Reverse Causality

The pale light of dawn crept through the curtains.

Linfer stood a few steps away, his arms crossed, observing Zitish in silence. He had not uttered a word since they woke up. His thoughts were agitated, torn between concern for the child to come and the fear of losing the one who meant so much to him.

Zitish approached him, "I'll be back," she murmured, seeking his gaze.

Linfer nodded, trying to maintain a stoic facade. But deep down, a wave of fear overwhelmed him. "I know," he replied softly. "I trust you." He took her in his arms one last time, breathing in her scent, savoring the warmth of her body against his, wanting to etch this moment into his memory.

Time seemed to stretch on, but finally, Zitish gently broke away. "I'm sorry," she murmured in his ear. Then, without another word, she took a few steps back, ready to take flight towards Iustitia.

Linfer watched her leave, her green wings opening majestically before she soared into the sky. He followed her with his gaze, until she became a distant silhouette in the firmament. An immense void settled within him.

It was then that Uriel approached, standing by his side. His firm but comforting hand rested on Linfer's shoulder. "We must go, don't lose sight of the objective, Linfer," he said in a calm but determined voice.

Linfer took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment to calm his heart. "You're right," he murmured, opening his eyes to fix the horizon. "It's not as if I won't see her again." He affirmed with certainty, even though a part of him was curious about his words.

Uriel nodded, his gaze filled with understanding. "What you're doing is necessary, and I'll watch over her. Focus on our mission. There's still much to be done."

Without another word, Uriel took flight in a fluid movement. Linfer, after one last look at the place where Zitish had disappeared, took a deep breath and took flight himself, joining Uriel.

Their destination: the base of operations, where a new battle awaited them.

...

Five years later...

A teeming sea of creatures surged over the desolate lands. The Origin 1 and 2 skeletons, previously reduced to ashes by Uriel and Linfer, gave way to even more formidable enemies. The Origin 3 skeletons, larger, faster, and clad in impenetrable armor, now mingled with shrieking harpies, fire-breathing wyverns, and massive orcs brandishing enormous bone axes.

Uriel and Linfer, back to back, faced an ever more menacing tide of skeletons, liches, and now even more formidable creatures as they delved deeper into the domain of the Archidemonic Death.

Linfer's Wendigos had all succumbed, giving way to more formidable enemies. Origin 3 skeletons, more resilient and agile, pressed forward in the front line. In the sky, harpies with razor-sharp talons dove, while wyverns spat fire, setting the ground ablaze. On the ground, massive orcs brandished colossal weapons, their bestial rage making the earth tremble.

Uriel, his lightning lance in hand, traced golden arcs in the air, pushing back wave after wave of assailants. "Linfer, they're too many!" he shouted over the tumult of the battle.

Linfer nodded, his blood blades slicing through the air in a deadly ballet. "I know, but we can't retreat!"

A wyvern dove towards them, its jaws wide open. Uriel raised his free hand:

A dome of golden energy formed around them, absorbing the impact of the creature's fiery breath.

The attack was reflected with increased power, pulverizing the wyvern and several nearby harpies.

Meanwhile, Linfer liquefied into a bloody mist, infiltrating between the enemy ranks before reforming in the midst of a group of orcs.

Scarlet flames erupted from his body, consuming the orcs and skeletons around him in an infernal blaze.

Uriel's golden eyes shone with a piercing light as he observed every movement of the enemy hordes.

Nothing could escape him. Every enemy attack, every creature's movement, was already anticipated. He disappeared in a golden flash, reappearing at the heart of the horde of Origin 3 skeletons. His lance sliced through the air with surgical precision, piercing their impenetrable armor as if it were made of paper.

The liches, at the rear, concentrated their necrotic power into a surging wave of death. Linfer, unperturbed, raised his right hand, poisoned by Belzebuth's aura. His arm was instantly covered in a violet aura, a concentration of pure death.

The necrotic wave crashed against his outstretched palm, dissipating like smoke. Linfer absorbed the deadly energy, his violet aura intensifying further.

Linfer leaped, crimson wings blazing on his back, as he was in the air, his body partially liquefying. Blood lances formed around him, swirling like a deadly crown.

With a beastly roar, he unleashed his fury. The blood lances rained down on the battlefield like a scarlet deluge, piercing the skeletons by the hundreds. Each impact caused an explosion of crimson flames, creating a veritable hell on earth.

But despite their combined power, the situation was becoming critical. The liches, at the rear, channeled a necrotic energy of unprecedented intensity. The air itself seemed to tear under the pressure of their deadly magic.

"Linfer, cover me! I'm going to use my most powerful technique," Uriel shouted.

Uriel rose into the air, sparks crackling around his golden wings.

Linfer nodded, concentrating his power to create a blood barrier around them.

Uriel closed his eyes, gathering all his strength. The air around him began to vibrate, as if reality itself were bending to his will.

His voice resonated with divine authority as he spoke these words with esoteric inscriptions on his skin, using his law and Soul Energy to their peak. A deafening silence fell over the battlefield, as if time itself had stopped.

Suddenly, golden lines appeared, connecting each creature to Uriel. With a gesture of his hand, he reversed these bonds. The effect was instantaneous and devastating.

The Origin 3 skeletons, previously nearly invincible, became as fragile as glass. The harpies and wyverns, unable to fly, crashed to the ground. The orcs, deprived of their superhuman strength, staggered.

"Now!" Uriel roared.

Linfer needed no further prompting. With a bestial roar, he released all his power.