The Seraphic System
Chapter: 72
Disclaimer: I don't own High School Dxd or any other universe used in this story.
Pa/ t reon details below the chapter if you're interested in seeing some content in advance.
(The Holy Order)
Audible gasps of surprise filled the chamber as the rift expanded, widening into a portal. Beyond it lay the breathtaking sight my sub-dimension had turned into.
A large forest stretching into the distance. Overshadowed by the two colossal trees, their roots entwined like the very veins of existence, towered above everything else. Their trunks pulsed with a foreign energy while their branches arced through the sky.
One tree glowed with a soft silver light while the other glowed with a golden hue. We had arrived in time to witness the dusk of Two Trees which was breathtaking.
They all stepped inside and I watched as my Seraphs stood frozen, taking in the scene with pure shock. I could imagine this was the last thing they expected to walk into.
"What… is this?" Raguel breathed.
Sariel took a hesitant step forward. "This space… it feels alive. It feels a bit like the Garden."
I could see Raphael grow excited as her curious eyes scanned everything with unbidden intrigue. I gave them a second to process my sub-dimension that still had yet to be named.
I let out a chuckle, stepping through the rift and gesturing for them to follow. "This," I said, gesturing around "is my sub-dimension. A creation you could technically say I stumbled upon."
That was my best explanation.
The Seraphs exchanged looks of surprise before stepping in, their gazes flickering from the vast forest to the towering trees.
"This is incredible," Uriel murmured, his eyes flickering to the two trees. "Especially the two Trees. I can sense that they are special, they have a sacred fire inside them."
It was in that moment as they all observed the large Two legendary Trees' that their eyes changed as the blessing finally took hold. They all perked up as their eyes changed, their perception growing sharper. A boost in energy filled their bodies.
"What is this?" Raphael questioned.
"The very light around them feels powerful." Seraphiel commented.
"There was also another reason I wanted to bring you here." I admitted. "These Trees have a special blessing that is granted to anyone who lays their eyes on them."
"A blessing?" Uriel questioned.
"Yes, it gives you a boost in power and perception." I revealed.
"How is that possible?" Michael wondered.
"What do you mean?" I asked, I wasn't really too well versed on the subject of blessings. Was this truly that surprising?
"Blessings function as imprints of power, granted by beings with immense magic and other reserves, primarily gods, and certain supernatural entities. These blessings act as a fusion of the caster's energies boosting certain attributes of the blessed individual." Raphael explained. "Handing out blessings like this from a tree with seemingly no consciousness is impressive but handing out so many takes a lot of power."
I absorbed the knowledge eagerly, so Two Trees that could give out such a blessing were incredibly powerful. I already knew that. My legendary summon had been in the God-class, so it was safe to assume that the system's level of legendary was around that level.
"The Trees are rather special as you can see." I replied slightly bashfully.
They didn't seem to take much mind in it. Weird shit happened to me everyday.
Raphael stared at our surroundings.
"Even creating an independent dimensional space of this magnitude… only powerful beings could even attempt such a feat." Raphael murmured. "Sub-dimension's like these are hard to create, even more so if they are permanent."
I shrugged. "It's been my home while I moved through the supernatural world. It's the place I needed to see when I briefly left. It holds everyone important to me."
They seemed to accept it. I could tell that the last sentence intrigued them.
Gabriel seemed to catch on and grew visibly excited.
"I sense and can spot multiple beings within this sub-dimension." Uriel said, looking towards the walking Trees. "Are they peaceful?"
His gaze turned slightly narrowed.
"They are not hostile." I responded confidently.
"Perhaps we should station a few Angels' forces here?" Uriel started muttering. "If this is truly your second home."
I rolled my eyes.
"This place has been my home for quite a while, I'm sure I'll be fine." I assured him. "Though it is constantly changing due to the Two Trees."
"What are those two Trees?" Gabriel questioned. "I can sense a large spiritual pressure emanating from them, it almost feels akin to holy power."
"I sense it too, how fascinating." Raphael said, coming to stand by the small pond near the base of one of the massive Trees.
"The silver tree is named Telperion and the golden one, Laurelin." I informed them.
"Where did you find them?" Raphael asked. "It seems to be affecting the very space around it."
Gabriel crouched beside the small pound. A small stream rose, only to be cut off. "Even the water that pools around the Trees is special."
"It's complicated, technically they came from me." I answered vaguely.
If we considered the system to be a part of myself. Instead of being put-off by my answer or even suspicious they all smiled brightly. Metatron and a few other Seraphs even began looking a little emotional at the statement.
I sent a raised eyebrow to Uriel.
"It overjoys us to see you slowly recover." He replied with a grin.
I had an epiphany.
They assumed it was a manifestation of God's old abilities.
Speaking of, my eyes sneakily took a glance towards my divine shard progress.
[Divine Shard] {Progress: 8.9%}
[The Shard of God. The resurrected shard of his essence that has merged with the user. As the shard progresses the user will receive more abilities from his merged counterpart. Yahweh.]
Creating a new set of Angels with 'Pantheon.' Had given me a large boost in progress. I was close to ten percent.
My gaze flickered back to Seraphiel, who went to speak only to pause as they all noticed a slow movement under my shirt caught their attention.
A soft hiss echoed through the clearing as a long, silver-white serpent slithered out from beneath my shirt, its smooth body coiling behind me as it grew larger with each passing second.
My Angels tensed and I saw their eyes growing colder by the second. I had come to learn they had two different personalities and this was the one they used when about to enter a fight.
Even if they were for the most part pure beings, I realised they had a way to temporarily shut that off without Falling.
They were still a group of ancient Angels despite how they acted.
I quickly intervened.
"Relax," I said, lifting a hand. "This is Galadriel."
I felt oddly embarrassed. My snake lifted its head, its eyes intelligent and knowing as it regarded the gathered angels.
They all paused, the seven very powerful Seraphs and the four Arch-Seraphs relaxing as they realised she wasn't a threat. Metatron, Uriel and Michael were still tense, looking ready to jump into my defence but they didn't outright look like they were preparing to fight.
Not that it would last long in the case of Michael.
"I don't believe I've ever seen a snake like this, what's your connection with it?" Raphael asked curiously.
"She's my Familiar of sorts? She's been with me for a long time." I replied thoughtfully.
"A snake…? Is your Familiar? Michael muttered.
Galadriel flicked her tongue out and slowly moved over to Raphael.
"She's strong." Uriel commented. "What species does she hail from?"
"She's an Astral Serpent, you wouldn't know of her race. Again, technically I created her."
Those words removed any doubt, as all of them relaxed, the revelation seemingly taking away any doubt.
Raphael let the Astral Serpent wrap around her arm eagerly.
"What do you plan on doing with this location?" Uriel asked, looking thoughtful as he examined all the space.
"I'm not sure." I replied, gesturing over to the small house in the distance. "I already have somewhat of a residence."
"It'll need an upgrade." He nodded.
"I believe the reason he asks is because it has long since any construction or change was made to Heaven, we don't wish to remove the beauty of the lands that were created around Heaven's city so long ago and we refuse to knock down any of our… former siblings' homes, Father." Michael interjected calmly. "While we can expand into the much larger human world, it'll leave us open for attacks. Attacks we aren't ready for. We have a very small number of heavily-guarded outposts on Earth. Attackers will not know of this sub-dimension which is a strategic advantage we should use as much as we can."
"Oh, I see." I nodded slowly, "I had planned on expanding it before coming to Heaven. Mostly to house my Angels but… something stopped me from making anymore for a while. So that plan was put on hold."
"Before we speak about any of that, Is it possible to create a permanent portal here?" Raphael interjected from her position playing with Galadriel.
"It should be, I have to close the rift behind me to stop it from staying open." I replied, "but I can only make one entrance."
"Perhaps that's for the best, just like Heaven only has one entrance." Raphael replied absentmindedly.
"Is this sub-dimension protected?" Michael asked, "I'm afraid Heaven's ward and formation builders were scarce even before the war, and none of them survived the Great War."
"It should be, I'm not really sure how sub-dimensions work though." I admitted bashfully. "How would they even get attacked?"
"It depends. Sub-dimensions are closely tied to space magic," Raphael explained. "Unlike full dimensions, they're temporary pockets of space, often located in the Dimensional Gap—though vulnerable to attack if their location is known."
She took a breath, casually stroking my Familiar which made Gabriel pout as I could see her desire to stroke Galadriel increase.
"Some, however, are more stable, existing within other dimensions or the human world. The Youkai in Kyoto, for example, have a sub-dimension where they reside, and there's rumored to be one within the pyramids, though contact has long been lost." She finished.
Michael nodded. "A permanent sub-dimension is incredibly hard and rare to create. The resources needed to maintain a sub-dimension are no joke either. The Devils are an example of using a temporary sub-dimension to host their rating game, I'm not sure if you're familiar with them yet though."
"I am aware of them, and the many problems Heaven has been facing regarding them. Do we have a way to replicate their sub-dimension creation?" I asked after a moment, that was something I could see the value in.
They seemed ready to respond, but before they could, twelve brilliant white lights streaked through the air, moving toward us with incredible speed.
All words died in their throats as the figures descended upon the clearing.
As the kicked up dust settled, the twelve figures of my Angels were revealed. The moment the older angels laid eyes on the younger ones, they froze. Their movements stiffened, their expressions unreadable.
In return the younger Angels all looked unsure.
I watched the scene play out curiously. I had already informed my Angels that we would be arriving.
So they knew what to expect.
Avael stood at the front, clenched her hands at her sides.
Her eyes flickered between all of my Arch-Seraphs. Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel and then the Seraphs before lowering slightly, uncertainty clear in her stance.
The others mirrored her hesitation.
The older angels, however, had no such restraint.
Gabriel was unsurprisingly the first to move.
Her entire face lit up, a brilliant, breathtaking smile spreading as she practically surged forward. I carefully looked into her eyes, the darkness that she hid so well. It had seemed to recede alot but I hoped the new creation of so many Angels helped.
"You must be Avael," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I saw your name on the board of Angels."
She didn't wait or even let Avael reply, her arms came to wrap around the younger angel in a firm embrace. Avael stiffened at first, eyes widening in shock as I'm sure she found it strange, considering I technically didn't create Gabriel. But as Gabriel's warmth surrounded her, the tension slowly bled from her body. Gabriel had that effect.
Avael returned the embrace.
That seemed to break the silence.
Uriel smiled, stepping forward next. He studied Aurel for a long moment, his usual stern expression cracking into something softer, something raw.
"No new Angels have truly been created for many years," he murmured, almost to himself. His eyes shone with something unreadable, something deeply personal, and before Aurel could react, Uriel reached out and clasped his shoulder. "It's good to have you here, little brother."
Aurel blinked rapidly, before he smiled. "It's good to be here."
"All of them are strong," Michael said from beside me. "Each of them would be eligible to become a Seraph. This is big… Father."
"How so?" I asked as we watched Raphael interact with two of them.
Raphael's hands trembled slightly as she approached Zakiel and Tamiel. "It's been so long," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. Her sharp eyes gleamed as she took them in, as if trying to memorize every detail.
She laughed, an actual laugh, before pulling both of them into a fierce hug.
"As we briefly went over the meeting, an ultimate-class being is a boon to any Faction. While it's easy to overlook them for the true powerhouses, they are the people who contribute most in the battles you can attend." Michael explained.
He was right, It was easy to overlook them.
Even if I was only just reaching the higher stage of the ultimate-class myself.
"We don't fight as much as you think we would if a war broke out. If a God-class being arrives on one battlefield, you have to send one in response. That in turn weakens your overall defence." Michael further explained, still watching the scene with a smile. "So, it falls to the ultimate-class beings of your Faction to decide the battles."
Metatron sighed next to me. "Do you always have to think about war, Michael?"
Michael blushed in embarrassment. "I was just trying to inform Father."
The moment was interrupted by a sudden shift in the air.
Two beings materialised close by. One with a blue magical circle and another in a flash of fire.
My Seraphs tensed once more at the sudden arrival, they turned toward the two figures now standing near the treeline, taking in their presence with cautious curiosity.
The first was Tiamat who was dressed in a form-fitting black and gold ensemble, she carried herself with the kind of confidence only an ancient being could possess.
Beside her stood Hestia wore a delicate white sleeveless chiton and peploi covering her form, giving her an air of simplicity that betrayed her sheer power.
Tiamat's sharp eyes flickered toward my angels, particularly lingering on Michael and Gabriel, before settling on me. "You're not going to introduce us?"
"They're allies," I said, making my stance clear. "I brought them here to discuss a few things, but also because I trust them."
Hestia smiled and walked up to me, taking my arm affectionately.
Gabriel's passive look turned scrutinizing as she stared at Hestia, a strange look flashing across her face before she shook it off.
Hestia, however, caught it.
"Well, well," the Olympian said with a smirk, striding over to Gabriel and casually linking arms with her.
"You must be Gabriel, I've heard about you from my Kai." Hestia smiled. "Let's talk."
Hestia gave me a knowing glance before practically dragging Gabriel off toward the gardens.
Okay….
-{Tiamat}-
Tiamat sent an amused glance towards Gabriel and Hestia as they spoke.
The Arch-Seraphs' face morphed through multiple complex emotions. She focused back on the rest of the Seraphs surrounding Kai with a hint of wariness.
Kai introduced the rest of his Seraphs to her and she simply nodded in greeting. Tiamat hadn't interacted with the Angels much. Especially considering her alliance with the Devils and her former Pantheon, so she didn't know what to make of them.
She had heard the stories, these Angels weren't as naive as they presented themselves. Especially the Arch-Seraphs.
Tiamat watched in silence as the Seraphs interacted with Kai's realm.
The Angel Michael and the handful of Seraphs he was with, Raziel, Sandalphon, and Raguel had taken it upon themselves to begin construction. From what she could hear anyway. They looked for places they could build without damaging the surroundings too much.
Uriel had ventured with two of the Seraphs, seeking rare metals and materials for smithing.
She knew of the main four Arch-Seraphs. So she could identify them purely from appearance. The others she learnt the name from Kai's introduction.
The others went towards the only resident in the sub-dimension.
Tiamat's gaze eventually returned to Kai, who stood with Raphael beside an ancient-looking artifact.
He told her something, and the space before him shimmered, folding inward before stabilizing into a glowing, rune-covered portal.
She had known this was coming, even if she hadn't quite suspected that Kai would be the King Of Heaven.
"Interesting," she mused aloud.
"Do you think so, Dragon King?"
Tiamat turned to see Uriel standing a short distance away, arms crossed, eyes locked onto her with no visible emotion present.
She arched a brow. "I do."
"You've been watching us for hours." Uriel's voice was even. "Yet you remain distant. Observing. From what Father tells me you are rather close." His gaze narrowed.
"You could say that." She replied lazily.
"Then why is it that you're so on guard around us?" Uriel questioned.
"I've known Kai longer than you've even known of his existence. I know him more than you do. I can't say the same for you though." Tiamat replied calmly.
Uriel's eyes squinted at her words, and Tiamat could see a hint of child-like defiance.
"If you value Father, then you shouldn't be suspicious of us of all people. Considering the situation." Uriel replied with a hint of annoyance.
Tiamat smirked. "Is it suspicion or caution, Archangel?"
"Considering your alliances with the Devils, I would say both." Uriel commented apathetically.
Tiamat chuckled. "You wound me, Uriel. But my alliance with the Devils had been more of a necessity."
"A necessity?" He questioned.
"Dragons aren't exactly common and they've all grown so weak. When a Dragon grows too strong they are either sealed or killed." Tiamat explained logically. "With my exit from my old Pantheon, I was free game. I think you of all people should know about that."
"They were out of control." Uriel calmly retorted.
"Out of control? Like the various factions that slaughter hundreds of humans every day? Or is it different because we dragons prefer to roam alone?" Her voice carried a sharp edge of irritation.
Uriel remained impassive. "Only when they become a threat and start killing people in a rampage. Like the two Heavenly Dragons."
Tiamat narrowed her eyes. "Ddraig and Albion caused destruction, yes, but in the uninhabited parts of the Underworld. Your kind decided to engage in battle near a dragon fight, got caught in the aftermath, and then blamed them for it by sealing them." She turned to him fully now, arms crossed. "They barely even noticed you."
Uriel didn't flinch, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps. But dragons have long been known for their destruction. You are chaos given form, It isn't hatred. When a powerful Dragon arrives they normally leave everything behind in ruin. The uninhabited parts of the underworld can attest to that."
Tiamat smirked, though there was no amusement in it. "Reality, is it?" She tilted her head. "Or just the excuse you tell yourselves to justify your fear?"
Uriel remained silent.
"So that's why I had to find myself a powerful ally in the Devils. Heaven certainly wasn't offering." She crossed her arms. "Do you trust me a bit more now? I have no intent to harm Kai."
"We sensed that the moment we laid eyes on you." Uriel revealed, a small grin on his face. "We would have killed you if we had sensed your intent to hurt Father."
Tiamat simply nodded.
"I had been wary of you, especially since you had somehow convinced Father you were his ally. We are not blind to his temporary naïveté. It was bound to be like this with his rebirth." Uriel commented. "Father always had the effect of redeeming those who didn't seem redeemable."
He chuckled, and left without saying a word. Talking to another Seraph in the distance as he joined Michael.
That sounded about right.
Truthfully, Tiamat felt more comfortable now. Angels were pure beings but that didn't make them necessarily naive.
She cast her gaze back toward the Seraphs, continuing to watch how they moved through his sub-dimension. She looked over towards Raphael and Remiel specifically.
Tiamat's lips twitched as she caught the sheer excitement radiating from the two of them. They scribbled notes, and tossed ideas back and forth.
"…And if we can integrate it into the core matrix, we can build that laboratory we wanted to build. With all of Father's new creations, I can't imagine the possibilities!" Remiel was saying, her hands moving animatedly.
Raphael nodded rapidly, eyes gleaming. "Exactly!-"
Tiamat immediately tuned them out.
She focused in on another conversation, one that was far more interesting. Gabriel and Hestia, whose conversation had taken on an interesting tone.
At first, it had been Hestia mildly teasing Gabriel, casually wrapping her arm around the Arch-Seraph and grinning like a fox that had just cornered its prey.
"You know, Gabriel," Hestia said sweetly. "I never expected an Arch-Seraph to be so… receptive to certain topics."
Gabriel's lips twitched, and Tiamat caught the faintest blush dusting her cheeks.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gabriel said quickly, voice too even to be natural.
"Oh?" Hestia leaned in slightly, a knowing glint in her eyes. "So you mean to tell me you haven't been thinking about it?"
Gabriel stiffened, eyes darting toward Kai, who wasn't listening.
Tiamat smirked. Now this was interesting.
Hestia sighed softly. "No need to deny it, I know how charming Kai can be."
"I have no idea what you mean, Goddess." She replied neutrally and turned tail, walking away at a brisk pace that the Goddess of the Hearth mimicked.
She had never seen Hestia so… predatory.
Tiamat's gaze landed back on Kai, whose form retreated into the house.
-{Kai}-
I stepped inside the house, immediately spotting Medusa lounging near a window, her fingers idly tracing patterns along the glass.
She turned as I entered, her golden eyes calm but curious. "Hey, Kai."
"Hey Medusa, do you know where Grizella is? I need to talk to you two about something." I replied.
"I'm here, my Lord." A voice came from the hallway, I turned around to meet the gaze of Grizella.
"Good." I said, "As you both know, I intend to make both of you Holy Knights."
They both nodded.
"I'm probably going to do this when I get back to Heaven. But there is an issue regarding your names." I broached the subject. "I'm going to need you to choose new names."
Having them keep their original names would be complicated.
"Even if it's just one you make up for the public." I finished, not wanting them to get annoyed by the subject.
Medusa raised an eyebrow. "New names?"
Grizella tilted her head. "Why?"
"Because we essentially kidnapped you from the Greek Pantheon," I said, looking at Medusa. "And because Grizella sounds a bit more on the demonic side."
Grizella nodded. "Fair point, I shall do as instructed by my Lord."
Medusa hummed, seemingly unbothered by the request. "I suppose a new name would suit a new purpose. It might even be a fresh start."
Gabriel took that moment to walk in.
Gabriel stepped into the room, Her gaze swept over Medusa and Grizella before settling on me with a silent question.
"Perfect timing, I wanted to introduce these two to you. These are two of the people I plan to elect as Holy Knights, I had already talked to Metatron while you were talking with Hestia." I informed her.
Gabriel's expression didn't change, but her gaze sharpened as she observed the two women. She stepped closer.
Medusa met Gabriel's gaze without hesitation, Grizella, meanwhile, lowered her head respectfully, her posture composed but deferential.
She nodded as if they passed some sort of test.
"You're confident in them?" Gabriel finally asked, turning back to me.
"I wouldn't have chosen them otherwise."
Gabriel nodded before shifting her attention back to Medusa and Grizella. "Swear your loyalty to him now, before me. Let me see your conviction."
Grizella immediately knelt, placing a hand over her chest. "I swear my loyalty to Lord Kai. My blade, my strength, and my will are his to command."
Medusa, more relaxed in her approach, inclined her head. "You already have my loyalty, Kai. But if formality is needed— then I swear it."
Gabriel studied them for a moment longer, as if assessing the sincerity of their words. Finally, she gave a small nod. "They will do."
I smirked slightly. "Glad to have your approval."
She shot me a bright smile. "Thanks for including me." Her face became pensive as she hummed, thoughtful. "Since you're forming this order, I have a suggestion. Jeanne should be among them."
I paused, considering the idea. It made sense. I'd think more on it later.
A small gasp came from the doorway.
I turned just in time to see Asia Argento standing there, her sky-blue eyes wide in shock, her hands trembling slightly as she stared at me like she'd just seen a ghost.
I had expected some reaction but not for her legs to suddenly buckle beneath her.
Gabriel moved instantly, catching her before she hit the floor.
Her breathing was uneven, her hands clutching at my robes as if grounding herself. "I-" she swallowed, struggling to speak, her entire body trembling.
"You're… really…"
I sighed, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Yes, Asia. It's really me."
She let out a shuddering breath, squeezing her eyes shut.
"I guess this is also a good opportunity, she is the third member I picked-"
"Yes." Gabriel nodded instantly. "She will do wonderfully."
I blinked. Well, it seems she's taken a liking to her.
I decided to spend the night here.
-Scene Break-
I sat on the throne of Heaven with a thoughtful face as Jeanne stood next to me. I yawned, I had just left my sub-dimension after an… interesting night that found Tiamat, Hestia and Gabriel closely sleeping next to me. All of my other Seraphs had returned to the many duties Heaven needed attending to.
Jeanne shyly stole glances at me, her two bright blue eyes having an almost unnoticeable golden ring around them. I had taken her into my sub-dimension to be blessed after letting my Angels wander around for a bit.
It hadn't been hard to find her since she had taken to training in the Garden Of Eden, on Uriel's mountain to be more specific. I had brought her to act as my bodyguard after that, mostly since she insisted and it made my other Angels feel more at ease.
They still didn't want to let me move around without any sort of protection.
I would have liked to stay a bit longer but I had another matter to attend to. One regarding the Holy Order. The Order that the Saint was meant to lead, consisting of the Seven Holy Knights I had yet to elect.
Gabriel was also in the room, standing next to me as I started the process. She remained silent as she watched me.
Seven Holy Knights:
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
[Unselected]
-
Blessing: [Empty]
My eyes trailed over to Jeanne who happily stood guard and then to Gabriel who shot me an excited smile.
Truthfully, I wanted to make her one of the Holy Knights.
Currently, I have only selected three to serve as my Holy Knights. Again, I could be rushing things but this impending attack was making me anxious. I knew nothing.
One lead I had also knew nothing and was currently unconscious within the space that was my inventory. I was on the defence and I wasn't used to it. I couldn't move because Heaven was set in one unmovable location around the pillars of creation.
I didn't even know if this attack would even reach us.
There was an entire dimension that repels anyone with bad intentions. This could be a case of someone being completely over their head and arrogant enough to attack a Faction that has been deemed weak.
It didn't help that I kept getting flashes of memories that I was certain came from my predecessor.
Right now, I had:
Asia, for the role of healer.
Medusa, for the role of magic caster.
Grizella, for the role of warrior.
That's what I had decided on. Grizella had been shunted to the sidelines for too long. I hadn't known what to do with a Goblin who I had admittedly taken on a whim.
The evolution had made her power soar to new heights. Leaving her to continue acting as a maid would be a waste, and besides that I had felt she was genuine in her new-found loyalty.
Jeanne.
She would be a powerful Holy Knight, but it felt wrong. It would be a downgrade. Yet, she would get a powerful blessing. While I suspected the cost of each blessing depending on how strong the receiver was, I didn't mind using up more Faith for her.
She noticed me staring and got increasingly flustered, shifting slightly where she stood.
"Can I do something for you, My Lord?" she asked hesitantly, her voice gentle.
I blinked, then smiled. "No, I was just thinking."
She tilted her head, her blue eyes filled with concern. "About the coming battle?"
I exhaled slowly. "Yes. The Angelic Faction is still weak… much weaker than I would like. With my inheritance of the throne having just been a few days ago, I've barely had time to do anything."
She placed a hand over her heart. "We will endure. From what I hear Heaven has weathered worse."
I hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Jeanne… would you be willing to serve as a Holy Knight?"
She blinked, then furrowed her brows adorably. "A Holy Knight?"
I nodded. "I recently elected a Saint who received seven blessings, I had yet to choose any of the Seven Holy Knights below that who would all receive a powerful blessing."
I sighed. "It would be a downgrade from what you once were. a Saint recognized by all. But with it, you would receive my blessing. A powerful one."
"Would I still be able to serve as your bodyguard?" She questioned after a moment.
"What?" I asked, slightly confused by her question.
She stepped forward without hesitation, her gaze locked onto mine with unwavering dedication. "My Lord, I have never cared for titles. I have always fought to protect what is sacred, to defend those who cannot defend themselves. If becoming your Holy Knight allows me to serve Heaven once more, then I accept without a moment's doubt."
She took a breath, her expression softening. "Since I was a child, I have chased after your voice," she admitted, her hands tightening at her sides. "It called to me when I was nothing, a simple girl from Domrémy, tending to the fields, dreaming of a life beyond war and bloodshed. Though you may not be the exact same entity, you are still my God. I can feel it."
"Now that I found you, I don't want to let you go." Her voice became oddly needy for the normally cheerful girl.
Honestly.
I might as well make her an Arch-Seraph because she would fit right in with that mentality.
A faint smile touched my lips. "You don't even need to think about it?"
She knelt before me, bowing her head. "I swear upon my very soul that I will protect Heaven, as I always have."
That felt… reassuring.
I didn't know if this was the effects of the legendary token, which I still didn't really know the functions of.
The item had obviously been extremely rare of this was the calibre of summons I could expect.
I decided to elect my Holy Knights now.
[Grizella]
-
Blessing: [Sanctified Overdrive]
[Sanctified Overdrive] (Passive)
Temporarily unlocks the Hero's full potential, granting superhuman speed, strength, and the ability to wield holy energy with perfect precision.
I had already decided on which blessing would fit who's best. I had a feeling that Grizella might not merge well with any holy blessings without this.
[Medusa]
-
Blessing: [Heavenly Armament]
[Heavenly Armament]
Allows for Heavenly and Magical Armaments to be crafted purely from magic.
As my designated magical-caster, I had decided this would be a powerful option to use her magic with. Considering she was relying mostly on the Greek version of magic, mist manipulation.
[Asia Argento]
Blessing: [Holy Aegis]
[Holy Aegis]
Surrounds the Holy Knight with a shield of holy light that reflects all incoming attacks and curses.
I had thought about giving her a healing skill before deciding she needed a way to defend herself. I didn't want her to be defenceless when acting as a Battle Healer.
Finally, I sent a glance to the kneeling girl.
[Jeanne D'Arc]
-
Blessing: [Blessed Fortitude]
[Blessed Fortitude] (Passive)
Immunity to curses, demonic influence, enhanced durability, doubled life force and mana reserves.
I looked over it, and a pleased smile spread across my face. With that, I confirmed it. A huge amount of power gathered.
Faith energy being directed.
Faith amount sufficient.
Faith Points: 17888
Multiple monster-blooded entities detected.
Proceed?
I see, so it did notice Medusa and Grizella's body types. I still didn't know how the Heavenly System operated. I could feel its presence shifting around though.
What an insane creation.
I had no idea how I was meant to live up to this.
With a chuckle, I proceeded.
Faith Required: 310
P
That was close to the amount it took Dulio to transform into the Saint.
Initializing process.
Jeanne levitated and promptly vanished in a ray of golden light.
Should I be worried?
A screen popped up showing me her location was now within the Vatican.
Neat.
-{Dulio Gesualdo}-
Dulio walked through the halls of the Vatican with a smile as he greeted those who passed him.
Things were going well. Other than the purging of all the corrupt officials that had caused a stir the Vatican felt… alive. More alive than it had ever felt before.
He felt happy, invigorated even. He had performed a duty for his Lord. Even the Vatican felt different. Something in the air felt lighter, as if an invisible weight had been lifted.
After the purge of corrupt officials, a true sense of faith and devotion had begun to flourish once more.
The Vatican felt alive again, more so than it had in centuries. Or at least that's what he believed.
It changed. True, undeniable change.
He had never realised how dead the Vatican felt. He had spent most of his life here, and yet, only now could he say it felt like someone was truly home.
The Devils and Fallen had been quiet.
He wasn't sure if they knew about the Lord's return but they felt something was off. It only took one look at the Church's current movement to see that. It was more active than it had been in perhaps a century.
His path led him to the Pope's chambers, where two Swiss Guards bowed and opened the heavy doors for him.
While everything was going well, a lot of the international exorcists and all of the Church's other forces had been called back to the Vatican. Except those who were left to guard the various important locations.
The Vatican was on high alert. The return of God was big, and it was only a matter of time before the Devils and Fallen learnt of it. That was if they didn't already know.
Dulio entered the room and looked towards Pope Hadrian IX who stood by an ornate window, bathed in the golden glow of the afternoon sun.
His presence was a comforting one, as you would expect of someone considered the closest to God. His kind eyes framed by gentle wrinkles, his white robes pristine yet worn with age. He wasn't one to care about wealth or looking anything other than himself.
Dulio could say he was truly worthy of being the pope.
"Dulio," the Pope greeted warmly, turning with a bright smile. "You seem to be in high spirits."
Dulio grinned. "How could I not be, Your Holiness? Things are finally looking up. The Church is alive once more."
The Pope chuckled. "Yes. Faith has been rekindled in many hearts and brought anew in those who witnessed his return." He trailed off, his gaze turning upward, reverent. "It is a new era."
"Have you heard anything from it yet?" Dulio questioned excitedly.
The pope shook his head. "No."
Dulio frowned, and the Pope's eyes lit up. "Ah, I see. So you've been in contact?"
"I wouldn't put it that strongly…" Dulio laughed lightly. "I was given an order which has been fulfilled."
The Pope smiled once more. "Good. I can imagine the Lord is very busy."
"Busy…?" He questioned.
"Of course, he's been away for a long time. I imagine Heaven is in chaos." He chuckled. "I've only met a handful of Angels but they were all incredibly sensitive about our Lord. Considering I imagine many of them reside up there, he's probably a little occupied."
Dulio slapped his head. "How could I have been so thoughtless? I should be helping out."
The Pope shook his head lightly. "I imagine there's not much you could do as of this moment. I think our best course would be to focus on the Church's improvement."
"What do you mean?" Dulio asked curiously.
He thought they were always doing that.
"With corruption having been judged by Lord Michael-"
Dulio's eyes widened at the revelation, and he stopped himself from interrupting the Pope.
The Pope paused. "Ah, you didn't know. Yes, Lord Michael was sent down to rid the Church of its corruption. His work has certainly sent waves through the Vatican and we will need to focus on solidifying ourselves."
Dulio nodded, a warmth filling his chest at the thought. But before he could respond, a sudden shift in the air made both men freeze.
Power.
A massive surge of power erupted from deep within the Vatican, crackling like a thunderstorm ready to break.
It came from the Saints' Election Room.
The Pope's expression hardened, not in fear or urgency but in focus. "Come," he said, already moving.
Dulio followed without hesitation.
By the time they went down through multiple hallways, they had an entire troop of guards and exorcists following them. That number only grew as they ended up accidentally leading a massive force behind them.
The Vatican quickly showed just how many were in their employ as hundreds upon hundreds filled the hallways in moments.
They rushed through the halls, the power only growing stronger.
By the time they reached the room, the very air hummed with power. Priests and bishops knelt outside the grand doors, murmuring prayers as the light from within shone like the midday sun.
Dulio barely paused before pushing the doors open.
Inside, the high-ranking clergy of the Church were bowing, unable to stand under the weight of the sacred energy. At the center of the room, the light coalesced into four figures.
Dulio's breath hitched.
Four Holy Knights.
Newly chosen.
The first blinked confusedly, she was a girl with innocent-looking blue eyes. She looked around, and Dulio could sense the overwhelming power she radiated.
Dulio instinctively knew this one was stronger than him. By a considerable margin.
Oddly enough, he felt embarrassed at that fact. She hasn't needed Seven blessings to get where she was.
The second and third knights were much weaker in comparison but still powerhouses in their own right.
One with strange eyes and the other with a horn?
The fourth, the weakest of the four, knelt with one hand on the floor. He instantly recognised her as she looked around in shock. Clearly overwhelmed.
Asia Argento.
His mission had come full circle.
There was a moment of silence as the power died down.
Then they vanished.
What…?
-END-
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