Chapter 16: Man–God

'I'll take it from here?' said the warrior.

Seeing this man Ascended with the kingdom force, Seraphim Hands and wore an almost unattainable mail, Dion presumed him to be part of the upper crust of the force. Adding to the fact he owned a semi–compendium.

'Nothing to worry about, Sir. This man here is a liar and a thief.' Dion answered with a lot more respect.

'Admiral Gabriel, I offer my greetings.' Zizzle with an abnormal smirk bowed 90° as he spoke.

The brown hair man, Admiral Gabriel, inspected Zizzle thoroughly then connected his eyebrows when he looked back at Dion. 'I believe you have protocols to handle convicts.'

'Yes sir.' Dion seemed like a child in the face of Admiral Gabriel.

'I also believe this man has rights. And this isn't a new decree registered by Sentinel Morgan, to beat up every thief.'

'No sir.'

'So why do you handle your case in such a diabolic way.'

Dion's mood change instantly melancholic when he gave a reply, 'I let my status get the best of me. My apologies sir.'

'To what dept do this man owe you?'

'He is a fugitive wanted by the Master of the Sixth District. The matter is a minor one so inviting the awareness of other forces is uncalled for.' explained Dion.

Admiral Gabriel slightly raised his chin. 'Is that why you persecute him with bitterness? You fight with depression, pain, vengefulness. I have not come to disturb your actions but to remind you of who you are and the motto of this amour you wear.'

'I understand Sir, I'll adjust from here on now.'

Admiral Gabriel gave Zizzle a second look and calmly stated, 'You would face the consequence for whatever crime you've committed. For now, I reckon you treat yourself.' from his pocket, Admiral Gabriel tossed Zizzle an emerald disk, the size of a finger.

Zizzle caught it and revealed little of his teeth. As a major member of the echelon in the Seraphim Hand, some extremely rare privileges were bestowed upon Admiral Gabriel. One for which free health services, this which he gave unto Zizzle.

'I give thanks to … you, Admiral, but there's something else … I wish you would grant for me.' asked Zizzle formally.

Admiral Gabriel's eyebrow jumped in surprise, 'What?'

Zizzles mood dropped, 'If I am found guilty of a crime worthy of taking my life. I at least ask to pray to my ancestors for forgiveness before departure.'

In this world Deities were relatively humans who shocked the world as a whole, so the forthcoming generations offered their prayers to them in hope for intervention.

'Very well.'

Zizzle found comfort in his answer but Dion? He wanted to puke out blood.

'Forgive my impudence, Admiral, but his trials commence in an hour. It took a toll on me to tame him.'

'You will gaurd and watch him from afar while he offer his prayers.'

'General this might n–'

'That is final! Sentinel.' Admiral Gabriel became stern all of a sudden. 'I reckon you are fine with this.'

'O-of course'

'May spirit of our ancestors guild you.' Admiral Gabriel drawled to Zizzle.

Zizzle paid his respect by bowing before leaving their presence and into the temple. Dion too mechanically bowed and hurriedly escorted Zizzle into the building.

As they left, Admiral Gabriel heaved a relief breath and turned around…

'The Man-God has died only to awaken. Remember the first. The first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the righteous, and upon them which worshipped his image.

And the second poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.'

'And before him stood the soils of the world. And there were voices, and thunders, and bolts of lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty of an earthquake, and so great. And the nations of the world fell and the world was divided into three parts. With each falling into the bottom time of the void.'

'Now has come. The child has survived for four hundred years. Laying deep beneath the earth. Go ye forth, search and destroy the host of his soul.'

A black skin woman with no hair adorned with a black cloak full of ancientness spoke before Admiral Gabriel. As she spoke the tattoos covering half her face moved around her body erratically.

Instead of being shocked, Admiral Gabriel's expression only changed to that of ire. He looked at this lady with grave solemnity before him as he spoke, 'Is this anyway related to the Selenōs Mantra?'

The lady tilted her head sideways with remarkable speed as if a spot on her neck itched her. 'The main question is if the Selenōs Mantra is related to this.'

'So there are both connected?'

'Everything is connected. The sun, the moon, the earth. The only difference is when they awake.' the lady spoke and kept tilting her head.

Admiral Gabriel was filled with immense trepidation standing close to this woman. When it came to the Legendary Man-God Ascender, who didn't know of his glorious feats. As rumour may have it, the one and only Ascender who actually had the capabilities of living for eternity. The man who vanquished an army of Kingdom Lords –the highest rank of power and authority an Ascender can amount up to. Thinking of all this, his head began to hurt.

Why was the world unfair? Why did the past Ascenders live in such a cruel way? With the kind of inconceivable power they had he felt … tiny; the Kingdom as a whole seemed inconsequential. Ever since he started the Ascension path all he wanted was to become great. But hearing all these tales left him thought-less.

He went down the same road they did. Took the same training they had. Fought countless wars and adversaries and yet still they were exulted. They accomplished unattainable goals. This made him angry and upset together! What did they do to reach that standard?! What cheat?! What action?!

Now back to the frying pan, these motherfuckers couldn't just stay dead! One way or the other, they made an appearance after centuries upon centuries. Giving unrelenting panic to the world and causing sleepless night. Now he understood.

This world. Was really fucked up.

Dispelling his thoughts he decided to run up the thirty metres temple pillar to disseminate this newly heard news to the Sixth Admiral.

Just as he landed on top the temple…

'I've heard.' the lady, the Seraphim Hand Admiral of the Sixth District, who currently backed Admiral Gabriel spoke. 'She was here too.'

'What did she tell you?'

'The Man-God. He's dead.' she replied almost dejectedly.

'I don't understand. Hasn't he been dead for more than four centuries ago?' asked the slightly confused Admiral.

'Rumour has it. He still lives on to this very day in the soul of a person. I believe this person is dead.'

'That's a good thing, right? I mean, we don't have to bother on killing him any longer.'

'That's what I thought. But why would she tell us to destroy the host of his soul?' she pondered as she spoke.

'I think we need to inform General Ironhand.' Admiral Gabriel calmly insisted.

'You go. I'll keep watch.' the lady spoke without a hint of emotion in her words. 'This is about to get a whole lot shittier.'

Admiral Gabriel nodded silently, took out a minor psuché paper scroll from his waist holsters and placed it on the ground. Placing his right hand on it, the drawings and shapes on the paper emerged and circled around him in bright light before pulling him inside the scroll. After which the scroll disappeared too.

This was a common method of transportation between places for Ascenders. The only step needed to execute this mantra {Technique/Skill} is by infusing your Mana into a paper scroll far off in a location. Then all that is needed is for the Ascender is to connect to this paper scroll which has his/her Mana registered inside for transportation.

It is very efficient during long scale journey or life and death situations. One of the best immobile transport there is.

IN THE BUILDING seeming to make look like a large onion, a man roughly in his 70s stood close to a glass where he could see almost half the city through. Staring at the uncanny full moon he heaved a sigh of burden.

A knock reverberated twice across the wide room. Moving half his face to his shoulder, the visitor came inside.

'General.' a young man on his white leather armour called formally. 'We have deluging mails coming from all the six districts of Xylem.'

'Concerning what?' General IronHand sounded gentle.

'According to the main types, they all Mana-included. Strictly addressed to be opened by you, sir.'

'Very well. Send them in.' the General informed authoritatively.

'At once General.' the man hit his chest and left the room.

The General took back his sight to the moon in deep thought. Death of the host of the Man-God. Was this really true? If it was, then finding the host of the Man-God was not just a nation's priority but the Angel's Council imperative issue.

As he thought further, he realised it had to be because, not just the two Admirals of the second and fourth district respectively informed him on the lady's news in less than an hour, every known top hierarchy of the Seraphim Hand forces were sending non-stop mails to him.

Deep in thought, another knock resounded in the room. The interloper respectfully opened the door and greeted by hitting his fist on his chest. 'General.'

General IronHand turned back and responded casually, 'Gabriel.'

'I have news, General.' he said.

'So I've heard. The Man-God lives on even in death.' the General replied unperturbed. Seeing the glimpse of surprise in Admiral Gabriel's eyes IronHand added, 'She was here.'

The Admiral didn't reply but stayed silent. After all, the lady was recognised to be omnipresent in some occasions. Extremely rare occasions. 'What should be done, General?'

The General smiled bitterly. 'The Selenōs Mantra we can deal with, but this. Lord Kendzrich has to call the Angel's Council to order.'

'As for you Admirals, you can't let this get in the way of our imminent problem. Continue your search day and night. Till we find the bastard in possesses of that mantra, there is no break, no stop, no cessation of any sort. Understood, Gabriel.' General IronHand spoke with the utmost authority and clout.

Seeing the decisiveness hidden in the General's word and how his eyes were consumed with the unflinching resolution, Admiral Gabriel responded, 'Yes Sir!'