The Divine Twilight's Return

Chapter 390: Star, Arcadia (2)

“Huff, huff, huff...!” Flapping his three sets of wings, Uriel quickly fled from the battlefield of ‘Polaris’ using a long route.

As one of the Four Seraphim in <Maleakhe>, he had always maintained his elegance. However, he couldn’t afford to care about that right now.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ quickly scans the surroundings! Detecting the strong scent of an angel in the area has put her on high alert!]

[As commanded by their leader, a hunting party of the Society <Nammu> searches the surroundings.]

‘Shit! They’re already here!’ Uriel gritted his teeth.

None of this would have happened if Lahmu and Bashmu had done their jobs properly. If everything went according to plan, they would have taken down Tiamat, Chang-Sun’s strongest ally. Chang-Sun would’ve only barely made out of the Zodiacs’ ambush.

From them, Uriel could’ve just backstabbed Chang-Sun and rooted out the source of all catastrophes, allowing him to go back to <Maleakhe> at ease. He could have also ended this dangerous war, which could have burned down Worldline #801. However, like snow melting in the offset of spring, his plans had all gone awry.

‘All of these happened because of those people’s idiocy! I’m not the one at fault here!’ Uriel consoled himself.

However, who had to be held accountable wasn’t important right now. He had to escape ‘Polaris’ as fast as he could. Unfortunately, he couldn’t teleport away since Chang-Sun and Thanatos were now the owners of this place, which meant they would definitely find him if he tried something that would leave a trail of coordinates behind.

Uriel’s only means of escape was on foot. However, the <Nammu>’s hunting party was right behind him, making it difficult for him to leave.

He desperately looked up at the sky. ‘If only <Maleakhe> can help me during times like this!’

[The Society <Maleakhe> is discussing what to do with the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’!]

The messages that popped in front of him only put him in even more despair.

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ strongly asserts that the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has gone rogue because he didn’t discuss anything with them. Hence, the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ should bear the full weight of this responsibility!]

[The Celestial ‘West Angel of the Prophecy’ speaks up for the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ out of pity, saying that he was trying his best to stop this universe from meeting <Extinction>!]

[The Celestial ‘Medicine-Granting Air’ shuts his eyes, unable to take anyone’s side in this tragic situation!]

The other Seraphims, who ruled <Maleakhe> with Uriel, couldn’t decide what to do with Uriel. Tiamat not only had <Nammu> but also the <Anti-Star> Alliance, a huge faction, under her influence. Hence, Michael asserted that they should sacrifice Uriel to prevent Tiamat’s wrath from spreading to their <Society>. On the other hand, Gabriel voiced that they should protect Uriel to repay all his hard work over the years. Although Raphael was silent and stayed neutral, he seemed to be with Michael on the matter.

Unlike in other <Societies>, those sharing the same ranks in <Malaekhe> were treated as equals. However, if two of the Seraphims shared the same opinion, then their decision was as good as made.

‘Metatron, Eden’s Celestial Scribe! Why are you not here...? Where in the world did you go?’ Uriel thought in despair.

Metatron used to be <Malaekhe>’s Celestial Scribe, but he was now missing along with Baal, the leader of <L’Infernal>. That was why <Maleakhe> and <L’Infernal> weren’t active anymore. Uriel couldn’t help missing Metatron more today. He was wise, so he would likely listen to him and set the foolish Michael and Raphael on the right path!

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ says that their emergency meeting will never end at this rate. He suggests they decide with their members’ vote!]

[The Celestial ‘West Angel of the Prophecy’ agrees to the suggestion.]

[The Celestial ‘Medicine-Granting Air’ agrees to the suggestion.]

[The Four Seraphims’ decision has started an anonymous vote on the current agenda!]

[Voting...]

Gulp!

Uriel gulped. Although he was furious with Michael and Raphael, he would have to deal with them later. He had to find a way out of this situation alive first.

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ requests for an opportunity to speak for himself!]

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ reluctantly nods.]

[The Celestial ‘West Angel of the Prophecy’ agrees out of pity.]

[The Celestial ‘Medicine-Granting Air’ accepts the request.]

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has been granted the opportunity!]

[All members of the Society <Maleakhe> are paying attention to the final remark of the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper.’]

Holding himself back from speaking out loud, Uriel slowly created his message.

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ earnestly pleads that his colleagues not forget about the prophecy that the Celestial ‘Celestial Scribe’ has left to the <Society>!]

[Many of the angels fall into silence.]

[Many of the angels agonize.]

‘Yes...!’ Uriel clenched his fists.

Metatron left a prophecy before he disappeared, and it turned <Maleakhe> upside down.

“Life’s fall and bloom is the truth of nature. This universe is blooming radiantly, but someday, at the end of its glory, it will fall and leave behind a sizable, ripe fruit. The twilight of that moment will be brilliantly beautiful.”

The prophecy’s meaning remained unclear to this day and still had many interpretations, but Uriel always asserted that the prophecy meant the <Extinction> of this universe and was related to the twilight that was mentioned in the end. When ‘Divine Twilight’ showed up, he instinctively realized that he was the one mentioned in Metatron’s prophecy. Even his Divine Name pointed to it.

<Maleakhe> disregarded Uriel’s assertion and treated it as nonsense until Chang-Sun started making brilliant achievements. Thinking that the balance of the universe would be in danger if they left Chang-Sun to his devices, a sense of crisis spread among the <Maleakhe> members. Even Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael began to find his claim plausible. That was why they sent him to the <Anti-Star> Alliance as the delegate to investigate the matter in more depth, which actually meant keeping an eye on Chang-Sun and assessing the threat he posed.

The problem was that Uriel exceeded his authority and plotted internal strife in <Nammu> by colluding with Lahmu and Bashmu. It almost cost Tiamat her life and could have led to the <Anti-Star> Alliance’s defeat in the <Purple Star Astrology>’s hands. As a <Society> that always proclaimed to be enforcers who maintained the balance of the universe, <Malaekhe> could never tolerate such behavior.

However, Uriel was very confident.

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ strongly emphasizes that his decision was inevitable to stop <Extinct—!]

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ tells the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ that his chance for a final remark is over, stopping him by force as the chairman.]

Uriel’s message was cut short.

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ coldly criticizes the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ to stop his useless endeavor. ]

‘Shit! Michael, you bastard! Are you really going to do this to me?!’ Uriel clenched his fists in fury, veins bulging out of the back of his hands.

He could picture the arrogant look on Michael’s face right now. He wanted to punch him.

[The voting process is over.]

[Compiling the votes!]

One second, two seconds... Uriel could feel his mouth drying up, finding himself suffocatingly anxious about his trackers finding him.

『I get that there are only a few places to hide, but I can’t believe I found you so quickly anyway.』

An ominous voice echoed from below Uriel.

[The Celestial ‘World-Encircling Serpent’ marvels at his brilliance, opening up his mouth as he holds back his laughter!]

“...!” Uriel reflexively looked down, the sight catching him by surprise.

The ground where he was standing had collapsed, revealing a colossal serpent opening his mouth to devour Uriel. J?rmungandr. Uriel had forgotten the fact that one of Chang-Sun’s close acquaintances was this sly snake—<Niflheim>’s strategist!

Kieeeeeeh!

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has activated the Authority ‘Destruction of Sodom and Gomora’!]

Uriel fiercely swung his sword downward, creating a pillar of fire that blasted J?rmungandr away.

Boooom!

The forest collapsed, and the ground soared like a tsunami, forcing Uriel to fly up into the sky.

[The Celestial ‘A Good Season to Hunt’ has started her descent, having found her target!]

Rumble!

In full gear, Pabilsag appeared, pointed her spear downward, and attacked Uriel.

Claaaaaang!

“Keough!” Uriel clenched his teeth as the force pushed him away.

J?rmungandr came at Uriel from below as Pabilsag attacked him from above. Against two Great Celestials, his chances of winning were slim.

‘When?! When will the vote finish...?!’ Uriel wondered desperately.

[Compiling the vote!]

The compilation still seemed far from over.

“For trying to harm Mother, I’ll make you pay with your life.” Pabilsag flew at Uriel again, her hair fluttering.

『My father will love it if I rip apart a Seraphim with my fangs. You remember devastating a part of our land before, don’t you?』

J?rmungandr was having a lot of fun even though Uriel’s [Destruction of Sodom and Gomora] had destroyed half of his face.

‘Please! Please...!’ Uriel was in agony. He hadn’t even decided whom he should go up against first.

[The Celestial ‘Malignity-Drinking Saturn’ offers the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ to join him!]

Another message popped up below the one about the votes still being compiled. Satan was the fallen angel who joined <L’Infernal> with his followers after losing to Metatron in the contest for the position of <Maleakhe>’s Celestial Scribe. Now more popularly known as one of <L’Infernal>’s Seven Deadly Sin Monarchs, accepting his offer meant Urial would become a fallen angel as well.

An honorable Seraphim, Uriel never even imagined joining the group of traitors. However, he was in imminent danger, and there was no telling when the results of the votes would be announced. If his opponents captured him, <Maleakhe> wouldn’t be able to rescue him anymore even if that had the most votes.

[The Celestial ‘Malignity-Drinking Saturn’ grins and says that there is no need to agonize about it. He puts his hands up and takes a step back, then adds that all the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has to say is ‘no’ if he does not want to take the offer.]

When Satan tried to back out from the situation, the fire of anxiety in Uriel blazed up even more fiercely.

“Okay! I’ll do anything you want, so do something about this already!” Uriel yelled.

Ding!

[The Celestial ‘Malignity-Drinking Saturn’ says that the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ will never regret his decision!]

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has accepted the offer! The Faction of the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has changed from the Society <Maleakhe> to the Society <L'Infernal>.]

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has left the Absolute Good and joined the Absolute Evil.]

[The corruption of the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has started, converting all his divine power into demonic energy.]

[The corruption process can cause some pain, so it is advised to secure a safe area first.]

[The compilation has been completed!]

[The result of the vote is ‘rescue’.]

[The Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’ has left the Society <Maleakhe>. The requirement to execute the agenda is no longer fulfilled.]

Within a second, Uriel was notified about his Faction officially changing, and then the voting’s result. <Maleakhe> could no longer intervene.

‘Ah...!’ Uriel regretted his decision. His impatience had ruined everything.

[The Celestial ‘Sky-Resemble’ says that he knew this would happen. He clicks his tongue and turns away without lingering feelings!]

[The Celestial ‘West Angel of the Prophecy’ lets out a sigh as she closes the Channeling.]

[The Celestial ‘Medicine-Granting Air’ closes his eyes.]

...

[All angels in the Society <Maleakhe> look away from the Channeling!]

[The resolve of a Great Demon King has manifested!]

As the Channeling of <L'Infernal> replaced <Maleakhe>’s, Uriel felt something chipping away from his heart.

Boooom!

At that moment, a storm of demonic energy raged around Uriel, stopping Pabilsag and J?rmungandr from approaching him.

“How dare you, Satan! Are <L'Infernal> and <Paradise Lost> trying to make an enemy out of <Nammu>?!” Pabilsag roared in anger.

With narrowed eyes, J?rmungandr tried to figure out what Satan, who was slowly descending, was trying to do.

『I wasn’t expecting the Absolute Evil to intervene...』

Pzzzzz―!

The storm of black demonic energy around Uriel grew bigger and spread over the sky. At the same time, Uriel’s snow-white wings turned black.

‘Maybe this is for the better. Michael can’t interrupt me with my work anymore, and my days of dealing with Gabriel’s hypocrisy are over. I may have thrown myself into the pit of evil, but if my resolve to save the world remains solid and I drive out Twilight... Metatron will recognize my sincerity when he comes back!’ Uriel thought, trying to convince himself that no matter where he was, his devotion was enough to reach salvation. At the same time, he also wondered how Satan would save him from behind enemy lines.

[The Celestial ‘Malignity-Drinking Saturn’ is descending on the request of the Celestial ‘Garden Gatekeeper’!] The source of this ᴄontent is N(o)vᴇl(F)ire.net

Satan was about to emerge from the portal that opened up in front of Uriel, quickly flying from beyond the deep darkness that resembled the Bottomless Void. A Dragon wearing a red jeweled crown was coming at Uriel, baring his fangs, which were dripping with lethal poison, as if he was trying to devour Uriel.

‘I’ve been tricked!’ Uriel’s face turned pale, finally realizing that Satan’s ulterior motive was Celestial Cannibalism. However, he could no longer escape his fate.

Stab!

The sharp sound of flesh being torn apart echoed before Satan could eat up Uriel with his Dragon fangs. Uriel looked down, finding a spearhead protruding out of his chest.

“How...?” Uriel murmured. The familiar runes on the spearhead was enough for him to know who its owner was.

“I always get the last hit,” Chang-Sun replied. Before Uriel could ask what he meant, he pulled out [Gungnir] and swung it again.

Slash―!

Spuuurt!

Uriel’s head flew high in the air.