Lizzy burst into Iloria's chamber, breathless and wide-eyed. "He's... alive," she managed to say, her voice trembling with urgency.
"Who?" Iloria asked, her heart beginning to race with a mix of hope and dread.
"Your brother..." Lizzy whispered, before her strength gave out and she collapsed to the floor.
Iloria stood frozen, fear and confusion swirling within her. The revelation hung in the air, heavy and unsettling, as she struggled to comprehend the implications of those words.
Following that, in the council of seraphim , tension filled the air as Iloria faced the assembly. Voices clashed, echoing through the grand hall.
"Listen to me," Iloria implored, her voice steady yet urgent. "If he has returned, we must be ready."
"My queen," Michel replied, his tone skeptical, "you cannot fault us for our disbelief. The child was poisoned even before birth. How could he possibly survive?"
Gabriel nodded in agreement. "The man is dead—"
Iloria interrupted them sharply. "And how do we know for certain that poison can claim the life of a demigod unborn?"
Gabriel fell silent, contemplating her words.
Michel leaned forward, determined. "We need to dispatch someone to confirm this."
From the corner of the room, the Jester interjected with a jest, "Yo mama."
Gabriel chuckled, exchanging a high-five with the jester, his laughter breaking the tension.
Michel sighed, exasperated. "I am surrounded by fools," he muttered, gesturing towards the Jester."It seems we have someone who loves to do good and to volunteer."
The Jester stammered, "I... wait—let's reconsider—"
Michel raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Do I hear dissent?"
"No, no," the Jester quickly replied, a forced smile on his face. "I'm thrilled to accept this mission."
"Good," Michel said with a nod. "Off you go, then."
"Gabriel, I need you to bring Aiden here—dead or alive," Eloria said, her voice cold and resolute.
Gabriel hesitated. "This is... difficult. Aiden is the strongest being in Heaven. I don't think I can face him."
"But his power has waned since the Outer Gods punished him," Joseph interjected. "You can definitely defeat him now."
Gabriel shook his head slightly. "Even so, Aiden is still stronger than I am."
Eloria's gaze hardened. "I don't want to hear excuses."
A tense silence fell before Gabriel finally nodded. "Fine. I'll go."
At the earth Aiden, Ghost and Zain made their way toward the church , they unexpectedly stumbled upon ancient, crumbling runes. Aiden muttered, "This might be from a lost age."
He brushed off the dust, revealing faint, ancient markings beneath. Strange symbols and unfamiliar illustrations covered the surface—faded, chaotic, and seemingly older than time itself.
"I can't make sense of most of it..." he whispered, narrowing his eyes, "...but one thing is clear—these markings belong to the Absolute Denier."
" I'll go gather some wood for a fire."
While scavenging for wood, Zain's gaze fell upon an unusual object on the ground. It was a wing, and before he could react, the wing sliced into his arm and melded with his bone. Zain screamed as an agonizing decay began to spread through his body. Knowing his time was short, he struggled back to his companions, collapsing and crawling toward them. He watched helplessly as his life seemed to ebb away before his very eyes, leaving him immobilized and awaiting his fate. But then, Aiden managed to heal Zain, alleviating his pain, though Zain remained unconscious, slipping into darkness.
Some time had passed, and Zain had recovered enough to walk alongside Aiden and Ghost.
Aiden, Zain, and Ghost—came to a halt before the church. Ghost strode forward, arms crossed, lips curling into a sneer. "Move out of the way, shit-head."
A man blocked their path, one hand pressed against the church's heavy doors. "The name's Dante," he snapped. "Not 'shit-head.' And you two aren't entering."
Aiden's eyes flickered. "Why not?"
Dante's gaze darted from Aiden to Ghost's flawless, lightly glowing armor. "You're a seraph," he said smoothly, "and I haven't the faintest clue what that… thing is," he jerked a thumb at Ghost, "and you could be dangerous to the church ."
Aiden's lips curved into a predator's smile. In one fluid motion he swept Dante off his feet by the throat and lifted him inches from the ground. "Listen here, mortal," Aiden's voice was ice and thunder. "I can snap your neck as easily as breaking a twig. Let us in, or we will force our way and go meet that god ourselves."
Zain laid a firm hand on Aiden's arm. "Enough," he murmured, voice low but steady. He turned to Dante. "They won't cause trouble. But if they do, the consequences won't be promising."
Dante's jaw clenched. Before he could retort, a cold sensation crawled across Aiden's skin, as though unseen eyes studied him. He spun, every muscle coiled, but the courtyard lay empty—he still felt these looks that transcended the limits of divinity.
A man materialized from the air, as though born out of the church's shadow. A great owl landed on his shoulder, its amber eyes locked onto Aiden's, it was a strange look.
The stranger's voice fell like velvet: "Dante, let him pass. He is my guest."
Dante's grip on the door eased. "Your guest, you say?"
Aiden relaxed but did not lower his guard. "Who are you? You don't look… human, How can I be your guest? Do you know me?
The stranger inclined his head. "One answer to many questions—but first, we have matters to discuss." He beckoned them into the cool hush of the nave.
Aiden followed, senses alert. Flickers of divine luminescence danced across the vaulted ceiling. "I have a contract with you," the stranger began. "My name is Endrath, founder of the Church of the Divine Grace."
"A contract?" Aiden arched his brow. "And what do you offer?"
"Information. Anything you ask—up to and including knowledge of the Lost Era."
Aiden's heart thudded. The Lost Era lay beyond written history, even legends. "Only someone who lived then would know that name… Who are you, if not a mere pope?"
Endrath's smile was faint and secretive. "I am far from regular."
"And you want my help?" Aiden asked, suspicion coiling tight in his throat.
"I am being watched by higher beings — beings beyond our understanding, I cannot intervene directly."
Aiden studied him. "How much do you know?"
"Truths that should remain buried."
Aiden leaned forward. "Do you even know my goal?"
Endrath's amber gaze pierced him. "To achieve perfection—to become a True person."
Aiden's blade snapped from its sheath, tip grazing Endrath's neck. "How did you know that?"
Endrath's voice was calm. "I know all things in this world. Ultimately, our goals align: we both must destroy the Outer Gods."
Aiden's grip loosened—just enough. "Final question: are you allied with them?"
Endrath's expression darkened. "I have a contract with them. You will meet one of them soon. . Know this: they are always watching."
"Very well. We have a deal." He turned to leave, footsteps echoing on stone.
Aiden left the church. "Wait, I have something else to tell you. " Endrath's voice called after him.
Aiden froze. A heartbeat later, a blur of white feathers and steel slammed into him—Gabriel, winged seraphim , baton aloft. But Aiden anticipated the blow, pivoting and delivering a crushing kick that sent Gabriel skidding back across the marble floor.
With unwavering confidence, Aiden turned his back on Gabriel, seemingly inviting another assault. Gabriel, seeing his chance, lunged forward to retaliate. However, before he could land a blow, Zain and Ghost emerged like shadows in front of him, intercepting the attack with practiced ease.
Zain spoke with a calm authority, "Aiden, go on and hear what Endrath has to say."
Ghost chimed in, staring down Gabriel, "It's no longer about Aiden. Your fight is with us now."
Gabriel laughed scornfully. "You think a mere human can stand against me? You've underestimated me greatly, Aiden."
In response, Zain's winged arm materialized, taking Gabriel by surprise.
"Oh my Cyrus, what in the world is this?" Gabriel exclaimed.
Zain smirked, "Yeah, I had the same reaction, buddy."
Ghost interjected, "Let's show this seraph who's truly stronger."
Determined to end the encounter swiftly, Gabriel launched a lightning-fast punch. Yet, Zain adeptly blocked the blow, resulting in a resounding shockwave. In the ensuing skirmish, Zain managed a glancing slash across Gabriel's cheek, igniting the seraph's fury, he struck Zain with a forceful punch, sending him hurtling through the air. However, Zain's wing acted instinctively, landing back to the ground.
Gabriel's baton quivered with celestial resonance. "Traitor! Face your judgment!"
Zain advanced. "He's not bluffing—that baton carries the Symphony of Collapse."
Ghost's voice was a low growl. "Then we silence it before the first note."
In a flash, Zain pushed after Gabriel, sword held high. A single chime rang as Gabriel struck the baton against the floor. The air warped; Zain's sword felt leaden.
"Now!" Ghost lunged from zain, blade slashing through Gabriel. Gabriel twisted out of range, baton lifting once more to unleash three piercing notes that rattled their very minds. Ghost coughed, blood speckling the ground.
Zain slammed his foot down. A dome of radiant force exploded outward, drowning out the divine melody and granting them a fleeting advantage. Together, Zain and Ghost pressed forward—steel clashing against celestial might. Zain's blade nicked Gabriel's forearm, drawing scarlet lines.
Gabriel's wing quivered, a fraction of one feather fracturing. He seized Ghost by the throat and slammed him into the marble, cracking stone under the impact. He raised his baton—four notes now, each one twisting reality. Zain staggered, mind reeling, vision flickering.
But Zain found a final reserve of strength. He stamped the ground again, unleashing a Radiant Sync Pulse so pure it reshaped the battlefield itself, stifling every sound. In the stunned silence, the two attackers moved in perfect harmony—slash, shift, strike—until Gabriel dropped his baton, clutching a broken hand.
Gabriel recoiled, taking a step back as blood dripped from his mouth.
"Then—" he murmured quietly, a note of surprise in his voice.
Suddenly, Aiden materialized behind Zain, hoisting him effortlessly with one hand and flinging him aside.
"Aiden...?" Zain's eyes widened in shock.
Aiden didn't spare him a glance. His gaze remained fixed on Gabriel, one hand resting on his back, the other poised for action.
"Your playtime's over," Aiden declared. "It's my turn."
With deliberate slowness, Gabriel rose to his feet, raising the baton once more. He attempted to strike a blow—
But it was too late.
Aiden was already upon him, driving a knee into Gabriel's stomach before slamming an elbow into his jaw, his other hand still firmly planted behind his back.
Gabriel was sent hurtling through the air, a spray of blood trailing from his lips.
In an instant, Aiden was above him mid-flight, seizing Gabriel's face and pounding him into the ground.
Gabriel struggled to move, but Aiden was swifter. A roundhouse kick sent him skidding across the floor. Desperately, he tried to swing the baton—
"You're too slow," Aiden taunted.
He caught Gabriel's hand, crushing it until the baton clattered to the ground. Aiden released him only to unleash a flurry of punches—ribs, face, side of the neck—each strike precise and relentless.
Gabriel attempted to retaliate with a surge of divine energy, but Aiden advanced through it, step by deliberate step, until he stood before him once more.
With a single, decisive stomp, he pinned Gabriel's chest to the floor. The battle was concluded. Aiden's breaths were measured and steady.
He stepped back, then suddenly someone stabbed Aiden from behind.
He was stunned to see a face he never expected to be here—his brother, Arthur.
Arthur's expression was a mix of sadness, desperation, and overwhelming guilt.
"Long time no see… brother," Aiden said, blood dripping from his mouth.
But without a moment's hesitation, he lunged at Arthur, his only brother, trying to kill him.
Aiden gripped Arthur's throat tightly, attempting to strangle him while draining a portion of his spiritual power.
Gabriel seized the opportunity and struck Aiden from behind.
In response, Aiden grabbed Arthur and used him as a weapon—slamming him into Gabriel with brutal force
"There are still plans I need to complete..." Aiden muttered to himself. "I have to go to Heaven. But I can't—because I'm half-demon."
Gabriel groaned, struggling to lift himself as blood trickled from his lips.
"Gabriel," Aiden addressed him sternly, "I'm going to the court."
Gabriel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh? What...?"
"As you heard," Aiden confirmed. "I'm going to Heaven... to face the court."
Still cautious, Gabriel coughed again. "Then I'll have to handcuff you... so you don't run away."
Aiden advanced slowly, serenity in his stride. "Whatever."