Zecharias and Mordecai eyes widened. They were surprised. Surprised to see that the allied leaders were falling one by one.

The allied beings were also being overpowered by both the demon lord’s army. They were losing soldiers at an insane amount of rate.

Still, both Zecharias and Mordecai are elites. They won’t get defeated easily. Their problems are the other allied beings, they may be elites but the demon lord’s army is too strong for the allied beings to handle.

One by one, the allied beings started to fall.

As their leaders falls to the ground, so their morale.

Mordecai thought what to do. Should he call back the beings? Or should they fight back and rescue the leaders?

As he looks at every part of the battlefield, he saw angels, demons, and asmoriths falling one by one.

That is when he thought,

“It’s our loss.” Mordecai said with hopelessness in his eyes.

Mordecai slowly descended towards the ground.

While he did, the demons slowly pushed back the allied beings.

He held his face with his hands, and was about to give up when an unfamiliar voice was heard.

“You’re wrong. Nothing will end. Everything that ended is just another branch for something to start.”

He quickly looked in front of him and saw the demon lord’s army being enveloped in white light.

Each and every one of them is floating inside white pillars of light.

Mordecai looked around with awe in his eyes.

“I… heard of this before…”

A being covered in white light came down and landed in front of Mordecai.

“Now, another way of light has opened. Let us walk through it, and give them another taste of heaven’s light.”

The white light dissipates, showing the angel who brought light upon hell.

“Archangel… Gabriel…”

“Yo, I’m sorry we’re late. Me and the angels had to prepare something for Sanata’s army.” Gabriel turned around and looked at the demons. “Heaven’s Light. Take every angel and give them vessels to put heaven’s light inside it, and unleash it all on hell. That took a little bit of time but as you can see, almost half of the demon lord’s army is captured.”

Thousands of demons became captured in white pillars of light. It was as if heaven descended to them. Every part of the lower hell gleamed with light.

When the other demons saw this, they quickly went towards Gabriel.

Even if hundreds of demons were flying their way towards Gabriel, he just stood there, smiling.

When a demon got too close to Gabriel, he lifted his sword upwards and was about to slash Gabriel when an invisible being punched that demon in the face. That demon was thrown towards the ground.

Mordecai was baffled, he opened and closed his eyes.

“W-What is that?” he asked.

But Gabriel didn’t say anything.

That being that punched the demon slowly became visible.

He stuttered as he said,

“T-Two Gabriels!?”

Gabriel laughed.

“It’s not just two,”

At every part around Mordecai, invisible angels started to become visible.

Their numbers seem tens, no, hundreds even.

And they all took the form of Gabriel.

Gabriel smiled as he finishes his sentence.

“We’re one.”

Mordecai seemed to notice a contradiction at Gabriel’s statement.

“Wait, that sounds wro—“

But Gabriel didn’t listen to him and instead, clasped his hands together as he says,

“Now, it’s time for a counterattack!”

Just when Gabriel finishes his sentence, he saw a familiar face wandering just behind the demon lord.

“Isn’t that… Azazel?”

Mordecai jolted when he heard that name.

He looked at it and saw his king looking for something.

“My liege… what is he doing?”

It was then when Gabriel went towards where Azazel is.

Mordecai didn’t have time to realize.

Gabriel didn’t know… that Azazel was turned into a demon.

Gabriel arrived just in front of Azazel.

He saw Michael and Sanata talking to each other.

The demon lord seemed busy, so he took this chance to talk to his brother.

“Hey, Azazel! What are you doing here? Why do you look so gloomy, are you alright?”

But even if his voice was loud, Azazel didn’t seem to hear it.

Gabriel walked closer towards Azazel and was about to touch Azazel’s shoulders when a lightning suddenly appeared around them.

All those lightning violently sparked and was about to shock Gabriel to death when,

“What happened to you, o great king of Asmoriths?”

Gabriels words stopped the lightning.

Azazel turned around with his eyes looking like a father that saw his own son’s death.

Gabriel was confused by Azazel’s behavior.

And so, he asked.

“What’s the problem, brother? Did something happen?”

Azazel stayed silent.

But after a few seconds, he started to mumble something.

“..fer.”

“What?”

Gabriel didn’t hear what he said so he went closer towards Azazel.

Mordecai arrived a little too late.

He shouted as he warns Gabriel.

“Azazel became a demon! And he’s planning to kill everyone who has connection to his son’s death!”

It was then, when Gabriel heard what Azazel truly said.

“WHERE IS LUCIFEEEEER?!”

Hundred bolts of lightning appeared out of nowhere and attacked Gabriel and Mordecai.

Gabriel could protect himself but that Asmorith behind him, he knows he couldn’t defend well.

“Stay down!” Gabriel shouted at Mordecai.

Mordecai heard him and he let himself fall to the ground, barely dodging the bolts of lightning that exploded when it contacted the ground.

Mordecai sighs a relief as he stands up.

But as he saw the angel in front of him, his face stiffened.

“Are you… alright?”

It was Gabriel.

Bleeding in every part of his body.

He looked like he protected Mordecai from that lightning.

But even he didn’t thought, how strong Azazel’s lightnings were.

“I thought… I could defend myself from it. But it’s different… it’s as if his very emotions go through those bolts of lightning. It felt so painful.”

Gabriel said as he falls to the ground, not breathing.

Mordecai checked him, he cannot feel any pulse.

But then, a shadow appeared in front of Mordecai.

It was Azazel.

Azazel raised his right hand and was about to shock Mordecai when…

“Ah, that’s dangerous.”

An angel slapped Azazel’s hand and the bolts of lightning was shot to another place.

Mordecai closed his eyes when it happened.

But as he opens it, he saw ‘him’.

“You are… Gabriel?!”

“Yes, we are Gabriel.”

Another Gabriel appeared and helped Mordecai get back on his feet.

Almost a hundred Gabriel appeared in front of Azazel.

Gabriel— no, Gabriels smiled as they said,

“Now, it’s time for a real counterattack to begin.”

Sanata looked at those pillars of light with widened eyes.

“Those are…”

“Heaven’s Light. My brother did that. I lighted up your home, did you like it?”

Michael smiled at Sanata. Seeing Michael’s smile made her cheeks blush in deep red.

“HUUUUUH?! I DIDN’T LIKE IT ONE A BIT! DON’T TELL ME YOU EXPECT ME TO LIKE THIS?! W-WELL, I DON’T! SO DON’T GET YOUR HOPES UP, PUNY ANGEL!”

Michael laughed as he listens.

“You’re cute, Sanata.”

“Wha—?!“

Sanata blushed deep red once again.

“But I have to take care of something first. I will deal with you later.”

Michael turns around as he continues.

“Well then, goodby—“

But just before Michael finishes his sentence, a beam of red light passed through his left face.

And behind him, that red beam of light exploded.

He slowly looked towards Sanata and saw her with her finger pointing at him.

Michael noticed this and so he asked.

“W-What is it, demon lord? Do you still need something?”

Sanata jolted.

But then she replied with a slight smile in her face.

“We haven’t even talked much, and now you already saying goodbye to me…”

Michael laughed awkwardly.

“T-Then let’s talk after I get this done, okay?”

But then another beam was shot but this time it passed through his right face.

Sanata looked serious.

“No. I want now.”

Michael fixed his stance and stands straight.

“I’m sorry. But I really need to—“

“Alistair, Montair!”

But just before he finishes his sentence, two demons appeared on both his sides.

“Don’t let him go yet, capture him!”

Montair aimed to kick Michael’s right leg while Alistair aimed for Michael’s left face.

“—do this and fast!” Michael said as finishes his sentence.

He lifted his right feet to dodge Montair’s kick and he tilted his head backwards to dodge Alistair’s punch. He then used his feet that he lifted to do a roundhouse kick to Alistair and then he threw Shiro upwards and clenches his fists, and punched Montair that was on the ground.

Alistair was thrown off the sky.

Montair became unconscious.

And Sanata’s face seemed to stiff.

“Well then, I should go.”

Michael said as he casually catches Shiro.

Sanata was still dumbfounded when she realized that Michael was about to get away.

“I-I won’t let you!”

She swayed her hands towards Michael and the hundred swords followed.

Michael looked at those but he didn’t seem to care.

He sighed as the swords grew one inch closer to him.

And then he lifted his right leg and kicked every single sword that was coming to kill him.

Sanata stood there, amazed.

She realized that feeling and blushed but then she continued to create more swords to attack Michael.

Michael looked like a certain character from an anime with a rubber boy as their captain.

“This is getting problematic.” Michael said as he jumps backwards instead of kicking the swords.

Sanata saw him and she quickly ordered the swords to follow.

Michael used that instant to call on Gabriel.

“Gab!”

The original Gabriel casted a skill in which it covers the target in a white circle of light. It takes a lot of angelic power for it to work.

Sanata looked at Michael that is slowly being taken away.

Her mouth seemed to say something.

But Michael didn’t hear it.

He and Shiro disappeared without a trace in a second.

“..iro-kun..”

What?

“..hiro-kun!”

Who’s there?

“Shiro-kun!”

Shiro opened his eyes slowly.

“Is… is that you, Kuro?”

But as he opened his eyes, he saw a man with a short blonde hair.

“You’re wrong. It’s Michael; the leader of the angels.”

Michael smiled and what seemed like sparkles appeared around him.

Shiro looked at him with disgusted eyes.

“You’re just a pervert.”

“Now, now. Don’t be like that. I saved your life.”

Shiro stood up and realized that he slept on Michael’s lap.

He quickly backs away from him and hissed like a kitten.

It was then when he remembered.

He looked at Michael with worried eyes.

“Wh… where am I? How about the others? Cairn, are they alright!? Kuro? Raphael-san? How about father? Is he alive?!”

Shiro asked Michael hurriedly but patiently waited for his reply.

“They’re on a pinch right now. Specially my brother, Raphael. He’s skewered right into his body. He needs immediate treatment. That demon you’re with, the one who casts spells, he can heal wounds right? We can use him.” Michael said with serious eyes. He stood up as he continues to talk.

“But first, we need to get them away from Sanata as fast as possible. But how do we do that? Those swords are troublesome. But what troubles me the most is—“

But he was stopped by Shiro.

Shiro raised his right hand to get Michael’s attention.

Michael looked at Shiro that was bowing his head. As if he was apologizing.

“I’m sorry. But I cannot participate in that anymore.”

Shiro puts down his hand and sits on the ground.

“I never should’ve come down. If I didn’t, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Michael knew what Shiro was going to say.

Michael sat beside him and looked up at the sky.

“Raphael-sensei shouldn’t have gotten himself hurt because of me. Kuro wouldn’t have to worry. Cairn wouldn’t be nervous. And Father should have… he should have…”

Shiro stopped right there.

But he continues on even if it feels painful to him.

“I never should’ve thought that a weakling like me can defeat the demon lord. I’m so… stupid.”

Shiro covered his face with his legs and cried.

“If only I wasn’t the nephilim… this wouldn’t have happened. Kuro, she would’ve never met me and got herself in this mess. Raphael, he wouldn’t have to sacrifice himself just for me. Cairn, he wouldn’t have gotten himself caught in all of this. Dad wouldn’t have to do all those things… just for someone as weak as me.”

Michael couldn’t bear to hear those words any longer.

And so, he stands up.

He stood in front of Shiro and Shiro looked at him with teary eyes.

“You know, even if you weren’t the nephilim, this would’ve still happen. “

Shiro didn’t understand what he meant.

But Michael continued.

“If you weren’t the nephilim, maybe everyone is gone right now.”

Shiro looked towards the ground.

“What you did to everyone, what you gave them, they are not acts of a nephilim. Those are acts of a human; a person named Shiro.”

Michael smiles as he looks back at Shiro.

“So, we should be thanking you for being the nephilim.”

Shiro were slightly shaking when he heard what Michael said.

He couldn’t believe anything the angel said to him.

“Can you prove it?” Shiro challenged him.

Michael replied with a smile on his face.

“Yes.”

“Then… do so.”

Michael started to walk around Shiro.

“Kuro… if it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have known anything about the world. About how humans act, how humans feel, how humans love.” Michael looked at Shiro. “If it weren’t for you, she would’ve been contented on just being a demon.”

Shiro became speechless.

“Raphael.”

Shiro jolted in hearing that name.

“He would still be the arrogant angel that does everything by himself.”

Shiro looked at him and remember how Raphael usually acts.

Raphael left heaven alone and contacted demons in order for his own goal to be obtained.

He realized that Raphael really did change.

Instead of watching Shiro die, he sacrificed himself to save him.

“Raphael wouldn’t have done that. But he thought, ‘what would Shiro do?’ and so, he did what you should’ve done.”

Michael then stopped behind him and talks.

“Cairn. He would still be the lonely demon without a goal. Without comrades to help him. Without someone whom he calls a ‘friend’, he would’ve still be lying in hell, waiting for someone to come to his help. ”

Michael patted Shiro on his back.

“Lucifer— your father would still be alive, you say?”

Shiro turned around when he heard that sudden question.

And Michael smiled at him.

“He is alive… in your heart.”

Michael touched Shiro’s back.

And then, a silver orb came out from his chest and floated.

“This orb…”

“Yes. Your father gave this to you.”

“This is… father’s memento… for me.”

Shiro’s eyes teared up once again.

Michael laughed at him.

He stood in front of Shiro and said,

“Would you become my vessel?”

Shiro didn’t know what Michael meant. So, he tilted his head in confusion.

“You remember why I was created, don’t you?” Michael asked.

Shiro thought for a second before answering.

“If I remember, you were created because if someday, God needed someone to destroy this world that he created, that’ll be you.”

“Yes. But why do you think God didn’t consider Sanata as a destroyer?”

Shiro became confused for a second.

But after that, he realized it.

“Because Sanata isn’t a destroyer…”

“Yes. God knows why Sanata did all those things. But he didn’t consider it as destroying. He considered it as creating. Sanata created all those feelings of hatred throughout the world. And first of all, why would God cleanse the world even if evil doesn’t exist?”

Shiro understands now; the reason for Sanata to act.

Sanata doesn’t want to be evil. God knows that. But the truth is, Sanata isn’t evil. It is just acts of someone who thought that she was, that everyone thought she was. She wasn’t evil at all. The world just made her the one who incarnates ‘evil’.

Michael continues.

“He needs to evil in order to make the world perfectly balanced. That’s what Sanata is for. She isn’t a destroyer; she’s a creator. She created many things that you won’t even notice.”

Michael elaborated.

“Anger. Why do you think anger is made? Just to let people hurt each other? No! It is there to make people fight, and in conclusion, make up. Other negative emotions, emotions that you call ‘evil’, all that was felt by Sanata first.”

Shiro understood.

And Michael finishes.

“But… because she felt all those feelings first, she herself doesn’t know what to do with it. She doesn’t have anyone she can ask help for it. She felt all those feelings alone. And if one day, all those feelings that are bottled up gets released, I would be needed. To save her… to save the world.”

Shiro knew that. But what he wants to know is the reason he was born. The reason for his existence.

“Then, if God already has you to destroy this world, why was I born? For what purpose am I alive? Is it just all because of a foolish angel’s desires? Or is it just a coincidence? I don’t know anymore. Please tell me; please tell me why am I here right now.”

Shiro begged Michael. But Michael seemed to stay silent.

Shiro noticed this and he gave up.

But, after a few seconds, he heard Michael talk.

“You nephilims were born because of one thing.”

Michael breathes in and out as he continues.

“Insurance.”

Shiro became silent.

He knows what that word meant but…

It just seems foolish to him.

“The reason I was born was because God doesn’t believe in you?”

“No. The reason you were born was for me to take over your body and control your power. It doesn’t mean that He doesn’t believe in me. Don’t you realize it? The only time when a nephilim is born was when the whole world turns against each other. And even if I’m the strongest angel, even He won’t know if I’m enough. That’s why, he unconsciously worries and as a result, creating a being that is what you are right now. ”

Shiro becomes speechless. He realized that Michael was right, that he is just a vessel to be used when the world needs to cleanse itself. Everything up until now is their fate.

No.

I won’t let it be that.

I won’t be a tool for the world to fake cleanse itself.

I won’t be an insurance someone wants me to be.

I’ll be myself.

I’ll decide for myself who I want to be.

I’m not an insurance.

I’m not a tool.

I’m a person.

Who will someday, make God know that he doesn’t need an insurance.

Because the world will never be cleansed of pain and evil.

“Because… that’s just what being human is, right?”

Shiro said with smile in his face.

He stood up, with determination in his eyes.

“I…”

“Yeah.”

“I will… become your vessel.”

“Yes.”

“And save the world from cleansing itself.”

Michael offered a handshake with Shiro.

Shiro became confused but he smiled.

“Nice to meet you, world destroyer.”

“Me too, world cleanser.”

When Shiro took Michael’s hand, he floated upwards.

Shiro looked at Michael who is now holding the silver orb.

Michael took a step back and formed a stance like he was about to throw a baseball.

“Wa-Wait! Don’t tell me you’re going to—“

Shiro said as he wiggles his hands. But Michael didn’t seem to care about it at all.

“Yes! This way is more fun!”

“Ah shi—“

Michael threw the orb towards Shiro’s chest and when it entered his body, Shiro felt a small explosion. It felt like his body became more powered up, it became ‘refreshed’.

Michael then puts up his palm and touched it against Shiro’s chest.

“Listen, for the moment you become my vessel, you won’t be able to control your body. I will be you, and you will be me. You cannot act but you can talk to me, as both our spirit is one in your body.”

“Y-Yeah.”

Michael tilted his head while looking at Shiro’s chest.

Shiro noticed it so he asked.

“Is there a problem, Michael?”

Michael shook his head and smiled.

“It’s nothing. Let’s save the world together. Shiro Akashi. No… your name should be—“

Michael stopped for a second and then continues.

“The true nephilim; Layviel.”

The hell was still full of battles of the conscious demons and allied beings, and a part of it was full of Gabriels.

They were fighting an enraged asmorith, Azazel.

Azazel continues on releasing lightning on every Gabriel around him. He screamed on as he continues.

“Lucifer… LUCIFER!!!!!!!!”

“He’s getting annoying.”

Gabriel casted a skill on himself and every Gab follows.

They casted a barrier on themselves and enhanced their body strength.

Gabriel and his other selves attacked Azazel at the same time.

Azazel stood there and was about to get beaten by a legion of Gabs when he screamed that seemed to deafen everyone’s ears.

He then charged lightning from his body and extends his range in order for him to strike all the Gabriels simultaneously.

Fast as lightning, for it is literally lightning, Azazel used his charged thunderbolt to destroy every Gabriel around him.

Lightning passed through the ground, through the air, towards every Gabriel.

And each time one is hit, it electrocutes them, and explodes after.

Leaving nothing but ashes.

When Azazel noticed that there is no Gabriel left, he went on towards his next target.

Sanata.

“I won’t let you!”

A Gabriel jumped outside the smokescreen planning to punch Azazel.

But Azazel was a second faster.

He swayed his hands and lightning flowed from his hands.

The lightning struck Gabriel. But at the same time, another Gabriel jumped out of the smoke screen and landed behind Azazel.

Another one jumped towards Azazel’s front.

Azazel was too late to react.

The two Gabriels scored a clean hit on Azazel’s face and back and Azazel was bended like a bamboo stick.

The Gabriel that was struck by lightning walked out of the smoke screen and talked.

“Even if you kill a thousand of me, I would still be walking. As long as there is light, Archangel Gabriel will walk on this world!”

Another Gabriel jumped out of nowhere and in a series of seconds, one appeared after another.

It was until Azazel was completely surrounded by Gabriels.

Azazel slowly stood up from the ground.

Gabriel was about to launch a full-scale attack when Michael called unto him.

“Gab!”

And he realized what he has to do next.

The Gabriels disappeared one by one and the original was left behind, holding his hands together in front of him and casted magic.

Light from above shone upon where Michael is.

It made Michael appear once again.

No, Michael is nowhere to be seen.

It’s just Shiro.

Gabriel smiled as he saw him while panting.

“So it’s successful, huh. It doesn’t feel real.”

Gabriel sighed for he knew what was going to happen next.

Azazel jumped behind him and punched him with fist covered lightning.

Gabriel vomited blood and was thrown to the other side of the battlefield.

Azazel was bored with him. So, he looked for his next target.

Azazel looked at where Sanata is. But as he did, his eyes widened.

He saw that being.

He saw that same being as his son was.

He saw Shiro, standing in front of Sanata.

Shiro isn’t wearing any upper clothes. It showed his well-built body even though yesterday he’s a wimpy kid.

The power of that orb shaped Shiro’s body into proper one.

A silver transparent cloth swirled around his upper body.

And his black hair has now turned into a long, white hair that sways along with the wind.

Sanata became speechless when she saw that.

It wasn’t because he’s not wearing any shirt.

It is because of the aura that he is emitting.

It felt like both an angel and a nephilim merged their auras in one.

And those auras gave strong vibes to boot.

It made Sanata gulp as she looks at him.

“You are… who are you?!”

That being looked at her and smiled.

He released his large white wings and created white orbs in his hands.

“Now, this is where the real fun starts. Am I right, Layviel?!”

“Yeah! Give her hell, Michael!”

Sanata clicked her tongue.

She pointed her hand to that being and in an instant, Alistair and Montair both arrived at that being’s both sides.

Azazel appeared behind him and was about to shock him.

That being smiles as he talks.

“Arcana—Lay-Chael!”

And the battlefield was turned into a garden of souls.

- End of Chapter 18 -