Chapter 31: Archangel's Argument

[Zadkiel POV]

The two, Azrael who was carrying Luna was finally outside the base of Camael, waiting for the others to arrive.

While waiting, Azrael looked at Luna and put his hand at her stomach to heal her.

Saying to her. "You're as beautiful as your mother."

Azrael touched her hair gently; tears fell on his eyes after being reunited with Luna for a long time. "Luna, I promise you that if everything's over, and there's finally peace between Hell and Heaven, I promise you that I won't leave you ever again..."

Azrael that there's a presence moving toward him, Azrael stood up immediately and prepared to take out his scythe.

"Wait for me Luna, I'll keep you safe..."

When the person he felt coming come closer, Azrael was in relief that it wasn't an enemy.

"Hoy Azrael! I see that you're finally here!"

A shout came from the distance that came from Shota.

closer go look at Shota, Azrael saw that Shota was with a girl with pale skin, which he guessed was the daughter of Vladamir, Dawn.

Seeing that they made it out safe, Azrael sighed in relief and shouted back at Shota. "Shota, can you and Vladamir's daughter come here? I have a bit of a problem!"

"Coming!"

When they finally got to where Azrael was, Dawn is looking at Azrael suspiciously.

She even kept her distance from Azrael, because she's starting to be cautious near Azrael.

Even if Shota has explained the situation, Dawn hasn't trusted Azrael yet, which is why she's avoiding making contact with Azrael.

Dawn then looked behind Azrael's back and was shocked when she saw Luna laying on the floor unconscious.

She shouted her name. "Luna!" And immediately ran up to her worriedly.

Shota was also shock that Luna was unconscious on the floor, so he also went to Luna and Dawn.

Dawn instantly looked at Luna's condition with her skills, and she was in relief that she's okay.

But what got her mad is that there are bruises that came from being hit with something.

"Those filthy angels..." Being angered when she saw that Luna has bruises, Dawn badmouthed the angels.

Shota seeing this side of Dawn made him more worried about the situation, so he stood up and asked Azrael. "Azrael, what exactly happened to Luna?"

"The ghouls and angels were making her clean up the entire armory, but every time she takes a break, they beat her up with the weapons in the armory..."

"I see... Then what about the angels and the ghouls? What happened to them..?" Asking this angrily to Azrael, Shota couldn't handle his anger anymore from what the angels have done.

And if he heard that Azrael freed the angel, Shota has decided that the Archangels are indeed not trustable.

"I killed them." He coldly replied.

Upon hearing that made Shota and Dawn were surprised, it's not because that they were happy that Azrael killed the angels who have done this to Luna, but more of being frightened from what he had said.

Especially Shota, he wants them to be spared even if he knew that they've been abusing and killing devils, he still wants to forgive them.

So hearing what Azrael said made him frightened and worried about Azrael more, since this is the first time that Shota knew that an Archangel killed an angel.

Also with Azrael's cold voice, he knew that he intentionally killed the angels without mercy at all. It made Shota almost insane that Azrael killed many angels to save an undead, which ironically was an enemy of Heaven.

"Azrael... But why did you kill them? Are-aren't you an angel..?" Even if he's very anxious to ask this, Shota wants to know is why he did it.

"Yes I'm an angel, so what if I killed them? Look what they did to Luna! She's your friend, isn't she?! So why even ask how I killed the people who have done this to her?! Isn't common sense to do that?!" Azrael shouted in anger, the two seeing Azrael bewildered made them more surprised at what his action is doing.

"Well yes, she's our friend... But for you to kill the angels..."

"So what if I kill an angel?!" Azrael went closer to Shota and held his arm and told him near his face. "Tell me, General of Gluttony, so what if I kill an angel?"

A chill fell on Shota's spine and was frightened at the fact that Azrael is showing who he truly is: An angel far from a normal angel, that's what he is. "I'm not trying to be rude Azrael, okay. But... Just thinking that this is gonna be a bloody battle... Is not giving me a nice feeling..."

"Shota, Even if it's not my place to tell you this. As a General of Hell, and representative of the Sin of Gluttony, always remember that if an angel and devils are involved on something, it's always gonna be a bloody bath."

"I know... But killing someone who's sentient, is..." Shota stopped ending his sentence upon imagining what the scenery of what Azrael said would be.

"Shota, Azrael is right. To survive this battle, you need to know that killing someone is gonna be important, even if you're acquainted with them or not."

"I know that! But isn't better to spare your enemy than kill them instead?"

"*Sigh* Shota Beelzebub, how many people have you killed or injured?"

"Well, none! Even I never have hurt someone before..." Shota softly answered.

"*Sigh* I see... What about you daughter of Vladamir?"

"I killed someone before, and I hurt someone from stealing their blood, not because I want to, but because it's normal for the nature of a vampire to do that."

"Hear that Shota Beelzebub? don't be like Zadkiel who's afraid of killing and hurting someone, because if you kept on doing that, you'll regret it one day."

"Oh! So Azrael and Shota are both finally here! Good job, going here first." Coming from behind was Ifrit's voice. His voice looks happy upon seeing then got back safely, but was anger at the fact that he didn't get back first. "Very good you guys!"

"So you're finally have returned Ifrit... And behind you is Lilith, right? Good thing that you two got here safe."

Coming from Ifrit's back, Lilith came looking at Azrael angrily. "Don't even say 'right?' Azrael, the two of us have history back on Heaven remember?"

"You've never changed Lilith... Even back on Heaven you look and sound the same."

"I can't say the same thing to you Azrael, Looks like seeing the Archangel of Death helping us devils, seems a little odd... But if it's just to meet Luna, then I don't mind your help."

"Thank you, Lilith."

Ifrit was shocked that Azrael and Lilith are both talking with no worries about them fighting at all.

And in his mind, he thought when he saved Lilith, a fight would come, which upon seeing this made Ifrit disappointed. "I even made a bet with Shota's insect on who will win..."

Another presence came, and they saw that it was Hans with an injured Vladamir.

And also, they saw Millie with Zadkiel who's injured too, and now walking toward them.

Ifrit was very happy when he saw that it was a success, so he couldn't hold it out and shouted. "Yeah! Take that Camael! We win!-"

Shutting Ifrit immediately, Millie bowed to both Azrael and Zadkiel and told them. "Even if we're enemies, I'm grateful to you two for helping us."

"Forget about bowing Princess, we're just doing this to protect Heaven, but now that things have changed for the best, it's now to protect you devils too."

"I see... So what're your plans now? We can help you fight Camael since he's also a threat to us, so are you two the only one gonna fight?"

"We have Uriel helping us, but he can't go to Hell for reasons, so only Zadkiel and I can help you all fight Camael and the others."

"Then we need to go back to the 8th floor quick so that we can make a plan, so are you two okay with that?"

"Princess... Of course, we're okay with that, but you know that we set up a barrier when we attacked last month right? So it's impossible to go back to the 8th floor, even if you forced yourself in or break it."

"I think we can pass through the barrier Azrael. Since me, Ifrit, and Shota were chased to the 8th floor and that's how we got here since we entered the gate of the 7th floor." Hans declared proudly of their investigation.

"Hans, Azrael is right that we can't enter anymore, because one of the reasons some of my insects were dead is because I saw in my memories that they forced themselves to enter the barrier, so I guess the ghouls put the barrier back."

"Then we completely lost our way in then... So it's gonna be hard to contact my brother and the others too." Hans' voice was filled with despair upon hearing what Shota has said.

Looking at Azrael, Millie noticed that Azrael was now silent and is thinking about something very deep, so she asked him. "Azrael is there a problem? You went silent for a bit."

"Yes... It's because how did you three enter the barrier? That barrier was made and deemed unbreakable, but the only one who can break it is either waiting for the time limit of two months, or a God breaking it, and the time limit has three weeks more before it breaks."

''Then a God opened it for them, any idea who did it Azrael? Zadkiel?"

The two can only answer Millie's question with a "No." But in mind, Azrael knew who would do that.

But he decided to stay silent for now, until if he finds out that his hunch on who it is, is correct. And that person on his mind could only be one man, Yahweh.

"*Sigh* Let's stop talking for now, since Zadkiel and I need to go back to Heaven for a meeting, so we're gonna return here tomorrow again, but until that, find a place to hide."

"Okay, don't worry one of my insects found a place that we can safely hide."

Deploying another clone and creating a portal at the same time, Azrael said to them. "Goodbye for now, and stay safe."

"The same with you two also, don't worry Azrael, I promise you that I'm gonna talk to Luna about you and what you did, so you better prepare something to say to her when you talk to her."

"Thank you, Hans. I'm truly grateful that you took care of Luna." Seeing Azrael smiling and being thankful for what Hans has said, Zadkiel was in confusion when they brought Luna's name and why Hans is gonna tell Luna something about Azrael.

Thinking about this made Zadkiel suspicious of what could it possibly be, but he was afraid to ask Azrael about this, because of what happened a moment ago in the armory of Camael's base.

Azrael already entering the portal, Zadkiel was left behind and bowed to Millie and the others. "Please stay safe."

Zadkiel then entered the portal after he said that to them, and when he opened his eyes, he saw that he was finally back to his room back on Heaven.

He looked around to see where Azrael was, but he saw that he was not there, so he thought that he teleported back to his room.

Laying finally to his bed, Zadkiel thought about what happened in the base of Camael.

He remembered what Azrael said to him. "If you've been blind from your loyalty and mercy Zadkiel! Are you just that stupid!" And "If you're gonna be that blind Zadkiel, then Uriel and I won't need your help, since I'm gonna do it by myself."

"I know that; because I was created to feel this way... I was created to feel mercy to my allies and even enemies... That's just who I am, that's just what the Archangel Zadkiel made for..."

All I can feel is tremendous loyalty to my friend and Lord, that I sometimes hurt either one of them, and being merciful to anyone I met is just the same.

Zadkiel doesn't know if these Virtues that he feels are a curse or a gift from his Lord, because he wanted to think of it as a gift for giving him the strength for being one of the strongest among his fellow angels. "But why... At the same time, I feel pain for feeling this?"

Maybe Azrael is right? All this time I've been blinded by my Virtues, because even if he's the Virtue of Generosity, Azrael isn't that generous to almost anyone at all, so can I be like him?

But even so... If I want to be like him, how did he even do it? It's just impossible to do so.

"Hey, Mother... Please help me."

Knock! Knock! "Zadkiel are you awake! I told you that there's a meeting today, so wake up now if you don't want to get grounded!"

Immediately standing up, and putting on a fake smile, Zadkiel replied. "I'm awake now Jophiel! You can come in now!"

Opening the door, Zadkiel saw an angry and pouting Jophiel in front of him. "Jeez! The Gods are almost here, so why are you still in be-" Upon taking a good look at Zadkiel, Jophiel stopped talking and went to Zadkiel worriedly.

Checking his face, Jophiel saw that it was bruised and Zadkiel has a massive black eye on his left eye.

Jophiel seeing this asked Zadkiel very worriedly. "Zadkiel, what's with the bruises and black eye? Did something happen to you? Are you okay? Does it still hurt?"

"Stop worrying and you're asking too many questions Jophiel!" Zadkiel shouted to stop her from worrying.

"What do you mean!? How can't I be worried when you look like that?! Tell me who beat you up?!"

Seeing Jophiel who was almost in tears when she said that, Zadkiel couldn't lie to her after seeing her that worried for him, so he told her. "It's not something major, me and Azrael just had a little argument, that's all."

"Little! You call that little! Look at your face! It's all messed up! You and Azrael better explain this after I take both of you to Raphael for healing." Pinching Zadkiel's ear, Jophiel took him with her, they went outside for Jophiel to take Zadkiel to Raphael.

Zadkiel who was in pain and fear of what's about to happen, saw Cassiel and Barachiel walking in the hallway, so he let out a scream saying. "Cassiel; Barachiel help me!-"

"Ahh, Zadkiel pissed Jophiel off."

"Now you see Cassiel, this is why the other males and I are afraid of her."

The moment they got to Raphael's room, Raphael immediately knew what happened when she saw Jophiel pulling Zadkiel's ear, so she took Zadkiel in and Jophiel went to Azrael's room.

Finally done healing Zadkiel. "All done."

"Thank you, Raphael, even as of now I'm still in awe seeing that you even removed the marks of the bruise immediately."

"You're welcome, so can you tell me now Zadkiel? What happened between you and Azrael?"

He knows that lying to her won't do good, since Zadkiel was more afraid of lying to Raphael than Jophiel. "Azrael and I just didn't understand each other, but thinking about it now, Azrael might be right about me being useless."

"I see..." Raphael patted Zadkiel on the head to comfort him "Don't take it personally Zadkiel, you know that Azrael is like that, but even if he said that; he's not actually calling you useless."

"I know that! But this time... It's just different; because you can easily know if Azrael is lying, but with that tone of his voice... I feel like he's telling the truth."

"Zadkiel, even if I'm not good at advising Jophiel, I can tell you this. Just change what he calls useless on you."

"I guess that could work, so thank you, Raphael." But will I even do it though? No can I even do it? I'm just simply too afraid.

"What about you Raphael? Is there something you want to tell me what's happening with Michael lately?"

"It's like the same... Ever since we attacked Hell again, Michael seems to be frightened on something."

"I see... So do you know the cause of it?"

"My guess is something to do with that mysterious skill of the Prince; because Michael has kept mumbling and having constant nightmares with that lately."

"So even Michael is afraid of something... But are you sure he's gonna be okay? He's attending the meeting with you, Gabriel, and Uriel right?"

"He's gonna be okay; because Gabriel and I made a plan about his condition every night."

Looking down on the floor, Zadkiel said to Raphael. "Raphael, last night I had this dream."

"Dream? What is it?" Raphael curiously asked.

"I don't know if this is a dream or not, but last night I had a dream about our Mother."

"So you've dreamt of her too?"

"Wait don't tell me that you had a dream about her too?"

"I have, and when I talked to Jophiel and Gabriel, they said that they dreamt of talking with her too."

What is this? I thought she only talked to me. "Raphael what did she tell you and the others?" Zadkiel curiously asked Raphael.

Raphael let out a deep sigh and told Zadkiel. "Well... She told me that I have to make everyone safe, even the devils too which made me wonder, while she told Jophiel to not only give love to us but also the devils too, and for Gabriel, she told him to remain strong and never give up on any challenges even if our Lord is stopping him, what about you?"

"She told me that she'll support me for whatever things I do, even if it's against our Lord..."

"*Cough* Zadkiel after the meeting of the Gods has ended, I want you to come in my room because I'm gonna discuss this topic with every archangel."

"But Raphael, maybe she visited us in our dreams because she missed us or even maybe because she wants us to know that she'll give us her support, so is having a meeting about this really necessary?"

"Zadkiel can't you see, she talked about disobeying our Lord and helping the devils, there might be something more about her message that we don't know."

"But!-"

"No buts!" Raphael angrily said. "Come back here when the meeting is finished or else I'm gonna tie you up in my room if you don't want to attend."

"Fine, I'll go!" There goes my plan, I want to meet Millie and the others back at Hell after the meeting, but I guess luck isn't really nice to me.

But if what Raphael is telling me is true, then what does our Mother wants to tell us?