Chapter 40 -Resolve-

CHAPTER 40 -RESOLVE-

  "What does this mean? They just couldn't get wiped out…like nothing!" I argued, turning to face the dragons behind me. No words were let out, everyone with the same face and emotions.

  Now that I have the truth of what had happened, I didn't expect it to be this way. My plans, everything that I had been working on…just fell, like nothing. Dropping down like a sandcastle when the waves of the ocean overwhelm it. Slipping through my hands like water, not being able to grasp it. 

  The dragon Queen only looked at me before taking control of the situation, her desperation and uncommoness surfaced in her face. Though that uncommoness could be replaced by uneasiness. 

  "Listen dear, I know you are desperate to learn about Alter's status. But that is not going to be possible if we keep fighting this invasion." Sytairirth's mind had way too much to think about, and now she too had to add about the royal kids' whereabouts. "It would be better if we all focus on this battle ahead of us. If we don't we might lose before we notice it." 

  The dragon monarch stood and approached me, laying her hand on my shoulder before making eye contact. "I promise you dear that before they get here, we will welcome them with the won battle." 

  "Then that means that Julie and I have to train before the next–" I was cut off but King Brelbem as he too stood up next to the Queen. 

  His aura reaches far higher than the Elemental marshal, giving me the chills down my spine. Feeling the fear that I had felt when Onyx was in Afreon only using half his artificial power. "Luna, you are my son's disciple along with Juliette. Both of you are very dear to him and to us. Your achievement of the mana core was absolutely intriguing but your knowledge of it is very little. Juliette and you have to learn more about it not by using the peaceful pond but by using the raging river." 

ALTER VIOLET

  The Star of Angels glared at me with a frown. Both marshals held their weapons against the twelve apostles, ready for a death battle like horses for a race. The Star of Angels was not the only one glaring at me, noticing in the corner of my eye the laser eyes that the woman apostle gave me. 

  Seeing as she kept looking at me only meant that she was either confused or suspicious of me. She wouldn't believe me if I said that Sammael and I are the same person, both of us calamities fused into two-thirds. Two out of the three souls have fused, meaning that now I could use my original power without any backlash nonetheless only in my angel form. 

  To others I might not seem human but deep down I know I am. 

  My thoughts and objectives didn't change, not in the slightest. Things that I couldn't understand in the past became more clear, such as mana. The power that Sammael felt when he took over my body was not an unknown power. I had felt this feeling before, it was many years when I first tapped into the angelic power that I possess. Divine mana. 

  When it comes to mana there are many elements that could be used if you are capable. First, Wind. Second, Fire. Third, Earthen. Fourth, Water. All four capabilities have their own unique way of being used, whether for good or evil, it all works the same. The four elements have their own branch of elemental abilities. For instance, fire's branch has lightning and lava in it. Water has ice and mist. Wind lets you use sound and hypnosis at will. Earthen has metal and healing, and is combined with almost all elements that are knowledgeable. 

  That is what the twelve races had thought at first. However, the stronger each person got, the more powerful their elemental affinities did too. Scientists tried and researched about the new powers that were discovered and thought that it was possible that everyone would get to have the same powers. Later they had found out that it was nearly impossible for everyone to have the same potential as others have. After centuries of using mana, twelve individuals from each race accomplished something astonishing. 

  The potential to rise above those that couldn't. 

  Those twelve individuals had all four elements at their will along with the additional ones. As time passed, the twelve people would train their bodies and mana to their limits to then surpass their league and gain higher knowledge of it and the world. They all had thought that they had found a new source of power that had more potential than mana. Yet they had all found the same source, divine mana. 

  Helping each other to understand the source better, they all reached heights that no one has ever reached in the past. Power that was far beyond a king, they had acquired the power of what people call nowadays "Primordial Power". With it, came the godhood that established their rights to power and league. When the time came, those twelve individuals went back to their own race thinking that they would be congratulated for their accomplishments. The monarchs of each race started a banquet for their achievements of power, becoming their pride of the nation. In the end they were, until two months since their return. 

  Their monstrous power affected not only them but the people around them. Making them lose their mind and unleash incurable diseases. Afraid that it would destroy their nations', the monarchs exiled those with "Primordial Power" and held their families as hostages in case that they wanted revenge. Some of their families were killed, some weren't. But the families that survived died because of their powers' influence, bringing a deadly disease. 

  After that, no one really knows what happened to them. Whether they died or not is not in the record holders of the twelve races. Regardless, only I know where they are residing, giving me an advantage to this long lasting battle that involves the gods that messed with my fate and those around me…

  "Apostles!" My voice echoed through the dome we were in. The marshals jolted to it, concerned about my intentions. "Don't attack the angels without my consent." I ordered. 

  No second thoughts and they backed off behind me like guards of royalty. As the leader of the apostles walked by my side I held her arm, stopping and alarming her. I got close to her ear before saying, "Protect Susan with your life. If I find out that she was hurt, I will kill you myself." Warning her, switching my gaze between the injured demon to her. 

  "Yes, sire." 

  I turned to face the three angels in front of me while releasing my aura. Now that I had a grasp of Divine mana meant that I could use that ability. The marshal Klyde took a step forward before being stopped by the Star angel. Klyde gave the Star angel a confused look, "Michael why are you interfering? The Angelic Council gave an order to kill both him and the demon girl!" 

  "The reason is obvious, you two are too weak to face him. But if you want to try, go ahead, I won't stop you unless you don't want to die." The three halo angel said in a normal voice, no agitation or concern in it. Kyle's frustration could be shown as he gritted his teeth while sheathing his sword.

  So they finally want to talk, I thought. Throwing the sword in my hands to the angel who Sammael took it from, he too was confused. I thanked the angel for the usage of its weapons. 

  The people around us stepped back and I walked forward. Studying closely the angel in front of me like an enemy, waiting for his action and planning to counter it. But something unexpected happened, I've thought about this specific scenario but it was at the bottom of list of everything that could happen. 

  The Star angel walked two steps before stopping, he took off his white glove and tossed it to my feet. "I, Michael, challenge you, Sammael Angel of Death to a death duel!" 

  Michael took a couple of seconds before adding on, unsheathing his white blade. "If you call yourself an Angel, you will accept." Spreading his white shining wings with pride while he frowned. A duel? Why? His opinion of me being an Angel seems to have hit him hard to even touch his pride. "Your thinking is irrelevant to this matter, what I need now is an audience of the Angel God. Not to spend time fighting a duel that won't get me nowhere."

  Though I said that, why was I calling my sword? No, why did I have the scythe that I used in my old world? 

  'I will take over for you.' 

  A sinister voice bounced in my mind. The dark familiar voice felt like a jingle that suddenly made me sleepy. My consciousness went off and on, not deciding which to be. 'Alter! Don't listen to him. Fight back, wake up before you end up like you did in the academy.' 

  Onyx? 

  Another voice came through, it was Sammael. 'Onyx is right, right now you should focus on the Star Angel while we hold him back. Don't halt your strength and show them the real power of an Angel.'

  [Don't worry, I'm here too. Helping them of course. Nevertheless, finish it quickly. Our power is only limited compared to his]

  Hearing their words made me feel confident. Confident that there wouldn't be a consequence of me using this cursed power. I strengthen my resolve before feeling control over my body and power. Thank you guys. 

  "Michael, Star of Angels. I accept your duel." The dark colored scythe changed its shape into a sword, the dark sword that I first got in the dungeon where we met Susan. Looking closely, it was different with the mana surrounding it. Being coated with Divine mana made it feel sturdier and more comfortable. 

  Aside from that, the only other thing that changed was the color. From dark pitch black to strong white. The opposite being and sword. 

  The Star of Angels had a smirk on his face. Almost like he was waiting for this moment to prove something, something that I couldn't understand even if I thought about it long and hard. He got into his offensive stance and without wasting any more time I did too. Using his feathered wings as a boost to get to strike me with a single swing, his power was no joke. 

  Star-rank is something powerful than a marshal and general. It would take thirty-six generals to be toe-to-toe with a single marshal. Now for a marshal to equal or to even be close to a Star, the marshal would have to train its body and life essence before even getting a percent of power that a Star uses to unleash from its aura as scraps that are no longer needed. Making it about every marshal that the twelve races have. 

  However there is a catch, in this day and age Ancient Walkers are extinct so there aren't any more marshals from them, making it impossible for the correct analysis to be completed. In other words not even the marshals from every race combine could take on a Star-ranked being.

  Truth to be told, it was beyond me to even calculate the strength needed to defeat a Star. Yet, I knew that I wouldn't lose, not when I've gotten this far. It wasn't right that the lives that sacrificed for me to get here were in vain. I would use anything even if it meant revealing my cards to the gods for them to see. I needed to win. It's not even that, I had to win. 

  Michael's sword that was coated in magic was a few centimeters away from me, but I used the Divine mana that my ring provided previously and rapidly released it on his attack. Canceling both his and mine, the only thing left to do was to attack. But with what? His reflexes were top tier of anyone I've met in this life. 

  Doubts and regrets entered my mind as I began thinking about the possibilities that I held of even fighting the gods without an even field. The only thing I was able to do was to doge, my power and actions didn't seem to be fast like Michael. 

  If the old me were here he would laugh at how pathetic I was. Saying that I was the weakest even when I had the power I desired in the first place. That I didn't fight a whole continent by myself and still managed to lose to a little Angel with a little power that he was bestowed by the gods. 

  I would tell him that he was right, I had become weak. He had every right to be mad at me, it would be okay with me if he never forgave me because of the deaths that I'd cause. He had every right there was when it came to blaming me. 

  I began to feel the coldness wash over my emotions, killing them all in one go. I got to see my old child self in front of me crying, saying that why was I losing all the time. Saying that fate was always against me, that I was swimming against the river's current. 

  Hearing all of that made me feel anger and hatred, the flame that was long extinguished was once again lit, not by choice but by need. I held on to the personality that I had let go when I came into this world. I had enough of this world. No more shortcuts. No more losing. Now was the time for the real thing. From here on out, there won't be any lost battles.

  "Abeyance."