Graceful Fall

I don't understand how I kept remembering words along these lines...

It says,

"Never watch the sky as you fall, yet take a glance below for the safest place to land and recover your wings."

It must have been a reminder?

For the same day that the Heavenly God disappeared, the fall of the Highest also came. Although I'm usually such a bastard, it made me sympathize with the divine and agonize over their struggles.

But yeah, If I kept yapin' around here... that scourge, that evil entity who refuses to unbind me would urge me to continue the story...

So, where am I again?

"Ah! the message! Of course!"

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.

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...

When all the beings of the earth saw the message, one by one like moths attracted to flames, they revolted against the highest.

—They gained strength to oppose The sons of God.

Seeing the chaos ensued below his sight, Aziel burst into madness.

Those words, its haughtiness, the ungratefulness...

That was the last straw!

"HOW DARE YOU ALL TO DEFY THE LORD, YOUR HEAVENLY GOD!"

Aziel, flew above the heights of the clouds, speaking in tongues that are archaic in nature. The sound of his voice kindred to the rumbling and tremors of chariots, prepared for war.

"You who lead these beings astray... I shall bring you down to the lowest depths of Sheol! To a pit where not even your soul could survive!!!"

His eagle and lion heads were both roaring as his human head spoke to Balgra Kazta.

But his speech fell on deaf ears.

For the first time, mortals and the beings of the earth ignored an Angel and they took weapons of their own, assaulting the sons of God.

Not even the highest among the angels could prevent this war.

Then from the highest stars, where the World Tree is shown, its silhouette became distinct.

THE PRIMORDIALS!

They descended to the center of the battlefield.

Pyro, Geo, Anemo, and Hydro—The beings who governed the very fabric of nature.

Flames scarred the soil, Earthquakes shook the plains, and Tsunamis splashed the sky. They came bearing their goodwill towards the Aspect of Vengeance, Balgra Kazta.

The Primordials who remained silent all these years aided a mortal.

'Why do they hate Father so much?'

Unable to utter those words, Aziel kept thinking about how Balgra Kazta had influenced them to defy God.

And Balgra Kazta...

Tucked beneath the woolen grey sky, standing on thin air, the stolen Dullahan's horse neighed in submission. It galloped with such explosive energy that it resonates with the tremors of the earth.

Rising towards Aziel, Balgra Kazta commanded his ride, pointing his spear directly at Aziel.

"Perhaps because you are created perfectly that you won't understand how beings with finite lives struggled?"

"Look beneath you, the world is at my side! Today is your end! Die and Perish! Foolish Immortal!"

Every time Balgra Kazta moved, the wind surged.

In contrast, Aziel engulfed himself with his own divinity—a barrier was formed and light penetrated Balgra's eyes.

The barrier is a huge shield that couldn't be moved even if a hundred mortal warriors joined together.

Balgra Kazta has seen this spell used before, now he had a vague idea on how to destroy it!

Gritting his teeth as he pushed through the walls of sacred light, fatigue flowed through his flesh. The weight gathered on his muscles, especially his forearms tripled!

But a smile spread on the mortal's face every time sweat flowed down his bulging forearm's muscles.

This is the man who overturned Heavenly God's predictions over and over again as he gained the flesh of a warrior trained to the limit.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, pride rose from Balgra Kazta's chest.

'That prophecy was right? ...I am the Aspect of Vengeance?'

"Is that right?"

He even asked Aziel which made Aziel feel uncomfortable.

How could your enemy ask you a funny question in the middle of fighting?

'Only a mortal could think dumb questions such as this.'

For a moment, the Head Seraph thought to himself as his concentration got trailed away.

Aziel had been gathering his might and preparing for an attack that shall truly kill Balgra Kazta if it landed successfully.

Now he frowned slightly as he cocked his head. He saw how determined Balgra, coming from afar who was excited as the smirk at his face grew wild.

'I must kill him at all cost!'

Then it happened while the two clashed in mid-air...

Just below the tallest peak of the highest Mountain—Zathamada—the mountain that can give you the entrance towards the Heavenly Gates, that mountain where Balgra Kazta had previously stood before he ascended above the highest clouds; an army of mages and sorcerers carrying warriors can be seen traveling along the cliff trails.

They are the mortals who took arms and tried assaulting the Angels.

They are the first batch of mortals who took action after seeing the message of the Primordials written in the constellations.

As their group reached the highest peak, an old man dressed majestically in his stark red robe and a leopard's coat issued the group to a halt.

"We have reached our destination. Everyone must know why we are here! Starting on this day, WE ARE NOT ROYALS! WE ARE BARBARIANS WHO SHALL INVADE THE SACRED LAND!"

His hand gestured to the army and as his receding back covered the sunlight, his burly figure made his back appear wider.

All those who followed him flew to the clouds with great enthusiasm. Perhaps they are confident that aiding Balgra Kazta is the right thing to do.

He is a rural Lord who had a firm faith in the prophecy.

The King of Southern lands.

But that was the only thing I knew about him. All I know is that Aziel had glimpsed at their group in passing as he shifted his gaze to Balgra Kazta.

And that was it.

War continued to broke out in Heaven and on Earth.

During that challenging day, nobody knows what is about to happen...

Until...

*Splitch!*

—the sound of a blade piercing the skin...

"Pkkkhht! Gwuaaahk! ...You!!!"

Aziel could not speak clearly, his muffled voice is an indication of the canceled spell which was supposed to eradicate Balgra Kazta in one touch.

But now was unable to.

Making your enemy distracted is one of the most used tricks in a fight. Since it was too common, a seasoned warrior would create variations to this tactic and Balgra Kazta had used it to the best of his ability.

Holding the chest that got stabbed, Aziel could not believe his own eyes.

The mere mortal who infuriated him to such a degree that it made him even lose his composure was successful in penetrating his barrier!

He succeeded in launching his spear!

Blood splurted out as it painted the white sky in red. The Duskblade's spear of mercy showed no mercy and drank Aziel's blood.

It was to a point where Balgra Kazta could already see...

'He is turning pale!'

"With this spear, it shall gourge at your blood and bite your wounds wickedly!"

"Die and Perish, Foolish Immortal!"

I turned hazy, my knees are jelly... No, I mean... Aziel felt like collapsing.

He did not even have the strength to look at the puny mortal who defeated him. With his sinking sight, he watched as Balgra Kazta beamed a satisfied smile.

The horror of falling freely greeted him.

I saw... No, I meant that...

He saw Balgra's feet, his own torn-up sleeve, the extensive horizon—stretching as far as his eyes could see.

It housed all the creatures that the Heavenly God created.

At that point, instead of anger, he felt peace.

He wondered why he felt that way.

In his eyes: 'Even if the world is in chaos, God's creation is still beautiful...'

Closing his eyes, the Head Seraph, Aziel, fell courtly as lofty as a noble would present himself in public.

He did not fall disgracefully.

For he was the highest among the angels, that even his fall became graceful.