Chapter 173: Rose's Risk

Michael POV

"Lord, I do not know why you are angry, but may I make a request…"

"Very well…"

"May you dispatch the barrier around Rose, allow us into Pandora."

The Ruler smiled, it was a dark smile.

"Very well, the barrier is no more."

"Thank you. I will bring you her."

"Thank you, make sure she's alive though, Lucifer will come to save her, then we will crush him."

"If I may, Lord, what does Lucifer want with her."

"Are you a fool, Michael?"

"Pardon me, Lord?"

"It is clear what he wants. He believes that Rose will be able to beat both me and the Author, therefore, he wants to empower her to make it possible."

"I see, that makes sense. I shall take my leave now."

The Ruler nodded. His plan, as always, was foolproof. Even Rose couldn't predict we'd break down their shield and attack, but I'm not foolish enough to think that we could just bring her in directly, for that, we need bait.

Lucky for us, she told us exactly who to target, the only weakling among her commanders.

_

"It's almost uncanny how exactly you predicted that."

"I know how they work."

"What do you mean, Milel?"

"Before the battle, me and Rose talked, and she identified exactly what happened before it happened."

As I predicted, Michael administered an assault, he came in with his army and caused chaos, however, since we were prepared for him, we launched an assault from all sides.

It caught him off guard and made his men start to retreat, but he, in a stroke of accomplishing his goal, caught Darsen before 'knocking' me and Milel off and escaping, now giving us motive to attack.

"So, what now?"

"Easy, he struck, so we strike back, fast."

"But what about Darsen?"

Of course, his squad was worried, but I smiled.

"Please, do you really believe that I'd just let him get caught if we didn't have a plan."

Their eyes widened as they caught onto my meaning.

"You let him get caught?!"

"More accurately, he let himself get caught."

Milel snorted.

"There was no way he could have dodged that; it was too fast for him."

"And that thinking is entirely why him getting caught is a perfect trap."

Milel blinked in confusion.

Dallel sighed.

"Once again, barely any explanation. I only have some idea of what's happening, but until it saves our butts I'm guessing you won't tell us more."

"Precisely."

"What if it fails?"

I looked at Jalad and smiled, he started shivering along with my other commanders.

"Then Michael will regret ever antagonizing me. That risk was already calculated by me and Darsen."

"… I-I see."

He looked fearful, and I gave a sweet smile.

"But Michael is no fool, let's hope he stays that way."

"Do you think he knows what happens when you are enraged?"

"Likely not, but I doubt the Ruler hasn't at least hinted what happens."

"So, if Michael… kills Darsen."

"Then he and his army will die."

I was now a 797, I killed hundreds of angels in the last fight, and I only needed a few more.

"All of them."

"Precisely, if he sees fit to kill him, then I will see fit to annihilate all of them…"

I walked out with a smirk.

Of course, I hope it doesn't come to that.

_

Michael POV

"Gabriel, surprisingly, you were right. I made a foolish move."

"Are you going to declare peace then?"

"Of course, not. I have a hostage that she cares for."

"Who-"

Gabriel's eyes widened as he noticed the wolfkin hanging off the wall.

"You didn't…"

"Take the weakling as a prisoner? Oh, it was almost too easy, he is quite weak."

"Michael, I'm going to put this in a simple manner. Of all of the foolish moves you could have made, kidnapping him was the worst."

"How?"

"If you successfully kidnapped him of all people, that means that Rose has a plan involving his capture."

"What do you mean?"

"Darsen is the closest person to her, other than Dallel, meaning, if she let you take him, then she has a plan."

"Then what do you advise?"

"Let him go, let him back, so whatever trap she has planned can't spring."

"Hmm. What of a better idea?"

"What is this 'better' idea."

"We fake kill him, act like this plan failed and use illusions and holograms to fool her."

"Then all of you would be sentenced for death."

"What do you mean?"

"Her rage isn't something to mess with, if you enrage her, then nothing will be able to stop her from killing you all."

"I don't like your pessimism, Gabriel. I feel like you are simply protecting her."

"I am protecting you."

"I don't need protection!"

Gabriel shivered.

"I am the strongest Archangel, I understand that you don't want her to die, that you wish everything could go back to the lovely days of her struggling to fight the God Slayers, and you giving her moderate advice, but she changed everything. If you want to bring things back to normal, then Rose Hood needs to be stopped, and if she is angry, then she will make mistakes."

I smiled.

"Besides, we have a secret weapon of our own. She won't be able to win."

"Are you speaking of the twins?"

"Yes, those two will cause her to slow, and then we can win."

"I will take my leave."

"You do that, this is my war, stop interfering."

Gabriel looked at me with a grimace.

"Fine, this is your war, it is your path, but don't you dare blame me when your path brings you ruin and pain, I have warned you."

He began walking off.

"You have changed Michael. It is only unobvious to you."