A planet in a remote corner of the universe faced a devastating threat as a group of fallen angels, led by a powerful and ruthless general, descended upon it. The inhabitants, who had allied themselves with the angels, cowered in fear as the skies turned dark and ominous. From a distance, a man with golden hair watched the unfolding scene, his fists clenched in anger and frustration.
The general had strategically chosen this planet for its isolation and distance from the known universe, hoping to prevent the angels from detecting the attack in time. However, as they prepared to enter the planet's atmosphere, the second-in-command began to tremble uncontrollably with fear. "Sir, are you sure we won't be detected by the angel of death?" he asked nervously.
The general scoffed at his subordinate's fear. "Of course not. He never ventures this far out. Don't be a coward. Let's proceed," he replied confidently.
But before they could make their way down to the planet's surface, a sudden burst of blinding golden light erupted, disintegrating most of their squad in an instant. The general shielded his eyes from the glare, but when he looked around, he saw that most of his soldiers were dead. "What in the world...who did this?" he frantically looked around. "It must be Samael, the angel of death!"
"Sir, I thought you said he never—" The second-in-command was abruptly cut off as the golden-haired man materialized out of nowhere and dealt him a crushing blow that sent his head hurtling through the universe. The general was paralyzed with terror, his heart pounding so hard he thought it would burst out of his chest.
As he watched another foot soldier get sliced in half, the general realized that he had underestimated the angel's power and reach. He immediately sent a telepathic message to his leader, warning him of the dire situation. Glancing around, he saw that almost all of his squad had perished, and he trembled with fear, knowing that his own life hung by a thread.
"I'm going to die," he muttered to himself, his hope slipping away. Tears streamed down his face as he contemplated his fate.
"It's unbecoming for a warrior to cry on the battlefield," Samael said calmly, appearing in front of him.
"What do you expect me to do? You just killed almost everyone in my squad, and I'm next," the general replied, wiping his tears.
"Face your death with dignity, like the angels you've killed," Samael said through gritted teeth, his piercing golden eyes fixed on the general.
"Look at how much death you have caused, you truly are the angel of death, but your reign of terror ends here!" the general shouted, launching himself at Samael with a fierce determination to defeat him.
However, Samael was too powerful and skilful. He concentrated lightning in his arm, dodged the general's punch, and pierced his chest. "This is for Zadkiel. I warned you that if another angel was murdered, I'd wipe out your entire race," he said, as the general turned to dust that scattered in space. The remaining fallen angels were frozen in fear.
"I see you've mistaken stupidity for bravery," Samael said, shaking his hand to get the general's purple blood off.
The fallen angels looked at each other and came to the same conclusion: they needed to escape. They quickly flew in different directions, trying to flee from Samael's wrath.
But Samael was not done yet. "Turning your back on an opponent is foolish," he said, activating the second chapter, Exodus: Punishment of Piety. All the remaining fallen angels turned to stone and fell into the depths of space.
Samael flew back to Heaven, where he was greeted by Uriel. "Master, you're back already? Are you hurt?" Uriel asked, concerned.
"Am I hurt? You insult me with your questions. A mere fallen angel general could never hurt me," Samael replied as he landed on the golden floor and started walking toward his room. "I need to wash this blood off. I'm covered in it."
As he walked down the hallway of the third layer of Heaven, purple blood dripped from his soul, staining the golden floor. "By the way, where are my siblings?" he asked Uriel.
"They are still training. It seems Lord Zadkiel's death hit them hard. Sir, the ceremony to select a new archangel will begin soon," Uriel replied, following his master.
Samael stopped abruptly and clenched his fists, the sound of his knuckles hitting the golden wall echoing through the hallways. Uriel gasped in surprise, watching as his master's expression twisted in anger and despair.
"Dammit," Samael growled, his voice low and pained. "Another archangel dead on my watch." Tears streamed down Samael's face as he spoke, his frustration and guilt palpable in the air. "I'm supposed to protect all the angels," he continued, his voice choked with emotion. "But I couldn't even save one.
"The fallen angels must pay for their crimes," Uriel spoke up, trying to offer comfort to his master.
"It's not your fault, master. You were fighting their leader when Zadkiel died. You did all you could." Samael turned to Uriel, his eyes burning with rage.
"All I could? That's not good enough," he spat.
"No more deaths. No more failures." With that, Samael stormed off to his room, shedding his clothes and stepping into the shower. The memories of Zadkiel flooded his mind, causing him to break down in sobs as the water poured over him. Uriel felt a deep sadness for his master, wishing there was more he could do to ease his pain. As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were only going to get worse before they got better.
In the realm of the fallen angels, the new leader, Azazel, received the devastating news that yet another squad had been wiped out by Samael. His hand shaking with anger, he slammed it on the table, causing the room to shake. "Damn you, Samael. You have become a big problem that must be eliminated," he growled, his snow-white hair falling over his face.
Azazel called for a meeting with all the fallen angel generals in the war room. The tension in the room was palpable as they gathered around the large, round table. Azazel's eyes scanned the room before he spoke. "Status report?" he asked.
A dark-haired man named Zeref, one of the generals, picked up a stone tablet and answered, "Over a third of our army - two generals, including our former leader, and one noble are dead."
Azazel nodded; his expression grim. "Thank you, Zeref. As you know, all our troubles can be attributed to Samael, and killing him is the only way to solve our problems. So, does anyone have any idea on how to defeat him?"
Silence followed the question, and no one had an answer until Charmiel spoke up. "I will take him down," he said, clenching his fist.
Dagon laughed mockingly, "Aren't you the weakest among us? How do you expect to beat Samael? We had to give you the energy from our dead just to make you a general, and you think you can take on the second-strongest being? What a joke."
Azazel raised his hand, silencing Dagon. "And how do you expect to defeat Samael?" he asked, turning to Charmiel.
Charmiel smiled confidently. "We can't beat him in a fight, but we can make him fight someone he can't beat."
The fallen angels looked at each other in confusion until Apollyon spoke up, his eyes wide with shock. "Surely you don't mean..."
"Yes," Charmiel interrupted. "We will make him fight God."
Everyone in the room was shocked by the absurdity of Charmiel's idea.
"Inconceivable!" Babaquijal exclaimed, disbelief written all over his face. "How the hell would we do that?"
Charmiel opened his shirt, revealing a purple gem embedded in his slender chest. The room fell silent as they all gazed in awe at the gem.
"That can't be..." Zeref's eyes widened. "That's the power stone! How did you get your hands on such an object?"
"I stole it from Heaven," Charmiel said with a smirk. "With this gem, my powers can work on someone as strong as Samael, and make him fight God and lose."
Azazel nodded in approval and said, "What a brilliant plan. But isn't he your childhood friend, why do you hate your childhood friend so much?"
Charmiel's expression turned cold as he responded, "That's an emotional topic for me, Azazel. Drop it. That bastard deserves to die."
Camiel interjected with a sneering tone, "Don't get all emotional now. We both want him dead, but I can't believe you didn't recognize me, Charmiel. Have you forgotten about our childhood friendship so easily?"
Charmiel's eyes widened as he realized, "Camiel, you're alive? I missed you." Overwhelmed with emotion, Charmiel attempted to embrace his childhood friend, but Camiel stepped back, raising his hands defensively.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there, buddy," Camiel said, his tone cautious and guarded. "I didn't come here for a reunion. We've got a job to do."
Charmiel's face fell as he processed Camiel's words. "Right, of course," he said, forcing a smile. "Oh, I remember now you were never one for physical contact and I see that hasn't changed, I'm just glad to see you're okay."
Camiel nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I'm still breathing, at least," he replied, his voice lacking its earlier hostility. "Let's focus on the task at hand."
Turning back to Charmiel, Azazel said with a stern expression, "Enough dawdling. How long will it take for your power to work?"
Charmiel took a deep breath and answered, "It's not an exact science, but it will require Samael to use a level of power he hasn't used before or be at his full strength for it to work and that can only happen if the strongest one here fights him and pushes him to use a high level of power."
"Hmm, by strongest you mean me, quite the dangerous plan," Azazel said with a forced grin on his face.
Zeref's eyes widened in shock. "You can be serious sire; Samael could kill you!"
Dagon, on the other hand, was grinning with excitement. "This is the kind of crazy plan that just might work."
Azazel leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "So, how long do we have to wait?"
Charmiel hesitated, knowing that he was about to reveal a risky plan. "I'll need to perform a ritual to prepare the spell. It will take some time, and I can't guarantee that it will work."
Azazel's eyes narrowed. "What are you not telling us?"
Charmiel swallowed hard. "The spell will drain my life force, and I may not survive the process."
Dagon chuckled. "This is getting better and better. The stakes are high, but the rewards are even greater."
"Are you sure about this? There is no going back once you start." Azazel said with concern written on his face.
"If it means killing Samael, I'll gladly give my life." Charmiel declared filled with determination. Azazel acknowledges his resolve and drops the subject. Azazel clasps his hands together and rests his arms on the table, he realizes the gravity of the situation.
"It won't be easy to fight Samael alone," he muses, "but I relish the challenge. He has caused too much destruction, and I have a score to settle with him." Azazel stands up, his eyes glinting with determination, and addresses the group, "We will move forward with this plan. Charmiel, begin preparing the spell, and the rest of you, start strategizing. We will not rest until Samael is defeated, and justice is served." The other fallen angels nod in agreement, their faces set with determination, knowing that the battle ahead will be long and arduous. The fallen angel generals nod in agreement and begin to disperse, discussing their next moves.
As Charmiel stepped out of the war room, the weight of his decision settled heavily on his shoulders as he walked to his room. He had abandoned his angel powers years ago, disgusted by Samael's actions and not wanting any connection to him. Now, he was going to use the power stone, which would drain his life force and possibly result in his death.
Tears streamed down his face as he thought of Tamiel, his childhood friend who had been murdered by Samael. He vowed to avenge him and bring justice to his memory. "I'll get my revenge soon enough, Tamiel," Charmiel whispered to himself, his voice choked with emotion. "Wait for me on the other side."
He took a deep breath and steeled himself for what was to come. He knew that this was his only chance to defeat Samael and save countless lives from his tyranny. He would do whatever it took to accomplish that, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
As he entered his room Charmiel closed his eyes and began to focus his mind, preparing to cast the spell that would activate the power stone. He felt a surge of energy coursing through his soul, and he knew that the time had come. With one last deep breath, he opened his eyes and set off toward his destiny, determined to make a difference in the fight against his childhood friend.
Meanwhile, in Heaven, Samael was training in the gym to improve his skills when Uriel approached him. "It's time for the ceremony. Your siblings asked me to inform you," Uriel said, trying to get Samael's attention.
Samael took a moment to catch his breath before responding, "I see. I'll be there shortly."
Uriel unmoving insisted, "The ceremony can't start without you, let's go, master."
Samael not bothering to respond continued his training, he briefly glanced at Uriel and noticed his military attire, "I see you are in your military attire, am I to believe you are participating in the trial?"
The military attire was white cloth with light armour on it.
"I'm the strongest angel general. I deserve to be an archangel more than anyone," Uriel replied, his voice filled with anger.
Samael smirked, his muscles tensing with excitement. "You think you're ready? Prove it."
"You mean right now?" Uriel asked, surprised.
"Of course, but if you are scared you could just leave," Samael replied nonchalantly which angered Uriel.
"Alright let's do this," Uriel replied.
They both took their fighting stances. Uriel eager to prove himself to his master lunges at Samael.
"You think you can beat me with my style? Pathetic." Samael effortlessly deflected all of Uriel's attacks which put Uriel in an awkward position and he lands a brutal kick to his face, sending him flying.
Uriel crashed into the wall at the end of the gym, scattering all the equipment. Samael walked out of the gym in disappointment. "I thought you said you were ready? All you did was embarrass yourself," he said before leaving Uriel to nurse his wounds.
Whitish-gold blood dripped from Uriel's head, soaking his silverish-white hair. "D-damn those fallen angels. They've taken my kind master from me!" he exclaimed weakly. "I'll kill them all." A murderous look filled his golden eyes.
The remaining archangels went to watch the ceremony to select a new archangel. All seven angel generals and the runner-up of the last 'Trial' fought in one-on-one battles until only one was left.
The archangels were visibly unhappy after the death of their comrade but forced themselves to attend. They were situated in an open room above the arena looking down at the event. "Do we have to attend this ceremony?" Michael complained from his seat.
"Of course, Michael. We must do so," Gabriel replied.
"I understand that, but surely this time could be better spent training," Michael retorted.
"Enough about duty, muscle freak. We need to train so we can defeat the fallen angels," Azrael said.
"Well, if you trained hard enough, maybe you would be as muscular as me," Gabriel teased.
"As if muscles matter in combat. They're just a hindrance," Azazel replied.
"Yet, I'm still stronger than you," Gabriel fired back.
The archangels quieted down as Samael took his seat among them. His expression was filled with anger and his eyes scanned the room as if daring anyone to challenge him.
Michael, always eager to break the tension, tried to make small talk. "Samael, what took you so long? I assumed you weren't coming," he said with a grin.
Samael leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, a scowl etched on his face. After a moment, he spoke in a low voice that carried across the room. "I have no interest in watching these weaklings fight, but as the leader, I have to," he said. "However, I do have a score to settle with the fallen angels. They killed our brother Zadkiel, and they are still trying to spread chaos in Father's creation. It's unacceptable."
The other archangels exchanged concerned glances. "Brother, revenge will only lead to more pain and regret. Killing them all won't bring Zadkiel back," Michael said calmly.
Gabriel added, "This is how the first archangel fell. You don't want to end up like him."
Samael's eyes flickered with anger. "You think I can't handle this? Your compassion and worries are misplaced. They need to pay with their lives for what they've done," he replied coldly.
Raphael pushed back, "Chaos is necessary, killing them all will only lead to the destruction of all of creation. What's your plan for that?"
"I have a plan. Drop the subject... now!" Samael glared at Raphael, shutting down any further discussion.
As the competitors entered the arena, Samael's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for something to distract him from the upcoming fights. And then, he saw her. The most beautiful angel he had ever laid eyes on. She had an air of confidence and a wide smirk that showed she was unafraid to stand out. She had flowing gold hair and piercing blue eyes and beauty radiated from her being. She was waving at the crowd who was also mesmerised by her beauty.
"Who is she?" Samael murmured to himself, unable to take his eyes off of her.
A bald man next to her seemed embarrassed by her behaviour. "Jophiel, stop this. It's embarrassing," he said, hiding his face.
Samael didn't care walking forward, his eyes locked onto the girl, and a small smirk formed on his lips getting closer to the edge of the room. "Look, Amenediel, it's working. I've mesmerized Lord Samael and the other archangels," Jophiel said, pointing up at them.
Samael is shaken by a sudden snap, and he is back in the present moment. "What happened?" he asked, confused, as he strolled back to his seat.
"I don't know. You guys started staring at that girl, and it looked like you were in a trance, so I broke you out," Ariel explained.
Samael's eyes narrowed as he thought about what had just happened. "That's quite the dangerous ability that girl has," he said, leaning forward. "I want her on my team," he declared, his voice laced with a terrifying edge.
The other archangels were freaked out by Samael's sudden shift in demeanour, and they shuddered at the thought of what he planned to do with her power.
But their attention was soon diverted as Uriel staggered out into the arena, his white shirt stained with blood. "Uriel, are you alright?" Jophiel tried to help him; concern etched on her face.
"Like I would need help from the likes of you. Know your place, weakling," Uriel snapped, slapping her hand away.
"Looks like our leader is prickly again," Amenediel said with a chuckle "He must have fought with Lord Samael again." He continues.
"What happened to Uriel?" Raphael asked Samael, concerned.
"He sustained a concussion in training," Samael replied, crossing his arms over his chest.
"And you are just going to let him compete like that," Raphael said his voice filled with compassion. Let me heal him," he offered, walking to the edge of the room, ready to jump down to Uriel's side.
"Wait!" Samael stopped him. "I appreciate your offer, Raphael, but Uriel needs to learn how to fight through the pain. It's part of being a warrior."
I can't believe he would fight in this state, his determination is impressive. Don't disappoint me, Uriel. Samael thought to himself.
"I can't believe you'd let your student fight in this state. It's too dangerous," Raphael said, turning to face Samael.
"I said let him," Samael glared at Raphael, daring him to challenge his authority.
Raphael frowned but didn't argue further. He knew Samael's training methods were tough, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
The other archangels looked on in horror as Samael flicked his hand, and the matches for the archangel spot were decided. The first fight was Uriel versus Jophiel. They both entered the golden ring, and Samael announced, "Remember, the only way to win is to get your opponent out of the ring or beat them till they can't fight. Begin."
Uriel stumbled through his words as he addressed Jophiel, "I-I'm going-going to destroy you, Jophiel." He glared at her in anger.
"Big talk from someone who can barely speak," Jophiel retorted with a smirk.
I can't fight for long, my vision—is blurry, I need to end this quickly. Uriel thought as the match commenced.
They both went into their fighting stances, using a narrow stance. Uriel was the first to attack, widening his stance for a high-speed lunge. Jophiel easily dodged his attack and swept his leg, sending him airborne.
"It's quite disappointing you know? If you weren't injured that might have hit me, but now your balance and speed are off," Jophiel said with a smug grin.
Uriel noticed Jophiel charging wind magic in her right hand and twirling in the air, moving to her right side. Jophiel swiped her hand through the air, creating an air blade, which Uriel narrowly dodged before lunging at her.
She stepped back to create distance but Uriel followed her, matching her movements with his own. Jophiel felt her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to anticipate his next move. Suddenly, Uriel moved to her left side just as she turned, and before she could react, he landed a devastating punch on her gut. The force of the blow sent her sliding back until she stopped at the very edge of the ring, her feet barely holding her weight as she struggled to stay upright.
Jophiel coughed up blood and fell to her knees. She tried to stand, but her knees gave out from under her, and she collapsed to the ground. She felt like the air had been knocked out of her, and she struggled to catch her breath.
As she lay on the ground, Jophiel watched as Uriel charged towards her, his fists ablaze with fire. Jophiel's instincts kicked in, and she quickly rolled to the side, dodging Uriel's punch. As he pivoted to the right, sending a fire wave at her, Jophiel summoned her windshield, deflecting the flames with ease.
As Uriel continued his flame attack, Jophiel noticed that Uriel wasn't using his usual pinpoint blasts like he used to which made her realize that he must have been concussed and this could be her chance to take him down.
However, her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Uriel beside her. "Wait, he used the flames as a distraction," she realized too late. Uriel's fist, condensed with fire, was coming straight for her face. But due to his concussion, he missed grazing her chin, and the shockwaves from his missed punch caused the arena to tremble and sent her tumbling.
Jophiel saw her opportunity and seized it. She quickly got up and moved towards Uriel, taking advantage of his disorientation. She placed her palm on Uriel's injured side and sent a concussive wind blast to his face, knocking him out.
The audience erupted in cheers as Jophiel was announced as the winner of the match. Jophiel stood victorious, but a part of her couldn't help but feel guilty for taking advantage of Uriel's injury. She knew that he was a worthy opponent, and she hoped for his quick recovery. "That was a good fight, Uriel," she bowed as the match finished.
The paramedics rush Uriel to the medical centre as Jophiel is announced as the winner of the fight. She walks back to her seat, feeling a mix of emotions: relief, excitement, and a tinge of guilt for taking advantage of Uriel's injury. She looks over at Uriel being carried away, hoping he'll be okay.
As she sits down, Amenediel comes over to congratulate her. "Great job, Jophiel! You showed your skill out there," he says with a smile.
"Thanks, Amenediel," Jophiel replies, feeling grateful for his friend's support. She looks back at the ring, where the next match is about to begin.
Meanwhile, Samael transports himself behind the paramedics as they carry Uriel away. "Uriel, my boy," Samael says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You fought well, especially considering your condition."
Uriel looks up, surprised to see his master there. "Thank you, Master," he says, feeling a sense of pride.
"But there were a few mistakes you made out there," Samael continues. "Using a narrow stance while concussed was a foolish move, and your speed when switching stances was too slow. If you can know when to use each stance and switch them quickly, you'll truly master my style."
Uriel nods, feeling motivated by his master's words. "Thank you, Master. I won't disappoint you."
Samael pats him on the back. "I know you won't, Uriel. Now rest up and recover. Training starts as soon as you're able."
As Samael returns to his seat, he notices Amenediel standing over Leviel, who looks upset and defeated. "What happened?" Samael asks.
"My student just landed the move Uriel failed to," Ariel explains with pride. "It was incredible!"
"Interesting," Samael replies, nodding his head. He looks back at the ring, where the next match is about to begin.
Raphael expresses sympathy for Leviel, who has lost both the "Trial" and the "Ceremony," while Azrael can't help but chuckle at the irony of it all. Samael grows frustrated with their bickering and sternly reminds them to be respectful.
The audience quiets down as Samael introduces the next pair of fighters. Jophiel watches intently, excited to see what the rest of the tournament has in store.
The third fight was a gruelling match between Daniel and Adramael. Both fighters showed great skill and determination, with neither one giving an inch. As the fight progressed, the tension in the arena was palpable, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats.