Chapter 202: HEARTLESS

Lluming couldn't breathe any longer,

No matter how big the size of his barrier.

And with the fumes that kept getting thicker,

He wonders if he'll ever win the situation.

He then falls down in dizziness,

But after hearing something,

He got an idea to make things a bit different.

He blasted the ground and along came water.

And soon, it was time to open the barrier.

.

.

.

Barbatos then wondered just what the angel would do,

"Did he just really choose to stay like that, hm, what a fool."

He then walks forward, stopping the arrows at once,

Wondering of what, the archangel had in plan.

The barrier suddenly shattered, shocking the duke,

And more so, he found himself soaked.

The pages on his small pockets, worn like a sash,

Were all wet and destroyed, filling him with wrath.

Lluming quickly spoke, who was already behind him,

"You certainly shouldn't have, invested in mere pages,"

Barbatos quickly turned, and was about to punch him,

When the horns blowed, warning him of something.

His face paled, as he saw the head of reapers come to him, seemingly calm yet filled with hate.

He barely saw him resurface, and on the sight of him, felt deeply afraid.

"Sir Lluming, sorry for the wait,

But...this fight with you, alone, could not be won."

Deltha spoke, his white uneven-cut hair, flying with the wind.

He looks like an angel, and acts as one, but stinks the smell of Death.

He walks calmly to Barbatos, who froze in his presence,

"Oh, it seems that you have a problem, you're shaking and wet."

His calm blue eyes, and demeanor,

Still felt offensive, as if he was belittled.

Wanting to prove, that he's more than his arrows,

Summoned the four horns, who had been watching by the window.

They appeared, and attacked in swift motions,

Using their sounds, to overwhelm the reaper.

However, his speed was of two archangels,

And his dead-like eyes, didn't showed any reaction.

It was as if he was bored and just toyed with them,

And for Lluming who had rarely seen the guy, thought he was magnificent.

He turns to butterflies whenever he's about to be stabbed,

And teleports when the horns move too fast.

While Lluming only relied on his barrier for protection,

And with his adrenaline fading, had it hard to keep his determination.

Deltha didn't even bother making the fight too long,

As he successfully cut the arm, of one of the horns.

Afraid that he would lose more,

Barbatos quickly told them to move on.

The horns followed quickly, afraid of their foe,

Who, even though rarely gets involved,

Is hard to deal than most.

Lluming was still star-strucked by Deltha's presence,

That he couldn't even greet him.

Deltha only smiles, as he helps him up,

But after a few seconds of recovery, spoke his mind.

"I chose to command silently in my realm,

And our job should only be of the dead.

But you, angels, leave most work to us,

You only help when all of humanity is at cost.

I'm here to tell you sir Lluming, that I saved you not for free,

I just need you alive, so you can at least have a chance to save this world from more casualty.

I'm losing my reapers, my brothers and sisters.

If this keeps on going, the world will be infested in ghosts.

You need us alive, and in great numbers, sir Lluming,

So, pardon me, if I have to inform you of my decision.

The reapers should be pulled off from their mission."

Lluming's face changed in confusion,

"And while the angels and humans die for the future,

You're going to take them? Now, how would we succeed?"

"I've halted making new reapers just so I can supply energy to the existing,

If they die, then this world will be forever mourning.

Why must you look at us like expendable beings?

Do you not understand? Once we're dead, we'll end up in the void, filled with nothing.

This isn't as simple as you think it is, young angel,

This is not a simple matter of life and death.

This is our only chance, our only life,

When we die, we don't simply turn to dust.

We just end up as nothing.

Nothing."

"Don't be heartless and selfish, sir Deltha,

The humans, the world, they need you."

"Heartless? Selfish? You know too well I am far from that,

But after witnessing this endless cycle, I've had enough.

The humans ruined the world themselves,

They put their pride on top, sprinkled with their greed,

They destroyed their own homes, made those monsters,

They are at fault, for dooming their own souls.

And somehow, it's our fault?

I only want to be of service to those souls who deserve it.

But somehow, the sacrifice isn't worth it.

The humans kept searching, kept wanting more,

They wanted to be gods, but I see them as fools.

They're always saved, defended, forgiven,

But they always waste their chances,

Always make new rules, think of themselves.

Now, tell me, who is truly heartless?"

"As long as God, Himself, do not burn this earth,

I will protect His creations, from the chaos and rot.

Sir Deltha, if not protect them, then what is our purpose?

Isn't your job, to protect all souls?"

"But it is also my job, to protect my flock.

I will not allow seeing them fewer and fewer as time pass.

And if God truly wanted the world to live on,

Then why are most of our allies gone?

Are you sure that this world must be saved?

Or perhaps is it a signal that all things should be restarted after erase?"

"I'm begging you, to please help us, despite the deaths,

If you pull out now, then, their sacrifices would be in vain."

"What if our sacrifices will be in vain no matter what?

What if the humans are just being punished,

according to their acts?

As much as I wanted to support you,

Enough is enough.

Those comrades of mine, I'll never get them back."

...

Satan walks slowly, contemplating everything that's happening.

The smell of smoke and dust, the voices of those dying.

His eyes were empty, hope lost, satisfaction far.

He then opens, a door to his slave,

Who to him now, had no use to this war.

Jacob had his mask on,

And quickly bowed to his presence,

Satan then quickly spoke,

"You are now free of service."

Jacob looked at him, quite shocked of his decision,

Is he going to die? If so, what did he did wrong?

"You are free to choose the side you'll be,

You can even find your sister,

I don't care, actually.

We're all gonna die someday,

We're all just in denial, really.."

Jacob felt weirded out, as Satan was not himself,

He wasn't filled with annoyance, anger and hate.

But he bowed down, as Satan then leaves,

Red eyes still longing, for redemption, at least.

...

Jacob then removes his mask,

As he looks at the mirror, and laughs.

He had already been fighting the angels without his knowledge,

Since Azazel, also gave him the ability, to shapeshift.

Although he failed to trick the Seer with Haborym's help,

He still at least managed, to scale their strengths.

And now that he's free, perhaps he just need to double his effort,

What does Satan said before? Ah, yes, find his sister.

It's not like he remembers anything about her,

So he's quite confident, killing her wouldn't be too much trouble.

As long as he tricks Asmodeus, the rest would be easy,

And once he's successful, perhaps Azazel would make his rank much higher.

Soon enough, perhaps he'd get more abilities as time goes on,

And if he's using them to their full potential,

Could also throw Azazel out of his throne.

He laughs at his thoughts, pitying his master and his allies,

After all, it wouldn't hurt to lie.

He then heard a knock on his door,

And opened it to see his old partner.

Stacy seemed to have ran away,

By the panting and sweat on her face.

"So, yeah, I'm here. Make it seem like you captured me,

They still don't have any idea,

Whose side I'm in."

"Yes, but where are the angels?"

"We've split when Satan saw us,

I ran as fast as I can.

Maybe they think I'm dead or a coward,

I don't really care, so long as I can still lie on their faces.

Let Satan handle the two archangels,

But you better help me trick my other 'comrades',"

As much as Jacob wanted to help her,

He don't want to risk meeting someone stronger.

Especially two archangels,

So he refused, and nod his head.

Using his clones were also out of the question,

As he finds it hard to control them in different locations.

If his focus is split during his own mission,

Then he'll have a disgraceful defeat,

He don't even want to mention.

When he saw the sad expression on her eyes,

He couldn't help but feel guilty and sigh.

"What I do suggest however,

Is for you to tell Lord Lucifer.

It doesn't even matter if they find out which side you're on,

I assure you, with our strengths, this battle will be won."

"Pff, fine, I'll let 'Lord' Lucifer know,

But if I end up dead later,

I'll haunt you as a ghost."

"Deal."

And then she left,

Excited to see their surprised faces.

As Jacob stays, sending a clone to find his sister,

Hoping that...she's as weak as he remembers.