21 The Heaven's Fall

There was an ominous and sinister feeling in the air. It felt heavy, stuffy and suffocating. The streets of Seoul were filled with crowds of people who were busy living their own lives.

The hawkers shouting out prices, the sound of people haggling and the laughter of children could be heard anywhere.

Despite being the center of technology in the world, Seoul remains a country of the people and by the people – so the sight of people interacting was warmly gazed upon by the rest of the citizens who were scattered around the city.

It was a perfectly normal day – except for the bizarre sight that appeared out of nowhere.

"What is that?"

"Ambulance! Someone please call an ambulance!"

"Blood!? Someone's covered in blood!"

People became hysterical at the sight of a woman covered in blood. The ominous and sinister feeling in the air seemed to be seeping out of her body.

Those who had better senses could feel that the woman was an extremely hostile threat.

"No, don't approach her! Let her through!"

A woman covered her daughter's eyes in a panic. "Cover your eyes! Don't look at her, Soonah!"

The woman was beautiful. Her silver hair stained with blood was truly a mystical sight. Her bloody face was covered in blood but her eyes remained strong and willful.

Her crimson irises seemed to glow even during the daytime – it attracted the gazes of anyone who laid their eyes on her face.

She walked with purpose. It was a slow march but every step was filled with malice and hatred. It made one feel waves of pain and pressure but it was more of a spiritual pain rather than a physical one.

The local police were stumped. Of course, they knew what their job was but the scene right in front of them was beyond normal.

It was as if they woke up one day with a kaiju (giant monster) walking through the streets. The woman wasn't doing anything in particular but something just felt wrong about her.

The experienced policeman radioed for orders. "Command, please advise."

"What is the situation, officer?"

"There seems to be an extremely powerful prana-user walking in the streets."

Radio silence. After a few moments, dispatch replied. "What about it?"

The policeman paused and looked at the woman who just passed him. She didn't even look at the officers as she walked by them.

The suffocating feeling that the policemen were feeling seemed to ease up with her growing distance, but it was still uncomfortable.

"She seems to be covered in blood."

The younger policeman beside him urged him to act. "Sir! We can't let her get away! She's suspicious!"

The experienced policeman furrowed his brows. He chided his partner, "The mere fact that you felt nothing from her proves that you're too inexperienced!"

He knew that her strength was beyond his. Feeling his back drenched his sweat, he glared at his partner to shut up and waited for dispatch to respond.

Finally, the radio crackled before a sharp voice instructed in a calm manner. "We have been alerted to that woman's actions. Stand down. She is a threat we can't deal with."

The sharp voice continued, "Dr. Sylvia Lee gave her okay. Just let her be. Forget you've ever seen her."

"Acknowledged. Over and out."

The experienced officer put aside his radio and lit up a cigarette.

He drew a heavy drag and exhaled the smoke through his nose. "You heard dispatch, partner. This is beyond our pay grade." He calmly held the butt of the cigarette between his fingers as he gestured with his eyes, "Why don't you just help that grandma cross the street."

With the feeling of dread all but gone, the tension from the younger officer dissipated. He scratched his head and did as he was told.

The experienced policeman looked at the woman's back. She was just barely visible but he could feel an inexplicable feeling of fear from her slender yet strong back.

"It seems someone ridiculous has appeared once again." The older officer stamped out his cigarette as he followed his partner, with his hands inside his pockets.

(…)

Alagarassi ignored everything around her. The muffled shouts of panic, the shrieks of fear and the stares of disbelief, she ignored everything.

She walked with purpose. She was neither rushing nor slow. She was taking her time. It didn't matter if she appeared now or later, death would come for those who were foolish enough to seek it.

Her irises glowed with an eerie crimson hue. Her graceful body was covered in blood but it didn't make people think less of her. If anything, it made them realize that she was on a different level than them.

She kept her hand on her pistol – it was the same Colt Single-Action Army she used during her first day in the testing center. It wasn't a particularly powerful weapon but she liked wielding it nonetheless.

Her eyes scanned the crowd for anyone matching the description Sylvia gave her. Her enemies were a small cell of a criminal organization but it was filled with elite members who were knight-rated and above.

For the past Alagarassi, this problem would have been impossible for her. The present her, however…

Sylvia's voice sounded in Alagarassi's ear. "I told you that someone was looking for you but.."

"Shut up."

Sylvia kept her mouth shut. She knew what kind of aberration Alagarassi was. At this point, she didn't know if the silver-haired villainess was stronger than her childhood friends but she knew she was a threat that she couldn't ignore.

The normally stern doctor's face softened and calmed Alagarassi down. "Alagarassi. You…think about this. If you deal with this in a state of anger, you might come to regret it."

Sylvia gripped the pen in her hand as she struggled with her words. "Come back and calm down first. Let's take this to the proper authorities."

Alagarassi clicked her tongue in annoyance. "I won't say it again. Shut up."

She stopped in front of a tall building, her eyes flared up with rage while an eerie grin betrayed her calm façade.

She took out the Colt Single Action Army and flicked the loading gate open. It was clear that she was used to this as she handled the revolver with precision and grace.

"I am Joshua's mother."

She loaded the first black-tipped ammunition into the Peacekeeper.

"I am Joshua's sister."

She loaded the second black-tipped ammunition.

"I am Joshua's friend."

She repeated the same motion as she uttered each sentence with barely suppressed anger.

"I am Joshua's enemy."

She flicked the cylinder back into the revolver and fully pulled the hammer back.

She smiled and ended the call with Sylvia, "And I am Joshua's god."

Sylvia stared at the blinking mobile device on her table. She shook her head and stepped out of the room with a calm pace.

Alagarassi unleashed the prana she was holding back and the windows of the buildings around her all burst and scattered their fragments everywhere.

The cars parked on the streets all blared their alarms and the security forces inside the building in front of her scrambled as some of their weaker members passed out with blood coming out of their seven orifices.

Alagarassi laughed to herself as her eyes glowed with that eerie crimson glow.

"Let my justice be done though the heavens fall."

The Heaven's Fall - End.