Chapter 57 - Infiltration

The moment they stepped foot in the Celestial City, it was like stepping into a dream. The sky shimmered in soft hues of pink and gold, the clouds beneath their feet cushioned their every step, and enormous structures of white marble and gold stretched endlessly toward the heavens. Light didn't just shine here—it pulsed, as if the city itself was alive.

And then, of course, their tourist moment was rudely interrupted.

A booming voice echoed down the empty corridor. "What are you all doing here?!"

Everyone turned so sharply it was a miracle no one got whiplash. Standing before them was a tall, imposing angel dressed in flowing white robes. He had the look of a stern pastor, rather than a formidable celestial guard, but the authority in his tone was enough to send a jolt of panic through the group.

Matt's grip on his dagger tightened. Jenny looked ready to cast a spell on his bald head just for making her jump. Wyatt subtly shifted into a defensive stance.

Elijah, however, was already bowing his head respectfully. "Your excellence, of course! We were just making our way to the Town Hall."

The angel narrowed his eyes. "Everyone is already gathered. You should not be loitering. Move along!" He waved a hand dismissively before turning on his heel and striding off.

They all stood frozen for a beat, waiting until the footsteps faded, before Elijah whispered, "Don't run. Walk fast, but elegantly, like I showed you."

Matt scoffed. "I don't recall 'angel strutting 101' in our training."

Elijah ignored him and took the lead, forcing the rest to follow suit. Jenny smirked, flicking her hair as if she'd been born for this celestial runway. Anastasia, on the other hand, was already whispering, "What about the plan?"

Elijah gave her a sideways glance. "The plan just got easier."

She frowned. "How?"

A smirk played on his lips. "You'll see."

As they entered the grand courtyard of the Town Hall, the sheer number of angels gathered was staggering. White and gold robes flooded the area, their wings shimmering under the divine light. They blended in seamlessly, their disguises holding up under scrutiny.

Through their hidden earpieces, Elijah whispered, "Make your way toward the middle."

Slowly, carefully, they navigated through the sea of celestial beings. As they reached a better vantage point, their eyes locked onto the grand balcony of the Celestial Palace. A group of Dominions and Archangels stood in formation, their presence radiating authority.

And then, Gabriel stepped forward.

Even among angels, Gabriel's presence was overwhelming. His golden armor gleamed, his expression a mask of divine indifference. When he spoke, his voice carried the weight of absolute command. He didn't mention anything of particular interest, just promotions and new statues in honor of legends who went into the next circle of life but then he brought up a subject that made them all stand to attention.

"Effective immediately, the alliance between angels and demon hunters is no more."

Silence fell like a heavy blanket over the crowd. Then, murmurs began to ripple through the gathering.

Gabriel continued, "Angels will no longer mingle with humans. All angelic families with human spouses have been called up and will be relocated outside the city."

Someone called out, "Humans? In the city?"

Gabriel's gaze swept the crowd. "They know too much to return to Earth. They will remain here until they live out their human lives."

The murmurs grew into louder protests.

Another voice challenged, "But what about the demon hunters? We have always protected them!"

Gabriel's expression didn't waver. "There are other supernatural alliances—witches, werewolves. The demon hunters do not need us."

Anastasia's heart pounded. Her hands curled into fists. This was exactly what they had come to stop, and now that it was being announced to the public, reversing it would be nearly impossible.

She whispered into the earpiece, "Elijah, this is bad. This isn't just a discussion—it's already decided."

Elijah's voice was calm but firm. "It complicates things, but it's not over yet. If we can reach the Council and make our case, there's still a chance."

Gabriel dismissed the gathering, and angels began dispersing. Elijah wasted no time. He found Anastasia in the shifting crowd and pulled her aside. "See that building?" He pointed toward an imposing structure adjacent to the palace. "That's where you need to be."

He handed her three keys. "Follow the map I gave you. These will get you past the secured doors. The guards will take their posts in fifteen minutes, so you have to move now."

Anastasia turned to Wyatt and Sean. "You're with me. We're getting to the Council."

Elijah nodded approvingly. "The rest of us are heading for the Ethereal Battlefield. We'll get Bastian."

Matt clapped his hands together. "Sweet. Time to cause some divine chaos."

They split up, their mission officially in motion.