Chapter 219: WHAT MAKES A HERO

Haborym clicked his tongue,

Thinking if he really did enough.

After all, what remained weren't even half,

He failed hasn't he? What unfortunate luck.

"Don't think too much about it.

If they had no fault at this, they'll go to heaven."

Barachiel tried to comfort the gloomy man,

Who tried to not think of it further, as much as he can.

Blood dripped from his right eye,

And he could not see a thing for a while.

Barachiel carefully dressed his wounds with bandages and prayed,

As Haborym felt a bit surreal, that he's no longer on Lucifer's page.

"You're...still tensed. What's the matter?"

The angel asked him, curious of why he's bothered.

"I-, am I really deserving of forgiveness?"

"Stop asking silly questions, especially with what you have sacrificed to save them."

"But I...didn't even save a lot,

I'm just...too weak, to make the monster stop.

"But you have still protected lives, and that is all that matters,

You didn't wish for the children to be slain, right? I still think you're a hero."

"Don't sugarcoat things too much,

If not for Jegudiel, I would have been done."

"You did some damage too, you know?

Stop thinking that you gave useless blows."

Haborym would have fought back another word,

Until Barachiel looked at him directly, and yet again spoke:

"You, should not think so little of your efforts to save a life,

Many of my brothers and sisters, did the same and died.

Now, are you telling me that their sacrifice meant so little?

No, they are still worth the honor.

So please, reconsider.

What you did, is something worth great admiration."

Haborym felt amazed by the angel's conviction.

But after the archangel realized what he had said, went back to his shy demeanor.

"Sorry if I scared you, I did not mean to yell,"

"You didn't yell at all. I assure you, all is well."

The angel smiled and looked at the children,

Who were busy playing with what looked like little shells.

"Where did they even found them?"

The angel wondered as he took a closer look,

Envying their innocence.

He sighed, recalling the old days.

"If...if only everyone could be kids forever,

Perhaps, the world will be saved from this horrors.

Not that I'm complaining to God,

It's just that...

I missed peace a lot."

"I apologize."

"For what?"

"For being a part of those who caused conflict and harm,"

"Please never mention it again,

For all of it, is buried in the past."

"I still did a lot."

The archangel sighed again and stood,

"You're testing my patience, well, as a former duke would.

You see, I really don't mind what your past was like,

What's important is...that now, we've unite.

I don't feel the slightest grudge towards you anymore,

To me, we are now brothers."

The statement shocked Haborym so much,

He couldn't help but feel, well, touched.

He stood up as well and bowed in front of him,

"And I promise, not once would I leave again."

...

Jegudiel called out to the children not to cry,

As he tried to find anything, that he could use for them to hide.

But no matter how much he would have tried,

Since the children were still on Eligorr's hands,

It was no use to blow attacks on their side.

It felt unfair no matter how much he looks at it.

"What? Giving up already?"

"Azazel! You coward! If the children weren't here! You would have been done!"

"Oh, so you want them gone?"

The demon grabs one of the children,

And kills him on the spot.

"Another one-?"

But before he could move another inch,

What landed on his face was a strong, powerful punch,

Followed by a kick.

He was quickly blown away,

As his mask shattered to reveal his face.

The walls hugged his figure completely,

And it took a few struggles to leave the hole and remove his body.

Eligorr was quite upset.

"You're even stronger than that yellow-haired.

But you're also...quite stupid,

You took the time to actually hide the kids,

When you could have used it to give me another kick."

The moment Jegudiel turned around,

He felt less threatened the moment he found out,

"Oh, so you are again, a fraud.

How silly, you don't have any identity of your own."

The sentence irritated the demon,

But it felt quite wrong to see Eleazar's face twist in such expression.

Jegudiel sighed as he opened his barrier,

"I hope it didn't have to be Eleazar's face, for some reason..."

Eligorr quickly zoomed to stab the angel,

Who quickly blocked his attacks well.

The barrier stood strong, but Eligorr knew better,

The shield won't hold on much longer.

"You gave half your barrier to the kids, right?

After all, an archangel's barrier should be thicker than what I'm seeing right now.

Tsk, what a pitiful sight,

How are you going to save them? If you die?"

A powerful blast was thrown to his face,

As Jegudiel attacked with more ferocity and rage.

"I won't die! I won't die in your filthy hands!

I'll save this kids! No matter what you try, I'll stand!"

"Sorry, but I didn't ask."

Eligorr quickly summoned another beast to the room,

This time, faster than what Jegudiel had beaten, with more hands attached.

"So, you took the smaller one in half a minute time,

But this one, oh, this one is faster than I,"

Jegudiel's eyes widened in fear,

The moment it quickly tried to kill him.

He tried his best to counter every bite,

As Eligorr moved towards his back.

"If you weren't so soft and dumb,

If you have used your barrier on it's full potential,

Maybe you wouldn't have this hard time,

And perhaps, you could have lived longer tonight."

"SHUT UP!"

Jegudiel flew above,

And in anger, grew extra wings to match.

His three paired of wings made him on par with the beast,

As Eligorr was left, completely speechless.

"I told you not to underestimate me!

I have a God, I am not weak!"

He quickly blasted a strong ray, aimed to burn the beast,

But for some reason, it didn't melt despite the flames.

"I do not...understand,"

"It's shell, is very hard,"

Eligorr replied,

"And so is mine."

"What kind of creatures are you??"

Jegudiel asked, quite confused.

"We are the perfect beings, made with little to no flaws,

Made by someone, worthy the title of lord."

"Tsk, you are ridiculous!

No one can match the grace of my God!"

Jegudiel said firmly,

As he gave out an attack.

"You are pitiful, stop wasting your strength and surrender,"

Eligorr teased, as his attacks continued to be blocked by the monster.

"If you don't, then I'll forcefully take your powers,

Your body...oh, it's much needed by master."

"You are disgusting! What god borrows power!"

But the demon ignored him, and flew even closer.

"I don't care of whatever you may blabber,

All I care for now, is to complete my mission."

Eligorr quickly went to his back and tried to finally stab him,

But the spear was held by Jegudiels left hand, rather firmly.

"You will never use me for evil, not even once!

I won't let you use my abilities, just like what they did with Eleazar!"

His wrath was visible in his eyes,

And his grip, ever so tight.

The strength of his fingers were proved evidently,

The moment Eligorr saw that his spear is breaking quickly.

Jegudiel's hair quickly grew longer,

Hinting a great surge of power.

His green locks quickly glowed vividly,

Scaring the demon, of what may happen if he gets too close to him.

"You are not winning, I won't let you get your way!"

Jegudiel said, as he pushed the demon away.

The short interval however, made him vulnerable to the beast,

So he only opened his barrier, to avoid getting bit.

Eligorr did not liked the idea of defeat,

And was a bit irritated that his opponent has such a strong spirit.

What he thought would be a great weakness,

Was also his strength. That unmeasurable kindness.

But his pride and confidence ate his judgement,

And he did not want to leave just yet.

He wanted to prove himself to Azazel,

That he can defeat, even an archangel.

"Don't be too full of yourself,"

...

Barachiel suddenly dropped the glass of water he was about to hand over,

Which quickly made Haborym wonder.

Barachiel nervously apologized for his clumsiness,

But Haborym had rather ignore the mess.

"I'm more concerned why you drop it,

Did something bad happened?"

"It's nothing to worry about,"

"That's not how you look and sound,"

Barachiel looked at Haborym in the eye,

The former duke was barely blinking, just observing him lie.

He do not know what to say next,

So Haborym tried to take a guess.

"Are you just worried of Archangel Jegudiel?

Didn't he said he'll come home, and not to worry as well?"

"That's what I kept telling to myself,

But suddenly, I had a bad feeling in my chest.

I think, he's not doing well."