Azakiel of the Third
Cheena, Earth
***
The deafening sound of alarm alerted the people in the Xianchi Hotel. Another batch of Rescuers and bomb squads invaded the place and every customer was evacuated outside, a block away from the building. Elaine and Viriel carried Dreygo as the latter was half-conscious toward the taxi.
Blood continuously dripped at Dreygo's shirt as he coughed blood and suffered minute lacerations caused by flown cement particles during the blast. There was no need for hospitalization for the Harbinger for he could heal faster than human beings. He could feel pain but his body could regenerate itself at an accelerated pace.
The Taxi driver, a lanky old man, complained about Dreygo's condition that blood might stain his car seat covers. Viriel negotiated with the driver and gave him extra bucks for any trouble that would cause him.
The driver had a different language which made Viriel difficult to communicate. In the end, Viriel used his power to make the Driver peacefully submit and accept the payment.
Dreygo's head lay on Elaine's lap as they situated themselves in the back seat. The angel was in front. Elaine was agitated by her immense concern towards Dreygo but she was optimistic that his body could suffice to regenerate from severe concussions.
But it was not enough to hold her tears from falling. She cried. Her palm pressed into Dreygo's chest. It was her third time witnessing the Harbinger unconscious. She could not understand that her infatuation grew whenever Dreygo showed weakness. As weakness meant more inclined for being human, as Elaine believed.
"Did you see the Assassin?" The angel asked Elaine.
"Ahm. Not really. I saw him first wearing a white tunic from the hotel's housekeepers but then he took them off and he was now wearing his vest full of knives. He had tattoos all over his arm and neck." Elaine replied.
"It was clear that he was from the Zi Lok clan. The most powerful Triad here in Tsi Luen." Viriel responded. Most of the triad members had various tattoos that almost covered their bodies. They looked fearsome and intimidating.
"How do we know that we are not followed?" Elaine asked.
"We will go to a small town called Ningqo. There is a small hotel there. Quiet and only a few people are present in the area. We could easily sense if somebody is following us." Viriel suggested.
"How do you know all these places?"
"Azakiel. He is an angel of the third rank assigned in Cheena to watch the continent. He gave me information about the Zi Lok Triad. He is the one who assisted us with the accommodations." Viriel mused.
"How about you, where is your assignment?" Elaine asked.
"Far Eastern countries. The tropics. That is the reason why I cannot stay longer with you for my absence could alert the 1st rank angels. They are sanctioned to deliver disciplinary actions to the erring ones."
"Who are these first-rank angels?"
"They have special assignments from the Heavenly supreme but they were also the ones to keep the lower ranks in check. Their powers outgrew us in the lower levels. Thus, it's unwise to defy them."
***
Ningqo was a small town of Tsi Luen, fifty miles from the city proper. The roads were getting narrower and the street lights were more distant from each other now. Numerous trees could be seen along the road that gave Ningqo a mixture of an urban and rural feel.
***
The taxi turned to a low-class motel at the center of vast empty land. It was a strategic place to identify their pursuers from afar. As he disembarked the vehicle, the angel surveyed the area. It seemed safe. The driver was happy with the tip and he fled away with contentment. Dreygo was half awake and grunted as he took gentle strides as the Demon was assisted by the prophetess.
A man, with almost the same features as Viriel but with shorter blonde hair and wearing a black suit, stood in front of them.
Viriel took steps further nearing the man. "What are you doing here, Azakiel?"
"I knew something was going on with you, Viriel. You suspiciously entered my area of responsibility and you carried a Demon with you. Do you know the laws you break?" Azakiel said with a stern voice, echoing through the vast space.
"Listen Azakiel. What I am doing is a noble cause. We are here to stop Kragus and his demon lords. Ten of our comrades died in their hands and I cannot let that slide." Viriel convinced.
"But it is still wrong, Viriel. I cannot accept this and you should be reported to our Heavenly Supreme."
Azakiel opened his palm with his fingers apart from each other and a burst of circular light appeared on it. Fine lightning strikes appeared from the circular light and the light expanded outward forming like a stick.
"It's not wise to resist, Viriel. I know you. You are the rebellious type." Azakiel warned.
Azakiel held the stick of light with his open palm and the light dissipated gradually. Now the light turned to a sword with a combination of silver and gold patterns that consisted of its cross guard down to its pommel.
"I have to kill that pest, Viriel!" Azakiel taunted.
The angel started to saunter with every intent to kill the Demon. Elaine hugged Dreygo hard as she felt fear looking at the fuming angel. Dreygo could barely stand and there was no way for him to defend or escape the forthcoming wrath.
Viriel stepped in front of Azakiel in between the Demon and the raging angel.
"Step aside, Viriel!" Azakiel angrily said.
"Brother, believe in our cause. This is the only way I know and to stop Kragus from killing innocent people."
"I won't say it again Viriel, or you will feel the blade of my sword." Azakiel taunted
Viriel sighed and said, "Then you leave me no choice."
In less than a heartbeat, Azakiel jumped Viriel overhead. Viriel caught his foot halfway through Azakiel's leap. Azakiel's face was shocked and Viriel slammed him onto the ground. The slam was strong that it made minor tremors and Azakiel's back was embedded in the ground.
"Please, Azakiel. I do not want to do this! I do not want to fight you!" Viriel said.
Azakiel struggled to lift himself from the ground but as he did, he lunged at Viriel at a dizzyingly fast speed. Azakiel caught Viriel's neck with his free hand and it sent Viriel farther back, his foot grazed against the ground and came to a sudden stop. The commotion was so fast that dust particles flew from every direction.
"I will strike this sword to you, Viriel. Don't let me do this." Azakiel said while holding Viriel's throat.
"Brother, I don't want to fight," Viriel said holding to a hope of preventing more violence.
"Your reasons are not enough," Azakiel said and his hand grasped hard his sword almost ready for a strike.
"What more can I say to convince you, Brother?" Viriel asked. Almost hopeless.
"Then, you leave me no choice." Azakiel clasped Viriel's throat harder this time, and Viriel grunted in pain without retaliation. Faint cracking sound as his hand squeezed harder almost buried through Viriel's neck. He started to raise his sword but was shocked because he was unable to do so. Something ceased his sword from moving, from lifting it.
Azakiel glanced at it and he saw strong and large vines grow from the ground. They wrapped around his sword that even an angel's strength could not break. The vines grew quietly from the ground and caught Azakiel by surprise.
"What is this?" Azakiel shockingly asked.
He released Viriel from his choke and Azakiel stopped struggling. There was no way to uproot the vines from the ground as his sword lodged and sheathed by the curled vines.
"This is impossible!" Azakiel added. His eyes widen in disbelief. He turned his gaze to Viriel and asked, "How could you conjure this spell?"
"Nebirus, the Earth god. He blessed me with his power,' Virel replied, "He knows Kragus has been defiling Earth and made a move of contacting me in secret. This is without Heavenly Supreme's knowledge. Nebirus want to conceal his life from the other gods for some agreement made several thousand years before."
"Nebirus knows Kragus' capacity of being destructive and he does not want Kragus to destroy the one he loves. Nebirus knows the secret plans of the Hell God. He intends to destroy the balance between the three worlds and Earth is the center of it all. If Earth falls, then Heaven and Demon worlds will follow. Due to this, he blessed me with some of his power to give me a slight advantage."
Azakiel fell to his knees and his anger vanished. He knew he could not defeat a fellow angel blessed by a god's power and truth defines Viriel's expression. The evidence was strong. No angel could conjure Earth plants, not even the angel of the first ranks.
"Join us, brother. Join our cause." Viriel said.
"I can't, Viriel. But be careful, Nethaniel will know. He always does." Azakiel refused and he vanished into an open portal and so was his sword.