The Seraphic System The Shadow Inheritance – Part 1

The Seraphic System

Chapter: 109

(The Shadow Inheritance - P1)

-{dusa}-

Life was good.

The thought floated through Nyxera's mind as she watched the ‘morning’ light filter through the windows, the soft gold light from the massive Trees as refreshing as always.

Her golden eyes closed, a smile dominating her features at the thought of seeing the world without anything turning to stone. It would never cease to be a miracle, having spent hundreds of years cursed for a sin she didn't commit.

She felt her mind drift as it always did.

It had been a long while since her master showed up, transforming the purpose of her existence from isolation to sothing aningful. Sothing had told her that Kai was a one-ti opportunity, and she was glad she had taken it.

More than glad, she didn’t think she could live as she had prior once more.

The holy order had given her more than just a blessing; they'd given her a family.

Frieren's arrival had been the newest blessing.

The ancient elf possessed a calming aura that Nyxera found comforting, and unlike many others, it was strange. As soone who didn’t like many people, she had found herself loving the presence of everyone in Heaven, including the other mbers of the Holy Order.

Frieren was only the latest. They'd developed an easy companionship, spending hours in comfortable silence or engaged in discussions about magical theory.

It was interesting how their worlds contrasted in how Magic operated. Frieren had been both enchanted and disgusted when the War on Heaven took place.

Her mind darkened as those mories began swimming up again.

The image of those forces arrayed against her master still burned in her mory. Because she wouldn't have dared to breathe wrongly around in her previous existence, she had stood against him. The audacity of it made her eyes glow slightly.

Protecting her new ho had been the easiest decision she'd ever made.

Thanks to her master's ticulous planning and Lord Michael's brilliant strategies, they'd achieved victory in a battle that should have cost hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of lives under normal circumstances.

The aftermath had left her both proud and humbled.

Now, with the threat having disappeared, her days had returned to the peaceful rhythm she cherished.

She'd accompanied Frieren to the Vatican recently, watching the elf weave protective enchantnts with an artistry that took her breath away.

The Pope himself had co down when she began planting magical trees everywhere with defences, amusedly telling her that most humans weren’t used to seeing a tree that acted like a human.

The mortals' reactions had been... uncomfortable.

They'd looked at them with reverence bordering on worship, pressing close with reaching hands and tearful prayers. Nyxera had seen the discomfort in her friend's eyes, the way she'd subtly leaned away from the crowds.

It was sothing the entirety of the Holy Order was going through.

"I don't understand their need to touch," Frieren had murmured later, safe within the sub-dinsion. "The wards will protect them regardless of physical proximity."

Nyxera had simply nodded with amusent, understanding her inability to understand humanity. Perhaps only those who have been human or are human can understand.

Anyway, most of her ti was spent observing Tiamat's training sessions with the younger Angels. The dragon was a harsh taskmaster, her thods brutal but effective.

The angels grew stronger by the day under her tutelage, their movents becoming fluid and deadly. The recent scare, with all the deaths, had Hestia especially protective.

Hestia had appointed herself as their protector, hovering nearby during training with maternal concern.

Whenever Tiamat's strikes sent an angel crashing into the training ground's barriers, Hestia would shoot the dragon a glare that could have lted stone.

"They need to learn," Tiamat would say.

"They need to survive the learning," Hestia would counter, already moving to heal the minor injuries.

The dynamic had beco a source of quiet amusent for Nyxera. She'd taken to positioning herself where she could observe both the training and the interplay between the two powerful beings.

Today, however, brought a different form of entertainnt.

The two familiars were a curious duo…. A massive snake and a turtle with the face of a strange creature that her Lord insisted was a lion. The Lion Turtle would be like a crown on top of Galadriel’s head as she slithered around.

"He's what?" Dulio's voice cut through her peaceful observations, pitched higher than his usual calm tone.

Nyxera turned her attention to the gathering near the central fountain. Hestia's expression had shifted from contentnt to deep concern, her brow furrowed as she listened to Lord Remiel's report.

"It seems like our Lord has taken an interest in going down and getting involved in another conflict with minimal help from Heaven," Lord Remiel revealed, his usually serene face marked with resignation.

"I know I am not worthy of knowing," Dulio began, his hands clasped in a gesture of supplication, "but may I ask why?"

Nyxera had rarely seen the strongest exorcist so openly distressed.

"Apparently, the Khaos Brigade is involved in another large plot, albeit against a different faction." Lord Remiel's wings rustled with agitation. "The Lord has decided he wants to go undercover to gather as much information as possible."

"Can't we go in his stead?" Hope colored Dulio's words. "This seems like a task befitting the Holy Order. We were created for such missions."

"I doubt it," Lord Remiel said simply.

Dulio's internal conflict played across his features like an open book. "Isn't the Lord temporarily weakened? Surely keeping him in heaven would be for the best. I am more than happy to focus everything on this mission. I'll be super sneaky as well."

The earnestness in his promise might have been amusing under different circumstances.

Nyxera could imagine the jovial exorcist attempting stealth operations and found the ntal image both endearing and concerning. But she found herself agreeing: if the Holy Order were deployed, she was sure they would be stealthy.

Remiel's lips quivered in what might have been amusent. "I believe the Lord seems quite set on his course."

Nyxera remained silent throughout the exchange, but inside, her thoughts churned with worry. She agreed completely with Dulio's assessnt.

Their master hadn’t been given enough ti to grow back to his forr glory. He had taken the burden of everything and deserved to be in Heaven rely. The thought of him placing himself in danger again made her chest tighten with anxiety.

Yet she also knew the futility of their concerns.

When had their master ever chosen the safe path? When had he ever delegated danger while remaining safe himself? It wasn't in his nature, and perhaps that was part of what made him worthy of their devotion.

"Perhaps," Hestia said carefully, "we can, however, present alternatives that would achieve the sa goals while minimising the risks?"

"You're welco to try," Remiel responded, though his tone suggested he'd already attempted such reasoning.

Hestia grimaced, and Tiamat scowled. She had good reasons to believe that the poor Angel might not survive the next few hours of training.

She would pray to her master for his life.

-{Kai}-

I suddenly felt soone praying to , but a ringing in my mind drew my attention, making perk up.

The familiar screen that was used for my most treasured skill popped up.

The Download has finished.

Already?

It was one thing to know the ti for downloads would be cut down with an increase in power, but seeing just how much ascending into the God-class had cut it down was insane.

It ant I could finally start working on the long list I had created. With it, my attacking capacity would grow, and I could find more ways to defend. When downloading, I attempted to add things that would work with my current skill set.

I had been thinking of getting more perks to boost my progression and perhaps more skills that would make immune to more elents. It was just the ti they took that had stopped before.

One thing that beca apparent was that having so many skills ant that only a few would be mastered.

That left my next download…

{Template - gumi Fushiguro - Age 15}

{Perks} -

[Zenin Bloodline]

[Ten Shadows Technique Inheritance]

[Enhanced Shadow Manipulation]

[Large Cursed Energy Reserves]

[Tactical Genius]

[Heavenly Restriction Bloodline]

{Skills} - [Cursed Energy Manipulation]

[Ten Shadows Technique Mastery]

[Domain Expansion: Chira Shadow Garden]

[Expert Weapons Specialist]

[Hand-to-Hand Combat Proficiency]

[Shadow Storage Technique]

{Sub-Skills} - [Divine Dogs (White & Black)]

[Divine Dog: Totality]

[Nue]

[Toad]

[Great Serpent]

[Max Elephant]

[Rabbit Escape]

[The Well's Unknown Abyss]

[Mahoraga Summoning (Incomplete)]

[Shadow Movent]

[Shadow Decoy Creation]

My choice in downloads had been relatively straightforward. The technique itself was weak, but it ca with one perk I wanted, the ability to summon Mahoraga. It was a slightly strange choice, I knew, and I could have gotten an angel summon in its place.

But Mahoraga's abilities were too valuable to pass up. I had suspected that, due to the ritual's nature, requiring to defeat each shikigami personally, I would get so sort of discount on the download ti.

Having a being I could summon as a guard appealed to . More importantly, the connection I had with my angels was too precious for the role Mahoraga would fill. They were family. The Divine General would be another weapon, hopefully.

I had looked through other interesting download prospects, but ultimately landed on my desired goal.

[Ten Shadows Technique Inheritance]

[Grants the user the ability to summon the ten trials.]

The download was confird, and I braced myself, only for nothing to happen.

Huh.

Neat.

That left my next download. I began going through my list. My long list…

I had thought about increasing my chakra capabilities once more. Perhaps downloading Itachi or another skilled shinobi would be a good idea?

Then there was the potential of downloading soone I knew. Jeanne or Dulio? Would I be able to mimic their blessings? I wouldn't mind Blessed Fortitude.

Then again, I had to consider how much ti a simple blessing would consu.

Thoughts on gaining more angels also entered my mind. I could try a simple priest of the Slane Theocracy, even if I had a theory that the angels I summoned wouldn't be conscious like those produced from the super-tier spell. Still, having the ability to create more angels was invaluable.

My Cherubim Gatekeepers had proved as such. That was probably the best download I'd made.

From my knowledge, Yggdrasil's magic was currently the top contender for summoning new angels. I still had many spells I wanted to use to bolster Heaven's forces for virtually no cost.

I was certain that even when I gained the ability to create angels from God's inheritance, there would be a cost. While that option would allow more control, being able to expand Heaven's forces was too good to pass up.

Especially when my Cherubim Gatekeepers were technically the third strongest level of angel summon.

If I rember correctly, the list went: Seraph Empyrean, Seraph Aerosphere, Cherubim Gatekeeper for the top-tier ultimate class angels. Then Dominion Authority, a High-Class Angel summon. And lower tiers further below that.

There were other options to consider, though. Options for my personal power were equally important.

Perhaps another breathing style from Demon Slayer? A few of the sun breathing techniques had proven to ld well with my new sword and general skill set.

There was also the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, the source of my Ten Shadows Technique inheritance download. Getting a “Domain” can be interesting.

So many opportunities…

"Father?" Uriel’s curious voice called out.

I was snapped out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm here," I replied, blinking and looking back up from the chanisms of the Sentinel.

Between us stood the Sentinel. Its large armour stood before us in all its glory.

Uriel's face brightened at my response, and he moved closer to examine the power stone fragnt I'd been integrating into the surface armour of the Sentinel.

"How did you even get sothing like this?" he said, running his fingers along the energy conduits we'd installed.

“I created it after the battle,” I responded.

Uriel laughed. “Just how many things did you end up creating?”

“Quite a few,” I replied slyly. "This one is particularly useful and limited. Raphael ntioned it acts like a generator. The output maxes out just at the peak of the Ultimate-Class, but the interesting part is the recharge cycle. It takes only a few seconds to refill after discharge."

"Similar to Michael's power domain?" Uriel asked, and I couldn't help but smile at how quickly he made the connection.

"Exactly. Though obtained in a sort of crystallised form.” I explained, as if that wasn’t an absolutely insane statent.

The Sentinel's armour's original design allowed it to channel vast amounts of energy through its fra, but we were pushing beyond that. The power stone fragnt added an entirely new dinsion to its capabilities.

Each adjustnt we made sent ripples of multicoloured energy through the armour's surface, like oil on water.

The Sentinel's abilities were already powerful, but since not many of these could be made without burning through vast amounts of resources, I decided I wanted to truly make this as strong as I could.

This would be the General of other similar constructions that can be mass-produced.

“Seriously, to have such things created from nothing will never not astonish . The sheer uses such a thing could have…” Uriel trailed off. “Then again, you did sohow create angelic versions of Godly Domains.”

“It’s certainly a bonus,” I replied idly.

“Is that how you found Jeanne and Frieren?” Uriel questioned.

I sent him a mildly surprised look.

“Did they say that?” I questioned curiously.

“No, but it seems obvious. Dangerous situations tend to make you produce highly powerful objects or even beings. I couldn’t find any ntion of such beings in history, and while they could have been hidden, it still led to that thought.” Uriel shrugged.

“I’m guessing my others have found this little ‘secret’ out as well?” I asked with a hint of amusent.

I hadn’t really been trying to hide it.

“Of course.” Uriel smiled.

“And what did they think of it?” I questioned.

“It’s a good sign, I’m not even sure if Father could just make God-class beings like that. Perhaps his death has served beneficially at the very least.” Uriel said, but his tone clearly suggested he didn’t think so in the slightest.

I smiled. “It’s a bit more complicated than outright being created, since they have their own versions of lives, but you’re around the mark.”

Uriel nodded and surprisingly didn’t question further.

He frowned lightly.

“I’m curious why you didn’t tell us, though. Have we proven untrustworthy?” Uriel questioned with a frown.

“No,” I replied imdiately, slightly serious. “It’s just a weird occurrence, and I didn't want to put you off.”

Uriel smiled, relieved and accepted it easily.

“Does that an you could create a being that would attack you?” He asked after a pause.

“I don’t think so,” I responded carefully.

I had learnt my Angels were all… akin to Yandere’s in a more toned sense.

I found myself patting him on the head in a manner I only did with my angels. And it was because he was my Angel that it wasn’t weird, the Angel practically preening at the touch.

I was going to have to catch that before I started patting everyone I liked on the head.

"So what do you think we should focus on when integrating the power stone?” I asked, moving the subject along. “I'm not sure if the being itself under the armour would be able to handle it."

"What if we reroute the energy flow through these secondary channels?" Uriel suggested, tracing potential pathways with his finger. "We could make this generator serve as a booster instead of an outright weapon, especially since we already have angelic energy and dragon fire cannons."

"A good idea and one that could prove more useful," I admitted, genuinely impressed by his intuition. "The power stone is proving difficult to contain, as is natural with a magical generator. Perhaps we need to focus on the circulation of its potency rather than outright containnt. In a normal scenario, that would decrease efficiency, but with its recharge ti, that's negligible."

We worked in comfortable silence for a while, making minute adjustnts and monitoring the energy readings. The armour's ability to absorb and redirect energy was already formidable, but with the power stone enhancent, it would beco sothing far more dangerous.

In truth, the first idea I had with the power stone fragnt was to make batteries. Essentially, with an unlimited energy source, it could be used to empower Heaven.

If Heaven’s general forces could all have defences beyond those created by the forrly Mr Two’s Sacred Gear… able to block ultimate class attacks and unleash an ultimate class worthy amount of boost into their attack?

Heaven was already powerful, coming up and surpassing many Pantheons. But that would be a massive increase.

Unfortunately, reality often disappoints. The power stone’s fragnt couldn’t be contained that way, or if it could, the resources required would an only a few batteries could be created.

Raphael’s testing had shown that when the empowering energy of the power stones’ fragnts left their confines, it beca erratic, beyond any other energy. It rabidly looked for anything to empower and latch onto.

aning it was annoying to store, which was expected of a crystallised version that held a fragnt of the literal concept of power. It was never going to be easy.

That's why we chose the Sentinel. While I could have tried to make so sort of ring of power, I was more focused on having more people in power.

I had other avenues like my chakra fruit that had yet to be planted, and considering the work of art the Sentinel was with the combined might of multiple Arch-Seraphs helping craft it, it was best to go all out.

It also helped that creating a ring of power with the power stone fragnt would be a long project. One I'd rather wait on if it were going to happen.

Precautions had been made in case the Sentinel was killed.

The sound of massive footsteps echoed through the workshop. I turned to see Brias entering, his enormous form ducking through the reinforced doorway.

The large beings' multiple eyes blinked in sequence, each one observing different aspects of our work simultaneously.

"My Lord," Brias greeted, his voice deep and resonant. "Lord Uriel. I hope I'm not interrupting."

Uriel grinned. "Brias! Perfect timing. We're trying to figure out how to keep this thing from lting itself."

His massive fra moved closer, his many eyes focusing on the Sentinel. "An interesting challenge. May I examine the construct?"

"Go ahead," I gestured.

Brias worked with surprising delicacy for his size, his large hands tracing the energy pathways we'd installed. "I see what you an, what a chaotic and bizarre item," he noted, pointing to a junction point. "If you reroute through this secondary channel and add a buffer here, the strain would be distributed more evenly. Then it can reconnect for the purpose of what I’m assuming is to enhance attacks?”

“Indeed,” Uriel said, already making adjustnts. “I was thinking about the sa thing.”

Uriel's new phoenix flickered as he used it to move so of the tal, the golden fire making the Sentinel's tal far more malleable without damaging its structural integrity.

While they worked on the Sentinel, I turned my attention to my own project. Vesper lay on the workbench before , its dark blade gleaming even in the workshop's ambient light.

I've been aning to improve it for a while now.

I activated my new skill. "Artefact Appraisal."

Text appeared in my vision, clean and precise.

Durability: 76%

Lightness: 180%

Magical Affinity: 195%

Cursed Affinity: 80%

Light Affinity: 80%

Holy Affinity: 80%

Amplification: 25%

Energy Direction: 50%

Hate Absorption: 100%

Sharpness: 210%

I studied the numbers, turning them over in my mind. It was impressive work already, but there was room for improvent.

So stats couldn't be changed without specific items like Hate Absorption. But the affinities?

Those could definitely be enhanced.

The affinities represented the efficiency with which certain types of energy flowed through the blade. Using Vesper to generate cursed light, for example, depended on both the Cursed and Light Affinity ratings. The higher those numbers, the more energy would be amplified.

I was reaching for sothing like Michael's sword, which had possessed an insane stat distribution. Numbers far higher across the board, another work by my predecessor that left in awe.

Even a 1% increase could help at his level. And I could say his weapon would probably take anyone below the super class into the pseudo of the next realm above them. An ultimate class could beco a pseudo-god class with the weapon alone. A Longinus-level weapon in his hands.

While mine was already turning out to be a powerful weapon, it wasn’t a weapon at that level. I assud that if I checked again on Zeus’ bolt, I would find a very different type of weapon than re description could provide.

With Artefact Inscription and a clean surface to work with, I could improve many of these factors. But it would take ti. A lot more than the simple life force controller I'd made before.

And then I had the soul skill orb from my rewards after the battle.

I went over to my aura forge, settling into the ditative state required for precise inscription work.

The blade's surface was smooth, perfect for detailed runic work. I started with the basics, tracing power-channelling runes along the fuller.

"What are you working on?" Uriel asked excitedly, glancing over.

"Vesper upgrades," I replied, not looking up. "Trying to boost the affinity ratings and its overall power. I got a new ability to see the actual effects of my sword in nurical value.”

Uriel lit up. “A skill from your previous incarnation, then. A good sign and one I rember Father speaking about.”

"Can I watch?" He moved closer, phoenix flas still dancing around his fingertips.

"I'm not that good yet," I admitted. "But I'm learning."

Brias rumbled with amusent. "My Lord, you're being modest. The life force controller you created was masterwork quality."

"That was simple compared to this," I said, carefully etching a stability rune into the blade's spine. "Weapons are more complex. More variables to account for."

Brias nodded.

“I don’t think Brias agrees,” Uriel replied slyly. “He’s much better at crafting weapons than artefacts.”

“I tried one ti, Lord Uriel! And connecting energies in the way I was trying was bound to be-“

“Explosive?” Uriel laughed.

Brias’ eyes blinked rapidly, and his large arms waved as his face grew darker.

I grinned, zoning out as I went into a sort of flow state with my weapon. I was deep in concentration, halfway through a particularly complex enhancent rune sequence on Vesper's crossguard, when the workshop doors opened.

The workshop door abruptly opened, although in a soft manner, and I felt soone’s presence coming down to Uriel’s workshop.

Brias perked up, and I looked up to see Kokabiel standing in the doorway. He smiled brightly at the sight of and instantly made his way towards , hands at his sides.

My eyes flickered over his form.

The transformation still caught off guard sotis. Gone was the harsh, angular face I'd known. His features had softened considerably, the cruel edge replaced by sothing almost gentle.

His once blood-red eyes now held flecks of gold, and his white wings glead with the light of an angel. The black robes remained, but even they seed lighter sohow; the purple and gold accents were more vibrant than before.

"Father," he said, bowing deeply.

His wings rustled slightly as he straightened, and I couldn't help but notice how different he seed. Even when he had been apologetic and calm, there had been a permanent sadness. Which had for all intents and purposes vanished.

The restoration from fallen to true angel had changed everything about him.

The mory of his restoration ceremony flickered through my mind. .

-Flash Back-

Gabriel had been the first to approach him, her usual serene expression breaking into genuine joy

"Welco ho, brother,” Gabriel said, her voice thick with emotion and sothing shining in her erald eyes.

Kokabiel looked at her with an expression that would probably have the many Gods who were just as old as the Angels baffled.

She pulled him into a comforting embrace, one that had lasted long enough to make several of the other angels shift with excitent. All of them had been briefly stunned.

But it was Kokabiel's reaction that had surprised the most.

The angel who'd once desired nothing more than war and bloodshed had actually wept. Tears had stread down his face as he'd clutched Gabriel like a lifeline, so many years of separation from Heaven finally ending.

"T-thank you. I never thought..." Kokabiel whispered. "I never thought I'd be allowed back."

The ripple effect through Heaven had been imdiate.

Remiel laughed and brought him into a large hug, and Uriel’s expression softened. His downright anger for the Fallen and Devils was nowhere to be seen as he enjoyed the hug.

What followed was a celebration, all of my Seraphim greeting him back in their own way, and I could sense sothing more was afoot. Not that I minded, considering it was more akin to a rite of passage.

I imagined this must be quite the morale boost, considering it had never been done before.

A new age of Heaven.

My age.

The Angel of Death had approached slowly, her gothic appearance making her seem like a shadow given form. Golden wings, dark clothing, and an aura that made most beings instinctively step back.

The cold stare was enough to make Kokabiel shrink back slightly.

"Kokabiel," she'd said, her voice typically cold and distant.

He tensed, clearly expecting rejection or worse.

A smile, small but genuine, had graced Azrael's lips.

"Welco back." She greeted, her tone different and her eyes opening up.

The embrace they'd shared was brief but aningful. And Kokabiel was like a child, his white wings twitching behind him and his power having soared back up.

He was in the God-class.

For Azrael to show such warmth was unusual, as I had co to know she normally showed her care through action. The other Seraphim had taken note imdiately.

The celebration that followed was joyful, and I’m sure word had spread. All the Seraphim were gathered for it, and I felt it was appropriate, even if it ant pausing the many duties they carried for a few hours.

They looked positively ecstatic, and it was easy to see there was a change.

During that gathering, I'd caught Azrael looking at with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. Sothing between gratitude and... sothing else.

A small smirk adorned my face.

I wonder how the morale of the Fallen would fare?

-Flash back-

The flashback faded as Kokabiel cleared his throat, bringing back to the present.

"Father, I bring news," he said, his voice carrying none of the harsh edge it once held. "Heracles has returned. He carries two sets of... deford corpses under so sort of stasis."

I smiled.

Michael had said Kokabiel would be getting his old duties back, sothing the newly reborn Seraph had practically begged for.

I nodded, unsurprised. "The deal we made. Co, let's et him."

It was a brisk walk from there as Kokabiel practically vibrated with nervous energy. His eagerness to please was almost endearing, such a stark contrast to his forr rebellious nature.

We found Michael already there, his stance rigid as he stared down Heracles. His sword in hand.

"You can relax, Michael," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He's here under the agreent I told you about." My gestures and eyes conveyed more than words.

Michael could feel the Tree of Life's touch on him.

Michael's expression softened slightly when he looked at , though his guard remained up. I turned my attention to Heracles, who stood protectively over two covered forms.

The forr Greek god's massive fra was tense, his knuckles white from gripping the bodies so tightly.

His eyes ca to settle on .

“Heracles.” I greeted, looking over the Olympian God.

“Lord Kai.” He greeted back uncertainly.

I observed this god. He reminded of the ti before I arrived in Heaven when I had floated around and gotten myself involved with a massive plot. The fateful eting with Gabriel…

“Are these the two you wanted revived?” I asked, moving on from our brief staring session

In truth, the Greeks were going to be pissed.

We had Ares prisoner, sothing that was a big secret since the political problems it would cause. Heracles is another major figure taken. A notable minor God. Then Aphrodite, a Major Goddess, had been poached along with Hestia joining the battle on the behalf of Heaven.

All in all, it didn’t look good.

Which was why I'd keep it a secret for now. The Greeks, while infamous for their flaws, had large families. They were, without a doubt, a powerful Faction.

I wouldn’t hesitate to push back if they tried to keep Aphrodite from , though. Currently, Heaven can afford to offend others.

“It is.” He nodded wearily. “Does the deal still stand?”

"The deal stands," I said simply. "Your child and wife, restored for your loyalty to Heaven.”

Heracles nodded, his jaw clenched. “I understand, I can’t say my first encounter with you had envisioning this outco. To think you were the King Of Heaven…”

Michael was staring him down.

“I didn’t exactly know it would turn out this way either, and you certainly helped get adjusted to… well, fighting Gods.” I chuckled.

He returned the sentint, though the wariness in his eyes spoke volus.

How many gods had made him similar promises only to break them?

"My Lord!" Gabriel's voice rang out as she materialised beside us, imdiately positioning herself between Heracles and .

Her protective stance would have been amusing if it weren't so earnest.

Michael regarded his sister warmly.

"Gabriel," I said, unable to suppress a small smile. "It's alright. He's not a threat."

Michael nodded, and I almost laughed at Heracles's sigh.

"But-" she started, her presence causing the air to hum slightly.

My kind and compassionate Angel found herself being rather overprotective.

I reached out, gently stroking her hair.

The simple gesture had an imdiate effect. She practically lted, her defensive posture evaporating as she leaned into my touch. The fierce archangel beca almost docile under my hand.

“I told you I released him. We have a deal, and Heracles isn’t the type to betray.” I said, calming her down.

If he did, I wouldn’t be rciful in my approach.

Betrayal set sothing off deep within , that wasn’t exactly… Godly.

Gabriel’s shoulders relaxed, and she leaned into . I resisted the urge to take her away for another… healing session.

“Ok… I just don’t wish for the gods to try to pull sothing underhanded. Most do when they are bested and on the back foot.” Gabriel said.

"Actually," I continued, "it's good you're here. I need you to restore their bodies for the resurrection and I haven't quite mastered body restoration at this level yet."

Gabriel's eyes lit up with understanding and adoration. "Of course. I would be honoured. T-though we should have another healing session soon to fix that.”

I stared flatly.

I an… I agreed.

She blushed and moved toward the bodies with care, her hands beginning to glow with healing light.

Michael watched Heracles carefully.

All the while the Olympian God's breath caught in his throat as she worked, his massive fra trembling with barely contained emotion.

-{Heracles}-

I'd been through this before.

Too many tis. The promises, the bargains, the desperate hope that maybe this ti would be different.

Zeus had promised once. So had Hades. Even Athena had dangled the possibility before like bait, only to snatch it away when I'd completed whatever impossible task they'd set by claiming impossibility, restrictions, will of Fates, errors I've made or loopholes.

My family. My beautiful gara and our children.

Their deaths haunted still, the mory of my own hands ending their lives while Hera's madness consud . No amount of labour could wash that blood away. No heroic deed could bring them back.

Or so I'd been told.

I watched the Biblical God with wary eyes, waiting for the inevitable.

It would be the apologetic look. The explanation of why it couldn't be done. Being killed by a God wasn't a simple death, it left wounds that even divine power struggled to heal.

I'd heard every excuse, every rationalisation.

Yet this young-looking deity had actually retrieved their bodies.

That alone was more than most had managed.

Still, I prepared myself for disappointnt.

The Archangels were... unsettling.

Michael smiled warmly whenever his father looked his way, only to return to an expression of cold calculation when the God's attention shifted.

And Gabriel, by the Fates, I'd seen Goddesses of beauty and love, but she radiated sothing beyond re physical perfection. She was truly Heaven’s most beautiful Angel.

That statent was probably best left under-estimated lest Zeus did sothing… unsightly.

The way she gazed at her lord with such naked adoration, then turned protective and fierce when she thought I might be a threat.

It was definitely above just loyalty, and the way Kai returned her affection... It was beyond what the Lord of Heaven and his children should have… but perhaps it had sothing to do with the rebirth Kai had explained.

He can't exactly judge either way. After all, he was Greek.

But that was in the past, Kai had killed and I had been happy to be finally free.

My father had made into a god, so I knew that I would eventually end up in Tartarus.

I had been looking forward to it, in a way.

Not imdiately, of course. I would not be soone to be ordered there for a while. I would simply reform slowly in the darkness like all the rest. I was used to pain and suffering. The hopelessness of the pit held no terror for .

When I woke, I felt at peace.

That alone made suspicious. I was still not entirely sure if this was all just a grand illusion designed to break . The pit was known for such tricks. Offering hope only to snatch it away. Crafting elaborate fantasies to shatter against the rocks of reality.

But my revival was different.

Instead of the dark abyss I had expected, I awoke under a tree that embodied all life. Light filtered through leaves that shimred with colors I had no nas for.

The air itself tasted of vitality, of sothing so fundantally opposed to the pit that I could not reconcile the two.

The very antithesis of Tartarus.

Sothing that could not be easily simulated.

I had asked Hers once how monsters and gods reford in the pit. He had explained the process in his usual flippant manner. The slow gathering of essence. The gradual coalescence of form. The painful reconstruction of self from scattered fragnts of divine power.

None of that had happened to .

I rembered closing my eyes after dying at the hand of an angel.

I simply opened them under the so-called ‘Tree of Life’ in the garden of Eden.

I was no longer bound to the pit.

I was not yet bound to anything else.

Sothing fundantal had changed within . I could feel it in the core of my being, in the spaces where divine chains had once wrapped tight around my essence. Those chains were gone now. Severed or dissolved or simply absent, I could not tell.

For the first ti in my existence, I felt free of the golden strings of the Fates.

I had free will.

Kai was different from the Biblical God. It was easy to tell sothing had happened. The original God had perished unknown to the rest of the world as they thought he had gone back to reclusivity.

Now, a new Angel showed up. With an explosive disposition in power and his very magic transforming from the Angelic energy the angels possessed.

It was turning into divine power.

God Reborn? Maybe that’s why his Angels were acting so… zealously. Then again, they had always been foretold to have been this way.

It was disconcerting, watching beings of such power shift their entire deanour based on whether their King was watching. The angels truly were as formidable as the myths claid.

Perhaps the only beings that could match the Gods in raw power.

Despite all that, I braced myself for the familiar words.

‘I am sorry, but it cannot be done.’ They always ca, dressed in different explanations but carrying the sa crushing weight.

My grip on my family's bodies tightened. Even getting this far was more than others had given . I should be grateful.

It was more than what most had done.

The King of Heaven raised his hands laxly.

"Resurrection," the God said simply.

I felt my heart lurch and my skin shiver, my own Divinity coming to the surface of my skin almost defensively. The feeling of pure death and sothing beyond what a Domain could achieve swirling in the air.

Green energy flowed from his hands and the air went cold, the gentle flow of mist curling down into the bodies clutched close to . I had to force myself not to react.

The stasis shattered like glass and warmth flooded back into cold flesh.

The King of Heaven looked intimidating in that mont, his hair blowing wildly and his eyes staring down with glassy eyes. Death itself relinquishing its claim, following his command like a loyal servant.

Just how had he grown this powerful?

My attention couldn’t stay on him further.

When I felt it, I was in disbelief. It was a mont of ridicule. I watched as life returned to forms that had been dead for so long. Life that Death had turned to ash.

My wife's eyes fluttered open, with a gasp. My child drew breath again.

The world tilted, or at least my perception did.

The dream of a long-lived God ca true. The one desire that made being a God not worth it for . My vision blurred as I pulled them into my arms, my entire body shaking with emotions I couldn't na.

Tears flooded his vision.

I had embraced them with all the weakness I could muster, going against the nature of my own Domain. They were warm. The sll I had missed from my wife, her body in his arms. While my child remained gently tucked in between us.

"Alcaeus?" gara's voice called out my na, confused but real, so impossibly real.

"Papa?" My child's small hand touched my face.

I couldn't speak.

Couldn't even breathe.

Their voice, so sweet that it burned. I had longed to hear the vibration of the air their breaths caused for so long that this mont felt like a fleeting dream that I couldn't let go of.

My chest constricted as I held them, tears streaming down my face. The first being to keep his word. Where Olympians had failed, where Titans had proven false, this God had simply... done it.

No grand ceremony.

I looked up at him through blurred vision, at the one who appeared so young yet carried power beyond divine logic. He had grown so quickly and with so many mysterious abilities.

The King of Heaven rely smiled with a nod as if this hadn’t been sothing extraordinary.

My throat worked, but no words ca.

What could I say? How could I express what this ant?

Loyalty. He'd asked for loyalty in exchange. He would have it. Whatever he asked, wherever he led, whatever enemies he faced, I would stand with him.

I ntally chuckled.

No wonder his Angels held such loyalty.

A Deity who kept their word deserved nothing less than everything I could give.

-END-

Note: Hope you guys enjoyed the longer chapter! Sorry for being a bit late.

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