The Corrupted Angel

Fish port, Tsi Luen, Cheena, Earth

***

That cold stare from a traitor had boiled the Harbinger, such a high and mighty being stoop so low. Being a traitor was beyond reason, especially if you are serving the Heavenly Supreme. The heat from the pyre behind their backs grew hotter as Azakiel's aura outwardly grew.

The Harbinger knew that his current power level could not par a ranking angel but fear never visited him. He would any adversary in front of him. But having second thoughts, Dreygo was hesitant to attack. He surveyed escape routes by only using his peripherals. Even so, escaping an angel would be stupid.

He could only run and hide while the angel could fly.

"Is he one of us?" Officer Sho asked Dreygo.

"Unfortunately, not," Dreygo responded.

"Dreygo Mondus, Harbinger of Lith under the wing of Demon Lord Gluttony, Ashmoth. I now sentence you your death." The angel taunted as he ambled closer to them.

Suddenly, the breeze bit their skin and the atmosphere became heavy. The harbinger was not sure if it was the natural breeze of southern winds or the fury that emanated from the angel.

"You are a traitor to your kind, Azakiel!" Dreygo retaliated, trying to buy significant time. He was relying on Elaine to take the shot. "You should be ashamed of yourself. And for what, in exchange for your life?"

"Poor Demon, you could not understand the depths of our knowledge as to how we were driven to make decisions. Explaining to you is futile. Your life will be ending soon."

"Anytime now, Elaine." Dreygo regarded to the sniper.

Azakiel looked over her shoulder towards Elaine's position and struck a smirk.

Thump! Thump!

Two sniper bullets shattered in mid-air as they smashed into an invisible barrier that seemed to be protecting the angel's body. The bullets dropped on the ground like constricted tin marbles.

"Dreygo, I hope this helps," Sho said as he was surprised that even the sniper bullets had not penetrated. He started to aim at the angel with his handgun, shaking.

Hesitantly, the officer squeezed the trigger and emptied his magazine, all 12 of them. All bullets did not even graze Angel's garb. Again, an invisible barrier almost appeared as the bullets tried their way through.

"Retaliation is pointless, Dreygo. You are lucky that I don't hurt humans. We are bound by this curse." Azakiel said.

Azakiel sprinted at a dizzyingly fast speed toward the harbinger. With a sudden reflex, the harbinger pushed the Officer far for safety as their clash could be overwhelming for humans. Dreygo was not able to deflect the angel's attack as the latter delivered a blow to the former's abdomen.

It drove Dreygo back, rolled to the pavement, until an arms' width distance from the burnt structure. The attack was fast enough for his eyes could follow. The force of the punch also provided the harbinger of difficulty in standing.

His insides churned like they were disorganized causing excruciating pain. He coughed blood as he regained his stance, but still, never fear had visited him. He knew their power difference was unimaginably far but he banked on Elaine calling Viriel via prayers.

"Elaine, you know what to do. We can't defeat this f*cker!" Dreygo mused.

He held his purge blade in his right hand, even though it was futile. The Ferrum Minus could only hurt demons the most but only wound angels.

He suddenly remembered he had three remaining grenades strapped in his belt. If he would go down this fight, it would be with a bang. He had to create distance from Sho. He squinted back at the officer and he was not there.

Surprisingly, Sho appeared behind the angel, a rifle in his hands seemed from the demon thugs. He did not shoot assuming it would be futile but swung it aiming at the angel's forehead instead. Like holding a bat. Azakiel did not flinch but only looked over his shoulder, disregarding the human attacking him.

The rifle broke in half and the Officer received a gentle push from the angel. He was thrown and hit the parked car farther back.

It was the opportune time to use the grenades as Sho was beyond the blast range. But the timing should catch the angel off-guard.

"You have a sad soul, Angel. Nay, you don't have one. You are rotten to the core. You are given all of Heaven's grace, a life, a purpose, and power. I can't fathom the idea that an angel like you sided with the Hell God. Do you even know what he is?" Dreygo argued.

"What do you know about nobility Demon? Demons like you are a pest in this world." The angel spat. "Simply, Kragus had a better way and I agreed with his cause!" Azakiel said while he slowly sauntered towards him.

Dreygo felt the scorch brought about by the fire at his back and the cold breeze caressing his skin at the same time. He accepted that sooner, he could die at the hands of a corrupted angel. But he must not cease resisting until his last breath. Dreygo had considered their power difference was massive but a fool's mind believed that he had a fighting chance.

"I know Viriel was trying to find me." Azakiel continued. "He knew my secret. I bet you told him."

A few more steps toward the harbinger would create the perfect distance between him and Sho. The closer he gets, the lesser time the angel could react.

"Then, I created a distraction to find me in another place, luring him away. Far from this location." The angel laughed.

"I don't need his help right now!" Dreygo taunted more. His voice was bathed with confidence and no hint of fear.

"Then you must die!" Azakiel was nearing Dreygo.

Without hesitation, Dreygo lunged forward at the Angel and swung his blade, aimed at the angel's chest. He felt his attack stop momentarily as it punctured through the angel's invisible shield but it went through, created a faint cracking sound, and the blade's tip buried a few inches on Azakiel's shoulder.

Azakiel was shocked. He did not expect such a weapon could penetrate his barrier. The Angel inspected the blade and was familiar with the weapon.

"Is this the Ferrum Minus?" Azakiel shockingly asked.

Dreygo struggled to bury the blade deep but it ceased moving further. The armor might have saved the angel from his attack. But blood was visible from the lodged blade. Dreygo was surprised that even the Ferrum Minus was capable of inflicting wounds on an angel's body.

"Now I know that angels could bleed," Dreygo said with a smile.

"This is the only blood you'll see." The Angel responded.

Dreygo took out the blade from Azakiel's body and was ready to attack again on the heart. But as he swung his blade back ready to launch forward, Azakiel's left hand grasped Dreygo's neck and choked him hard.

His windpipe was constricted not allowing air to circulate. Dreygo struggled to inhale but to no avail, his mouth opened and gagged hardly. His face turned red instantly like it was going to explode. Dreygo felt his blood settle on his face and skull as if it was going to burst out.

His first reflex was to stab the angel's arm to escape from the choke or weaken his grasp. He redirected the blade's direction and successfully buried his weapon through Azakiel's forearm. Azakiel seemed to have neglected the pain inflicted by the blade as his expression told them so.

"Another…blood!" Dreygo hardly spoke with the tightened choke and forced a teasing smile.

Azakiel's free hand buried three fingers in Dreygo's gut. The fingers did not go through Dreygo's skin but he felt the angel's fingers grab a ball of flesh, which could be a chunk of his insides. Dreygo screamed for the immense and overwhelming pain as Azakiel buried his fingers deeper. Dreygo felt his innards twisted forcibly followed by an indescribable pain.

Tears broke out from Dreygo's eyes. He knew it was impossible to defeat the Angel, and at the duration of his torture, a prayer escaped from his dying breath. A prayer for Viriel.

Azakiel lifted Dreygo in the air, and the demon's legs elevated a foot above the ground. His struggle was futile and the pain grew more immensely as his organs were twisted.

"Are you ready to die demon?" Azakiel said while he effortlessly swayed Dreygo a little up in the air. The angel's fingers were ready to pull the harbinger's internal organs. Hopelessness, pain, and failure invaded Dreygo's thoughts. Elaine's face emerged instantly during his fading consciousness, as death was only an arm's reach.

Dreygo felt a Gatekeeper looming from an empty space above them, ready to receive his soul. His hand went limp as he tried to reach for the grenade.

"Too early!" Azakiel said as he sensed a being hovering overhead.

Azakiel's smile ceased as he felt a cold hand gently placed on top of his right shoulder.

The angel released Dreygo from the air and the Demon thumped to the ground hard, emaciated, coughing, and grunting in immense pain. Dreygo clenched his stomach to ease the torturous pain carried by the disorganized innards he recently had. Fortunately, they were moving into the right places.

The Gatekeepers vanished in thin air right before he knew that it was not his time.

"What took you so long?" Dreygo gargled his words.

Azakiel veered to his right and saw Viriel.

"That's enough Azakiel!" Viriel said softly.