The Seraphic System
Chapter: 122
(The Son Of Medusa)
-{Medusa}-
Medusa stood at the edge of the Vatican's gardens, staring at nothing in particular as her thoughts churned, her face set into a passive frown as she considered her options.
She had been putting this off.
Chrysaor.
Her son.
She didn't have many ties back to the Greek Pantheon anymore, or at least ties that she cared about, but her son was a special case, and in the time of safety she had enjoyed, it had become a large thought that played on her mind.
He had been born in violence, emerging from her severed neck alongside Pegasus when Perseus had taken her head. She had been dead at the time of his birth, technically speaking, and by the time she reformed later, he had already become something else entirely.
A man who had grown and carved his own path through the world without her. A legendary swordsman and Demigod, who didn't need a mother at that point.
So, for no other reason, Medusa had never allowed herself to be close to him.
Fear had been the primary reason.
The Gods watched everything, and any attachment she showed would have been used against her. Athena especially would have delighted in tormenting her through her children.
So Medusa had kept her distance, observing from afar, never reaching out. That fear was lessened now; her curse had been lifted.
The snakes that had once been her hair were gone, replaced by dark locks that fell naturally around her shoulders. Her eyes no longer turned men to stone unless she wished for it.
She was herself again, truly herself, for the first time in a long time. While she didn't want to get Kai into trouble protecting her, she did want to finally reach out, to pull her children from the same influence that had dominated her life.
From her time as a maiden serving at a temple all the way to becoming one of the most famous monsters in Greek History. It felt wrong to have all of that and still leave her son in the dark.
She took a breath and made her decision.
It couldn't hurt to at least meet him.
She didn't give herself time to think about it; a teleportation circle formed under her, and she was quickly consumed by light. The teleportation was quick, thanks to Kai's blessing, which allowed her to move through space with ease.
The powerful protections around the Vatican were linked to the Pope himself and extended to the authority of Heaven. Searching around should not have been that hard, as she had kept track of the general patterns of her son's movement, or more precisely, the large vehicle he used; locating it was a little tricky, but thankfully Frieren had a spell for this too.
The vessel was as impressive as ever. A massive galleon that had been modified with modern components, anchored in a cove somewhere on the East Coast.
Wait, East Coast instead of the Mediterranean. It was odd indeed. He stayed in the old country away from Olympus. Whatever job he took must have paid a lot for him to cross the Atlantic.
The smell of salt filled her senses, and the gentle rocking of the deck beneath her feet was almost nostalgic.
"You have exactly three seconds to explain why you're on my ship."
A deep voice immediately said, tense at her abrupt arrival. Medusa turned, greeting the man who stared at her intensely.
Her son, Chrysaor, stood at the helm, golden armour gleaming in the sunlight. His face was hidden behind that golden mask, designed from her own face, with no holes for eyes, and yet she knew his gaze was on her.
Medusa took a moment to look over him.
A broad-shouldered man stood by the wheel, the casual stance he had been in gone. An infamous golden sword had formed in his hand.
Her son.
"Hello, Chrysaor," she greeted quietly.
He remained silent for a moment.
"I hope you realise knowing that name doesn't earn you any favours," Chrysaor said casually, his stance once more relaxing as he leaned against the wheel of the ship. "Who are you?"
She didn't miss the weird creatures on the boat brandishing weapons at her arrival.
"You don't recognise me," Medusa said, wringing her hands. "That's to be expected."
She knew it made sense.
The last time she had been seen with him was when she was at the height of her rage, when she had scales and had been focused on killing the son of the God who had wronged her.
"Should I?" He asked lackadaisically.
"Perhaps not, even if I am your mother." Medusa smiled nervously.
Dropping the revelation without pause. That was the best she could do in the face of her son, the one who had been born out of her neck purely to spite her. Oh, that wasn't an accident. Such things didn't just happen.
She was sure Athena had found it most amusing to make her have a child with Poseidon.
Chrysaor studied her. "I can't say that was the answer I was expecting… I do believe my mother has quite a different appearance, though; the lack of snakes for hair and the fact I'm not being petrified is certainly going against you."
He tapped his mask as he said that; the embroiled snakes and the face on the golden mask were familiar to her eyes. They were based on her old appearance after all.
Medusa looked away.
"That would be the absence of the curse," Medusa revealed. "I… am no longer cursed by her"
Who she was didn't need to be explained.
"Oh?" Chrysaor's masked face tilted.
"Someone close to me helped me take care of it", Medusa continued in an attempt to be slightly vague.
"You found someone to take care of an infamous divine curse?" He asked incredulously.
She could practically hear the raised eyebrow.
"It was… a lucky encounter?" Medusa winced.
He laughed, and Medusa lowered her eyes slightly.
"It's good to see you, mother." He greeted her, successfully throwing her off. "To be truthful, I had known it was you in the first ten seconds of meeting you. I was just curious as to why your appearance was so… humane."
"So the curse has been removed? I can't imagine that was easy, and I don't mind; glad my unsightly crewmates." He lazily replied. "If I had known you were coming, I'd have cleaned up."
The crewmates in question walked around blankly.
Medusa frowned.
"I had noticed you had them under your control. May I ask who they are?" Medusa asked passively.
"Don't approve?" He chuckled. "And here I heard so many stories. You needn't worry, though. The humans are the only ones under my control, and they were scum in their lives, here to find a better purpose."
"I see…" Medusa trailed off. "How have you been?"
She winced at her own words.
Was this what Kai called
"Care now, do you?" He asked curiously.
"I have always cared," Medusa replied quickly. "I was merely unable to be there for you due to my situation."
He regarded her for a few more seconds. "Unable is a strong word, but then again, my birthing process had come from your decapitated head. I am unaware of how long it took to reform after that."
"Seventy years." She replied.
He clicked his tongue. "I guess you really didn't have a choice. What stopped you after, though?"
"The curse and the fact I knew it would be turned into another game." Medusa opted to say.
"The curse…" he nodded, a tense moment forming between them before he changed the subject.
"I'm still curious as to how to remove that curse of yours?" Chrysaor asked, diverting the topic. "I can't say I'm not curious about this whole ordeal. I never expected to see you out on these waters and without your curse."
"I do owe you an explanation, don't I?" Medusa exhaled slowly.
"No one owes anybody anything." He retorted, moving to the side of the deck and looking over at the waters. "But since you came here for an obvious reason, I won't stop you."
Medusa went on to explain what had transpired.
Meeting Kai, the 'angel', and even her life in the Vatican. It probably wasn't the best to let someone know, but she felt obliged.
"Who knew Angels would be the ones to save you?" He mused. "Then again, it was never going to be someone in our family, though, was it?"
"If they were half as kind, your birth might not even have come to pass," Medusa snorted.
"Heh, can't deny that. But why are you here? With all the rumours I heard about you, it sounded like you were doing well enough." Chrysaor probed.
"Rumours are often told by those with enough respect to be listened to," Medusa replied, slightly hurt by it. "My head, being a treasure for zealous Demigods, made me fight back."
"Was that always the case? I heard that you've been known for luring demigods to their deaths." He asked, sounding genuinely curious about it all.
"Y-yes," Medusa admitted shamefully. "I became consumed by my hate and decided to strike before they would. It doesn't excuse it, but I was so sick of the games."
There was a silence.
"I never meant to abandon you." Medusa started after a few moments. "That's the first thing I want you to know. An outside influence created your birth, and I suspected it to be another game from her as my punishment. I didn't wish to endanger you."
Chrysaor said nothing, that golden mask covering any expression he may have been making.
"I appreciate that." Chrysaor finally decided. "I had considered this… but I thought it was best to leave you be. Your care will not be unnoticed."
The words were strange, as if he didn't know how to approach the situation, which is why Medusa took the liberty of spending the next hour with him.
They spoke of many things.
His journeys across the seas. The crew he had assembled. He had built a reputation as one of the finest swordsmen ever to live. He spoke with pride but also a strange detachment, as if recounting the life of someone else entirely.
Medusa listened to it all.
She told him of her own centuries. The endless cycle of death and reformation. The bitterness that had consumed her. The loneliness that came with being a monster that everyone wanted to slay.
It was during a lull in the conversation that Chrysaor asked the question she had been dreading.
"What happens now?" He abruptly asked, his tone strange.
Medusa blinked at the odd question. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, the curse is gone, and you're no longer a monster bound to Tartarus, right? That means you can't reform." He said awkwardly. "Aren't you a mortal now?"
Medusa realised she hadn't really thought about it.
She had lost the thing that had given her a false sense of immortality.
"I hadn't thought of it, but in that capacity I suppose I am." Medusa considered. "Though the curse isn't gone, it's just transformed into more of a blessing. So I'm not sure how such a thing would work."
"You'll still die permanently if you're killed." He replied darkly.
She smiled.
"How strange."
His grip on the rail tightened.
"That's not fair." He scowled. "I have waited to meet you for longer than I would like to admit, and just as I do, you lose the ability to reform. How could you be okay with such a thing?"
"It's not like I'm powerless," Medusa said calmly. "I have grown far beyond what I was in turn, and that existence before was merely torture disguised as a benefit."
"But how long do you have?" He asked. "A hundred years? Two hundred?"
"I'm not sure." Medusa considered. "Though knowing Kai, that might find itself extended."
"The Angels…" He said strangely. "You said they gave you another blessing, or you were chosen by God himself to be a part of that order."
Medusa was only a little proud.
"I still find it so bizarre, it's only been a few years since I've heard about you, and now you've suddenly jumped to another pantheon, got your curse turned into a blessing, got another blessing and turned into what is basically a Divine Knight." He said, his voice relaxing from the tense tone it had taken. "At least you chose your Lord well."
"I'm afraid I can't take credit; it was purely mercy that I had not died. Though that's why I had so desperately followed him." Medusa laughed lightly.
She was a little touched that he cared, but it wouldn't do to worry him.
They talked for a while longer, and by the end, Medusa shifted nervously.
She didn't quite know how to bring up the subject she wanted to ask before leaving.
"Was there something else you wished to ask?" Chrysaor questioned.
Medusa looked at him in surprise, his true face revealed by the golden mask.
"I wanted to offer you the same wait out of all this." Medusa forced herself to say. "There is a place for you at the Vatican. I've got influence now, and there are many orders. With Heaven moving again, the Vatican will soon become a superpower. I'd love for you to join."
"The Vatican?" He asked, immediately deducing her line of thought. "I've heard little about them since I mostly keep to the waters; are they not the equivalent of a human Faction working under Lord Yahweh?"
"A little bit, but that's only recent times with how reclusive Heaven has been. Many things are changing." Medusa said passionately. "I am an example of that."
He looked away. "You did mention that you're a part of this.. Holy Order, which is above all the others, correct?"
"I am," Medusa confirmed.
"I haven't heard of such an order, but the title of Saint sounds familiar." He admitted, becoming considerate. "Truthfully, I am comfortable where I am for the moment, and I don't believe I'd be a good fit; I like my freedom too much."
"You could keep it," Medusa said, almost feeling that devilish part of Kai flow through her. "You'd be an asset, directed at enemies on the water. Since the Vatican doesn't have that much presence out here, and of course, I'd vouch for you. I am quite high-ranked."
That and she could speak to Kai directly.
It had only been her time in the Vatican that had made her realise how crazy that was.
The pope struggled to get a meeting with a high-ranking Angel, let alone a Seraph. Every exorcist in the Vatican's forces would give everything just to meet an Angel. A singular Angel.
"Tempting." He admitted. "But I'm a little busy right now. I'm on a contract for something else."
"Is that why you're in these waters?"
"Indeed." He said slightly tersely.
"You don't think I'd approve?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Damn… you can already read me?" He replied with a slight amount of amazement.
Medusa felt her eyes nearly tear up at the comment.
"Ehem, yes. I am here to find a monster and furthermore working for… a group of giants you could say." He admitted bashfully.
Medusa stared.
"It's none of my business. Do consider my offer, though. Heaven could give you more than this." She said, oddly feeling the need for him to join.
"I will." He said seriously.
Then paused.
"Though I have to ask how you got onto this ship." He said, his tone turning slightly abashed. "This ship is heavily fortified against such things."
"I worked around them." She smiled innocently. "They were impressive, though."
His smile turned slightly nervous.
With that, she bid him farewell.
The Vatican materialised around her, the glow of her teleportation fading as she stood in the courtyard near the main building, taking a moment to collect herself. The conversation had been draining in ways she hadn't anticipated.
She hadn't succeeded, but it had gone better than she expected. Truthfully, she had been awaiting the enraged attack that would follow from her son.
That had gone exceptionally well. It was emotionally exhausting, but worth it.
"You look like you've been crying." The cool voice came from beside her.
Medusa blinked and turned to find Frieren standing a few feet away. The elf was examining her with that calm, analytical gaze she always wore.
"I wasn't crying," Medusa said.
"Your eyes are slightly red." She pointed out.
"It's the sea air." Medusa retorted.
Frieren tilted her head. "You travelled to the sea?"
Medusa smiled brightly.
"I went to visit my son."
Frieren's eyebrows rose slightly. "I didn't know you had a son."
"It's complicated."
"My studies on the Greek Gods lead me to believe that statement to be highly accurate," Frieren replies with a small smile.
"Yes… The Greeks are a different breed of Gods. I just so happened to worship one of them."
They walked in comfortable silence for a moment.
Frieren had become one of her closest companions in the months since Medusa had joined Heaven's growing circle. The elf was strange, certainly. Socially awkward in ways that were sometimes baffling.
But she was also kind, in her own quiet way.
They had both come down to the Vatican a lot more recently. It hadn't been hard with their status as members of the Holy Order; they had been practically worshipped and welcomed.
For Medusa or Nyxera as her name had been chosen, it was… admittedly addictive and warm.
The Vatican was abuzz with the confirmation that their Lord, Kai, was alive.
That once fearsome force that had been known for hunting down beings like her had switched in her mind. Medusa could honestly say she knew why people favoured religion.
To have someone like Kai at the top, with the angels maintaining Heaven, and then the Church acting as Heaven's gateway to Earth. It was certainly well-structured.
The Vatican had only grown stronger in this time, with faith ignited in many people's hearts, and with that, the new members of the holy order had somehow already become legends.
Dulio's power was left unsaid.
Vasco Strada was known for being a soft giant, who was apparently the least surprising to be selected by the Lord of Heaven himself.
While Frieren was happy creating powerful barriers around the Vatican and her flower spells that made the orchards there otherworldly, she was steadily rising in fame.
Asia Argento had taken to healing whenever she could, her abilities in healing having been amplified while she had grown a lot more confident with Kai's backing.
Jeanne had presented herself as more of a mystery, as she preferred to stay in Heaven, though the few times she had been down here, the girl had managed to capture everybody's hearts.
Then Medusa managed to create her own reputation, her blessing proving to be pretty powerful.
What was left was a bidding for the last spot.
Exorcists were being recruited in droves, and the already standing Exorcists worked overtime.
All of this she had gathered in her time here.
It was quite the complex situation, one that was easy to overlook when you were in Heaven.
"I can't say I've met any of my family members in that regard. But I've had things happen with the descendants of my friends." Frieren said suddenly. "After they died. They didn't know who I was. I watched them from a distance before leaving."
Medusa looked at her. "Why didn't you introduce yourself?"
"I was afraid they would be disappointed." Frieren's expression didn't change. "I'm sure my friends spoke of me often, apparently. I worried I wouldn't live up to their expectations."
Medusa blinked.
"Did you ever go back?"
"No. They died before I worked up the courage." Frieren paused. "That's why I admire your courage to do so alone. Perhaps next time you could take me along. We are meant to stick together, according to Kai."
Medusa smiled. "I've grown a lot, enough to defend myself, though I would like to have you with me."
They reached the building's entrance. Frieren stopped.
"This world is so filled with mystery and power. It does puzzle me at times." Frieren commented with a smile. "I found something interesting today,"
"Hm?" Medusa looked at her, listening to the girl's words.
She had a suspicion about Freiren.
The elf who nobody knew.
Frieren reached into her bag and pulled out a jar. Inside was a small creature that looked like a cross between a frog and a mushroom. It blinked at Medusa with oversized eyes.
"I don't know what it is," Frieren said. "But it was hiding in the garden, and I caught it."
Medusa stared at the creature. The creature stared back.
"Frieren."
"Yes?"
"Why did you catch it?" She asked flatly.
The elf considered the question seriously. "It looked interesting, and I thought maybe it could be something of interest."
Medusa stared flatly.
"What are you going to do with it?"
Another pause. "I hadn't thought that far ahead."
The creature made a small croaking sound and pressed its face against the glass.
Medusa felt a laugh bubbling up in her chest.
After the emotional burden of the day, the absurdity of Frieren proudly presenting her a random garden creature she had captured was exactly what she needed.
-{Kai}-
Gabriel walked beside me, her hand loosely intertwined with mine as we made our way toward Raphael's laboratory.
My Archangel's clinginess hadn't waned in the slightest, and she hadn't left my side since I had come back. To be honest, I had enjoyed that to the fullest.
Perhaps there was a time when I hadn't wanted to be constantly watched, but beyond the change in me, I had grown immensely close with Gabriel, as I had with the entirety of Heaven.
It didn't bother me at all now.
Relaxing with Brias and Uriel in the forge had been a nice break, even if that whole adventure had been quick; I couldn't say it hadn't been an event.
I was also able to make some progress under Gabriel's careful observation, which was good, since I knew how much she wanted me to rest.
Finally, my recent download has completed.
[Download Completed!]
I was always excited when a download finished. New abilities meant an overall boost in power, especially now that I was firmly in the God-class.
But this should have taken longer.
I had been gone for four, maybe five days. Hard to track, considering I hadn't been focused on it while helping Percy through another quest. Still, I hadn't felt like I had spent that much time inside co—
Wait, hadn't Annabeth mentioned something about time dilation? About how the Labyrinth operated on a different time scale?
"Gabriel?"
She turned to me.
"How long were we away?"
Gabriel considered the question. "Ten days or so."
"…"
She pursed her lips. "Is something wrong?"
"No." I smiled.
Nearly double my estimated time.
I almost wanted to go back. This was abusable in the best way possible. I would be concerned if I were human, since that would have meant ageing twice as fast inside, but my angelic body made me immune to that particular drawback.
What would happen if I stayed there for a year?
Annabeth had mentioned the fluctuations were chaotic. I couldn't expect it always to be double, or even 50%, more, but it was still a boost worth considering.
I thought about it for a while longer as I walked with Gabriel before finally deciding to check my download.
Aqua.
The Goddess.
My first attempt at downloading another God.
At my current level, a truly powerful God-class being would take around a month. Anything under that now merely takes a week or two. If I had attempted this when I first arrived, I suspected it might have taken me many year or maybe even more.
[Download Completed!]
{Template - Aqua - Age 17 (Physical)}
{Perks}
[Enhanced Vision]
[Evil Detection]
[Actor]
[Nature's Beauty]
[Hundred Hazes]
[Monster Attract]
{Skills}
[Purification]
[Water Magic]
{Sub-Skills}
[Heal]
[Turn Undead]
[God Blow]
[God Requiem]
[Sacred Turn Undead]
[Sacred Break Spell]
[Sacred Create Water]
[Resurrection]
[Blessing: Strength]
[Blessing: Speed]
[Blessing: Defense]
[Blessing: Magic Resistance]
[Blessing: Luck]
Mostly sub-skills.
That made it simpler.
Sub-skills had no levels and were essentially spell-like abilities. Skills allowed for mastery and growth.
That was probably why this download finished so quickly.
Still, she was a goddess. Many of these were powerful regardless of their classification.
I looked through them carefully.
There was no divine power, which was a shame, but the shard was already converting mine into something resembling that anyway. Downloading divine power would have been redundant. Though, in theory, it could have boosted my shard further.
Something to consider for future downloads.
God Blow caught my attention first.
A divine punch that dealt physical damage while simultaneously purifying the target. Simple but effective. It would synergise well with my existing combat style and holy power.
God Requiem was similar. A finishing blow with the same purification aspect.
The blessings were straightforward. Strength, speed, defence, magic resistance, luck. All temporary buffs I could apply to myself or allies. Useful for supporting my angels in battle, though I suspected my own power would make the self-application redundant.
Water Magic was tempting. Control over water had plenty of applications. But if I was going to invest in water abilities, I would rather gain true water manipulation. This felt like a weaker version of what I actually wanted.
Barrier Creation had potential. Magic circles that repelled ghosts, undead, demons, and monsters. Defensive utility that could protect locations or people. Worth experimenting with.
Then I settled on Sacred Create Water.
The description mentioned flood-level summoning. City-destroying scale.
I thought about the explosive potential.
Sacred water exploding outwards would be devastating. It would be like liquid flame against anything unholy. Even if blocked, the purification aspect would spread rapidly on contact. That could be further amplified with my own holy power.
A devastating area attack. It was a shame this version of Aqua didn't appear to have access to any sort of domain. That would have been interesting to study.
I knew that gaining Gods Blow was probably a good choice, but having a Sacred Water creation skill would come in more handy. I was more of a magical build anyway, and I could just download Aqua again after the cooldown.
That left the next download. I needed power.
These skills were helpful, but I wanted something game-breaking. I would be wasting downloads from here on out if I didn't aim higher. I had the divine shard to progress for new abilities as well.
Something to think about.
"I imagine word has reached my sister by now; she will be glad and most eager to see you," Gabriel commented lightly, grabbing my attention. "You'll feel the brunt of that soon."
"Probably," I said, looking at the light that seeped from outside the many windows lining the hallway. The ever-present swirling storm, which acted as a gateway, greeted my view.
"Definitely." She giggled.
We stepped through the archway into Raphael's research centre.
Raphael stood near one of the workbenches, and she looked up the moment we entered.
"Father."
She crossed the distance in seconds and pulled me into a hug. To which I returned the gesture, feeling her grip tighten briefly. I enjoyed the warmth of it right up until she pulled back, a frown playing on her lips.
"Michael gave me a brief rundown on what transpired," Raphael said sternly. "Damage to your soul is unacceptable."
"Azrael will be able to heal it, and I understand." I attempted.
As per usual, my attempts were discarded.
Before she could open her mouth to speak, I interjected.
"Gabriel has already given me an extensive lecture." I sighed.
Gabriel nodded serenely beside me, her emerald eyes bright and a large smile on her lips as Raphael sent her a questioning look.
Just like that, Raphael smiled brightly. "In that case, was there something you needed? Since you should be resting…"
"Actually, yes." I glanced around the medical wing. "I need you to erect the strongest containment barrier you can manage. The highest tier suppression you have."
Raphael's expression shifted from confusion to curiosity. "You took a prisoner?"
"Something like that."
Her hands moved slightly, and a room opened up, a complex array within a completely white room, as angelic script flowed from her fingertips and woven itself into reality.
Golden light spread outward, forming a dome that hummed with power. Layers upon layers of sealing magic reinforced the structure until the air itself felt heavy.
"Will this do?" Raphael asked, turning back to us.
I looked at the room.
I'd find myself completely useless if I went in there.
How dangerous.
"It should do." I nodded.
I reached into my dimensional storage and pulled Pan out. The god appeared instantly, and Gabriel made sure to position herself in between us even as the corrupted god hit the floor of the containment field with a heavy thud.
My chains still bound his body, but even unconscious, that sickly green-black energy pulsed beneath his skin. The air inside the barrier quickly took on a green tint.
The doors that led into the containment room snap shut.
Raphael's mouth opened in shock, a rare display of surprise, as she immediately sensed what he was. Her face went pale, then hardened into a composed, cold look. "A Sin holder."
Gabriel nodded somberly, subtly positioning herself between me and the barrier.
Raphael's eyes snapped to me. "Has-"
"We already checked," Gabriel cut in. "Kaiel's body has no signs of corruption or demonic influence, and Michael would have sensed such a thing."
I didn't know whether to be insulted by that last comment, but I knew better to question when beings far stronger and more knowledgeable acted with such wariness.
Raphael's shoulders dropped slightly, tension bleeding out of her frame.
"Seriously." She sighed, not saying more, but staring at me pointedly.
"I think I would have sensed any demonic power trying to latch on to me," I couldn't help but interject.
"Sensing and dealing with it are two very different lines of action." Raphael frowned. "They can use external demonic power, so even getting a bit on you could activate a potent attack."
"I see…"
"How did you manage to capture him?" Raphael asked, looking him over. "A Sin host is bad enough, but corrupting a God? The circumstances for such a thing to happen are hard to simulate."
"Meaning it was forced." Gabriel nodded.
"Michael managed to take care of him, and when we found him, he had been asleep. My dimensional space was able to keep it locked in status."
Raphael looked considerate.
"I was wondering if perhaps we had anything on it? I continued, getting back to the point at hand. "Honestly, knowing that demonic entities like this are roaming around is a bit concerning."
Raphael bit her lip, her gaze fixed on Pan's unconscious form. "I am afraid not. Demonic artefacts have mostly been destroyed, and those that weren't destroyed are well hidden. Capturing an infected host like this is normally near impossible."
"Really?" I blinked. "Michael handled him with ease."
As if in answer, Pan's eyes snapped open.
Green-black power erupted from his body, crashing against the barrier like a tidal wave. The containment field held, but I could see the strain in the golden script, letters flickering as they fought against the assault.
Then the seals I had placed activated. Chains of light tightened around Pan, and the power was forced back down. His eyes dimmed, going vacant once more.
"Because they are highly resistant to everything," Raphael said quietly. "A powerful host that can do a lot of damage and one that is close to impossible to contain for a long time is a dangerous foe."
"Most of all, Michael is the strongest Angel in Heaven and on par with many Primordial Gods," Gabriel interjected. "Comparing him to anything is a folly."
Her eyes glinted as she studied the restrained god.
"But now we've obtained one, we can begin experimenting," Raphael said, her eyes dissecting the abruptly calm god. "I was always curious how such creations had been made, to control gods and mimic domains in their sin so easily."
"It was a good thing it was found," I mused. "The fact that the Khaos Brigade went about finding and containing one definitely raises a lot of concerns."
That earned a nod from Raphael.
The Khaos Brigade had risen to my number on the enemy, an easy feat considering they were housing the enemy of every pantheon in existence, apparently.
"It certainly suggests they're interested in the forbidden power it offers. As gods not above evil acts, I imagine the ability to go against nature beyond their domains is of interest." Raphael commented.
"In truth, I am more concerned about the appearance of Rizevim," Gabriel admitted softly.
Raphael's expression sharpened. "The Spawn of Lucifer?"
Gabriel's frown confirmed it.
"So he is alive?" Raphael pursed her lips. "I suspected the spawn of Lucifer's test in transferring her own blood to her son, who had died, but he always had been quick to flee danger."
"Perhaps he's trying to take after his creator," Gabriel suggested with a passive look, a look that didn't sit well on her otherwise kind face.
Raphael hummed thoughtfully at her statement, that same passive look forming on her.
Then it dawned on me.
"Wait." I looked between them. "Are you suggesting Lucifer used one of these?"
They both shared a look.
"It was never confirmed," Raphael said carefully.
"It's well known that Lucifer went mad searching for demonic artefacts." Gabriel's emerald eyes met mine. "The wrath Lucifer possessed in his final years was certainly cause for concern, especially combined with a large power boost."
I processed that.
The implications weren't pleasant.
"Have you not heard of the other sins since then?" I asked.
"Not much." Raphael shook her head. "We believed Wrath was destroyed with Lucifer, further confirming the theory. Then we heard a brief amount about Lust, which had vanished by the time we moved to investigate. A lack of response time due to our... seclusion."
There was guilt in her voice.
It was weird, really. They always expected me to be mad when they brought up things like this. The years of isolation, the missed opportunities, the threats that had grown while Heaven withdrew from the world.
But honestly? I wouldn't have changed anything. My Angels were more important than chasing shadows.
"Well, we have one now." I gestured toward the corrupted Pan. "Try to find what you can. With what I've seen from the demons and all of this, I'm disliking that I am gradually seeing more demonic activity."
Gabriel and Raphael both caught my meaning. Raphael nodded seriously.
Raphael's expression grew more troubled. "If they're actively collecting the Sin artefacts..."
"Then we need to find the others first." I crossed my arms. "Or at minimum, understand how it works."
"I'll begin analysis immediately," Raphael said. "The host is a god, which complicates things, but also provides a unique opportunity. The interaction between divine essence and demonic corruption could reveal weaknesses. Divine power is, after all, incredibly powerful."
"Try to save him if you can," I asked. "It could be good to have another Greek God in our debt."
"I'll see what can be done." Raphael accepted.
"Just be careful," I warned.
A small smile crossed her face. "I know how to protect myself."
Fair enough.
We spent another hour discussing the situation.
The Mark of Kronos came up, Raphael wanted to examine it, and I reluctantly agreed to let her study it later. The Golem of Eden's abilities were mentioned as well, with Raphael expressing interest in how it affected my chakra output.
Gabriel remained close throughout, occasionally adding her own observations. The warmth between us hadn't faded, even in the clinical setting of the medical wing.
Eventually, the conversation wound down.
"I'll have preliminary findings within a few days," Raphael promised. "In the meantime, I suggest we keep this ordeal confidential."
I frowned. "Why?"
It basically meant not mentioning anything rather than lying.
"If others knew that we have a Sin Host in Heaven, they won't be amused," Raphael warned, her words bland.
"Point made."
A few hours later, Gabriel and I walked out of Raphael's section of the sixth Heaven. We had discussed a few important things before Gabriel prompted me to move.
There was too much happening at once.
The Khaos Brigade. The Sin artefacts. Rizevim. Kronos sealed inside me.
At least Gilgamesh would be coming back with a report soon. I had finally opted to use his talents; I knew he was wary of me, but it couldn't hurt to direct him to an enemy base.
So we weren't purely on defence.
I glanced at Gabriel. She met my gaze with those bright emerald eyes.
"You're thinking too hard," she said softly. She squeezed my hand. "It's not an issue as of now. While there are many things to be done, take a chance to relax."
I smiled despite myself. "I am."
She sighed. "Your version of relaxing is not quite up to my standard."
"I do try, and you know I don't need much rest. Beyond that, every moment I spend in Heaven is technically rest."
"That's not true…" Gabriel frowned. "Especially with recent events and attacks that have found Heaven. You should rest now. Everything else can wait until later."
She stepped closer and kissed me. I enjoyed the warmth of her body against mine. After a moment, I pulled back, looking into her emerald eyes.
"What are you not telling me?" I asked with a smirk.
By now, I knew her too well.
Her cheeks flushed.
She hesitated for a moment. "I wanted to wait before telling you about a few things that have happened."
I stroked her cheek.
"You got into contact with the Norse?"
She nodded. "Yes. It went well. Though a problem briefly came into the light as they are allied with the fallen."
That made me frown softly.
"What did they say in that regard?" I asked, watching her purse her lips at my seriousness.
"They will not give up the alliance, but they agreed to remain passive."
"Understandable," I nodded. "Considering we basically just gave them the cold shoulder. Is that all? Did you manage to get them to ally with us? It would be good to have them on our side."
Gabriel looked at me. "Not quite yet, they have a request…"
"Yeah?"
She outright frowned.
"Odin will only agree if you come yourself."
I paused.
Well, that could be an issue, considering he was expecting Yahweh.
I noticed Gabriel's worried look as she stood silently. Then decided that I wasn't in any rush, the Norse would find themselves in need of us more than we needed them if I had any say in the matter.
I kissed her soft lips. "You don't need to worry, it'll be delayed. I have a lot to do here in Heaven, and in my current state, I'm not exactly going to march off to go meet him."
She giggled. "You can't blame me for thinking that you might."
Happiness returned to her face once more.
"Still, with this, I still expect you to rest a bit." She chided.
I tugged her closer. "Eh, well, I guess we could just take it slow. I think a healing session would be pretty relaxing, you've only got me past the basics after all."
Her expression brightened immediately.
For now, at least, I could focus on something good.
-END-
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