Chapter 13: Anguish

A [Fallen Angel], is an entity that was once known as an [Archangel] but due to some circumstances or sins they have committed, they were vanished and forsaken by the heavens and became what they were known as the [Fallen Angel]. A [Fallen Angel] is neither on the side of the [Good] or [Evil] but in the middle.

And the entity that we are facing now, what we thought was the [Reaper], was actually a [Fallen Angel], and there is only one [Fallen Angel] that I know in this game who has a black hair and eyes. The [Fallen Angel] also known as the 'Angel of Death', Azrail!

Everyone stared at Azrail with wide eyes and couldn't move an inch. We are not facing a mere Boss anymore but an existence that is greater than it! This is only when I recalled that those who became a [Guide] are only levels above S - Level!

I glanced at Azazel and thought 'No wonder even Azazel did not pass the [Trial], because he is only an A - Level…'

Azrail looked down at us before his gaze was fixated on me, his eyes were soulless and cold, as if he was just staring at a corpse. Shivers ran down my spine and I couldn't help shudder and the force holding my giant gun loosened slightly.

Claire, who is the [Defendant] of an [Archangel, was the first to come back to her senses and immediately used her golden rope, trying to tie down Azrail but failed as Azrail swiftly cut it just with the flick of it's wings!

"Ahhhh!" Claire screamed and felt as if it was her soul that was cut and our eyes trembled greatly. I gulped and couldn't help thinking, 'Can that 'thing'…even be defeated?'

Gritting my teeth I aimed my gun and shot at it. Swish! The wings of Azrail flapped and with the strong wind made by it's flap, the giant wooden bomb turned and dashed towards me instead! Widening my eyes I used my [Skill] to see the movement and try to dodge it but was too fast for me to react!

Just as I thought it was over, a strong force suddenly grabbed me and pushed me away. Boom! The bomb exploded at my spot and I found that it was Azazel that saved me. I thanked him and staggeringly stood up. Azazel frowned as he stared at Azrail and asked "What are we gonna do now?"

Biting my thumb I pondered and countless of ideas flashed in my mind, but to no avail, I only saw us getting killed with those ideas. Taking a deep breath, I looked at the giant gun that was thrown to the side and thought 'That thing wouldn't work, it would only be a nuisance.' I then looked at the wings of Azrail and thought with my eyebrows furrowed 'That thing is the real nuisance, we must get rid of it' With that thought, I immediately said "Get rid of the wings"

Hearing my words both Azazel and Claire frowned knowing that this wouldn't be an easy task but still nodded as they knew that it would be the best plan. Claire then used her rope once again as Azazel attack from the other side and used his sword. Alas it was all futile as Azrail flapped both of it's wings which caused for both Claire and Azazel to be thrown against the wall. The impact was too strong and caused for both of them to puke out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this despairing situation, the [Judge]s couldn't help feeling hopeless.

[Judge "Ares" sighs and says "It's over"]

[Judge "Dionysus" raises his wine and says "They can't defeat it unfortunately, I was kind of liking their companionship"]

[Judge "Iris" can't bear to see it and covers herself with pillows]

I also couldn't bear it seeing the situation and said "Get up! Retreat for now and I'll distract it until you guys can get out safely!" That was the only plan I could think of now, I will sacrifice myself and let them live. Unfortunately, I knew it very well that it was too late…

Both Azazel and Claire couldn't hear me and their ears were ringing painfully. Azrail suddenly spoke in a language I can understand and hearing his words, I was enrage but at the same time, felt despair.

{You are too late, even if you sacrifice yourself for them I'll still be able to kill them eventually.} Azrail laughed and said {You are pathetic, to think that you're a 'Fallen' just like those bastards who did this to me!}

There it is again, the word pathetic,…it's kinda, getting disgusting now that it was repeatedly said. But, he's right…I really am pathetic, I couldn't even do anything to save them…

Gritting my teeth, I tried to grab something from my bag but found that my dagger was missing. My eyes felt heavy and I couldn't help feeling motionless from despair. Is this really it? I suddenly recalled the faces of my characters, when they smile and wave at me from the screen, when they tease each other. I have not been able to see them yet…I haven't saved the world yet…

Then, I thought 'Save the world? With this weak pathetic self? Who am I? A hero?' I couldn't help smiling bitterly at that thought and looked at Azrail again.

Azrail continued {They are already on the verge of dying, you can't save anyone, 'Fallen'}

With my head lowered, I suddenly moved towards the giant gun and crouched down. Azrail watched my actions with amusement and saw that I broke my gun and picked up a broken piece of wood and held it like it was a dagger.

Azraill couldn't help laughing angrily and said {Do you think you can defeat me with just that? Are you looking down at me?!}

Smiling with my eyes narrowed sadly, I shook my head and said "No" before walking towards him slowly. Azrail snorted coldly and swung one of it's wings towards my direction as a sharp wind was formed and headed towards me!

But without looking up I moved my body to the side and dodged it! Azrail and the [Judge]s were shocked! Azrail was stunned for a moment before he became angry and swung it's wings towards me once again! This time I kept dodging without looking up, as if I was surpressing something…

Just as Azrail became angry he swung his scythe at me before--

Clang!

His scythe and my wood collided and a strong force was thrown at me as my feet were buried to the ground. Just as Azrail gritted his teeth he suddenly heard a mad laughter coming from me. Then, he saw something that astonished him. The moment I raised my head he saw that I was grinning and laughing madly as my obsidian eyes turned into blood red.

Staring straight at him I said "Die"

That was when Azrail and the [Judge] found that the thing I was suppressing was something that a human have. A 'Killer instinct', an instinct that is a ruthless determination to succeed.

….

On the other hand, Claire felt very dizzy and faintly heard familiar voices that she had longed for. She couldn't help mumbling "Mom?"

Suddenly, her vision turned black before a bright light overwhelmed her. She then saw something that made her cry. In front of her were scenes of her and her family playing around the garden. Her mother, father, and older sister, they were still alright. His father had a white skin, golden blonde hair and black eyes while her mother had dark skin, black hair and green eyes. While she had a white skin, golden blonde hair and green eyes, her sister was the complete opposite, her older sister had dark skin, black hair and eyes. This shows how they take one each from their parents.

It was a happy family until suddenly, the scene changed and turned into nightmare. The house was burned and the garden as well. While she and her sister was hiding in the closet, they saw their parents through the gap get killed by the monsters as they tried to fight it.

It was, a nightmare that she could never forget.

In the darkness, Claire couldn't help falling to her knees before crying.

…..

Azazel on the other hand also had a nightmare, well, it's not much of a nightmare but life flashing before his eyes. At the scene he is shown, he could see himself sitting in the dinning table with the rest of his family, but they were all silent and distant. It was obvious that they were a rich noble family and yet, none of them were happy and became greedy for power.

Azazel became the strongest among his siblings, the strongest among the other noble family, and yet, one day he faced a commoner child that was practicing alone in the woods. They faced each other and he was defeated all over and over again, he was called a genius but he couldn't help calling the other child a prodigy.

Finally, years passed and they became a rival but in the end, he still couldn't beat him. That's why he wanted to become a [Guide], he will find- no, make someone stronger than that person.

And yet now, looks like that won't be happening since he'll die.

…..

"Claire"

"Zel"

Hearing their name being called out, both Claire and Azazel looked up. Then, they saw something that they never forgot, until now.

Claire's parents were standing before her. Then, they reached out and hugged her. They said "We always love you, and even if we are gone, we will always be in your heart. Never, forget that" Hearing this Claire was stunned before she cried out and hugged them backing, speaking in a muffled voice "Yes…I'll remember that. I miss you guys so much…"

Claire's parents smiled and said in unison "We miss you too".

Azazel raised his head and saw the figure of the person he treated as his rival. The person was stronger than him and yet, the person never looked down at him even when that person only looked at him coldly with no emotion.

The person, Baek Joohyuk, said "If you can't defeat me today, then defeat me tomorrow, the next day, the next month, or the next year, no matter how long it takes, make sure that you defeat me, got it?"

Hearing his arrogant tone, Azazel finally couldn't help smirking and said "I will, and you will be trampled by me, if not, then by someone I'll be creating"

Baek Joohyuk just stared at him coldly before turning his back at him and left. Just as Azazel watched Baek Joohyuk's back fading, he then heard him speak. "I'll be waiting"

…..

Opening their eyes abruptly, both Azazel and Claire panted, sitting up while groaning, they looked around and searched for someone only to find something that made their eyes widen in shock.

Claire gasped and couldn't help cry out "Zero!!!!!!!!"

They saw me, floating, as I was pierced by the scythe of Azrail....