fired it.
The gun exploded in his hand after firing one shot, but it was more than enough for his purposes.
"Y-You, you..." A smoking and singed Satanael emerged from the dust cloud, the golden cross crumbling to pieces in his hands.
"Well, that takes care of that conundrum." Milo said nonchalantly.
"You little shit! What have you done? All you managed to do was seal your own death!" Satanael shouted, his anger mostly at research opportunity gone with the rosario's destruction, rather than Milo's 'self-sacrifice'.
Light exploded out of Rachelle's back. Milo felt like something inside of him that was slowly being wilted away for so long unraveling till only a thread was left.
A thread that he could have held on to, and fought with all his might to keep, instinctively he should have fought it's departure. Yet all his life he was freely giving that Light away for the sake someone else.
It was in that final moment that Milo understood where this Holy Power that he inherited came from, where an Angel's Light comes from. The System of Heaven itself, meaning God originally was the one that distributed that Light. It's why Angels normally can't grow from training.
It was his last connection to his mother and to Heaven itself, and he gave it away. Yet because he did so without any doubt or envy in his heart, he let go of that thread, and that's why the transfer wasn't rejected and had no backlash.
Sorry Mom, we don't have that shared link anymore... but I have brought you a daughter. He thought with some amusement.
Milo's soul stood solid and whole having long since recovered and was independent of Heaven's Light. Even if he lost it now, it just meant he will have to gain it back later on by his own efforts.
The Light settled on Rachelle's back to reveal her sixth and final pair of wings.
"No, no, NO! Milo! ...Eh?" Rachelle said in a panic as she began running toward Milo, only to see him standing calm and well, without any pain or anything to show he was harmed.
Milo just smirked back at her and winked, before focusing once more on the two flying Cadre.
"Rachelle." He said firmly.
"Y-Yes?"
"Barrier. Shield everyone." He gave her one last look with that ever calm and content smile. "Everything is going to be fine, trust me."
She did. Rahcelle nodded and gathered up his new and humongous Holy Power to make the strongest barrier she can that could not only cover the town, but every single person there individually. Xenovia and Irina tried to protest, along with other Exorcist that began to recover their wits, but Rachelle didn't listen to them.
Milo, despite his mischievous nature doesn't lie-or at least won't say half-truth, or hide things by omission-when it's this serious.
"Hey Kokabiel!" Milo called out. "Did you recently Fall from Heaven or did you always look that ugly?"
"...What?" Kokabiel was no longer smiling at the direct poke at his scarred face.
"Well, you wanted to find Gabriel and Jean Donato's child, well here I am," when Milo spoke again, power was visible in his frame. "Although, I'm afraid to tell you, you might find I'm not all that special at the moment."
There was an feel about Milo, a aura of presence and intensity that was in the background since his arrive, that steadily was growing, and now the supernatural beings, and those sensitive to such phenomena were feeling and aware of it.
"I have no Sacred Gear."
A sheet of white aura surrounded him, slowly growing bigger and more defined and heavier in color.
"No unique bloodline trait or ability."
The Fighting Spirit leaking from Milo is slow waves kept growing out of him like a flame.
"No mythical weapon or secret technique."
His arms were spread wide to show that he was unarmed, and daring the Fallen Angels to attack him.
"I am currently no different."
He took a step forward, and his Fighting Spirit now surrounding him and a few inches outside his body.
"To a completely."
He took another step, and his Fighting Spirit was growing at an exponential rate, yet it felt like it was still held back behind a dam.
"Utterly."
Another step, and the Fighting Spirit was now filling up a radius of 3 meters around him and growing.
"Normal."
Another step. Milo's Fighting Spirit extended up to 30 meters and rose high enough to be as visible as five store building.
"Everyday."
Another step, and in panic and worry that he would absolutely deny, Kokabiel shouted for Milo to 'die for his arrogence', and threw a Light Spear at him, with Satanael doing the same, as he saw a threat that can't be ignored.
The Cadre corrupted Light shattered against his touki, never even reaching him.
"Human." Milo grinned. "So you guys should have nothing to worry about. But then again I don't need any of that fancy stuff, because I have a power greater than any of that."
"You have nothing." Satanael sneered.
"You're power is noted, but so what? Many Fighting Spiritualist have existed over the ages, and I've killed them as well. You can't keep that power for long." Kokabiel grinned savagely. "Everyone has a limit, and the more Fighting Spirit you have, the faster it runs out."
Milo brought a hand opened upward, and closed it into a fist.
"I have Faith."
Then he stopped the damn holding back Fighting Spirit, letting it erupt fully and without restraint from his body. The bright white aura was visible anywhere in Bolsena. It was noticeable as one noticed the sun, you couldn't miss it.
Then he focused his mind to his Prayer Mind State, and added Holy Power from his faith to his touki.
It was like a chain reaction.
Touki was Life Force. It is vitalized and grows with life experience. Struggle usually causes the most growth due to the intensity of that experience.
But Holy Power is faith manifested into energy. Faith was the act of putting attention and focus on one thing single with all your heart. It was small, fleeting and only lasts for an instant. But for Milo who had trained his mind to have complete focus for the past 9 years, to be filled with so much gratitude as to be 100% present in the moment without deviation of thoughts about the past or future, he could generate Holy Power continuously as long as he maintains that mind state.
And due to that Fighting Spirit and Faith together synergized together, being out the maximum potential from the other.
It was like a nuclear explosion.
Milo's white aura gathered up for a moment, uniformly becoming a sphere as it turned sunlight orange, and then exploded outward.
It was only due to Rachelle's barrier and because Milo had no ill intent toward any of the people around, except the two Fallen Angels, that the humans, animals and nearby life forms weren't harmed from his energy.
The wind caused by the release of his power, as well as shake the ground did scared quite a few people in the whole region on the mundane side at least.
On the supernatural side, the energy Milo was releasing was noticed. Be it nearby magical being who immediately began to run. Seers, oracles and sages could now see his presence in the spiritual realm and the impact of his presence in the flow of the world, time and fate. Gods noticed him, Hell, Grigori and Heaven could fully sense and see him now.
Hell sent devils to investigate and observe from far away. Azazel went about getting his underlings under control, and send someone to stop this mess, yet even he wanted to observe further. And Heaven stopped their fruitless hunt for the Holy Grail as the Angels were recalled, and preparation to send a force down to Italy began, only for Metatron to intervene and ask them to watch, saying he'll go ahead as insurance, but that this was something they needed to see. Gabriel's look spoke of a dreadful 'we'll have words'.
Milo releasing his power so visibly was simply a message.
I am here and I'm not afraid.
His aura began to shrink once more. Again into a sphere surrounding him, not because his reserves are shot down and used up, but rather he gathered all that energy to condense it into a form to use.
The orb of Holy Power infused Fighting Spirit unfurl out, as it separated into two massive wings made of pure orange light that behaved like fire that was continuously erupting from Milo's back.
A large yellow halo floated over Milo's head, larger than his usually was, with four pointed sharp thorns in each cardinal direction. The halo pulsed with a glow with every heartbeat, like it was constantly ready to unleash some devastating uncontrolled waves of energy. Or start firing lasers from the pointy parts or something.
Milo didn't actually know if this new halo was one he created as homage to his heritage, or the one he always had. He was too mentally busy focusing on the fight to check.
"Y-You, what is..." Kokabiel was at lost for words, his prey was not some simple animal he can play with and put down. But how? He should only be a weak human right now. No, even weaker, since he just lost a part of his soul!
And yet Milo stood there defiantly, with his self-made wings and halo of light, as if to mock the Fallen Angels with that image.
"Votum." Milo spoke with a slight smile. "I thought a lot about what to call this power. I had many names and ideas cross my mind from combining 'Holy Power' and 'Fighting Spirit' into 'Holy Spirit', just because I thought that was hilarious, to 'Anima', just to make that joke that's it's from 'Anime' with a letter changed, rather than Latin for 'soul'. Ultimately after some readings from Uncle Metatron, I settled on 'Votum'."
The two Cadres ignored Milo's chatter.
"Metatron..." Satanael muttered, shocked that the wanderlust Voice of God had known about this all along.
"This damn..." Kokabiel gritted his teeth and he gathered all his might, preparing for the battle to come. What he had thought would be an easy and amusing task to get his revenge and restart his war, turned suddenly into an unexpected difficult situation.
"Now then," Milo bent his knees and raised his wings. "Let the ass kicking begin."
His wings flapped down once as he jumped off the ground. Air exploded as he broke the sound barrier, and was instantly in Satanael's face with his leg extended out in a flying kick form, before the sound reach them.
Satanael didn't have time to register pain. His breath was kicked out of his lungs, and by the time he processed this, he felt the air was thin, then the sky was dark, and the stars bright. He was at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. The only reason he wasn't broken in half, was because Milo didn't actually kick him, but rather just let his momentum slam into Satanael through his foot.
Back down on the sky of Earth, Kokabiel roars and slashed with a Light Spear in one hand, with the other coming from another angle. Each Light Spear should have enough power to burn a country to the ground, yet with each clash the Light Spears broke and the Angel of the Stars had to reform them.
"How? How? HOW?" Kokabiel bellowed with each shattered strike.
"Push ups. Sit ups. And plenty of juice." Milo smirked.
"STOP MOCKING ME!" Kokabiel merged his newest spears into one giant Light Sword that length of a building.
"Alright."
Milo stretch his arm to the side, and opened his hand wide. Kokabiel looked on for confusion for a second, before his eyes widened in outrage and terror as he understood. Then Milo swung his arm.
To anyone watch the battle in the skies from the ground, they would see constant booms and shockwaves of air from the clashes between the Gabriel's Miracle Child and the Fallen Angel of the Stars.
To anyone that can actually follow the fight, they would have to do their best not to laugh at seeing the war-loving Cadre being slapped around.
"STOP FUCKING SLAPPING ME!"
"Hey, it's not my fault you're so weak that if I actually use a fist, you'd be atoms."
"GAAAAAH!"
Over and over the two clashed, Kokabiel trying to cut Milo down, and Milo slapping Kokabiel.
This continued till Satanael tried to surprised slash Milo from above, finally returning to the battle, yet all he accomplished was break his Light Spear on Milo's forearm.
But the attack, did given Kokabiel a moment to fall back.
"Kokabiel, I'll distract him. Prepare your Star Fall spell!" Satanael cried out.
"With pleasure!" Kokabiel growled out in rage, frustration and vengeful glee.
"Oh, if you're doing your ultimate attack, then I'm doing my own." Milo said casually.
The two Fallen Angels panicked, with Kokabiel hastily gathering his mana for his barrage spell of a thousand Light Spears, and Satanael dashed at Milo with Light Spear flying like blade in coordinated fashion at the Miracle Child.
To the Cadres' shock, for the first time Milo dodge, disappearing and reappearing dozens of meters away, in a combat stance with a closed fist and a hand pulled back, readying...a simple punch?
Before Milo could unleash his 'ultimate attack' or the Fallen Angels finish making their high-tier spell, a flying figure in a white dragonic armor and wings made of blue laser energy, zapped toward them at lightning speed, tagging Milo before either of the Fallen could react.
[Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide] [Divide]
Milo's wings being to grow smaller and less dim, making him float downward. By the time he reached the ground, his wings were gone, and his power felt all but vanished. He didn't notice that his halo stayed.
"Vali!" Kokabiel shouted in surprise, before his vile grin returned. "So, Azazel is actually getting off his ass, and joining in-"
"No." Vali Lucifer, the White Dragon Emperor cut off the Angel of Stars before he could go on with his assumption. "Azazel sent me to bring you both back, but he was the biggest threat here, so I had to stop him first." He looked down toward Milo, with a look of barely restrained battle lust, and regret that he had a job to do.
"Wow. I'm honored." Milo crossed his arms and said with a deadpan. He focused inward on the link Vali 'hooked' onto him siphoning his power, even if it's a temporary thing, and tried to move his refilling energy around to see what he can do.
"Milo!" Rachelle called out with a communicating spell from within her barrier. Those within it were divided between who wanted to help me, help Rachelle or unsure on what to do. "Don't worry. Come back into the barrier, you should have enough energy to do so while they're distracted. I'll heal you and then all we'll need to do is wait for-"
"We're not leaving. And surely not empty handed, do you realize how insane it is to return without at least either Gabriel's child or the Divine Sanctum? Leave either of those two in the hands on Heaven would be the height of foolishness." Satanael argued with Vali.
"Nah, it's fine." Milo said back to Rachelle ignoring the pestering of Xenovia and Irina. "Hmm." He noticed that thousand of dense Light Spear were forming much higher up in the sky, with their energy forming from starlight. Huh, guess that's Kokocola's namesake move.
"Like hell we're leaving." Kokabiel said before an evil mischievous grin came to his face. "I suppose if I force the issue you'll try to stop me, but can you stop all of my attacks? You lose the element of surprise. And if you dodge my attacks I or Satanael will target all the humans below. I know for the fact you don't give a crap about that, but I'm pretty sure that would mess up Azazel's 'wish for peace' or whatever drivel." He then noticed something Vali was trying to act cavalier about. "Also I don't think you can hold on much longer." He said pointedly about Vali's wings, before frowning at the implication.
Indeed, Vali's energy wings which he uses to funnel the excess of the energy he absorbs from Dividing his opponent's power, was blazing in its glow, as it worked overtime to release the excess of the energy absorbed from Milo.
"Hey, Uncle," Milo closed his eyes and prayed. "If you can, please get here fast enough to help reinforce Rachelle's barrier."
"What are you gonna do?" Rachelle asked.
"Win." Milo uncrossed his arms. "Hey!" He called out to the Grigori members arguing and about to come to blows, while Kokabiel was preparing his signature move. "White Dragon Dude, I don't really have any beef with you, so either fly away now as fast as you can now, or use your strongest attack to survive."
"...What?" Vali blinked, dumbfounded for a second. The energy he started getting from Milo increase to such a level, that he had to focus on funneling and exhausting it away.
"Satanael, I don't give a shit one way or another about you. Not because you don't deserve to die for the shit you pulled here today, even if partially this was Popcorn's fault."
"P-p-popcorn!?" Irina stutter trying her best not to laugh, while the man himself found his jaw dropping at the nickname. Xenovia bit her lips, and Rachelle took a deep breath to focus on her barrier.
"Oh dear, you really have one hell of an ego, you know, kid?" Satanael said, yet Milo had already moved on.
"As for you, Kokabiel?"
"Oh?" The Cadre raised an eyebrow. "What? You're gonna tell me to apologize and you'll let me go too?" He snorted. "You're no longer amusing, child. I was just gonna kill you before, but now I'm gonna enjoy ripping your heart out and feeding it to you, you worthless weak pathetic little human."
"I'm gonna finish my dad's artwork on you." Milo said, which made Kokabiel bare his teeth in rage. "But I don't want you to lose thinking 'it's unfair' or 'it was cheating'. Honestly, I could probably beat the three of you and kill you as I am now...But I need to send a message.
"So go ahead, use your ultimate move. Charge it up to the best of your ability and then go beyond that," Milo glared for the first time, the expression unsettling to see on his face. "Because I'm going to show you, just what this 'weak little human' can really do." Milo then spoke aloud, letting his voice by magic be heard much louder and clearer by everyone in the area, then be focused on his opponents and allies. "To every Exorcist present-No. To every Human here." He looked back once at those inside the barrier, a look of determination, that had everyone who witness it stand up straight, and listen intently.
"Watch me. Learn." He said as he brought his hands up in front of him, with an empty space between them.
[Vali.]
Albion spoke for the first time in this encounter.
"Albion?" Vali asked.
[This isn't an opponent to be careless with.]
"It's fine, whatever he tries, I can just keep on Dividing his power-"
Milo's Votum exploded off his body before being focused into the space between his hands, bursting out and then directed into a single point. It happened at such intensity and speed that the link Divine Dividing had broke under the weight of Milo's power.
"What!?" Vali cried out.
"Hah, as if we'll just wait-" Satanael said as he launched a few Light Spears. All of it bounced harmlessly against one of the many Light Shields Rachelle made over Milo, not that he needed it, as his own durability and Votum aura was more than defense enough.
"Satanael." Kokabiel called out a bit afraid, which he buried down, and more so enraged. "Aid me in fusing all the Light Spears into a single attack."
Satanael took a moment, then nodded and stood by his brother. A single colossal Light Spear floated over Kokabiel and Satanael's upward stretch arm and then the Light from every other spear and those still forming started to traveling and fuse with the first spear. It didn't grow in size, but it's brightness and power seemed to rise without end.
[Vali, stop this, or get out of the way.] Albion said.
Vali gave a savage grin. "Fine," he started to fly out of the way. "Let's see what all the fuss is about. If he dies, it's his fault, if he lives... I wonder if he can give me a challenge."
[You misunderstand.] Albion said, making Vali blink in surprise. [I meant either attack the human, or fly away like he suggested.]
"What?" Vali blinked in surprise, but didn't have time to ask further.
"Fighting Spirit or Touki is the energy of the body, it comes from the link between the body and the soul. Basically it's someone's Life Force," Milo spoke up to all the humans present. "You can awaken it through continuous physical training, but spiritual enlightenment can also help, as in being able to completely immerse yourself in the activity you're engaging with right here in the present."
Milo wasn't sure if that mindset needs to be natural, or if it can work artificially. Otherwise he would have suggested getting a shit ton of DMT, and it would turn out the cultivators were right. Drugs were the path to ultimate power.
"Holy Power is granted by Heaven through prayer, or chants and verses, using your own mana, sending it to Heaven with prayer and gain Holy Power in return that you can use through a medium, like a cross. However it is possible to generate your own Holy Power. In that moment of prayer, when you're completely putting your feeling into a selfless wish, your faith solidifies into Holy Power, if you can keep that mindset, you can keep making Holy Power. Faith is attention, so aim that attention at the high good you can envision. Be it God, Love, Hope, Determination, Gratitude, you figure it out, and then let that feeling overfill your being."
The sheer gathered Votum started to condense and take shape between Milo's hand.
"Is...Is that Light Spear? But shouldn't he have lost his powers?" Irina asked, before flinching and looking toward Rachelle at the callous thought.
"He made it under his own power." Rachelle couldn't help the awe and admiration in her voice.
"Holy Power and Fighting Spirit, you'd be surprised at how well the two work together, although that union that I call Votum, is a bit wildly so be sure to train it somewhere barren or you'll end up destroying your house or something." Milo continued, the 'Light Spear' formed between his hands grow for a moment before being condense further down. The orange aura shining with a more and more lighter shade. "However there is a step further than that. A power that you need to reach in this world where our fate is governed by others if you wish to be free to stand on your own."
A spark of energy unlike any seen till now, shot out from between Milo's hands like before instantly disappearing. Sparks lit up again and again.
"Now listen carefully." Milo commanded. "Votum behaves more or less like Fighting Spirit, just augmented much, much more due to Holy Power. However if you compare that energy into a state of matter, it's gas. Trying to grab and condense it is like trying to grab air with your barehanded to shape it. Do so anyways."
The spark of new energy increase again and again, that now it could somewhat be seen. It looked like...something yellow. No something gold.
"When you reach the point where your form a Light Spear, then its in a liquid state."
"What!?" Rachelle and many other listening cried out.
"Compress it further, like how diamonds are formed. Condense it further and further and rise up the pressure till it becomes solid."
With another burst of power, the Light Spear shrunk till it disappeared and in it's place was a golden flame that look like liquid gold but behaved like fire. It looked like living plasma than energy.
The golden flame aura enveloped Milo, and a change overcame him. His hair rose up like it was made of sunlight fire. His eyes shined with a jewel's brilliance. And his aura and power grew several thousand times, but that's not what terrified the Grigori members, and sent the humans into a state of reverence.
It was the Divine Aura that was now ringing out of him like a continuous bell.
If the supernatural attention Milo got at the beginning of this fight was out of curiosity, now he had their interest.
Because a human had achieved godly power while remaining human.
"Iliaster," Milo's voice reverbed with power that quaked the very beings of those who heard it before he pulled it back. "That's the power you get once you finish this energy transformation. The most important thing for me to tell you, once you've achieved this is, remember you are still human. Never delude yourself this power grants you godhood, and makes you above others. And on the final part of this lesson." With a small will of thought, the golden flame gathered upon Milo's arm. "Imagine the strongest image that you can. Imagine something, a weapon a designed, whatever, something that you envision can allow you to change the form, and let the Iliaster form it."
Milo's arm was covered in golden armor. The metal shined with gold and white metal.
"That... That looks like..." Xenovia said in shock.
"Is that a Sacred Gear?" Vali muttered. "No, it just looks like one." He shook his head, yet narrowed his eyes.
[It's not a Sacred Gear.] Albion confirmed. [However, that feeling it gives off, it's more like Godly Armament. Like Zeus' Thunderbolt, or Odin's Gungnir.] He said, making Vali's eyes widen.
"Don't really have a name for this effect. Anima Arms? Zenith Form? Honestly, it's annoying that I can only make it into armor for one limb." If one were to look at the shoulder part of the armor, they'd see the 'metal' hadn't fully solidied there, as bits of the Illiaster were breaking from it, and trying to reform it without adding or removing from it. "If I had ten years, I probably could made the whole armor."
Milo lied. He needed a year.
"Hahahahahaha! Well, this endeavor was quite entertaining." Kokabiel laughed out. "You need that prayer mindset to keep making Holy Power, and there's a tiny problem of maintaining that focus."
Above the two Cadre's head were the largest Light Spear seen since the Great War. A Light Spear made of thousands of Light Spears formed from the endless light that reach the Earth from faraway stars. It was the type of attack that would physically erase a country's landmass from the map, and send a shockwave throughout the rest of the connected continent.
"Don't see how that's a problem. If you reach this point, you can't exactly 'lose focus'." Milo snorted, and took a combat ready stance. He made a fist, and pulled his golden armor covered arm back.
"Then what if I tell you a little secret?" Kokabiel said sinisterly.
"Kokabiel!" Vali warned but didn't move to stop him, other than gathering his energy to move to divide and erase the resulting energy clash from their attacks.
Suddenly back at the barrier two holy energies teleported in, to the crying awe of relief and hope to those present, from the angelic arrival. Rachelle's barrier had considered them allies to such an extend it didn't even try to throw up their teleportation, and drew them in.
"Lady Gabriel! Lord Metatron!" Rachelle cried out in shock and joy.
"Metatron, you have to-" Serpah Gabriel cried out in worry about her son.
"Gabby, have faith in him. Trust me! But now, we seriously have to reinforce this barrier!" Metatron said in uncharacteristic seriousness. "Shield Reinforcement No Jutus! Times Ten!" He was in such a rush he mixed in the English with Japanese.
"R-Right! Um, more of God's Light be upon you." Gabriel tried to emulate her brother.
Rachelle's barrier grew to over all of Italy and hold several more layers to it.
Funny enough, Rachelle's consideration to Milo was such that, the barrier moved under him, and rose up without disturbing his balance so he would be standing on top of it.
"Uh-huh." Milo said to the crazed Fallen uncaring.
"THAT GOD IS DEAD!" Kokabiel shouted as he and Satanael threw the monumental Light Spear at Italy. "ENDING STAR CRASH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"So what?"
That single phrase, said such nonchalant annoyance broke through any shock in those who didn't know listening before it can form.
[VALI! SHIELD NOW!]
And to the two Cadres, they suddenly felt a foreboding omen was upon them.
"I was born with that knowledge. I don't care. I will still pray to God." Milo then took a breath. "Now take this! Normal Human!" And punched forward. "Single Fist of Devotion."
It was sheer physical force.
No.
It was a will manifested upon the world.
Milo's punch cut through the Fallen Angels' attack like it was made of cardboard. Kokabiel and Satanael were smears of blood that evaporate in his punch's force before the attack could finish. And due to his want to not harm anyone else, the force kept flying up and hit the clouds, parting it like the Red Sea.
Yet even though the force from Milo's punch was in the opposite direction, the Rachelle's barrier, that was reinforced by two Archangels, was rattled and had several layers shatter. It was truly a fortune thing that those inside weren't harmed.
And so the Battle for Gabriel's Miracle Child came to an end.
"WAAAAAH! MILO, I'M SO SORRY I WASN'T THERE FOR YOU, MY CHILD!" Gabriel was holding onto the exhausted Milo crying her heart out. It was the first time he used Votum and Iliaster to that extent, so he was getting used to it now.
Of course after that massive battle was the clean up, and the explanations of those in the mundane world of a weather phenomena, with some application of memory editing to some, and just letting others be conspiracy theorists. For the most part, people would explain any thing away to keep their everyday worldview.
And the Church had to send people to fix any damage in Bolsena, and the Heaven Faction also sent angels to secure things.
"There, there, it's all good now. By the way, Mom, I want you to meet...Say, Rachelle, will you marry me?"
"W-W-What!?"
"Is that a 'no'?"
"NO! I mean, yes! I mean, yes, I gladly accept! Please take me as your wife."
"Mom, I want you to meet my wife."
"WAAAAAH! RACHELLE! WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!" The happy crying Gabriel pull Rachelle into her hug with Milo.
A lot of things were going to change, the future was unknown and will now follow a whole new path than what those in power or in the know could imagine.
Milo had no clue what will happen now from this whole mess, but he can only face it by walk forward one step at a time.
-End of Prologue
AN: Yeah, I didn't know how to end this. So here. Now this is over, and I can move onto other things.