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CHAPTER 9

Zarathor's POV

So this is where she was hiding. I smiled.

"You. Why the hell are you doing here." A cold bizarre voice echoed in the hall.

"What do you think?" I face her. I can see the coldness in her eyes. I like it.

"Leave this place at once." her eyes were lifeless.

"Why would I? You are here and I want to have a little chat with my daughter." I smirk.

She summons a sword and pointed in my face. I grin.

"I'll kill you right here, right now." I laugh.

"I didn't know that the holiest deity would become evil. Let's see if you can, dear daughter."

She started to swing the sword while hiding in the darkness. She is fast, I can sense a murderous aura on her. My plan was to kidnap her and make her my bait in exchange for the holy objects.

"You will pay for the sins you committed."

If she can hide in the darkness, so do I. I disappeared and went behind while concealing my presence and stab her with a dagger. She's stunning now that blood is all over her.

"Y-you demon. I won't ever accept you as my father!" I teleport in front of her.

"So long my dear daughter."

Gabriel's POV

"I'm having a bad feeling Azaniel."

"Your holiness!" A guard suddenly appear and catching his breath.

"What is it?!" I immediately tend to him.

"The demons already broke the barrier on the entrance. They are already swarming in the whole area."

"Azaniel!"

"He already left." Faith said.

"Faith guard the holy objects." she nodded. "Stay alive." I hug her and left.

Faith's POV

"You too stay alive." I murmured.

"Sister the holy swords disappeared!"

"What do you mean?!"

"When I got there to guard it, its already disappeared."

"Abigail. Guard the holy bell at all cost. I will trace the holy swords. They are still in the holy palace." I hold her hands. "Stay safe and alive sister."

"You too."

This can't be. No one can summon the swords except Serena. She can't summon the sword now that she have an evil form.

I cast a spell to detect the holy swords. I closw my eyes. I can sense it. What?!

I arrived at the battlefield. I saw Serena in the air floating holding the swords. No..this can't be happening.

"Serena!" I called.

"Faith! What are you doing here?!" I saw Gabriel running towards me.

"We'll talk later. For now let's get the swords on Serena!"

"We can't, there's too much dark force surrounding her. Even Azaniel can't take a step."

"Serena. I order you kill all of the holies!" Zarathor ordered while laughing. I clenched my fist.

She disappeared. In the mere seconds I saw her swinging her sword into me. Gabriel managed to block it.

"Why did you just stand there?! Damn it! If anything happens to you I don't know what I'm going to do!"

"I-I'm sorry." I can't react on her. She's so fast.

"Serena! I know you can hear me! Wake up! Don't let the dark energy control you! I know you are in there! Serena come back!"

Zarathor lean on Serena's head.

"You can't stop my daughter for wreaking havoc. Go on my dear daughter kill all the beings you tried to protect. And next we will destroy the human realms."

I saw Azaniel's face. He is struggling, he can't fight the one he love.

Serena's POV

Where am I? The place is dark. There's no single light.

"Serena." A voice..a familiar voice.

"Is that you mom?" my tears started to flow.

"Darling." a warm arms wrapped me.

"Mom its really you. Why are we here mom?"

"Hush my little princess. You need to wake up okay? There's many people waiting for you. And can you tell your dad that I will be waiting for him in the stars."

"But mom, dad committed a crime." she wiped my tears and smile at me.

"Your father made foolish decisions in this life. I still forgive him. Forgive him Serena, both you and Gabriel. Can you please tell Gabriel that live his life to the fullest. I love you three and I missed you. Wake up dear. I am leaving now." she kiss me in the forehead.

I woke up fighting Gabriel.

"Serena?" I release my sword and hug him.

"I'm sorry." My tears started to flow.

"Serena!" he cried. I pat his head.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"Let's talk later. Okay?" I nodded.

I saw Faith casting a spell to help Gabriel and the soldiers.

Azaniel? I saw him struggling fighting my father.

"Azaniel!" I called. I flew and stand beside him. I saw a tear escape from his eyes.

"I'm glad you're back." he smiled.

I hold his hand. "Let's finish this together." he nodded.

I just noticed that there are more dead demons and holies down below, in every part of the palace.

I glared at Zarathor.

"Stop this foolishness father!" he gave me a death glare.

"Did you just say foolishness?! How dare you! I am doing this for your mother! I will forgive you if you both Gabriel submit yourself to me."

"You are insane! Mom already forgave you for your foolish decisions and yet!"

"HAHAHAHA! If you won't then I'll just have to kill you!"

I pushed Azaniel and rushed to my father. Our swords clashing in the air.

.

.

.

Only you can hear is the clashing of the swords between Serena and his father.

Her father is grinning while fighting Serena.

"This mere strenght can't kill me."

"Even if, I still can kill you. Father." Serena is luring Zarathor where Azaniel can strike him. "Azaniel now!" his father smiled.

"I told you. I already knew your tricks!" Zarathor disappeared.

Serena search the sorroundings.

"Azaniel stay alert! I can still sense him!" she shouted.

"HAHAHAHA" his father is hiding in the shadows while scattering his dark force to kill Serena.

Serena sense a sword coming in her direction she immediately shield herself and attacked Zarathor. Zarathor was alarmed and use a barrier to protect himself. The barrier broke and he sustained a damage in his body.

"Father! I'm begging you to stop this foolishness of yours! Mom is waiting for you at the stars!" Serena is exhausted from fighting his father. She believes that she will still convince her father.

"HAHAHA you are the one who is foolish. You let him unguard." her father smiles and throw his sword unto Azaniel.

Serena's POV

Azaniel didn't hear it. Damn it the sword is fast. I...can still...

"I... I failed. Father... he... I couldn't stop him..." it's a good thing I was able to stop it, I puked blood. The sword pierce my heart.

"S-Serena." I soft voice ringing in my ear. I smiled.

He's trembling..

"W-why? Why would you do that?!" he's crying. I touch his face.

"I need to protect you." he caressed me and stroke my hair.

"So in this lifetime I still can't save you." I shook my head.

"That's not true." my visions are getting blurry and I'm having difficulty breathing.

"Don't leave me. I love you."

"I love you too Azaniel. Meeting you was my happiest moment in my life."

"Me too. Serena. Meeting you was my happiest moment, a turning point in my life where everything felt brighter. You brought joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging that I never knew I needed. Every moment with you feels like a cherished memory, one that I hold close to my heart."

"Thank you-" I'm sorry Azaniel.

Azaniel's POV

"Serena I won't let you die."

I use the blue fire phoenix and heal her heart. I will give this power to the rightful owner. If she hadn't shield her body for me. This is not the time to be weak.

After I healed her. I slowly lay her and put barriers on her.

"Let's finish this Zarathor!"

"Oho? I can feel your rage Azaniel."

Azaniel's POV

I will use the last blue fire. I disappeared in the air. I went behind Zarathor and slashed his back.

"You impertinent!" he will be having a hard time healing the wound on his back. Now is the chance to attack.

"This is the end." I position myself to enchant the spell.. "This is for killing my demon clan." My appearance change into a demon..I am originally a demon, my white wings turn into black, I gaze at where her body. I return your memories back. I love you Serena.

I enchant a old spell.

"Luxis Sanctorae Aeternium. Bring peace and excute all of the demon beings in the three realms." I closed my eyes.

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.

.

Azaniel raises his arms, the ancient forbidden spell swirling around him, draining the last of his divine and demon energy. The sky darkens, and light and shadow intertwine as the spell consumes him. The ground trembles violently as the immense power flows from him, creating a barrier that envelops the Holy Realm and the other two realms. His body begins to weaken, his once-black hair fully turning white as life drains from him.

Azaniel (whispering, his eyes filled with tears as he casts the final seal, his voice barely audible now.) "For you, Serena... for you, I.. hope you find peace."

Zarathor (roaring, his dark magic crashing into the barrier but unable to break through as Azaniel's light overwhelms him.) "No! NO! You cannot do this!"

Azaniel smiles faintly, his light expanding, enveloping both Zarathor and the darkness. In a final flash of light, Zarathor screams in fury, before he is consumed, his body disintegrating in the radiant light, his dark power obliterated.

The light fades. Serena stirs, her injuries healed, but the toll of the battle lingers in the air. She opens her eyes and sees Gabriel lying a short distance away, clutching his side but alive. She feels an emptiness in her heart, as if something or someone has been lost. She looks around, her vision still hazy, and spots Azaniel, sitting far from her, his once-powerful figure now pale and frail, his hair completely white, his head bowed.

"Azaniel?" Serena's voice trembling as he speak her lovers name. "Azaniel No..please no.." her body weak as she crawls toward him.

Azaniel opens his eyes and barely holding on, a faint smile crossing his lips as he watches her approach. "Serena...you're safe.." his voice is barely more than a whisper, his strength all but gone.

Serena collapse next to him. Tears streaming down her face as she pulls him into her arms.

"Why did you do that? Why would you sacrifice yourself?" her voice is shaking, her sobs shaking her entire body.

"I..I don't..want..you.. to sacrifice yourself again..in this...lifetime." reaching up weakly to wipe her tears, his hand shaking, his smile sad but filled with love. "There... there wasn't... another way... I had to protect... you. I couldn't... lose you."

Serena cried harder "Don't leave me Azaniel please." her voice cracks as she shakes him while holding on to him.

His voice grew fainter, but still filled with a gentle warmth despite the pain. "I... I'm sorry, Serena. But you...you'll be fine. You're stronger than you know. I... I was meant for this. To protect you and these realms. I would... do it again."

Serena's voice broke, unable to hold back her anguish any longer. "I don't want you to be a hero! I just want you here... with me. Why did you have to leave me?" she strokes his hair, her fingers trembling as they brush against the white strands, feeling the coldness setting into his skin.

Azaniel's eyes flutter, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps, his time running out as he gazes up at her, his voice barely a whisper "Serena... you've always been... like a star. Burning... so bright. You'll... find your way. Even... without me."

Her voice choked with sobs, her hands shaking as she grips his shoulders "I don't want to find my way without you! Please... please, Azaniel, stay with me. I can't do this without you. Don't leave me..."

With the last of his strength, he manages a weak smile, his hand lightly touching hers one final time "I'll... always be with you... Serena. Always." his eyes slowly close, his body going limp as his final breath escapes him, leaving Serena holding him in silence.

Her voice a shattered whisper, her body trembling as she clutches his lifeless form against her chest. "Azaniel... no... please..." her sobs echo through the empty Holy Realm as she rocks back and forth, unable to comprehend the weight of the loss she now bears.

The once-golden light of the Holy Realm is now dimmed, as if mourning with her. Everything around her seems frozen in time, as if the world itself understands the gravity of her grief. She holds him close, unwilling to let him go, tears falling endlessly onto his pale face, staining the ground beneath them with sorrow.

Serena whispers through her tears, her voice barely audible in the heavy silence. "You saved me... but I couldn't save you... I'm so sorry, Azaniel..." she cradles his cold body, her heart breaking with every word, her tears never ceasing.

The Holy Realm, once vibrant with life and light, now feels empty, hollow. Gabriel watching from a distance, is too weak to speak, too broken to offer comfort. He can only weep silently, knowing that their world has lost not just a protector, but a friend, a brother in spirit, and a part of their family.

Serena stays there, clutching Azaniel's lifeless body long after the light fades from the Holy Realm. She doesn't care about the world beyond this moment. All she knows is the unbearable weight of her grief, the emptiness left by his sacrifice, and the cold reality that he is truly gone.

Her tears continue to fall, each one a silent prayer to the heavens that, somehow, some way, she could have saved him. But no answer comes. Only the quiet, endless grief of a love lost forever.