I sat with Sang So-Yi and the others, waiting for Do Song Boon to arrive to take Class 12-A back inside. As I sat with them, So-Yi filled me in with what's been going on in the class recently, each detail she filled me in more heartbreaking than the last. I looked over at Kim Eun, noticing her head held low then placed my hand upon her shoulder.
"Why do you do what you do, Kim? What in your heart has you feeling this way toward your brothers and sisters?" I asked gently, feeling her body tense slightly under my touch.
"Tch...it's because we're seniors. We set the example here and we can not afford to look weak, especially not when our Academy Years are coming up!" Kim Eun answered passionately, standing up on her feet and turning to face us. "Do you all know what it's like to have a father at home always nagging and harrassing you about status and rank?!"
Jiahn, Hyeon Bae, and Mul Ir-Wol stared at Kim Eun, their gazes slightly softening as they began to see Kim Eun's heart. Sang So-Yi stared at her with a calm expression, letting out a soft exhale and lowered her head.
"Exactly, silence! None of you understand what I have to go through at all! That's why I'm the way I am because I can not suffer another failure! I won't let any of you get in my way either! I must be on top, I have to be the best and I'll destroy anyone who dares to cross my path to victory!" Kim Eun declared, announcing her desires at the top of her lungs.
"And who will bring you there?" I asked, looking up at the sky to watch the angels battle against Merin's foes. "How will you get there if you... lack any real faith in yourself?"
Kim Eun looked down at me, her gaze softening for a moment before her heart became hard, her expression changing into a slight glare. "What do you mean? I am a B+ Rank, going on A Rank soon! I have more confidence in myself more than anything else!"
"Yet, you cheat on every exam, bully your way through physical tests, use counterfeit systems, and most of all, doubt my Father's power. You lack confidence and faith in yourself and in Yuvah," I said, turning my gaze to Kim Eun and rested my hands at my sides.
Kim Eun's body tensed greatly from being exposed, her skin crawling uncomfortably as her tactics were exposed openly. Unable to find the words to defend herself, she answered in the only way she knew how, charging forward and grabbing my robes with anger. Her eyes shone with anger and sadness, a desperate light flickering in her eyes.
"Just as Yesha didn't walk the Earth to condemn, but to save...I follow His footsteps. I may come with a sword, but I also come with a shield. I don't like to see grief in your eyes...but I also don't like to see you become who God didn't set you to be," I said gently, placing my hands upon hers and giving her a soft smile.
"You're in need of a Savior, and you all have one...but most of you forgot Him. That's why I'm here. To remind you of Him. My story doesn't echo His for no reason. Yuvah wanted it that way so He could remind you all of his only Son..." I continued, staring her in the eyes, memories of my past flashing in my mind.
Kim Eun stared into my eyes, seeing the hurt and pain in my eyes of losing my mother, my Kingdom, and my Foster Parents. She noticed a single tear streaming down my cheek, her heart sinking down to her stomach and a lump forming in her throat.
"My story was supposed to mirror His truly, lest...my enemy had other plans. However, that didn't stop me because I died to my old self two years ago. I denied the part of myself that left me stuck...and that's what you should do as well," I said, holding her hands in mind and looking down at them.
"Deny your flesh daily, cast out the thoughts that make you think you're less worthy because you underperform. Grace doesn't begin when your efforts start...it begins when your efforts end because your efforts alone will not suffice you," I finished, looking down at the bruises upon her hand and rubbed my thumb over them.
Kim Eun listened to my words, the words she wanted and needed to hear for years moving her to tears. Her body immediately felt heavy, falling upon her knees as she softly wept with her hands still in mine. The girls beside me watched as Kim Eun was changed, her heart now belonging to Yuvah.
So-Yi looked at Kim Eun with a soft expression, placing her hand upon her shoulder. "Eun...I had always figured you were going through a rough moment, and I never truly held it against you. I just wish you didn't choose to take this route..."
"There's not much I can do anyway...I am under Ha-Rin's rule because Go-Goken is under her uncle's name. Even if I'm saved, I'm still in Hell on Earth here under Ha-Rin," Kim Eun said with a soft sniffle, her gaze still held at the ground.
"Tch...of course she's still in the picture for this. We have to take that girl down and this system!" Jiahn scoffed, crossing her arms and closing her eyes with a soft exhale.
"It's not gonna be that simple...I have a feeling that Ha-Rin isn't directly involved with Go-Goken, only reaping the benefits. Taking her down won't do any good," Sang So-Yi said, leaning forward and resting her arms upon her knees and interlocking her fingers.
"Then how about converting her? I have an alright bond with Ha-Rin and I could talk to her," Hyeon Bae suggested, looking over at So-Yi.
"No. That's too risky, and it doesn't take God's wisdom to know that Ha-Rin is simply only using you for your Stigmatas. I'm not risking that, not after the Woo-Chi situation," So-Yi declined, shaking her head with disapproval.
Mul Ir-Wol's gaze shifted between each of us, an idea hatching in her mind. "If she's so hooked on Ranks and Status, we could try to convert her in a Seolhart Battle Zone."
"Seolhart has Battle Zones?" Jiahn asked with curiosity, looking over at Mul Ir-Wol with interest.
Mul Ir-Wol nodded with a smile, smacking her hand against her palm. "Yeah, they are all over St. Goken District so in Seolhart here in the Aquarius Kingdom, some in Ake Bashin in the Cancer Kingdom, and finally quite a few in Xingque in the Capricorn Kingdom!"
Kim Eun rose her head with a hopefully gaze, her eyes still red from the soft weeping. "Wait, have you seen her at one of these Battle Zones? Is that why you're bringing this up?"
"Yep!~ I have seen her in Grushia City partaking in Valkyria and Hero Battles with Woo-Yi and another smart girl with glasses. Kinda looks like her," Mul Ir-Wol said, looking and pointing over at Li-Na who sat with Pyo Yu-Ni, Ye-Won, and Sun-mi.
So-Yi, Jiahn, and Hyeon Bae all glanced at each other, all on the same page as they knew they had to enter the Valkyria Battles in Seolhart. Immediately, Ji-MAN began the process to get them registered in the Valkyria Battles with the team being Jiahn, So-Yi, Hyeon Bae, Mul Ir-Wol, and finally Kim Eun.
"We added you to our group so you can be free from Ha-Rin and start to be yourself more. Plus, I'm Code Green so you have protection and immunity with me," Jiahn said, giving Kim Eun a small grin.
Kim Eun scoffed lightly, looking away with a slightly flushed face. "I don't need your pity..."
I chuckled softly at the girls then looked ahead to see Do Song Boon arriving in her security uniform. "Well, this is where we part ways for now.."
"What? We don't get to help you with the last tower?" Hyeon Bae asked, gently grabbing upon my sleeve.
I smiled at Hyeon Bae and shook my head, letting out a soft hum. "It's too dangerous for you all. Judgement is arriving and this Battle Zone will no longer stand as it is unholy grounds. Plus, the last of your classmates are stuck at the final tower and none of you will be able to withstand Drevas."
"Will we be able to see you again?" Jiahn asked with a hopeful tone, her heart slightly sinking once it was time to part.
I stood up from my seat, dusting off my robes and smiled at each of the girls. "There is no distance too far where I won't be able to reach you girls and any of your friends and loved ones. Now, remember what I have said and share it with your classmates for the words I spoke have been from the Father.."
With that, Do Song Boon took the girls and began to lead them back to the highschool, the girls all looking back at me to wave goodbye with bittersweet expressions. I waved back at them before warping away to meet up with Luciel and Su-Yun.
At the Main Tower, Ha-Rin, Kizu, Nu So-Hee, and Gentian faced off against Drevas for their survival. Drevas had critically injured Prince, taking him out the battle completely while mainly targeting Kizu and Gentian. The two men worked together like brothers, their movements completely synchronized.
Kizu charged toward Drevas with flames rushing around his hand, launching a Burning Ride but missed as Drevas flew over him. Gentian leaped up in the air, using Kizu as a platform, aiming his pistol at Drevas and firing a light bullet aimed at his heart.
Drevas roared as he deflected the bullet to the roof with a swipe of his arm and flew down toward Gentian. "I'll kill all of you! All will fall by my hand! None shall survive my wrath!"
Gentian holstered his weapon, manifesting his Replica Butterflies around him, two of his butterflies shifting into clones of himself to clash with Drevas. "Geez..! My sister didn't tell me about these kinds of Daemon! What threat level is this beast?"
"He's an A Rank Threat, but more importantly, he has to be the angel that cloaked woman was mentioning! Ha-Rin, Nu So-Hee, would you two mind assisting us?" Kizu asked with impatience, glancing back at the two girls who stood behind.
Ha-Rin smiled at Kizu then flipped her hair with a swipe of her hand, walking forward and letting out a soft sigh. "Since we are friends, I suppose I could step in. This is a fight for me anyway."
Gentian blocked Drevas's punch, groaning under the pressure of his strike and being thrown to the ground. He used one of his butterflies to make a clone of himself, his clone catching him and helping him land safely. "This thing means serious business, you won't be able to beat it alone."
"I am Class 12-A's President, the representative. It is my duty to fill in where you all lack, so...don't get in the way," Ha-Rin said with a subtle smug tone, beautiful blossoms appearing around her before a storm manifested around her and revealing her Valkyria Form.
Gentian and Kizu stood in awe of Ha-Rin's form while Nu So-Hee's lips curled into a knowing smirk. Ha-Rin's wings were a beautiful, pure white color, her aura fluttering in floral patters while cherry blossoms floated around her. Pink lightning began crackling around her body, showing she was operating at full strength.
Drevas stared down at Ha-Rin, growling lowly at her yet didn't feel particularly threatened since she possessed no Holy Fire. However, a surprise blow caught him upon his cheek, Ha-Rin's speed catching him off guard. 'What—'
Drevas groaned as he crashed toward the ground, but recovered on his feet and looked up to see Ha-Rin flying down toward him at high speeds. The two clashed powerfully, the force between their fists causing them to repel each other backwards. Ha-Rin took steps backwards, enlarging one of her blossoms into a pink saw of energy.
Ha-Rin hurled the saw of energy toward Drevas, the saw flying toward him at incredulous speeds. As Drevas went to evade the saw, the blade of the projectile caught his wing, severing it off completely. Drevas let out a pained roar, his hand clutching his shoulder blade with fury.
"Hmph. Is this all you have to offer? You're an A Rank Threat, I hoped you would be more of a struggle but you're not competition to me," Ha-Rin said, forming another saw blade of energy and hurled it toward Drevas once more.
Drevas let out a roar, unleashing a Gaia Beam Ø from his mouth, the black and green beam of energy completely destroying Ha-Rin's projectile and rushed toward her. Quickly, Gentian's clone rushed in front of the beam, tanking it head on for Ha-Rin and causing a massive explosion.
Ha-Rin grunted softly as the force of the explosion pushed her back slightly, causing her to use her arms to shield against the rushing winds. She peeked through her guard, noticing Drevas rushing through the smoke cloud with his arm sharped into a wooden spike.
Ha-Rin grunted as she entered he defensive quickly, evading each of Drevas's wild thrusts then palmed his arm down. She countered with a powerful roundhouse, following it into a backfist to knock him backwards. She rushed in for another attack, but Drevas caught her mid strike with another thrust of his arm to pierce her chest.
"Burnout!" Kizu roared, unleashing a massive blast of fire at Drevas to stop his attack.
Drevas let out a pained roar as the flames engulfed his body, leaving him flailing and shrilling in pain. This left Ha-Rin the opportunity to strike, Ha-Rin taking the chance to strike him with her Kkot Bloom, her attack releasing a blossom energy blast and sending him backwards.
Ha-Rin hissed lightly as the lingering flames from Kizu's attack burned her slightly, causing her to withdraw her hand and hold it close to her chest. "Watch your flames, Kizu!"
"Yeah, you don't want to make Ha-Rin mad when she's fighting for you now!" Nu So-Hee echoed, crossing her arms and with a smirk and nodded.
Gentian and Kizu glanced at each other then back at the two girls, dismissing the both of them and focusing back on the target at hand. Drevas laid motionless against the wall of the main tower, smoke from the burns of Kizu's burnout rising off his body like smoke from charcoal.
Drevas began to hear a whisper in his ear, the whispers of Terminus telling him to stand. Suddenly, the Black Serpent slithered into the tower through the cracks and crept inside Drevas to empower him. Drevas groaned and choked in pain as Merin began possessing his body, adding Drevas's strength to his own.
"What the hell is happening with him?" Kizu asked, staring at Drevas with skepticism and concern, his body bracing for anything.
"It looks like he's being possessed..." Gentian said with disgust, watching as Drevas's appearance began to slowly shift into Merin's appearance.
Merin groaned lightly as he rolled his neck, his second wing emerging from his back as vines before fully blooming into a wooden wing. "Ahh...That foolish King finally obtained enough power for me to take his. His nature energy should be enough to match Nox's Nature Rebirth Energy..."
The four students stared at Merin with confusion, none of them daring to make any sudden movements to alert him. Merin looked at the four, his lips curling into a devious smirk as a heinous idea hatched into his mind. His gaze shifted to Ha-Rin, their eyes locking for a moment.
'Oh..? You are the niece of Cho Jin-Hyan. How interesting to have run into you,' Merin said to Ha-Rin telepathically, giving her a smirk as he knew she heard his voice.
Ha-Rin glanced around to see if anyone else had heard Merin speak, but no one else but her received his voice. 'How do you know who I am..?'
'Oh, let's not play clueless now. Everyone knows you Valkyrian Princess. Your uncle spent all that money for your training, for your social skills, for your PR lessons... everyone should know you well,' Merin chuckled lightly, turning his gaze away from her then turned to look at Gentian.
"And you, Half-brother of Fleur De Lissa, Gentian De Floraison. Your skills are admirable, granted you are the sibling of a Zodiac Princess. Makes me wonder, does she still hate you for causing the fire that killed her mother?" Merin questioned, a serpentine grin flashing across his face.
"That wasn't me!" Gentian yelled, his heart racing with thick emotion and causing his head to slightly hurt as the scales within began tipping toward wrath. "...be quick to listen, slow to speak...slow to anger..."
Merin laughed softly at Gentian then got into his stance, preparing himself to take down the students and siphon their energy to corrupt them. "I hope you all are prepared to join my army! You will soon become greater than the God you serve!"
Merin dashed ahead at high speeds, catching Gentian off guard with a lariat and flinging him across the tower. He sensed Kizu's attack and blocked his attack by constructing a psuedowood shield at his side, crossing his arms with arrogance and laughed softly.
Merin lowered his shield and countered Kizu's next attack with a spinning kick to his head then struck him with a series of kicks before launching him away with blunt force from a large, thick root. He turned around to look at Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee, chuckling softly at the two before ignoring them.
"He's... ignoring us? Is he giving us the chance to leave?" Nu So-Hee asked, holding Ha-Rin's arm gently with slight terror.
"Religious or not, if I'm granted mercy, I'm taking it. Let's go," Ha-Rin said, hurrying away with quick steps with Nu So-Hee's hand in hers.
Gentian and Kizu slowly recovered, helplessly watching as Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee abandoned them to be at Merin's mercy. Knowing there wasn't much they could do, they rose to their feet to at least protect Prince, who still laid motionless on the floor.
"You two are no match, and yet you still rise to the occasion? Is this why God loves you humans so much yet rejects His own sons?! You have to be adopted into His perfect little family, yet sidelines me and the rest of His angels because of one mistake!" Merin roared, generating an orb of energy to unleash a Gaia Beam Ø at the two men.
"It wasn't just any mistake, it was a conscious choice you made as Lucifer that led to your downfall. You were eternal when God created you, your sin is eternal. Adam and Eve, Adamiel and Eva, both were limited in life...they still had time to repent and God showed them mercy and grace," I said, my voice echoing through the tower.
Merin grunted softly as he heard my voice and glanced around the tower to find me. He looked up, noticing me, Luciel, and Su-Yun all at the top floor of the tower. His expression shifted into a glare, his eyes glowing with pure hatred. "You even brought Sa Nu Rim...tch, it will make so difference when I destroy you all!"
I watched as Kizu and Gentian looked up at me, subtly gesturing for them to take Prince and leave. Once they got their friend and left the tower, I immediately unleashed my Messiah Form, white lightning crackling around my body. "This is it, Merin...the day will turn once you and Battle Zone 1 are casted away from this school."
Merin let out a dark laugh, stomping his foot down and spreading his wings out wide. "I am the Angel that guarded these towers and protected King Gideon from ultimate defeat from Queen IllIlI! Uthea, that's the land where King Ryoma and King Alastor had one of their most important battles.."
Luciel and Su-Yun grunted softly as they glanced around, watching as reality began to bend around each of us to transport each of us to an illusion of Uthea. I looked around, noticing we stood in the center of Ezusha Kingdom where Ryoma and Alastor had their true bout.
Suddenly, Merin appear in front of me taking the form of Alastor with a devious strike, the Crest of Chaos shining brightly upon his forehead. I blocked Merin's strike with the palm of my hand then phased through his next set of attacks, catching his wrist upon his next strike.
"You already lost this fight. There's no need to run back the memories because I already know how this ends. Henosis helped Ryoma beat you," I said, striking Merin's midsection and sending him flying backwards.
Merin grunted as he crashed through the castle walls, recovering onto his feet then noticed Luciel warping next to him with a swing of her scepter. He dodged her attack then sensed Su-Yun from above, teleporting away from her strike then reappeared behind her. With a strong grip of her collar, her flung her forward and teleported after her.
Su-Yun flipped backwards in the air then recovered mid-air, deflecting each of Merin's blows before landing on the ground and Valkyria Shifting into her Bolt Chaser Mode. "Nyan, Nyan! I'm getting all fired up now!"
Su-Yun used a burst of speed to appear in front of Merin with a Blitz Strike, sending him flying backwards into Luciel, who grabbed him and twirled him around. Tossing him back toward Su-Yun, she struck him with another Blitz Strike from above, his body bouncing off the ground and back into the air.
"Zodiac Arts: Velocity Devastation!" I bellowed, boosting myself ahead and ramming into Merin at top speeds, gold and white energy and lightning streaming behind me.
The impact of my charged boost sent Merin crashing backwards through multiple walls of the castle, my lips curling into a grin as I flipped backwards into another running start. I signalled to the women to take charged, waiting for them to get a comfortable lead before boosting behind.
Merin recovered into the throne room, sending Luciel's attack at his side and clashed with her before leaping backwards and blocking Su-Yun's kick with his elbow. "This feeling...it's so familiar to August's time! Heh! Haha! You foolish mortals only excite me more when you actually try!"
Merin landed on the ground, generating a large pool of water beneath him and exhaled deeply with bus tongue hanging out. "Zodiac Arts: Swallowing Abyss!"
Suddenly, a massive whale creature with six eyes and twelve wings emerged from the pool of waters with the threat of swallowing Luciel and Su-Yun whole. Rushing around the room at high speeds, I charged into Merin's whale with another Velocity Devastation, letting out a battle cry as I sent it crashing into the throne.
Merin scoffed at me, his eyes tracking my every move as I constantly bounced around the throne room at high speeds. He decided to not focus on me, seeing my movements as a distraction and focused on Luciel and Su-Yun. "Come!"
Su-Yun glanced at Luciel with a grin then tapped the tip of her high heeled shoes against the ground before taking her stance. "Luci!~ Let's catch this guy by surprise!"
Luciel giggled softly at Su-Yun's enthusiasm then manifested her Warden Butterflies, making her scepter disappear. "Alright, Rimmy..~ Let's all show him the power of Ascea!"
Luciel bolted ahead and went for the first strike, but Merin evaded her attack then blocked Su-Yun's Blitz Strike. He exchanged clashes with the women for a moment before knocking Luciel backwards with a Gaia Beam, leaving himself open for Su-Yun's Blitz Strike.
While Merin was stunned, I rushed toward him and feinted my strike, getting him to guard himself before becoming a Iridescent silhouette. Lowering his guard, he began to think he was safe to counter but I began to rush him with invisible strikes from all directions.
Merin managed to recover quickly enough to clash my next strike with his own, black clouds forming around his body as reality began to return back to normal. "Losing to you again...I will not accept such a fate again! This time, I'm killing you for su—"
While he was speaking, an Ancient Bull rammed straight into him, leaving behind a line of fire along the ground. The three of us looked at the direction where the Shadow Gardens Beast came from, seeing Kaguya standing in the distance, who was waiting patiently for us.
Kaguya looked at me, her Ten Passing Shadow Gardens Stigmata glowing brightly upon her hand in resonance with me. Her gaze softened greatly as she stared upon me, as if she was relieved to finally see me in person. "Lord Nox...you're finally here.."
Merin roared in anger, launching a barrage of roots toward the four of us, causing us to split up to dodge the attack. While in the air, Merin appeared behind Su-Yun and struck her with a heavy blow, sending her crashing to the ground then fired a beam of nether energy toward Luciel.
Luciel launched her butterfly forward and warped toward it, gliding along Merin's beam with her butterfly then twirled around on her hand, crashing her leg down against Merin's neck and knocking him to the ground. She warped after him for a follow up, but was forced to block an attack from a Black Knight emerging from the black clouds.
"This guy's energy is beyong anything I've felt before. Who is this exactly?" Kaguya asked, glancing over at me with concern.
"That is Merin Tsu, shift his name around it spells Terminus. If you don't know, he's the enemy we should be worried about. His army is of this world, and just like you would know God's children by their fruits, you'll know Terminus's children by their lack thereof," I explained, stepping forward and awakening my Yaoke and summoning my Sovereign Butterflies.
"There's a lot you have to fix about St. Goken Institutions if you'd want to avoid having this district judged like St. Meishi. You would have to be like mere children if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, and the way things are running...only few will make it in," I added, taking on my Sovereignty Stance and my aura adding silver to its emerald and jasper glow.
Merin dodged Luciel and Su-Yun's attacks then pushed them aside to charge toward me, his Crest of Chaos glowing brightly upon his forehead. He roared as he launched a swift punch toward my face, but I tilted my head, his fist only striking strands of my hair.
I continued to dodge and block Merin's attacks with ease, taking a step back from each strike before countering with a stunning knee to his stomach, a pulse of holy energy surging from his back. As he flew into the air, I warped above him then palmed his back, sending him back down to the ground.
'His power is very similar to His... Truly, I ask you Lord Nox, who are you really beyond Exzodia's Savior?' Kaguya asked herself as she watched the battle, leaping backwards to avoid Merin's widespread recovery attack with his black clouds.
Kaguya stormed ahead with a powerful stride, awakening her Valkyria Form and vanished into a blur. Merin stood up on his feet with furious red eyes, searching around for me only to be struck by Kaguya's Quick Barrage and launched backwards through the Battle Zone.
"This way everyone! Get to safety!" Do Song Boon called out to the remaining Class 12-A students still escaping from the battle zone.
Ko'rai, Ahmed, and Reene rushed ahead with quick steps, Reene glancing up at the sky to see two angels hovering over the Battle Zone then tripped over her own feet onto the ground. She gasped as she looked up, hearing the sound of a Daemon charging up behind her.
"Reene!" Ko'rai called out, knocking the attacking Daemon in the air with a high reaching kick.
Ahmed teleported in front of the Daemon, blasting it away with a burst of void energy then landed on the ground. He looked up, noticing Ha-Rin and Nu So-Hee rushing past them. "What's going on? This entire Battle Zone is going downhill quickly."
"I don't know what's happening, but all I know is we have to get out of here while we can," Ko'rai said, helping Reene onto her feet and holding her hand tightly as he ran to the exit.
Ahmed followed behind, glancing behind himself to see if anyone else was pursuing them to see no one else. He hurried along with his group, escaping the Battle Zone. He turned around one last time, his eyes slightly widening as he noticed Woo-Yi still trying to escape a Daemon.
"Someone help me! Please, I can't be left behind like this!" Woo-Yi cried out, tripping over debris and falling on her side. She looked back quickly, noticing the Daemon towering over her with a crude smile. "Juseyo..."
Suddenly, a Tribal Howl echoed through the air, Ye-Won sprinting back into the Battle Zone to save Woo-Yi. She leaped forward into action, her tribal tattoos glowing brightly as she knocked the Daemon across the zone with a Destiny Flash.
Woo-Yi looked up at Ye-Won with tear streaked eyes, sniffling and crawling into her knees to hug Ye-Won's leg. "Ye-Won! Gamsamnida!!"
Ye-Won blushed lightly and grunted softly as she looked down at Ye-Won. "Yeah, yeah, I get it! Just get up so we can get out of here!"
"R-Right!" Woo-Yi said, quickly getting up onto her feet and following Ye-Won out of Battle Zone 1.
Merin and I clashed fists in the air, repelling each other away then I flew toward him and used a burst of speed to appear behind him. Luciel warped into my first spot, catching Merin off guard with a gut blow, followed by my axe handle from above to send him crashing to the ground.
Su-Yun caught Merin with a Blitz Strike to Merin's cheek before he could hit the ground, keeping him suspended in the air for Kaguya's Hound, Cerebral, to strike him back to the ground with a claw strike. My golden chain wrapped around his leg flinging him back into the air with a flick.
"Zodiac Arts!" I called out, feinting my Lion's Fist into a Heavenly Impact to knock him to the ground then held my hand out toward him. The sun began to shine brightly, responding to my presence as Leona's roar echoed in the air. "Leo Flame Burst Frenzy!"
I unleashed a spiralling beam of fire toward Merin, the beam of fire coming directly from the sun's rays and striking Merin with a divine burn. He yelled out in pain, a solar explosion detonating and causing a yellow and orange smoke cloud to rise to the skies.
Suddenly, Merin's massive whale flew from the smoke cloud toward me with its mouth agape to swallow me whole. Luciel warped in front of me with her Yaonun awakened, two large hands of divine energy manifesting in front of us to catch the whale.
"Even if it's the last thing I do here for now before the Black Waves, I will strike you down! Do you hear me Noxius! Do you hear me Ascea?! I'll strike you down here and now!" Merin roared, his demonic energy surging around his body, red and black energy storming and corrupting the greens around us.
I looked down at Merin, descending down to the ground and began to walk forward, my Iridescent Aura pulsing around my body. "I hear you, but that claim will not and ever come true. Now, let us end this!"
Merin charged toward me with a mighty roar as I charged toward him, clashing once more before entering an exchange of hand to hand combat. I countered and parried each of his strikes, clones of energy appearing around me to strike Merin and push him back.
I boosted forward, slamming my body into his and knocking him off balance then boosted into him once again, this time knocking him off his feet. I boost into once more, sending him flying then got down into a running start, my hair covering my eyes with white lightning crackling around my body.
"Heavenly Arts," I said calmly, the skies clearing and the winds stopping at my words. The world seemed to stop as I prepared one of Yuvah's own techniques. "Alef Reshimem!"
I vanished into thin air, my speeds unimaginable and indescribably fast. Merin recovered in the air, looking around and sensed unimaginable amounts of energy from above then looked up. His heart stopped as he noticed a gate appearing in the sky, the gates opening and releasing a blast of the First Mighty Light from the heavens.
Merin groaned in pain as the beam of light swallowed him whole, his silhouette merely disintegrating into the light. The beam swept through the Battle Zone, destroying each building, monument, and artifact and leaving behind a cross shaped trench in the ground.
The bright light dimmed slowly, the beam dissolving and the gates vanishing from the sky with iridescent sparkles floating down from the sky. Luciel, Su-Yun, and Kaguya opened their eyes slowly, looking around and noticed Battle Zone 1 was destroyed and remade into a training facility for Class 12-A.
Luciel looked around for me, her heart racing again her chest then she looked up to see one of my Sovereign Butterflies fluttering down toward her and landing in her hair. "Nox..."
Kaguya's chest began to swell with an indescribable feeling as she looked around to see multiple Sovereign Butterflies along with normal Angels fluttering around and guarding the Battle Zone 1. She couldn't find me either, but her Holy Fire surged from her chest as she could finally feel Yuvah's presence within the Zone.
And for you all...
I will leave behind my Butterflies...
I have shown you the way to save your school...
To lead your students...
Now, take up your cross...
Lead my Sheep back into the holy farm...
This is only the beginning...
The three women heard my voice speaking to them in the soft wind, the three of them turning around to see the main tower had been remade into a Temple for God. The Statue, the idol image, that once stood in place was now replaced with a cross, to remind everyone at Grushia High School of Yesha's sacrifice and victory.
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"We are reporting live from Grushia High School, and it's a miracle! The Battle Zone was once destroyed and now replaced with a refurbished facility! I still can't believe my eyes!" The news reporter said on the TV, looking down from her helicopter at Battle Zone 1.
Woo-Chi watched the TV in complete awe, looking down at her phone to check the time to see the time finally shifting from 2:45 PM to 2:46 PM. "It's only been a minute...but it felt like an hour in a half since the news broadcasting started."
Do-hari sat beside Woo-Chi and nodded in agreement, a warm yet chilling feeling crawling around her body. She shuddered lightly and finally looked to her right, gasping in shock as she noticed I had returned back into Woo-Chi's living room.
"It's all done, and with the school more calm things should be operating back to normal. It still is too early for Woo-Chi to return, but the seeds are sowed into the soil. Just a bit longer, Woo-Chi and you'll be able to return," I said, walking around the couch to sit beside Woo-Chi and smiled.
Woo-Chi stared at me with a mix of gratitude, but a hint of disappointment since she still couldn't go back to Grushia High School. "What? You disappeared for an hour and I still can't go back?"
"You haven't been cleared yet, for one. Two, you wouldn't survive a second with those girls with the way you are now," I said, seeing her annoyed gaze then chuckled softly and ruffled her hair. "But, I will have you ready for classes before the next year. You will graduate with Class 12-A, but do you have the faith to accompany the works?"
"What do you mean?" Woo-Chi asked, tilting her head and raising a brow.
"Do you trust that God can carry you through the storms? That He can open a door that the others slammed in your face? What I'm asking is, do you trust me?" I asked, keeping eye contact with Woo-Chi, my expression showing curiosity.
"I mean...you came all this way for me and even took time out of your day to visit me today. I still do believe in Yesha and Yuvah, that has never changed...but after seeing you in action, His extension...I do trust you, Ascea," Woo-Chi said, giving me a soft, yet timid smile.
I nodded at her and chuckled lightly, standing up from my seat and glanced at the TV once more. "If you're serious about trusting me, come visit me and Do-hari at Baekjin Sauna today. I will train you myself before setting you on your way back to Grushia."
"Wait what? How will you train her at my place of work?" Do-hari asked, raising a curious brow and looked up at me.
I chuckled softly at Do-hari's curious question and walked over to her, taking her hand and lifting her from the couch. "She will see. For now, you have work with your Imo, and I won't have her blaming me for your tardiness."
"Eh?? You still haven't answered my question! Aiishhh! God, why did you choose me to be close with Exzodia's Messiah?" Do-hari protested, huffing as I gently pushed her out of Woo-Chi's house.
Woo-Chi watched as the two of us left her house and stood up to go close her door. She turned around, resting her back against the door and exhaled deeply to think about the visit. Suddenly, a question popped up in her head, a serious one.
"Wait, you never told me how to get there! How am I supposed to find this place!" Woo-Chi groaned, running her hands through her hair before remembering her laptop.
Rushing to her room, she quickly got onto her laptop to search up Baekjin Sauna and clicked on the location of the building. It was a seven mile walk from where she was, a doable trip for her had she remained active after her administrative leave from Grushia High School.
Woo-Chi looked up from her laptop with a deep sigh, leaning back against her bed then looked around her room, noticing the sunlight shining down directly upon her old Valkyrian system she made at Grushia High School. She got up from the floor and walked toward it, grabbing it off her desk and stared at it then looked out the window.
"Alright...I'll go. Woo-Chi, you got this. You can make the run.." Woo-Chi said, softly encouraging herself for the long trip down Bulan to Baekjin Sauna.