Chapter 9

In the open field as the full moon reached its zenith, a sense of foreboding hung in the air as Ezekiel squared off against the fallen angel Kokabiel, their eyes locked in a battle of wills. The two combatants stood on opposing sides of the room, tense and ready for the impending clash. Ezekiel clutched his weapon, "Harbingers Herald," close to his chest, the sword's blade gleaming with an ethereal light.

Kokabiel, with his wings of darkness, unfurled, charged toward Ezekiel with incredible speed. The fallen angel swung his radiant light spear, but Ezekiel parried the attack with ease, using "Harbringera Herald" The holy flames of the sword flickered and seared the light spear trying to purge the tainted light from existence.

The battle raged on as the field filled with the clashing of weapons, the sound echoing through the battlefield. Ezekiel's strikes were precise and empowered by the holy energy cursing through his body. Blue circuit-like veins ran across his body signifying his use of enhancement magic. Then to top it off a potent golden arua cloakes his body further enhancing his physical abilities.

Kolabiel's spear kept breaking and he kept condemning more to part the lethal attack Ezekiel was launching at him at the cost of the spear itself.

Kokabiel has had enough of being pushed back time and time again. Starts to utilize a different type of light energy still tainted but more sturdy and capable of withstanding the blows of Ezekiel's Blade.

"So you've finally used your name sake Angel of the Stars"

"Don't get ahead of yourself human. This simply means you'll die sooner. My starlight is stronger and faster than regular light energy." boasted Kokabiel

"It's still a tainted, diluted, washed-down version of what it once was. As..are....you" said Ezekiel with a smirk that pissed the Fallen Carde off immensely.

"RAH" screamed Kokabiel

"I'll mount your head on my wall"

Ezekiel simply chucked and shifted his stance dodging the fallen angel's charge and countering with a cut on his abdomen that was seared shut soon after by the holy flames simmering on his sword.

{STARFALL BARRAGE}

Kokabiel called upon shooting stars from the heavens, directing them to rain down upon his foe, each star carrying destructive light energy.

The devils present felt fear shoot up their collective spines. If those attacks hit the ground the explosion and shockwave will possess potent holy and light energy they would die quickly and painfully.

"What do we do"

"There too many"

Ezekiel's eyes glowed and his cross-shaped pupil lit up a vibrant gold. A halo manifested above his head and he launched into the sky to intercept the attack.

"Have you lost your mind out of fear priest?" Mocked the Cadre.

Ezekiel's Halo caught on fire with his flames and Kokabiel stopped his laughter as he could feel the holy energy in Ezekiel's body pour out.

{SEERING HALO}

The flames in the halo expanded outward and intercepted Kokabiel's attack. But there was no explosion. His attack was swallowed by the flames and extinguished. The cadre's mouth was agape with astonishment. How could this be? How could this priest not only possess his variation of holy flames but such a potent one? Was he a half-breed child of his older brother Uriel or did he have the Incinerate Anthem?

"Rah"

Hundreds of light spears formed behind Kokabiel.

"I'll skewer you"

Volley after volley of starlight spears rained down on Ezekiel who was dodging them with extreme precision while closing the distance on Kokabiel who was growing fearful at this unexpected adversary disrupting his plans.

But he was also pissed he was a fallen angel. He was far above these humans, these mistakes of God. They will be culled and another great war is the perfect catalyst for that.

Kokabeup began gathering starlight in his palms. Ezekiel seeing this and feeling the growing energy amassing in a singular area began channeling more energy into his body and his sword.

{COSMIC NOVA}

A blinding wave of starlight came from Kokabiel's hands and shot forth at Ezekiel.

By harnessing the energy of distant galaxies, Kokabiel created a localized cosmic explosion, unleashing a wave of destructive light that engulfs everything in its path.

Kokabiel began laughing with glee.

"This is the end for you priest"

Ezekiel rushed towards Kokabiel and the devastating attack that was in between them tightened the grip on his sword and raised it above his head as the runes on the sword began to glow.

"THE LORD IS MY GOD". His voice was laced with conviction.

"He's dead. He can't save you from me" shouted Kokabeil for all to hear. Drawing varying degrees of shock and disbelief from those present.

"He's not dead. For his spirit lives within me"

{GLADIUS DIVINIUM}

Ezekiel swung his sword charged with holy energy and released a slash of light that split Kokabiel's attack in half clearing a path toward him. Still in motion Ezekiel closed in on Kokabiel and slashed at his neck aiming to decapitate him. Kokabiel barely dodges the attack but a small trail of blood forms in his neck. He saved himself from death but not from injury.

He flapped his wings to to get some distance from Ezekiel who was still hot in his heels. He unleashed a barrage of feathers from his wings halting Ezekiel and buying some time to get to Pseudo Excalibur. Since his light constructs couldn't stand up to a class with Ezekiel then perhaps this sword could.

Feeling confident with the sword in hand.Kokabiel active the abilities of the assimilate fragment to make duplicates of himself and increase his speed. He attacks from several angles but Ezekiel releases an all-encompassing wave of holy energy outwards from himself destroying the duplicates and forcing the real Kokabiel to defend himself and disengage.

Ezekieeo charges at him but Kokabiel uses Excaliburs and becomes invisible.

Ezekiel halted his change and raised his vigilance before swinging behind him and deflecting a sneak attack.

"HOW!, How are you doing this? How can you still block my attacks how can you still match my speed.? You are only human." raged Kokabiel.

"Right, and I'll tell you the answer to that question why? What benefit does it bring me to reveal the nature of my abilities? You'll get no answers from me Fallen" Ezekiel pointed via sword at Kokabiel before getting into a stance. He Aura intensified his eyes glowed his halo re-emerged and his aura took on a more potent change as the air around him vibrated.

Kokabiel's eyes widened at the halo's emergence. He saw it previously but assumed it was an attack of some sort. But now...now he understands what this priest could be.

"I see now... you're a Nef...no you're related to one...a descendant with a pure bloodline. Not just anyone but one of the originals. As for which one I can't tell. But those miracle children the half-breeds of today pale in comparison to those of old." said Kokabiel.

"The church must have felt like they won the lottery with you in their ranks. Almost all the strengths of an angel with none of the weaknesses. And you choose to be a church dog" he mocked

"I care not what you speculate of my origins not what insult you throw at me. Neither change the outcome of this battle. Your defeat.....is inevitable"

Kokabiel's smirk fell and he growled before flying up and diving at Ezekiel with Excalibur raging overhead. Ezekiel cloaked in Holy Aura charged at him and met him head-on. The clash of swords caused a shock wave that launched most of Kokabeil's remaining forces across the battlefield. Meanwhile, the devil and the Exorcist formed a shield with their collective energy to block it.

Watching all of this from a distance was an individual in white draconic armor with blue accents, blue orbs in the chest, shoulders, and knees, and luminescent blue wings.