04/05/2012, Grigori HQ
After meeting Makoto Yuki Azazel quickly returned to the underworld at the HQ of the Grigori. The Governor General of the fallen angels walks through the corridors of the fallen angel's Ministry of Defense, the place where usually the cadres meet for important discussions, the look on his face one of urgency and worry. "Azazel, what's happening? I haven't seen you this troubled since the end of the Great War, maybe even before" a silver haired man wearing a black vest under a purple trench coat says. "Have you gathered the cadres, Shamhazai?" asks Azazel to his vice not answering his question.
"Yes, we're all here but Kokabiel" answers Shamhazai walking alongside Azazel to the meeting room. "Will you tell me what's happening?" asks the vice, but Azazel ignores him hurrying to the meeting room. The Governor opens the door revealing a spacious place illuminated with many magic devices resembling oil lanterns, but with a blue fire inside. A round table is located in the center where the cadres are sitting.
Penemue, a woman wearing purple clothes and chief secretary of Grigori. Baraqiel, general of the Grigori army. Tamiel the head of economic affairs. And Armaros the head researcher of Grigori.
Azazel and Shemhazai sit down with the latter formally starting the meeting. "Thank you all for coming here. Azazel called us for this emergency meeting. Azazel would you enlight us?" asks the Grigori's second in command. Azazel clears his voice before speaking trying to calm himself down 'I should have drunken myself' jokes Azazel between himself to ease himself.
Everyone can't but notice the anxiety on Azazel's face. "I don't even know where to start... first things first. What I'm about to tell you must not exit this room at all costs. Am I clear?" says Azazel with a seriousness rare from him.
"I wonder what could have possibly happened to cause you so much distress. Azazel. Not to offend you, but you aren't usually the most serious of us" says Baraqiel crossing his arms frowning not able to imagine something that could have caused this much distress in their leader. "I have to agree with Baraqiel here. You are making us worry Azazel" Penemue says with clear concern in her voice. Azazel sighs. "I know this isn't like me at all. What would you say if I told you I returned an angel?" says Azazel pausing before finishing the sentence.
Armaros laughs. "This is our Azazel! Always joking around. I said that you were worrying for nothing guys!" the scientist hugs his stomach from the laughters wiping off some tears. "I would take you for mad" says firmly Baraqiel making the other cadres nod. "I thought so. But, it was true. I returned an angel, even if it was for mere seconds" hearing this everyone look at Azazel in disbelief.
Tamiel spits the coffee he was drinking. Armaros blinks not sure if he heard right. Shemhazai looks the most confused of all. "What does it mean?" he asks in a thin voice almost as he didn't want to even consider the possibility. "Azazel have you gone mad?" asks Baraqiel seriously starting to worry about the mental health of Azazel. The Governor shakes his head. "Yesterday... I met a boy" the cadres listen to their leader in total silence. "I found him by chance, but when I saw him it was like... something inside of me told me to help. He was... sad I would say, he was looking conflicted. I spoke with him for a while when suddenly the boy grabs his in great pain. I felt an instinctive desire to help him when I got closer to him... it was like being in front of Father. For a second I was back in the fifth Heaven, metaphorically. But I swear I felt my holiness back like nothing ever happened at all" Azazel looks at his comrades waiting for their reactions.
"A boy?" asks Baraqiel not sure if he should believe Azazel. "Where were you Azazel?" asks Penemue. "We tried for centuries to reverse our fall! and you are saying me that a boy did it!?" Armaros gets up looking right at Azazel eyes wide in shock.
"Yes I know what I'm saying, this is the reason because this discussion won't leave this room" says Azazel. The cadres look at each other not knowing what to say. "Could he be God's reincarnation?" theorizes Tamiel. "Impossible" says Shemhazai denying immediately the possibility of God reincarnating. "Gods like Father don't reincarnate". Silence fills the room. "Azazel you know the answer right?" says Tamiel suspicious. "I see it in ypur eyes. You know something. Tell us".
"Sorry, I still can't believe it" Azazel takes a deep breath before speaking again. "You see, before the Great War. I once heard Father speak to Michael and Lucifer" everyone listen carefully to Azazel. "We all know that Father considered those two his most trusted confidants. Even more than Metatron himself" Azazel pauses.
"I heard them speak about the future. Father knew he would have died eventually. We all knew, even though we didn't accept it. We just didn't think it would have happened that way" mentioning the death of God by the hands of Lucifer brings discomfort in the room. "Father told Michael and Lucifer a prophecy. He told them about the Messiah, not Jesus Christ... a true Messiah common for every living being in this world".
"It is just a fairy tale, isn't it?" says Penemue. "No. Father said someone would have come eventually, when the world needed it most. A boy... a boy who defied the impossible and came out victorious. A boy who would have taken the burden of the world on his shoulders".
The tension in the room is palpable. "Father said he would have loved to meet him. But it wasn't possible. The Messiah would have come after his departure. Lucifer and Michael protested, but Father just said to 'trust the Universe' and that we would have known who the Messiah was... I think I've found him".
"You are saying the Messiah is real?" Baraqiel stands up slamming his hands on the table. "Calm down Baraqiel we're all shocked" says Penemue trying to not heat the situation more than already is. "Let's calm down everybody!" shouts Shemhazai looks at the cadres. "Azazel if what you are saying is true then it means that the world is in grave danger too" points out Armaros. "Yes... what do you want to do?" asks Tamiel.
"I don't know" admits the leader of Grigori. "Can we speak to this boy?" asks Baraqiel. Azazel looks at hid bearded friend. "Yeah, but he's currently in devil territory" says Azazel. "HE'S A DEVIL!?" utters out Penemue. "No, he's human. He's in Kuoh Town the city owned by the Gremory and Sitri". The cadres stays in silent thinking on what to do. "I suggest is better you to be the one speaking to him Azazel. We don't want to scare the boy" suggests Tamiel. "By sending the governor of Grigori in the lands owned by two Satans' families we could cause a war" exclaims Baraqiel in protest.
"Azazel already went there and no one found him and this matter is more important" says Penemue. "Another war would wreck us" warns Shemhazai. "Listen" Azazel catches everyone's attention "I'll go there and try to speak with the boy as soon as possible. I don't want to hear any objections". Baraqiel grits his teeth making a clearly hearable noise. "Baraqiel?" asks Penemue worried. "It's nothing" the general calms down before looking back at Azazel. "You are right. This has the utmost priority, pardon my behavior".
The cadres agree on what to do and after clarifying the plan the meeting ends. "What about Kokabiel?" asks Azazel before the cadres exit the meeting room. "I don't know he's strange lately" says Baraqiel. "I noticed it too" confirms Tamiel. "Don't say anything to him then" orders Azazel.
04/06/2012, Underworld, Late at night.
"Azazel, you are in a even worse shape than usual" comments a white haired young man leaning on a wall. "Is it that obvious?" asks sarcastically Azazel. The young man takes a closer look to the fallen angel. "Tell me" he says sternly. "No, Vali. This is a thing I can't tell you" refuses the Governor. "Do you have any news regarding your mission?" asks changing subject Azazel which make Vali to snort. "No, those fools of the Khaos Brigade have suddenly become intelligent and are starting to doubt my loyalty to them, moreover they seem to be getring steonger" says Vali annoyed.
Azazel clenches his teeth which does not go unnoticed by Vali. "Azazel! Tell me what's happening" pretends the White Dragon Emperor holding his surrogated father's cloak not leaving him. "I have a bad presentment a very bad one. Vali try to interact with the Khaos Brigade as less as possible, please" Azazel's words just make Vali more annoyed. "Azazel are you going to tell me what is happening?" the young man looks into Azazel's eyes. "Vali... I had a very tough day. Just listen to me for now, stay safe. Stop your mission for a while, I know it's difficult for you but try to relax for a while" the tone which Azazel says this makes Vali worry a little.
"Fine" he snorts. "I'll go and ask someone for a spare so maybe I can not think about your foolery" Vali makes to exit the room. "But you are going to tell me everything are we clear?" says Vali pointing his finger to the fallen angel. Azazel just nods before Vali leaves. 'I want to protect you Vali' thinks Azazel. 'If the Khaos Brigade has become suspicious about him being a spy we must take all precautions. Especially with the kid' Azazel slams his hand on a near table breaking a vase on it. 'What does it mean Father...'. "I need to go to Kuoh now" with that said Azazel readies a magic circle and casts it.
04/06/2012, Kuoh Church, Evening.
It's evening in Kuoh Town and Azazel has just teleported himself inside an abandoned church. 'I really missed the casting? I should be in the apartment I bought' Azazel gazes at the church. 'At least I'm in the city. It's dusk I'll wait for tomorrow' Azazel starts walking to the exit of the church.
"Looks who's trying to be a repentant son" Azazel hears a distorted voice say. Near the altar is a cloaked figure with 6 pairs of black feathered wings. 'A fallen angel?' thinks Azazel. "Yes! A fallen angel, a fallen angel you know very well" the figure says turned towards the altar. 'He can read my thoughts?' Azazel takes a step closer, curiosity taking the best of him. "You have twelve wings... But I do not recognize your voice. Have you fell recently? Come with me, let me help you" says Azazel full of empathy. This scene reminding him so much of many fallens, going to a church... searching for redemption and not finding it ultimately being killed by some angels, exorcists or by themselves.
"Always trying to help your kind. This would make you honour if you wouldn't be such an hypocrite" the figure turns around facing Azazel. Azazel looks in shock at what he sees. A yellow eyed copy of himself. "Who are you?" asks Azazel. The governor summons Down Fall Dragon Spear, the artificial sacred gear he created making a bargani with the dragon Fafnir. "My name is Azazel, Azazel. I'm you" says the fake. "Bullshit" Azazel coldly stares at his copy.
"Why are you so cold with yourself?" rhetorically asks the shadow. "Oh right, I almost forgot how we always needed to be perfect!". "What are you saying?" Azazel aims the spear at the shadow ready to strike. "You really think that the toys you created hoping to understand our Mighty Daddy can help you?" the shadow takes a step closer to Azazel.
"Sacred Gears how much I love them! They remind me so much of daddy's genius! The Longinuses! They are the perfection I strive for! If I could make a Longinus Sacred Gear myself daddy would be proud right? Oh no... daddy's no more" cries the fake Azazel making the Governor of the Fallen Angels to gulp hearing his words. "No. I research Sacred Gears for scientific purposes! Not for some kind of daddy issue!" shouts Azazel at his copy.
"Then why have you raised Vali like a son, weren't you just interested in his Divine Dividing? In your distorted mind you just want so much to be like Father Allmighty. I know Azazel why we fell. It was not for love with a woman. When Lucifer rebelled we thought that maybe we could replace him as Father's favorite" the shadow chuckles.
"Shut up!" shouts Azazel. "You are wondering why I know the true meaning behind our fall? I am you Azazel" the shadow grins widely. "I loved my father so much, I wanted to be him! I made Helel fall. I was jealous of him! It is all my fault. The Great War and daddy's death! It all started by me. I Azazel am the true betrayer! I Azazel am the Damned One!" yells the shadow.
"NO! That's not true! Shut up! Shut up! How you dare saying that!? You can't understand! You are not me" shouts angered Azazel. The shadow starts to laugh and begins to transform.
'Makoto, the shadow activity has just increased we need to hurry' says Ryoji as Thanatos from Makoto's mind. 'The Councillor is there too' says Elizabeth in her butterfly form. Makoto rushes to the location Elizabeth was flying to. The blue haired boy sees the abandoned church and hears the sound of cracking.
Inside the church the shadow's wings become pure black and new ones sprout form it's body. A mass of wings starts to levitate destroying the building as it was just too big for it. Azazel is petrified. He doesn't know why he can't move.
'Why? Why? MOVE AZAZEL!' the struggles of the fallen angel are useless as he watches a giant pale face emerging from the mass of wings. The being opens it's huge mouth, arms surges from it creating a macabre view. "I am Shadow the True Self!" the voice of the shadow comes from all directions shattering the church's windows.
Makoto watches the building in front of him starting to crumble. 'Liz! Where is Azazel?' he asks telepathically. 'Inside the church' answers the attendant. Makoto sprints towards the entrance. "Yoshitsune!" yells the boy as the grudging warrior is summoned. With a swift slash of his katana Yoshitsune cuts the church's door in two letting Makoto enter the bulding. 'I'll buy you time to save the Councillor, Universe. Rely on my sword' says the warrior mentally. Makoto nods and rushes towards Azazel.
Azazel watches as the monster destroys everything around itself. 'Is this how it ends? Father... I was a failure' the Governor falls on his knees able to do anything but to cry. "Blessed will be all. Blessed by my true Father" the voice of the shadow echoes through the church amplified myriads of tinier mouths appearing on the arms sprouting like mushrooms. One of those arms inside of the Shadow's mouth is rocketed towards Azazel, but it does not hit the target as Yoshitsune cuts the arm. "A PERSONA!?" screams the Shadow starting to twist around breaking the church's columns.
"I am Thou. Thou art I. From the Universe in thy soul I'm born. I who fought countless battle. I whose blade cut the myriads of foes. I am Yoshitsune and I am the Messiah's blade" says the samurai pointing his sword to the shadow.
Azazel looks at the fight between Yoshitsune and the Shadow. Even though the samurai doesn't land any hit he parries all of the attacks from the monster. 'Miyamoto no Yoshitsune?' Azazel can't ponder on the situation he's in as he hears a voice behind him. "Go away, I'll handle the shadow" Azazel looks at Makoto, too many questions in his head, but he instinctively trusts him. "You really are the Messiah" says Azazel now capable of getting up.
Makoto walks past Azazel and looks at Yoshitsune who's still holding nack the shadow. "A Persona User here? Impossible! Impossible!" screams the shadow casting a powerful maeigaon around itself, blobs of darkness destroying the church's interiors. Makoto stands between Azazel and the blasts of curse magic taking one of the hits for him. "Messiah!" Azazel tries to interfere, but he feels a hand on his shoulder, it's a woman in blue. "What are you do-" before Azazel can finish Elizabeth stops him. "You are being a weight to Makoto, Councillor. You should stand back" Azazel looks at the woman frowning. "It's my purpose to serve God. I will help the Messiah, Father wished to meet!" Azazel frees himself from Elizabeth's grasp and flies towards Makoto.
Meanwhile the blue haired boy and Yoshitsune were exchanging blows with the Shadow. Yoshitsune used his signature Hassou Tobi, forcing the shadow to curl it's wings as a shield. "Messiah let me help you" says Azazel in full armor as he activated the balance breaker of his artificial sacred gear. "Help Yoshitsune holding the shadow in place. When it unfolds it's wings get away and let me strike" orders the persona user. Azazel nods and follows Makoto's instructions. The shadow continues to be held back in place as Yoshitsune and Azazel relentless hits don't stop.
Suddenly an arm emerges from the ball of curled wings and grabs Azazel by his neck. The fallen angel slowly starts to being carried towards the main body of the shadow. Yoshitsune tries to cut the arm but it gets covered in feathers which null the slash. Azazel effortlessly tries to free himself. "Killing you will complete my birth and I'll crash that Philemon's lap dog. Father guide me through your dark battles!" screams the shadow.
'Ryoji are you ready?' asks Makoto to his friend. 'When you want' answers Thanatos. Makoto pulls out his evoker and points it to his head. "Messiah? What are you doing?" asks shocked Azazel seeing the boy pointing a gun to his head. "THANATOS!"
The God of Death roars and rushes towards the shadow. The shadow throws away Azazel and reopens it's wings. Thanatos' sword clashes with the shadow's black wings. Two arms from the monster's mouth are launched like spears at Thanatos, but are blocked by the coffin-wings. Makoto casts an agidyne spell at the shadow who gets directly hit by it. The monster howls to the shining moon as dark feathers starts swirling around it in a storm.
The howl spreads throughout all Kuoh Town, but only it's devil inhabitants can hear it, as the humans of this world are still not able to see or perceive shadows. Sona suddenly wakes up hearing the monster's scream. "Tsubaki? What is happening?" Sona looks at her dorm mate who's looking outside the window. "President... what is that?" asks the girl frightened.
Kiba was still awake when the howl was heard, the blonde looks to the church'a direction where the sound came from. "W-What?" the boy looks in disbelief at the scene in front of him. "President!" a short brown haired girl is running like her life was depending on it to the Dorm where the Sitri's heiress and Tsubaki lived. "Ruruko?" Sona hears the voice of her pawn and exits the the building, only for stopping as she steps outside.
"Rias! Wake up!" Akeno is shrugging her king trying to wake her up. The red haired yawns and looks at Akeno noticing her scared face. "Akeno? Why did yo-" Rias gazes her room's window widely opening her eyes.
Koneko was peacefully sleeping when she is also awaken by the scream of the shadow. The short girl tries to stand up, but she can't. Every part of her body is refusing to obey, her senses screaming at her. Her nekomata tail and ears appearing against her will. She looks at the horrendous thing floating in the sky.
The many winged shadow is hovering above Kuoh Town and opens it's eyes. Two blood-stained red bulges with a small yellow pupil in each one. "It seems humanity is still not ready to welcome your gift Father" speaks the shadow to a black butterfly on one of it's wings. "There's no problem. Even though mankind's unconsciousness is still not ready to welcome it's shadows the other mortals in this world are" the butterfly chuckles darkly. "Philemon sent one of his chosens to battle us. The power of the Universe, that's amusing. We will have fun my dear child" Nyarlathotep says before flying away.
The true Azazel is getting back up injured. "I have to call reinforcements..." he says trying to summon a magic circle. "No one in this world can fight shadows apart from Makoto" says Elizabeth coldly. "If you want so desperately to help him don't let the devils in this town come here, Councillor" Elizabeth looks at Azazel.
"The devils? What do you mean?". "All will be explained. Now go and let Makoto finish this" Elizabeth then returns to her butterfly form and flies away.
"Sona!" Rias runs at the Sitri heiress as she has immediately teleported herself to the Occult Research Club. "Rias what is that thing?" asks the bespectacled girl panicking. "I don't know is it a fallen angel!? It has black wings, but still..." theorizes Rias. "We have to call the Duke right now!" says Sona swallowing her pride. "Yes..." says Rias reluctantly. The two girls with Akeno Tsubaki and Ruruko who followed their kings see a butterfly coming from the window and Elizabeth materializimg from it. "Elizabeth!?" exclaims Rias. "Do you know what is happening?" asks the girl. "Good evening and yes. The thing you see is a shadow" calmly explains the attendant. "What is a shadow?" demands Sona. "This is no place for explaining it I just came to tell you to stay here and be safe" says the woman irritating Sona. "What are talking about? This is our territory and you are going to tell us everything now!" she shouts. Then a pillar of light is seen striking the shadow blinding the devils.
Makoto was fighting the shadow to his best capabilities with Robin Hood firing arrows while Orpheus Telos and Jack Frost were casting spells and Thanatos fighting in air. The shadow endured all the attacks and striked waves of curse magic to Makoto which thanks to Leviathan is able to block. 'Universe stop to procrastinate and destroy this disgusting being' says Leviathan. 'The Beast of Apocalypse is right Makoto, let us end this' the blue haired boy hears the voice of his truest self and nods in agreement. "Ryoji! Get away!" yells Makoto as Thanatos delves back into his mind. The boy then pulls the trigger of the evoker. "MESSIAH!" shouts Makoto and God descends on Earth.
Azazel looks mesmerized at the view. A pillar of pure divine light accompanies the descent of a robotic blonde figure who touches Makoto's finger. Then everything is clad in holiness.
Makoto's attack erases Shadow Azazel from existence, the light that sprouted from Messiah engulfes the being vaporizing it in no time. As Messiah vanishes back inside Makoto's mind the blue haired boy falls from exhaustion. Azazel sees the boy falling down and stops him before he hits the ground. "Boy! Wake up!" yells Azazel looking at Makoto. 'His body is cold' Azazel urgently takes up Makoto, but Elizabeth stands in front of him. "Put Makoto down, Councillor" says the woman glaring at Azazel. "What are you saying? His body is cold, I don't even feel his heartbeat! I won't let the Messiah die because of me!".