The Divine Realm stretched out endlessly around Aetherion as he made his way toward the Sanctuary of the Sacred Flame, his wings glowing faintly in the celestial light that bathed the heavens. The journey was quiet, but his heart beat with anticipation, his thoughts focused on the mission ahead. The Sacred Flame—the key to his evolution and ascent—was close, and he could feel its power calling to him like a distant echo, pulling him forward.
The system's voice echoed in his mind. [You are near, Aetherion. The flame is heavily guarded by six archangels and twenty lower angels. Be prepared for resistance.]
Aetherion nodded, gripping his Censer-Staff of Sacred Light tightly in his hand. "I've anticipated this. They won't stop me," he muttered, his voice filled with resolve.
As he drew closer, the ethereal sanctuary came into view. It was an immense structure of glowing stone and shimmering light, surrounded by a protective aura that radiated divine power. The flame burned deep within, concealed from sight but blazing with celestial energy that Aetherion could feel in his very soul.
As Aetherion approached the entrance, a group of archangels emerged from the sanctuary's gates, their wings unfurling in a display of power and authority. Each archangel carried an aura of divine light, their presence commanding and formidable. They had been tasked with guarding the Sacred Flame, and they would not allow it to be taken easily.
Among them, Aetherion's eyes fell upon one familiar figure—Gabriel. The sight of him sent a pang through Aetherion's heart. Gabriel had been his first true friend, the angel who had fought beside him in his first battle, and the bond they had forged was one of trust and brotherhood.
Gabriel stepped forward, his expression torn between duty and loyalty. "Aetherion," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "What are you doing here?"
Aetherion's gaze hardened, but the tension in his heart was undeniable. "You know why I'm here, Gabriel. The Sacred Flame... I need it."
The other archangels, aware of Aetherion's strength, took their positions, ready to defend the flame at any cost. But it was Gabriel who remained in the center, his eyes pleading with Aetherion to reconsider.
Gabriel's wings drooped slightly as he took a step closer to Aetherion, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "Please, don't do this. We've fought together, side by side. We're brothers. The flame... it's not meant to be taken."
Aetherion clenched his jaw, his grip on the Censer-Staff tightening. He had known this moment would come—the moment when friendship and duty would collide. "I don't want to fight you, Gabriel. But you know as well as I do that the flame holds the key to something greater. You don't understand what I've been through, what I need to do."
Gabriel's expression twisted with pain. "I don't want to be your enemy, Aetherion. But the Sacred Flame is not yours to take. Boltia entrusted us with its protection. I can't let you do this."
The other archangels remained silent, watching the exchange closely. They recognized Aetherion's power, but they would not waver from their duty. Gabriel, however, stood at the center of the conflict, his heart torn between his loyalty to Boltia and his bond with Aetherion.
Aetherion's chest tightened as he faced his friend, but he knew there was no other path. His ambition to ascend, to claim the Sacred Flame and evolve to the rank of Thrones, could not be derailed by personal ties. His gaze darkened, and the flame within him began to stir.
"I won't stop," Aetherion said, his voice low but resolute. "This is something I have to do. You can stand aside, Gabriel, or we'll have to fight."
Gabriel's wings flared in response, his expression hardening. "I can't let you pass, Aetherion. As much as it pains me, I have to defend the flame. This is our duty."
Aetherion's heart ached at the thought of raising his weapon against the angel who had been his first true friend, but he had no choice. His ambition, his desire for godhood, was too powerful to be stopped now.
With a wave of his staff, the Sacred Flame surged around him, and from the fire, dozens of flaming swords materialized, hovering in the air around him like divine instruments of war. Each blade shimmered with the flame's power, radiating heat and light that filled the sanctuary with a sense of impending conflict.
Gabriel's wings trembled as he watched the swords form around Aetherion, his expression filled with a mixture of fear and sadness. He had never thought he would have to face his friend like this—never thought they would stand on opposite sides of a battle.
"Please, Aetherion," Gabriel said, his voice desperate. "You don't have to do this. The power you seek—it will come at a cost. You don't know what the flame will do to you."
Aetherion's eyes flared with the light of the Sacred Flame as he took a step forward. "I've already made my choice. I'm not stopping now. If you stand in my way, I'll have no choice but to fight you."
Gabriel's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to find the right words. He knew Aetherion was too far gone, his ambition too great to be turned back. But still, he couldn't bring himself to draw his weapon.
"Aetherion... don't make me do this," Gabriel whispered.
Aetherion's face remained impassive, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. "Then you've made your choice, Gabriel," he said softly. "And so have I."
With a swift motion, Aetherion raised his staff, and the flaming swords around him surged forward, each one aimed at the archangels who stood between him and the Sacred Flame. The air crackled with heat as the swords flew toward their targets, the power of the flame coursing through each blade.
Gabriel, his wings flaring in defense, raised his own weapon—a brilliant sword of light—and moved to block the incoming attack. The clash of divine energy filled the sanctuary, sparks of light and flame exploding with each strike.
The other archangels leaped into action, their wings beating furiously as they countered Aetherion's assault. They were strong, trained to protect the flame, but Aetherion's power had grown far beyond what they expected. The Sacred Flame obeyed his every command, turning the tide of battle in his favor.
But even as the battle raged around them, Aetherion's gaze remained locked on Gabriel, who fought with a mixture of desperation and sorrow.
As the battle continued, Aetherion's heart grew heavier with each strike. Gabriel's words echoed in his mind, but his resolve did not waver. He had made his choice long ago—his path was one of ascension, of claiming the power that would lead him to godhood.
Gabriel, still trying to hold his ground, swung his sword in a desperate attempt to stop the inevitable. "You don't have to do this!" he shouted, his voice filled with anguish. "We can find another way!"
But Aetherion's eyes glowed with the power of the Sacred Flame, his determination unshaken. "There is no other way," he replied. "This is the path I've chosen, and nothing will stop me."
With one final, powerful strike, Aetherion summoned the full force of the Sacred Flame, sending a wave of fiery energy toward Gabriel and the other archangels. The flames roared as they surged forward, consuming the space between them.
Gabriel, his wings scorched by the flames, fell to his knees, his eyes filled with disbelief and sorrow. He had lost the battle—not just for the flame, but for his friend.
Aetherion stood tall, his heart heavy but his will unyielding. The path to the Sacred Flame was clear, and he would not be stopped.
The chapter ends with Aetherion standing victorious, his gaze fixed on the entrance to the Sacred Flame's inner sanctum. His journey was far from over, but the first step had been taken. Nothing would stand in his way now.