Chapter 12

Heaven resembles a place sitting above the clouds with a bright white ceiling high overhead. It is guarded by a large gate and has a white stone path and stone buildings, which appear to be floating.

Heaven is divided into seven regions, or "Heavens". The "first floor" of Heaven, where the low-class/level Angels generally reside. It also serves as the front lines of Heaven's defenses. 

The Second Heaven is a place filled with darkness where the Angels observe the stars and where they confine Angels who have sinned. It is also the place where those involved in the Tower of Babel incident are imprisoned

The Third Heaven is the home of the souls of the dead who have been taken to Heaven. It's so vast that it's almost immeasurable and it is the Heaven worshippers believe in. It is also connected to Purgatory which acts as its counterpart. But another note of importance it this is where the Tree of Life is located. his layer is protected by Authorities, Principalities, and Arch-Angels. 

The Fourth Heaven is the layer that represents a simpler time and the place where it all began. The fall of making and the brightest of God's angels. This is the layer that houses The Garden of Eden where the legend of Adam and Eve began. And the place where the Tree of Wisdom resides. It is guarded by Dominations and Virtues. 

The Fifth Heaven is the former home of the members of Grigori before they fell. It is now filled with research institutes where Metatron the Chancellor of Heaven, Voice of God, Face of God, Angel of the Veil, and Scribe of God working tirelessly with other brilliant angels to fix the system of the heavens and to help his race advance. Is protected by Cherubim and Thrones, the elites of heaven given it's importance.

It is also where you can find Raphael the Angel of the Trumpet, the Healer of God, he whose name means God Heals, and the Doctor of Heaven. He's doing his research when he's not personally guarding the Tree of Life. 

The Sixth Heaven is known as "Zebel". The current core of Heaven is where the 4 Great Seraphs Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael (when he's not elsewhere)reside. It is protected by a large gate that only a God-class being could break through. 

Uriel, Archangel of Wisdom, whose name means God is My Light, Angel of Fire, Torch of God, Fire of God, Regent of the Sun, Gate Guardian, Angel of the Divine Presence, and Angel of Salvation.

Gabriel the Messenger of the Lord, the Hornblower, Bringer of Souls, the Annunciator, the Woman in Linen, Heaven's Postal Worker, and the left hand of God.

And Micheal the Sword of God, Archangel of Faith and Justice, Slayer of Demons, Fighter of Evil, Holy Force Against All Evil, Viceroy of Heaven, Archistrage of Heaven, God's General, Commander of the Holy Host.

Of the ten Seraphim in heaven Micheal, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael are the strongest and in a caliber of their own with Micheal being the strongest of the four. 

Finally, the last layer the Seventh Heaven, is home to the Sacred Gear System, and God's System. Also, where the God of the Bible once resided in Heaven when he was alive. It has a defense system that teleports trespassers away. 

-Scene Change-

In the main research lap of the fifth heaven. Metatron, Raphael, and Ezekiel were working on a project.

"Hmmm 75% chance of success" hummed Ezekiel as he adjusted his glasses.

"Higher than last time" added Metatron. He had silver hair and eyes similar to Ezekiel's, 12 white wings on his back, and wore loose-fitted pants and a shirt with a lab coat. He had a handsome face that looked a little older than Ezekiel's. One could mistake them for brothers. The halo above his head was gold with a tint of silver-grey. 

"But not high enough. It still has a 25% risk of error. We cannot in good faith endanger loyal souls." added Raphael. He was a handsome angel with blue hair and blue eyes. The halo above his head was gold with a tint of blue. And he had 12 while wings on his back. And dressed in a suit with a doctor's coat drapes on his shoulder. 

Ezekiel began typing away at the keyboard in front of him. Lines of code flew across the massive monitor the two Serphs were looking at. After a minute or so the percentage on the screen came up once again. 

85% chance of success. "That's the best I can currently get we need to test it before the meeting a month from now. Preferably on someone with ultimate class level strength at minimum. That means either myself, Sir Strada, Touji Shidou, Ewald Cristaldi, Griselda Quarta, or Dulio Gesualdo.

This machine" he says as his gaze moves from the computer to a glass chamber, covered in ancient Enochian runes and other sacred writing." can trigger a holy apotheosis. Like the one god did for you Metatron-sama when he had you shed your mortal form and made you an angel through and through."

Metatron raised his head. His hair covered his fair. But a small tear ran down his cheek."How I miss him Rapha."

Raphael sighed and patted his shoulder."So do I brother."

Metatron was never actually an angel his whole existence, but was in fact the man known as Enoch who existed during the time of Noah. It is revealed that that when the flood occurred he was brought up by God, and saved him from suffering, from the destruction of the Earth so that none could say that God was not merciful. So, to show how much God appreciated Enoch, the man underwent an apotheosis and was transformed into a being that would govern the other angels. This would make Metatron the first and only Seraphim who had been born a human.

Ezekiel let them have a moment as he continued typing."This will be superior to the evil pieces. It will be like they were born angels. They will have an intrinsic idea of how to wield their holy light. Those who had sacred gears will still possess them even though their souls will be made angelic. Those who are old will be returned to their physical prime and remain that way forever. Hmm...Strada-san and Miss Quarta are teaching recruits."

He got up and walked towards the chamber."Mr. Christaldi is training Xenovia to sharpen her sword skills and control and Dulio kidnapped Asia and Lint and took them on a food tour around Europe. Although he promised to help Asia with mastery of her sacred gear."

The machine started to hum. Holy light and energy began to permeate the room and the intensity of the light and potency of the aura kept rising. The glass chamber rose revealing a platform which he stepped on.

He turned back to the two Seraphs who had their hands clenched. They knew only he was available for testing. And since he aided in the design of the device. He was the candidate with the highest chance of survival. Metatron stared into his descendants' eyes and nodded. 

The glass descended and the runes glowed. And for a moment all of the fifth heaven was blinded by light. A holy aura so potent the weakest of those there felt their knees buckle. They wanted to submit. After a few minutes, the aura slowly faded. And a second far less powerful but still frightening aura pulses across the 5th heaven. 

The aura felt like a blade of judgment hanging above their heads, ready to fall and strike them down at any moment. The second aura slowly condensed but did not fade. It was sly and potent but controlled. Instead of thrashing around wildly, it hugged its origin like a second skin. 

Metatron and Raphael opened their eyes as the light slowly faded. Raphael had tears in his eyes. Not of pain, but of joy, as he gazed upon the form of his new sibling. Metatron was trembling with excitement. They'd done it. Their number could be replenished, they had made their father proud. 

The glass chamber rose. Standing on the platform was Ezekiel. He'd grown from his previous height of 6'2 to 6'4. He had a glowing silver-gold halo above his head and his cross-shaped pupils became more prominent. His skin was flawless, his face was perfect. And his wings... how ings were different. Usually the wings of angels no matter the rank were white. Seraph had varying aura around their wings and halo which corresponded with their nature. Micheal was the only angel with golden wings.

Behind Ezekiel spread wide proudly for all to see were 10 silver wings. They had a metallic sheen to them that seemed to cut the very air. 

"Hmm, perhaps this has to do with my sacred gear or the experiments that made me part angel. "

Metatron snapped out of his entrancement and went into research mode. H type away and analyze all the data gained from the experiment. 

"Can you still feel your sacred gear?" asked the doctor of heaven.

"Yes, it's fine it soaked up a lot of that energy and is most likely evolving."

Raphael's eyes widened a bit. "How do you feel?"

"Good," he said as she flexed his wings and his muscles. "Report. I could feel every aspect of my physical being change. Once my soul accepted the apotheosis my body felt no rejection."

Raphael nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, feeling that aura and with your ascension being a success. Your name should have been added to the tablet that records the names of all pureblood angels. Which means all the Seraph should be on their way hear."

"Good, I'll need to dilute the potency of the energy for anyone else going in. But other than a few minor adjustments that'll take a day at most. This is a great success Lord Ra-"

Raphael held up his hand to stop him. And with a warm smile plastered on his face.

"Call me brother."

Ezekiel's eyes widened before a similar smile appeared on his face, breaking his usual stoic exterior. 

"Of course brother"