Daniel emerged as the victor after a hard-fought battle. The crowd erupted in cheers, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he returned to his seat.
The fourth fight presented a far darker spectacle. Asmodiel, the rising fighter renowned for his fiery abilities, stepped into the ring against Melliel. The anticipation in the arena was palpable, but what unfolded was no contest.
Asmodiel's flames blazed brightly, casting intense shadows as he charged forward. Melliel tried to hold her ground, but his overwhelming strength and precision left her no room to counter, Melliel fought valiantly, trying to evade Asmodiel's strikes, but each strike from Asmodiel was devastating, breaking bones and drawing gasps from the horrified audience. Blood spattered the floor as Melliel collapsed, barely clinging to consciousness.
Cries of outrage and cheers of admiration mixed in the crowd. Some called for Asmodiel's disqualification, but he stood triumphant, savouring the moment. Beneath his arrogance, a flicker of guilt stirred—a memory of his family's tarnished legacy and the sacrifices he made to ascend. But he silenced the doubt, convincing himself this was necessary for redemption.
Amenediel approached Asmodiel as he exited the ring, he couldn't help but notice the young fighter's intense focus and the way he studied his movements. The silence of the crowd made it harder to hide his nerves. As a veteran fighter, Amenediel felt a tinge of envy at Asmodiel's raw talent and potential.
"Great fight," Amenediel began. "But you went too far, Melliel didn't deserve that.
Asmodiel's smirk deepened. "Weakness deserves no respect. I fight to win. I don't care about pleasing anyone."
The words rolled off his tongue with an air of finality, but beneath the bravado lay a truth he kept buried. He despised weakness not just in others but within himself—a shadow he could never fully escape. His smirk faltered briefly, a flicker so brief it was barely noticeable, as a memory wormed its way into his thoughts.
He was a boy again, small and trembling, surrounded by jeering faces. The taunts came sharp and merciless, each one a strike against the fragile armour of his pride. "Your family is worthless, Asmodiel. Pathetic!" The words hit harder than any blow, their weight bending him under the burden of shame. His fists had clenched back then, just as they did now, trembling with the fury of his helplessness.
It wasn't just the bullies he'd hated that day. It was himself. For standing there. For being powerless. For letting them see the tears he couldn't hold back. That moment had branded him, carved a truth into his soul he could never erase: strength was survival, and survival meant showing no cracks. Ever.
Asmodiel's gaze hardened, the smirk returning with renewed resolve. His disdain for weakness wasn't just born from scorn for others; it was a shield against the part of himself he loathed most. The part that had once begged for mercy. That small, trembling boy still haunted him, lurking beneath the layers of his carefully built strength.
"Pleasing anyone?" he muttered under his breath, voice cold as steel. "What a waste of time."
The memory faded, but its echo remained. He would never be that boy again. And if anyone dared to expose even a hint of that vulnerability, they'd regret it. For Asmodiel, winning wasn't just a goal—it was the only way to silence the past.
Amenediel's jaw tightened. "Winning doesn't mean anything if you have to step on everyone to get there. You should show some respect for your opponent, regardless of their skill level."
Asmodiel scoffed, "Spare me the lecture old man, I will do what it takes to win, even if it means crushing insects like you."
"We'll see about that," Amenediel replied coldly, walking away.
As he walked back to his seat, he felt a sense of nostalgia for the days when honour, respect, and camaraderie were valued just as much as victory.
The second round began with Jophiel and Daniel squaring off. Their auras clashed, shaking the ring and thrilling the crowd.
As he watched the next fight unfold, Amenediel couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within him. He had seen too many angels go down the path of ruthlessness and arrogance, only to end up alone and broken or, worse, turning to fallen angels. He knew that the path to victory was fraught with danger and sacrifice, and he wondered if it was all worth it in the end.
Asmodiel, on the other hand, felt a surge of adrenaline as he watched the next fight. Anticipating his fight with Amenediel. He tried to hide his excitement but a grin could be seen on his face. He studies the fight, taking mental notes of their strengths and weaknesses.
Daniel, with his keen kinetic vision and sharp critical thinking skills, made his move, lunging at Jophiel with a flurry of light energy balls. But Jophiel was ready for him.
She super-condensed her wind to such a degree that it turned into a series of devastating shock waves that tore through the ring, destroying all of Daniel's attacks in their wake.
Daniel was thrown back by the force of the shock waves, his arms mangled and dripping with blood. He struggled to his feet, but it was clear he was no match for Jophiel's power.
In the end, Jophiel emerged as the clear winner, her overwhelming victory earning her the adoration of the crowd and cementing her place as the fan favourite.
The final match of the round paired Asmodiel against Amenediel. The arena fell silent as the two warriors faced off. The two fighters circled each other warily, exchanging blows and testing each other's defence.
Asmodiel however, was the first to land a shot. His uppercut landed cleanly on Amenediel's floating rib, causing him to gasp for air and stumble back in pain. But Amenediel wasn't done yet, he attempted a counterattack but was met with another devastating blow to his throat from Asmodiel.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching in shock and horror as the two fighters battled it out. They were rooting for the idealistic Amenediel to win the fight but it wasn't going his way.
Amenediel unleashes a fierce fire blast, attempting to create some distance between himself and Asmodiel. However, Asmodiel proves too quick and skilled, dodging the attack with ease. In a swift countermove, Asmodiel sends a flaming slash toward Amenediel, tearing open his chest and cauterizing the wound.
Amenediel cries out in pain and falls to the ground. Jophiel, who had been watching the fight with growing anxiety, lets out a gasp at the sight of her friend's injury. She wants to help him but knows she can't interfere. Instead, she starts cheering for Amenediel, hoping to give him some emotional support. Amidst the pain, Amenediel slowly gets back on his feet. His face twisted in agony; he told Jophiel not to worry he wouldn't lose.
Asmodiel smirks, ready to finish off his opponent. But Amenediel stilled himself. He uses his strong willpower to replicate Asmodiel's fighting style, and the two angels engage in fierce hand-to-hand combat. Asmodiel lands a brutal punch that breaks Amenediel's cheekbone, sending him flying through the air. But Amenediel's spirit remains unbroken.
Through sheer determination, he recites the words of the tenth chapter of Psalms, invoking God's vengeance. The damage that Asmodiel had inflicted on Amenediel is reflected on him, causing him to stumble and momentarily stun him. With a Rush of energy, Amenediel copies Uriel's signature move, lunging towards Asmodiel with a powerful punch that sends him hurtling out of the ring.
The arena erupted, celebrating Amenediel's victory, however, the celebration was short-lived. They noticed Amenediel staggering and blood dripping from his nose. They wonder what was wrong and the first to realize what had happened was Amenediel.
Asmodiel revealed his trump card, a manipulator ability that deceived Amenediel and the crowd.
The audience held their breath in shock as Asmodiel appeared in the ring. Amenediel's head glowed in chaotic light as Asmodiel chanted the third commandment of Exodus.
"[Exodus 3rd commandment: Light of Chaos]."
As the chaotic light of the third commandment of Exodus engulfed Amenediel, he looked at Jophiel smiling at her as his head exploded eliminating him. Asmodiel claimed the win, leaving the crowd in stunned silence. Jophiel's anguished cries echoed as paramedics rushed to Amenediel's side.
"Isn't that too far?" Ariel asked.
"It's fine, it would take more than that to kill an angel, especially in Heaven," Samael dismissed her concern and declared Asmodiel's advancement, but the triumphant fighter's sneer only deepened Jophiel's resolve. "I will end you," she vowed, her voice trembling with fury.
In the infirmary, Amenediel's head was regenerated but he was still out of it. Uriel's eyes widened as he saw Amenediel in this state.
Who could do such a thing? He thought. This final bout isn't going to be boring. Uriel smirked, leaving the infirmary.
After a few minutes, the long-awaited finals commenced. During the break Samael fixed the ring, putting it in perfect condition for the fight between Asmodiel and Jophiel.
The crowd was worried for Jophiel's safety but Jophiel didn't feel any fear. Her anger overshadowed it. As the fight began, Jophiel lunged at Asmodiel and unleashed a series of precise strikes, putting Asmodiel on the defensive.
She aimed a punch at his chest, but he redirected her arm, sending her crashing to the ground with a shockwave.
"How ruthless. That could have hurt," Asmodiel said, "However, that wasn't good enough." He threw a punch enhanced with flames at her sternum, and although she blocked, the force was enough to send her flying backwards, breaking her hand and burning her skin.
Jophiel uses [Genesis: Creation—Ice lance] to summon ice lances, using it to counter Asmodiel's flame aura, staggering him. Seeing the effectiveness of the attack, she launches another volley.
"Hmm," Asmodiel rubbed his jaw, "Let me copy one of your moves." Asmodiel used his own [Genesis: Creation] power and sent shockwaves through the air, blasting the ice lances to pieces Jophiel's vital organs and sending her reeling.
The crowd watched in awe as Jophiel struggled to get back up, her soul covered in bruises and cuts yet her fighting spirit remained unbroken. "I'm not done yet!" she exclaimed; her voice raspy but determined as she forced herself to her feet.
Asmodiel was taken aback by Jophiel's resilience. He knew that she was a skilled warrior, but he didn't expect her to be this tough. She's more powerful than I thought, he said to himself, But I can't let her win. I must win, to show them. He clenched his fist. I'm not like my family. Asmodiel releases all his energy, "I'm not holding back anymore." White hot flames pour from his soul devastating the arena. The audience began sweating and Asmodiel's heat became unbearable.
"His aura is far higher than before," Michael said, observing the fight.
"I know he intends to end it quickly," Gabriel added.
Jophiel saw the aura, and she backed away, trembling. Asmodiel's flames burned her skin, and she instinctively put up a shield, but she knew that she had to keep fighting. I can't let him win, she thought to herself, not after everything I've been through to get here, not after what he did to Amenediel.
As Asmodiel took a step forward, Jophiel crawled away from him until she was at the edge of the ring. She put her hand out as if begging him to stop.
Jophiel, focus. You've trained for this. Wipe the smirk off his cocky face, that's an order," Uriel's words echoed through the arena. Jophiel's eyes narrowed as she caught her breath, looking towards the stands where her mentor stood. She knew Uriel was right, she had trained hard for this moment and she was ready to face any challenge that came her way.
She summoned all her energy and focused her power, gathering the elements around her to create a powerful blast of wind that sent Asmodiel flying across the arena. Asmodiel struggled to regain his balance, stunned by the force of Jophiel's attack.
What the...what kind of power is this? She was barely standing a moment ago! Asmodiel thought to himself, gritting his teeth in frustration. But he knew he couldn't give up now, not when victory was so close. I won't let her stop me. My family's reputation is on the line. I have to show them I.
Asmodiel held his chest and felt his aura increasing, his snow-white hair rising and his golden eyes glowing with intense light. The air around him crackled with energy as he powered up to a higher degree, the archangels watching in awe as his power grew stronger by the second.
"The real fight starts now." Asmodiel charged at Jophiel with renewed determination, his eyes fixed on her as he prepared to unleash his strongest attacks.
Jophiel met his charge with a wicked grin, her eyes glowing with newfound confidence. "I'm sorry but our leader has ordered me to win and I can't get on his bad side," she said calmly, readying herself for the battle ahead.
Asmodiel lunged at Jophiel, throwing multiple jabs amplified with fire, but Jophiel effortlessly dodged them, flowing like the wind. Asmodiel was shocked and wondered if she was mocking him. The thought angered him to the point where veins appeared on his forehead.
"Damn it, [Genesis plus Numbers: Flame barrage]" Multiple fireballs came from all directions. "You lose!" Asmodiel exclaimed.
An explosion echoed in the arena, and when the smoke cleared, Jophiel was in front of him and landed a blow on his abdomen, sending him flying. He stopped himself from flying further by putting his arms in the ring, which made him slide backwards a bit. He coughed up blood and held his abdomen in pain.
"What's the matter, down already?" Jophiel mocked him.
"How dare you! [Revelations]…" Asmodiel began to say before Ariel exclaimed, "He can use that?"
"Most impressive," Samael said watching the fight closely.
"[Divine ender]," Asmodiel shoots a beam of golden light from his hand, but Jophiel flips over it.
She dodged that? Asmodiel thought, no matter, I planned for that scenario. As Jophiel smirked in mid-air, his face turned to a grin, lunging at her as she landed, "I expected that now you die." He threw a right straight.
"I expected that too," she turned in the air dodging his punch. His eyes widened. "Wait, what?"
"For Amenediel." She attacked him with a large shockwave, sending him flying out of the ring, hitting the wall, and she landed on her feet.
Asmodiel fell to the floor cursing her as he passed out. A thunderous roar rose from the crowd, fragments of words lost in the cacophony. A young angel near the front jumped up and down, his voice cracking as he screamed, while an older angel pounded his foot rhythmically on the ground.
Jophiel basked in their roars before her soul succumbed to her injuries and she fell to the ground. All the generals congratulated her and the paramedics took Asmodiel to the sick bay.
The archangels watched with silent approval as Jophiel triumphed, however, their gaze shifted to Samael who silenced the roaring crowd with a gesture.
He walked to the edge of the room and announced, "And the new archangel is Jophiel!"
After the medics attended to both fighters, Jophiel was led to a secluded chamber in the sixth layer of Heaven. There, Samael introduced the Adaptation Stone, a relic to elevate her powers. The stone was a dark crimson and rested on a pedestal in the centre of the room. It radiated immense power that scared Jophiel.
However, she pushed through her fear and stepped forward, her wings instinctually coming out. They were a light shade of gold—symbolizing her angel general status. Her wings glowed lightly as the energy of the stone engulfed her, putting her inside a golden cocoon.
The archangels surround her and stabilize the energy entering her. After a few minutes, she emerged, transformed, her golden wings radiant and her spirit stronger than ever.
Samael stepped forward, holding out Zadkiel's old sword, Durandal. "Take it," he said, his voice soft but firm. "It is tradition to pass the weapons of the fallen to their replacement."
Jophiel hesitated; her eyes fixed on the gleaming blade. "But Lord Zadkiel..."
"He is gone," Samael said gently. "But his spirit lives on in you now. You must carry on his legacy, and the legacy of all the archangels who have come before."
With a deep breath, Jophiel accepted the sword, feeling its weight in her hand. It was a symbol of her new responsibilities and the power she now wielded.
"What is your grace?" Ariel asked eagerly.
Jophiel frowned. "My grace?"
"The power that Father bestowed upon you during your evolution," Samael explained. "It is unique to each archangel."
Jophiel closed her eyes, feeling the wind coursing through her soul. "Wind," she said softly.
Michael grinned. "Well, that explains why you move like a breeze."
A few moments later, Samael led the way to the gym in the fifth layer of Heaven, where Jophiel would undergo rigorous training to hone her newfound power. As they walked, he recalls his conversations with Zadikel which fills him with sadness and joy. He resolves himself that Jophiel will be the last archangel they will ever make muttering to himself, "Never again."
A few days later, Charmiel finished his preparation informing the fallen angels. They wasted no time and attacked one of Heaven's outposts. The archangels rush to the battlefield and Azazel steps forward, issuing a challenge that echoes across the battlefield. Samael, his long-time adversary, accepts without hesitation. The fallen angels and heavenly hosts erupt into chaos around them, clashing in an all-out war as the two figures at the centre prepare to settle their grudge.
The air grows tense as Azazel and Samael square off, their eyes locked in unspoken animosity. The battlefield fades into a blur of motion and sound; for these two, nothing else exists. Samael strikes first, closing the distance with a burst of speed and delivering a flurry of punches aimed directly at Azazel's core. Each blow lands with a force that reverberates through the air, driving Azazel back.
Gritting his teeth, Azazel catches Samael's fist mid-strike. With a sharp pivot, he counters with his attack, but Samael anticipates the move and catches Azazel's punch in turn. The two lock hands, their auras clashing as a visible distortion ripples around them, a testament to the titanic power being exchanged.
Azazel's muscular frame trembles with exertion as he leans into the contest of strength, inching forward. But Samael, though leaner, surprises with his explosive might. With a sudden shift in momentum, Samael flips Azazel over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground he created with a thunderous crash.
"When you challenged me," Samael says, his voice dripping with disdain, "I expected something worth my time. This? This is just another tired routine. What desperate plan are you clinging to this time, Azazel?"
Azazel pushes himself up, his face set in defiance despite the dirt and blood streaking his features. "There is no plan, Samael. Only resolve. I won't stand by and let you murder any more of my kin."
Samael's expression hardens, though a mocking smirk plays at the corners of his mouth. "Is that so? Then stop wasting time and fight."
They charge at each other, a blur of motion and light as they trade blows. Each impact resonates like a clap of thunder. Azazel launches a series of light energy attacks, but Samael deflects them with effortless precision, his movements fluid and economical. In a sudden burst of speed, Samael delivers a brutal punch to Azazel's nose, the force of the blow sending him sprawling.
Azazel lands hard but rolls to his feet, his breathing ragged but determined. "It doesn't matter how strong you are," he growls. "I'll stop you here and now."
Samael chuckles, wiping purple blood from his knuckles. "Bold words, Azazel. Let's see if you can live up to them."
With a wicked grin, Samael charges his right arm with searing light energy, the brilliance illuminating the battlefield. He lunges for the kill, but before his strike can connect, a deafening explosion rips through the air. The shockwave knocks Samael off balance, forcing him to retreat a step.
"What in the heavens was that?" Samael demands, his gaze darting to the source of the blast.
Azazel smirks through his pain. "That, Samael, was a signal. And it means your time is running out." A renewed fire burned in his eyes as he lunged forward, catching Samael off guard with a powerful left hook.
Regaining his stance, Samael studies Azazel with a sharp eye, noting the subtle changes in his movements and the explosion of force now coursing through him. "A signal won't save you," he sneers. "You think this little power-up is enough to change your fate? Let me show you how wrong you are."
Samael lunges again, moving faster than before, his strikes precise and calculated. But Azazel deflects a critical punch, surprising Samael and forcing him back on the defensive. Exploiting the opening, Azazel lands a barrage of strikes to Samael's chest and face, each one driving him further back. Samael retaliates by enchanting his fists with holy fire, the flames crackling with raw destructive energy, but Azazel ducks beneath the attack and counters with a devastating uppercut to Samael's jaw, followed by a straight punch that hurls him across the battlefield.
"You should take me seriously, Samael," Azazel taunts, a rare grin lighting up his battered face. "Otherwise, I might just mess up your pretty face."
Samael rises slowly, wiping the golden blood dripping from his mouth. For the first time, a flicker of annoyance crosses his features, replaced almost instantly by a dangerous grin. "You've tapped into the power stone, haven't you?" he murmurs, his voice low and menacing. "Clever. But that just means I don't have to hold back anymore."
As Samael's aura ignites, casting a blinding glow, the battlefield seems to pause. Both warriors prepare for what could be the final exchange, their raw power poised to devastate the battlefield.