Divine Avenger

Divine Avenger
Marcel Andr
Acosta

Divine Avenger

2

Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed by most characters within this
novel are purely fictional and do not necessarily agree with the
authors. Political-historical events, as well as historical figures, are
also used in an artistic way; opinions about these do not necessarily
reflect the authors as well.

1
st
Edition

Copyright pending yet submitted.

ISBN 13#: 978-1461072423
ISBN 10#: 1461072425

Marcel Andr Acosta Medina

3

Acknowledgements

Mom, Dad, Grandma, Sister, family and friends, thanks for the
support and assistance.
Emilee Card and Adrienne McCoy, thank you for the great editing.
The folks at Createspace who made this possible.
And to the teachers and professors that instilled their knowledge in
me. This wouldnt have been the same without you.
Divine Avenger

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5
Dramatis Personnae

Argent Violet:
Faust: Legal and Military Liaison between Argent Violet and
Covenant, specifically Justicia Adamante; Nephlim.
Lothar, Alaura C: Commander In Chief of Argent Violet
Paramilitary Services LLC; Nephlim.
Parker, Robert: US Army General, Argent Violet ECS Corps
Commanding Officer; Nephlim.

Covenant of Empyrea:
Astraea: High Commander of Justicia Adamante; Sephiroth.
Avalon: Divine Avenger of Justicia Adamante and the
Covenant of Empyrea; Divine.
Jayson: Grand General of the Crimson Legion; Divine.
Roland: First Divine Avenger and mentor to Avalon; Divine
Spirit.
Strigoa Nosferatu: Senatorial Representative of The Elven
Clans and the nation of Aenia; Elf.

Enlightened Army:
Apollyon: The Destroyer; Seeker/Grigori
Araqiel: Great Satan Of the Grigori; Seeker/Grigori
Samael: Grand Commander of the Enlightened Army;
Seeker/Grigori
Zathar; Demon.

Neutral Party:
Malachi, Rhandi; Nephlim (?)

Divine Avenger

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7

Justicia
Adamante
Divine Avenger

8

9
16:30 Hours, July 23, 2021
Atrium of Light, Heros Keep, Gift Of Maklos
Azuria, Empyrea

Sins Past, Long Shadows Cast

Gray clouds filled the sky, and the occasional roll of thunder
boomed in the distance. Small droplets of water lightly pattered
against Avalons cobalt body armor, while Fausts violet robe was
slightly drenched in moisture, though it was hard to tell whether it
was perspiration or water. The evenings atmosphere reflected the
somber mood that beset the city of Heros Keep: an assassination
had taken place today, the first in many centuries.
Both Avalon and Faust were the only people within a few
miles from Atrium of Light; much of it had been cordoned off from
the local populace, and the military was being tightlipped about this
situation with everyone, including many of the most influential
politicians. There was something about this assassination that made
it worse than it already was. Thats why they were here: determine
how and why it happened, and then confiscate every scrap of useful
evidence on the attack.
The duo walked across a large, marble stairway, rising
slowly towards the upper floors of Atrium. On an ordinary day, the
Atrium wouldve housed politicians, businesspeople, and military
officials from every corner of Empyrea. They wouldve politely
chatted about current affairs, exchange new magical spells and
conjurations, and share business ideas and war stories, all in the most
secure, prestigious establishment in known Empyrea.
This edifice had been a pinnacle of the Covenants might and
political power; how someone couldve penetrated its remarkable
defenses was well beyond Avalons thoughts. The security was such
that no one had broken in since its construction. There were no valid
hypotheses on how someone couldve done it so easily, but while no
one in the upper echelons had mentioned it, Avalon knew that
demonic magic had been used. That he and Faust, the resident
experts on dark powers, had been sent on this assignment together,
served to solidify his suspicions.
Demonic magic was used here. I can feel it already, Faust
Divine Avenger

10
spoke, his raspy voice breaking the silence that lay between them.
He usually spoke on cue, as if he knew what Avalon was thinking. It
was both impressive and unnerving.
As I feared. Can you continue? Avalon asked him. Faust
possessed certaintalents that allowed him to sense even the
faintest traces of dark magic. They never failed, but if the
concentration was high enough, hisinner demons emerged. It was
an ugly thing to behold.
Ill manage, he replied, his raspy voice indignant. The
Nephlim had never backed down from a job, and he wouldnt start
now. It was something Avalon admired about him.
Understood, Avalon replied, warily eying his friend.
Though Faust was his ally, he was not against killing him. The
mission came first.
Before long, they reached a large, wooden door guarded by
four sentries, their light-red armors covering their entire bodies.
These were lowly sentinels, the regular foot soldiers of the
Covenants Martial Forces. They were guarding the crime scene, the
hall where the assassination had taken place. This detail mustve
been assigned to keep people from contaminating the evidence until
their arrival. Now, their job was complete.
Avalon approached the highest-ranking guard; his armor had
three vertical blue lines, and a silver stria crossing them diagonally,
which identified him as a sergeant.
Your business, sire? the officer asked as he approached
Avalon. His three lackeys hands hovered readily over their swords;
they werent about to take any chances with security. With what had
just happened, Avalon couldnt blame them.
Cobalt Seal of Michael, sergeant. This is our jurisdiction
now, Avalon told him, as he showed him his right gauntlet.
Emblazoned on its dorsum was the Seal of Michael, a blue shield
with a silver pentacle on its face, itself backed by two swords. This
crest represented the highest rank in the entire Covenant military; it
gave the wearer near universal authority, shadowed only by a
Hierarch Senators power.
Upon laying his eyes on it, the sergeant bowed slightly. My
apologies, milord, he stuttered nervously, and then stepped back,
ordering his troops to away from the threshold, as they
simultaneously bowed. But as Avalon opened the heavy doors, the

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sergeant stepped up to him again.
Sir, I need an identification. Which branch do you serve
with? The Cobalt Guardians? he asked.
Our unit is of no concern or importance.
But sir
If anyone asks, Avalon was here. Say no more.
Confused but compliant, the guard nodded, and stepped
down. Once Faust crossed the threshold, Avalon closed the door
behind them, chuckling slightly at the guards misinformation. The
Cobalt Guardians had been disbanded over seven hundred years ago,
due to internal corruption.
These callows are getting more annoying every day, Faust
muttered, unhooding his head.
The sentries have a job to perform, Faust. You would do no
different, were you in their position, was Avalons reply.
The Nephlim remained silent.
Faust was Avalons exact polar opposite. The former had
graying, short hair, with dark circles forming beneath his eyes, and a
rough, angular face, with hints of stubble giving him an unkempt and
disheveled appearance. This wasnt helped by his undernourished
physique; his body was so skinny, it barely filled his robe. His eyes
were a deep, intense violet, marking him as a Nephlim, a Human-
Divine hybrid, with diamond-shaped pupils, his source of power.
Avalon, on the other hand, was strong and muscular, short
for his kind, but tall enough to have an imposing figure. His black
hair was short and trimmed, with a gentle luster that reflected the
ambient lighting. His face was stalwart yet fierce, clean-shaven and
smooth, and his eyes held a deep, scarlet color, identifying him as a
Divine.
Both warriors quietly observed the room where the
assassination had taken place. It was hard to believe that this
slaughterhouse had once been one of the most important and
prestigious chambers of the Atrium. Tables of fine goldwood had
been broken and slammed against the walls, their jagged edges
pointing menacingly at them. The walls and columns of aurichalcum
stone were cracked and broken, with shards as long as Avalons
arms scattered around the room. Burnt, dismembered limbs littered
the floor, some still bleeding what little blood they have left, and the
smell of charred flesh still lingered strongly in the atmosphere. This
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12
chamber had once been a symbol of unity between the member races
of the Covenant.
This hadnt been just an assassination; it was a message.
Do you still sense demonic magic, Faust? Avalon asked his
companion, his voice somewhat worried. While they both frequently
dealt with demonic magic, its users were usually novices with little
real skill, like children playing with wooden sticks. Whomever had
perpetrated this murder had to be a master in the use of demonic
powers, and that had him worried. No one had truly wielded them
since the Crusade, before Avalon had even joined the Martial Forces.
Making matters worse was that theyd been sent without
weapons designed specifically to engage demons, all in the name of
subtlety. Though he understood Justicia Adamantes stand on
secrecy, if any combat took place, this would potentially hinder their
fighting capabilities.
Im never wrong about this, Avalon. This is no mere tyro;
were fighting against someone with actual knowledge and skill in
these arts, Faust replied, clearly annoyed. He hated when his skills
were doubted, more so than Avalon.
Avalon did not reply; instead, he approached the corpse
nearest to him, and knelt to investigate it.
It soon became apparent that it would be impossible to
identify whom this body once belonged to; the victims face was
charred and burnt, and half the skin on his head had been blackened
and scorched off. A section of his skull was neatly and precisely cut
off, making the sight of his burning brains perfectly visible, still
smoking from the heat of the magics blast. The still intact side of
his face wore an expression that showed pain and horror, as if hed
looked into the eyes of death itself before his life had ended. It was a
horrifying sight, but what made it even worse was that compared to
the other corpses, this one was relatively intact.
Some were mutilated; others had their skins completely
melted off, and one of them even had its innards fried, perfectly
visible through its cleanly split torso. Avalon had trouble to keep
from retching in disgust. Hed experienced combat for most of his
adult life, and nothing hed seen could compare to this bloodbath.
This could only have been the Enivids doing; only they can
use demonic magic to this degree, was Avalons response,
anxiously stepping away from the charred corpse.

13
No. There is something else here, something the Enivid
lack, Faust replied. Though hed never fought the Enivid directly,
he had immense second-hand experience about their abilities. And if
Faust said they werent involved, his conclusion was not to be taken
lightly. Whoever had orchestrated this attack had been well trained.
The Nephlim approached the corpse Avalon overlooked, and
removed a long glove from his left hand, revealing a glowing,
golden claw, covered in pale-white scales. Instead of four fingers
and a thumb, it had three long fingers and two thumbs on both sides,
and glowed a dark, golden color. Faust flexed his fingers slowly, and
then placed his hand directly over one of the dead bodys face.
What are you doing? Avalon asked, his eyes carefully
watching Fausts claw. He wished Astraea had allowed him to bring
Joyeuse; it didnt hurt to be too prepared.
This body is oversaturated with magic. Im absorbing it for
a deeper analysis, Faust replied as his claw began to glow.
Is it safe? Avalon asked, his hand hovering over his blade.
No, Faust replied with irritation.
Then it is not wise.
Never said it was.
Then why are you
Unexpectedly, the maimed bodys hand moved, grasping
Fausts claw with alarming agility.
Avalons hand quickly reached for his swords hilt, his
instincts reacting faster than his thoughts.
That wont be necessary, the corpse spoke. It seemed to
have trouble mouthing its words. Perhaps there had been damage to
its vocal cords?
Is this your doing? Avalon asked Faust, his hand tightly
gripping his swords hilt. One clean swipe would be all he needed;
he was in a perfect offensive position.
No, Avenger. I am effectuating this. No need to draw
swords. It would be a bit convenient for you to listen, the body
responded, as its hand released Fausts claw. Avalons blood chilled;
how did that corpse know who he was? Astraeas secrecy had
suddenly been for naught.
Both soldiers stepped away from the dead body as it rose,
slowly and ominously from the floor. Bodily fluids seeped through
the wounds, spilling onto the floor, and its innards spilt through a
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14
large wound in its abdomen. It struggled to stand up, and though it
succeeded, it held itself at an odd, disquieting angle.
Holy shit, just look at this mess, it said, looking around
with its remaining eye. Apollyon sure knows how to be thorough.
Who are you? Avalon demanded from him. Avalon may
not have recognized him, but he knew no one in this chamber had
been affiliated to Justicia Adamante. This man was an outsider.
Oh, right! Sorry, I got kind of carried away there, the body
replied. Ahem, the names Samael, Im Grand Commander of the
Enlightened Army. Pleased to make your acquaintance, milords, he
said, his last word dripping with obvious mock respect.
Enlightened Army? I see, Avalon said, not believing his
words. It was absolute nonsense; the Enlightened Army had been
obliterated millennia ago. There had been no survivors, from neither
the Covenants Scarlet Vanguard nor the Enlightened Army. This
was a lie, but he would play along.
This aint a lie, Mr. Avalon, Samael said, a cunning smile
spreading across his mangled face. As he said this, the skin on his
face began to change. The gashes and wounds sealed themselves
shut, and its features rearranged themselves. The faces pointy nose
rounded itself, its jaw shrunk and healed, and its burnt scalp sprouted
a mane of smooth, flowing white hair. There were no patches of
burnt skin on the entire body; it had practically rejuvenated in less
than twenty seconds. The eyes came last, its pupils rearranging
themselves into sharp, angular crosses, and the irises pigmenting
themselves with a bright gold shade.
Avalons blood chilled. He was a Grigori.
Or a very good illusionist, Avalon quickly reminded himself.
Regardless of his true species, Avalon immediately drew his
blade from his scabbard, pointing the blade directly at the bastards
neck. The ice in his blood had been replaced by burning rage, and it
took every bit of his willpower to not slice him in half.
Oh goody! You believe me now! Samael cried out in joy, a
snide snicker spreading across his face as he clapped with glee.
Your kind was supposed to be dead, Avalon declared, his
sword hovering closely to Samaels neck.
No, Avalon, weve merely been biding our time, waiting for
the right opportunity to strike, Samael responded, carefully moving
the sword away from his neck. He moved his hand slowly, almost as

15
if he were afraid to cut himself. It was a faade, and Avalon was
getting annoyed from it.
Put your sword away, o mighty warrior of the Covenant. I
merely came to deliver a message, one you should heed in its
entirety, the corpse spoke, his contemptuous smile ever present.
Speak now, coward, Avalon spat, his teeth gritted in anger,
before I strike you down where you stand, he finally added.
Beside him, Faust tensed, unsure of what to do. He was
unarmed, and with so much ambient demonic energy, he knew not to
use magic. There was also something else in his eyes. Was it fear? It
was plausible; information about the Grigori was kept hidden from
the Nephlim, but Faust would have to manage. They had to tread
lightly, lest they provoke the wrath of an angry demon.
Hmm, you Divine were always too hotheaded for your own
good. Guess the lack of real opponents these days is driving you into
a fucking lethargy, no? Samael jeered, chuckling.
Deliver your message and leave, Grigori. Do not waste our
time with talk, Avalon threatened him. He was ready to make the
swing. One clean stroke was all he needed; hed cut his head off and
end this entire situation before it got out of hand.
Right right, its fucking rude to keep your hosts waiting for
such a long time, he retorted, still grinning maliciously. Oh, and
by the way, Avalon, he added, If you kill me, youre only breaking
my link with this body. So ease up on the blade, he taunted him.
Avalon refused to move his blade, staring at the Grigoris
eyes with seething anger and determination.
Well, suit yourself. He lightly cleared his throat, and
started, Since the end of your so-called Crusade, your Covenant has
grown weak. Youre wallowing in stagnation and decay, allowing
your power to die while you allow these, he paused, and moved his
hand, emphasizing the grotesquely mutilated dead bodies, idealistic
fools to run amok, promising equality for all species; all theyre
doing is casting your very fate in stone.
Behind him, shadows shifted and melted, like oil sliding
softly over water. They quietly surround the duo, inspecting them, as
they growled menacingly. They made no intention of hiding
themselves, silently growling as they surrounded them.
Avalon immediately recognized them as karad, malicious
creatures with an insatiable lust for blood. Hed faced those creatures
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16
before, but never without his usual equipment. Samael mustve
known theyd be sent unarmed; this was too much of a coincidence.
By the end of this month, the Grigori will rise once again,
and right the wrongs that the Covenant has performed, he
continued, anger thickening in his voice. Simultaneously, the karad
behind him began to rise, slowly morphing into their true forms.
Hey! Eyes on me, I prepared this speech myself! Samael
yelled, calling out to the pair. The karad may have been a credible
threat, but Samael was the real objective here.
They only made Avalon feel more threatened. By paying
attention to Samael, he was essentially turning his back on at least
three attackers.
Now where was I? Oh yeah. Your so-called Human rights
leaders are merely the beginning. We will crush this blasphemous
order, and from the ashes, we will return, and bring true prosperity
throughout Empyrea. We Grigori shall reclaim our rightful place,
he proclaimed with furious pride. As he spoke, the skin on Samaels
host body began reverting back to its necrotic state, and it hung
lopsidedly while the burn marks and slash wounds began to open up;
blood and other fluids began seeping out of the wounds, and the
body began to smell of death again.
Sins past, long shadows cast, he finished, and his host body
finally collapsed, burdened by its own dead weight.
As if they were waiting for it, one of the karad immediately
lunged at Avalon, its feral shrieks echoing throughout the chamber.
Instinctively, the Divine dodged the dark shadows attack, and
switched to a more offensive stance, both his hands clenching his
sword. The karad rose from the shadows, their true forms now
revealed. These creatures stood on three wiry legs, insect-like in
appearance, with two thick arms ending in clawed hands, sharp
enough to cut through his armor. Its head was small and bug-shaped,
with small, white eyes gazing menacingly at its prey. Avalon calmly
gazed at the beast, as its eyes coldly stared back at him. Two more of
its brethren stood by it, gazing at both the Divine and the Nephlim.
They growled softly, trying to intimidate their prey.
It wasnt working.
I will take the two on the left; you go for the one on the
right, Avalon ordered Faust, stepping slowly into their attackers
range.

17
Youre going to take on them both? Faust asked, his claw
now glowing an angry red color. Streaks of magic began gathering
along its scales, crackling with energy that burned the air.
Avalon was about to respond, but a karad cut him off, his
sharp claws slashing at the Divine. Instinctively, he brought his
sword to bear. The beast lunged at him again, aiming at his face;
Avalon ducked, and slashed at the monsters arm with his blade,
neatly cutting it off. It cried in pain, its shriek echoing in the room.
The beast tried to lunge at him again, but he was no match
for Avalons superior skills and speed; as soon as the karad raised its
remaining hand to strike, Avalon charged at him, butting him with
his armors shoulder pauldron to throw him off balance. He struck
the shadow in the chest, and finally sliced its head off, its lifeless
body melting into a pool of primeval slime.
One down, one to
The second karad took him off guard. It charged through the
dissipating cloud of the downed creature, and slammed into Avalon.
The sheer force of the blow knocked the air out of him, and he lost
his grip on his sword. The karad brought up its second claw to strike
at him, but Avalon raised his arms to block; instead of his body, the
claw pierced his armors right bracer. Avalon gritted his teeth as the
cold claws pierced his skin. The karad roared and attempted to strike
him again, but Avalon sidestepped and dodged, its other claw
missing him by mere inches.
The karad attempted to swipe at him with his other claw,
when its remaining partner was suddenly thrown at him with
incredible force, smashing into a clutter of broken goldwood. Both
the beasts howled with rage and pain, and attempted to get up again.
Theyre stronger than regular karads, Faust said,
approaching him from behind. He handed Avalon his sword, and
clenched his claw, eager to finish the skirmish. The two karads stood
up groggily, struggling to maintain their balance.
But they are still nothing but pests, Avalon replied as he
readied his sword.
Before the dark creatures could completely recover, both
warriors charged at them, decisively finishing the fight. Avalon
slashed his opponents claw off before it could react, then quickly
drove his sword into its chest, before slashing it upward and cutting
its body in two, putting the creature of out of Avalons own misery.
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Faust, on the other hand, took a more brutal approach. He
swept the creatures leg and watched it fall, then punched him at
least five times, cracking the floor beneath him. He finally struck his
fisted claw into the creatures head, smashing it into a grotesque
pulp. The body melted into a black, oily slime, slowly seeping
between cracks hed made in the floor.
These karad were not dead. It took more than a simple sword
and brute force to destroy them, but they were no longer a threat, and
that was something that they could live with. Faust had been right;
they had been stronger than the usual karad, but they still werent
powerful enough.
Avalon sighed and placed his sword back in his scabbard,
and then removed his armors right bracer and inspected his wound.
Four small punctures dotted his skin, and blood covered his wrists.
Hed have to treat it soon; karad poison, while not lethal, could be
harmful if left unchecked. Thats why they were used as guardians
and enforcers for dark magicians. They were nuisances, not threats.
So first we have multiple assassinations under our very
noses, and now we have karad creeping throughout the Atrium. The
word clusterfuck comes to mind, Faust whispered ominously.
Avalon sensed a hint of fear in his voice, and he didnt blame him.
So much had happened in less than an hour; they had to act soon, or
else the Covenant would be undone.
Avalon stopped inspecting his wounds, and approached the
dead body that Samael had taken over. Its mangled remains had been
further damaged by the take-over, but it was still intact, if only
slightly.
You said this body had been saturated with dark magic,
right? Avalon asked Faust, as he inspected it.
Yes, more than the normal amounts. I can still sense an
abnormally large quantity within its
Avalon didnt wait for the rest of the sentence; he merely
drew out his sword and cut off the bodys right hand, from the elbow
down. Blood seeped from the body, leaving a small pool in its wake.
Have you no respect for the dead, Avalon? Faust asked,
rolling his eyes with disgust.
I doubt he will miss it, it will be useless where he now lies.
Besides, he might give us a hand in determining what Samael
wants, Avalon replied, ignoring Fausts contempt. Astraea also

19
told us to bring evidence, did she not?
True, but dont you think that a hand is too much?
Shall I simply bring the entire body? I am sure it would look
very casual.
Well met, Avenger, Faust replied, sighing with frustration.
Avalon sometimes had a sick sense of humor, one that was very easy
to mistake for truly serious statements.
We must leave now. Astraea and Roland will know what to
do from here, Avalon stated, opening the door out of the chamber.
Guards, I want this entire room sealed. No one goes in or
out without
He stopped when he realized that the guards lay dead on the
floor, pools of crimson blood seeping from the dead bodies. They
had been slaughtered like animals, their corpses left as mangled and
torn as the ones inside the chamber. Whoever was orchestrating this
attack was unsatisfied with just senators.
Sighing, Avalon closed his eyes and uttered a small prayer.
Maklos, guide the spirits of these noble warriors into your
fields of eternal rest. May they find peace in death, and may their
enemies forever burn by the might of your wrathful light. This we
ask of you, as your noble servants. Your will we uphold.
Odd. Youre not the religious type, Faust said to him.
I am not, but these men deserve it, was the Avengers
reply. The death of a single warrior was much more hurtful to him
than the death of a million civilians and politicians. A warrior lived
and died so that others lived free of consequence, yet sometimes the
populace never gave them the respect they so righteously deserved.
Such arrogant fools
There might be more karad hidden within these walls,
Avalon muttered, looking out for any more of the malevolent
shadows. His eyes drifted across the empty hallway, but he saw no
sign of life beside themselves. Perhaps the sight of so much death
had simply made him paranoid.
I doubt it, but we should still dispatch a unit of Centurions
to secure this building, just in case, the Nephlim suggested.
His plan made sense. The Centurions were the most powerful
and elite warriors of the entire Covenant Martial Forces. They would
be more than a match against these entities, and their presence would
also keep the populace away from the scene. That, and they could
Divine Avenger

20
most likely handle the Grigori, if they made a second move.
From his pocket, Avalon took a coin sized, silver-colored
gem, a communication crystal, and laid it on the ground before them.
The small, oval-shaped jewel started to spin, and its insides started
glowing with a white light.
It suddenly stopped, yet held itself perfectly still and
balanced, as if it were taunting gravity. The stone had been partially
acknowledged by the receiver; that meant Astraea, their commander,
was receiving their feed, yet restrained herself from transmitting
specific forms of information, likely her face. It was understandable,
given their work environment.
We have just finished investigating the crime scene, milady.
The victims were not just the senators; their entire entourage and a
small sentry detachment were also slaughtered, Avalon explained to
his commander.
Additionally, while we were investigating, one of the
corpses was reanimated and slaved by an unknown entity. He called
himself Samael, and claimed he was a Grigori, Avalon informed
her, knowing that information was what she really needed.
A long period of silence followed. For a moment, Avalon
thought the connection might have been interrupted, and then
suddenly a different voice replied, male and old. It was Roland.
This has not been the only assassination that has taken
place today. Several more senators have been assassinated just
now, he told him, his gravelly voice thick with worry.
Shall we investigate the other sites? Avalon asked Roland.
If the Grigori could eliminate their targets so easily, then they
needed to discover how they were operating. Worse, Avalon had
friends within the senate; if anything happened to them, he doubted
his heart could live with it.
No. You must return to the Elysium at once; we need to
organize a plan of action, was Rolands final transmission. The
crystal stopped spinning and toppled over, melting into a pool of thin
liquid.
Samael that name sounds familiar to me, Faust mused.
Friend of yours? Avalon asked him.
Not that I can remember; he is likely just a vestigial thought
from my prepossession years, he replied, distantly.
I see, Avalon sighed deeply. This day wouldnt end well.

21
18:48 Hours, July 23, 2021
Elysium, Classified Location, Argentia,
Gift of Maklos, Empyrea

Justicia Adamante

The Atrium of Light had not been the only place where
senators had been murdered. Numerous other victims had been
reported throughout the Empyrea. Total casualty reports were still
rolling in, but so far, they numbered in the hundreds. The
repercussions would be devastating, and it would be long before the
Covenant recovered from this slaughter.
Every known victim so far had been in some way a champion
for Human Rights, with some of them even having close ties to the
Human world. Some had been killed in their own homes, while
others were slain during meetings; several others had been declared
missing, most likely dead. To make matters worse, several karad had
been spotted near the crime scenes, just like in the Atrium. That
meant Samael, whoever he was, was behind them.
Astraea, Justicia Adamantes commander, had gathered
Avalon, Faust, and several other soldiers of the order to devise a plan
of action. She too had been attacked by the karad, and her left hand
was covered in a white, bloodstained cloth. Her wound didnt seem
to be as deep as Avalons, or simply didnt bother her as much; the
old woman was extremely resilient and strong-willed.
Avalon and Fausts sighting of the Grigori, followed by the
subsequently increased body count, had sprung the Elysium into a
state of increased alert. Sephiroth, Divine, and Elves, jointly
coordinated search and rescue missions, mobilized forces to
suspected hot zones, and prepared both Empyrea and the Midgards
Martial Forces for the coming battle. The lack of a clear pattern to
follow, however, was preventing a proper plan of action. All they
knew was that he used karad to do his bidding.
To Avalons surprise, there were also Nephlim gathering
amongst their forces. Astraea mustve been trying to strengthen the
ties between Justicia Adamante and the Argent Violet, Midgards
counterpart organization. It was a welcome sight; tensions between
them had been strained to the near-breaking point within the past
Divine Avenger

22
seven decades. Theyd need a miracle to return to their old relations.
The few Human Rights representatives that have survived
the massacre are already en route to the Elysium, Astraea began her
briefing. The old Sephiroth had gathered several of Justicia
Adamantes Centurions, as well as a menagerie of Nephlim soldiers
into a small chamber, where she stood behind a small podium. There
was a map behind her with small representations of Empyreas
continents and cities. Some had small crosses on them, likely
representing assassination sites.
Senator Strigoa and Commander Alaura? Avalon asked,
some worry lacing his voice.
They were among the first we rescued. They should be
arriving within the hour, the small woman answered.
Avalon sighed with relief, and felt his heartbeat relax. He felt
a particular kinship to both of them; Strigoa was his closest friend,
and Alaura gave him a reason to believe in Humankind. If either of
them died, no enemy would be safe from his blade.
The hand Avalon and Faust recovered is being analyzed for
both magical and life marks. So far, all weve determined is that its
previous marks have been replaced completely. We may never know
whom it belonged to, she continued softly.
A few of the soldiers murmured in low voices, their worry
audible even though their words werent. Avalon and Faust were the
only warriors who had experienced this sort of thing. Their fear was
entirely within reason, but theyd have to cope with it. More was at
stake than their simple sanity.
However, we have isolated several separate bio-magical
imprints. We are analyzing them to determine our suspects, and to
further develop our course of action, she added with renewed hope.
Old or not, Astraea had the strength of a thousand warriors in
her soul. The small, blue-robed, silver-haired woman had yet to
show any signs of age or weariness. Her skin was smooth and had
yet to wrinkle, and her eyes, Sephirothic silver, still had the gleam of
a young warrior. Her face was near immaculate and perfectly
proportionate, with a round nose, medium-length hair that barely
reached down to her shoulder, and ghostly pale skin. Avalon found
her breathtakingand was disappointed by the way her pale skin
made her resemble a corpse.
Have we at least confirmed the casters race? Faust

23
queried, the first words hed spoken since theyd arrived. Hed
remained distant since the encounter with Samael; perhaps the sight
of his cross-shaped pupil had overwrought him with concern. Avalon
might have to give him information on the Grigori later; the Prime
Article, the first document that acknowledged Humankind as a race,
limited every knowledge that the Argent Violet had access to.
The cadaver was saturated with powerful and pure magic, a
degree unachievable by only one race. Though we suspect it is a
feint by the Enivid, we are assuming that the caster is a Grigori,
Roland said, finally materializing next to Astraea. The old Spirit was
Avalons mentor and predecessor, a warrior long dead from the time
of the Crusades. His gray hair was messy and unkempt, with
crevasses and wrinkles in his face, large bags under his crimson
eyes, and the weight of at least eight thousand years on his
shoulders. He wore a black robe that only served to further
accentuate his age. The Spirit shouldve moved on eons ago, yet he
chose to continue serving the Covenant, even after his death.
Though the Nephlim were somewhat confused, other races,
especially the Divine, immediately had ceased any private
conversations they might have been having, and began to pay
renewed interest to the briefing. A visible aura of anger and hatred
almost immediately filled the entire room. Every Divine stood at
attention, eagerly waiting for more information on their enemy, once
thought dead.
What makes you suspect its a feint? Faust asked. It
seemed hed never heard Rolands favorite war story before, though
his lack of knowledge about the Grigori didnt help him.
They are extinct. The last Grigori died in the Battle of
Roncevaux, by my hand, Roland proclaimed proudly. As far as he
was concerned, hed ridden the Covenant of their worst enemy that
day. Knowing that there was another Grigori still alive was probably
an affront to his virility.
Faust quietly laughed at his prideful remark, and spitefully
muttered, Probably lost your life in that battle too, under his
breath. Hed always thought Roland rode too high a horse for his
own good.
I did. Will that be a problem, demon-spawn? the Spirit
replied, angrily looking at the Nephlim. Roland and Faust could not
abide the thought of working together. Faust believed the Spirit was
Divine Avenger

24
an arrogant, frustrated old man that shouldve crossed over when his
time had come, while Roland believed Faust to be the epitome of
Humankinds flaws. Having them both in the same room was almost
suicidal. Given todays situation, it was very likely that violence
would ensue.
Regardless of our attackers identity, Ive decided that every
possible target will be sheltered within the Elysium to avoid further
casualties. Until further verification disproves it, our enemy shall be
considered a Grigori, Astraea took over, cutting off the pair before
the fighting could escalate. She couldnt afford having a conflict
during a sensitive briefing, especially between two of her best
warriors. It would only stir chaos, and that was the last thing they
needed.
A detachment of Tyrian Knights have been assigned to
escort Commander Alaura to her headquarters in Midgard. Since
they are targeting anyone who has at some point promoted Human
rights, we suspect that these terrorists will likely have an active cell
within Midgard, the imperious woman continued.
Warriors and officers of the Argent Violet are receiving
information about the Grigori, and what to expect from them. When
we discover their whereabouts and determine their intentions, both
Centurions and Tyrian Knights will partake in a joint operation
against these attackers. We will use swift and decisive action to end
this conflict before it escalates into full war. That is our mandate,
and our mission. You are dismissed; we will summon you once the
exams on the hand are complete, Astraea finished the briefing, her
eyes closing withfatigue? Perhaps age was starting to catch up
with the elder woman. She had been through several arduous
conflicts in her lifetime; she would need to retire soon, lest she fall
apart at her very seams.
Besides Avalon, every warrior in the room exited the briefing
room, mumbling amongst themselves about their expectations of the
mission, and surely something involving alcohol. The Nephlims
Knights would receive a history lesson concerning the Grigori (albeit
a heavily edited and censored one, compliant with the Prime Article)
by lesser officers. Theyd need the information.
Faust and him however, remain seated, quietly conversing
amongst themselves as their guests exited the small chamber.
Astraea and Roland had requested that they remain, and so like

25
faithful lapdogs they heeded the call. Faust would probably use this
time to ask questions concerning the Grigori, which would be a fate
much worse than death.
I didnt know there were more than three races in the
Covenant, the young (only a few hundred years old, compared to
Avalons 4000) Nephlim began. Hed always been the curious sort,
locked in an eternal struggle for knowledge of the mundane and the
supernatural. Before the day was over, he would bombard Avalon
with trivial questions, most of which hed be unable to answer.
The Grigori are not a race; they are a bastardization. Most
of them were exterminated during the Crusade. The ones that
survived were all systematically destroyed, most of them by Justicia
Adamantes hand, Avalon responded. That was all he could tell
him; the rest was forbidden knowledge.
But why?
Because they each have at least one demon bound to their
soul. Just like you, demon-spawn Roland spat with disgust. He had
faced demons during the dark times of the Crusade; no living being
hated them more than him, the disheartened Scarlet Paladin. And
Faust, innocent (in a way) as he was, would always be the target of
Rolands attacks.
Gentlemen, I believe we are not in a prime condition to be
quarreling amongst ourselves, wouldnt you say? Astraea cut in, her
eyes giving Roland a look that could kill a man.
I was just explaining to our guest what a Grigori was,
Roland explained, his eyes averting Astraeas.
Im sure you were, Roland, she coldly replied. It was said
that she could suppress the fires of conflict simply by giving both
contestants the evil eye. She was somewhat dictatorial in her ways,
but her job was to protect the peace by preventing demonic conflicts
before they started, usually by surgical deadly force. A job like that
could take toll on anyones conscience; if anything, Astraea held
herself very well, admirably, even.
What have we determined about the hand, Astraea? Avalon
inquired, intent of getting things done. The past seventy years had
been relatively peaceful for Empyrea, with the only real missions
hed been assigned to being training and supervision or something
that involved minimal action on his behalf. He was starting to drift
into lethargy.
Divine Avenger

26
Preliminary analyses indicate that there are what appear to
be Grigori life marks within the hand, she answered.
So they still live? Avalon asked, still unconvinced.
There are three separate life marks within the hand. Weve
not determined it for sure, but it looks like the Grigoris is the most
predominant so far, she replied, worry filling her voice.
You said he mentioned you by your title, right? Roland
asked Avalon.
Yes, he referred to me as Avenger, he responded.
This bodes ill; we may have lost tactical advantage before
we even start fighting, Roland uttered. And we have not a single
lead where to find him yet.
That may not be the case, Roland, Faust responded, a slight
grin spreading across his face.
Is that so, Nephlim? Please, by all means, explain, the
Spirit invited him, with obvious disbelief. Roland was a
misanthrope, part of the sect that didnt believe Humankind,
including the Nephlim, had any place in the Covenant. They were
weak and undisciplined, he always said, but they were also
resourceful and guileful. Faust had been a paradigm of Human
potential, and he wasnt known for disappointing people. Perhaps he
would surprise them yet again.
Where have you traced the life-marks to? Faust asked her.
Still undetermined, Astraea replied nervously.
What methods are you using?
A slight hesitation, rare for any Sephiroth (rarer still for
Astraea), then, A Well of Knowledge, she sighed reluctantly.
Then you shouldve extrapolated a location by now, the
Nephlim pressed on. Wells of Knowledge were the most accurate
divining tools that the Covenant had at hand. The user submerged
itself into a pool of water, and could connect to magic at a near
atomic level, giving it unparalleled access to the energies it could
control. From there, a Sephiroth could surmise the purpose of even
the measliest of trinkets, and track it down to its owner with near
lightning speed. And they never failed.
Astraea gave him no answer.
Dont pull this bullshit on me, Astraea. Im one of your top
experts on Demonic magic, and you know it. You need me now
more than ever, but I cant help you unless you let me, his

27
indignation audible even though his words were calm and collected.
At this point, rank meant little next to experience, and he was sure
Astraea would notice it.
Astraea gave in, with a great sigh. North Miami, Florida;
Budapest, Hungary; Detroit
Its Detroit.
Now how might you be so sure about that? Roland scoffed,
some annoyance in his voice. There was no way hed believe Faust
about this.
Weve been detecting increased magical activities within
the area for the past few weeks. We were able to isolate the source
recently, and had prepared an appropriate response team for an
investigation, myself among them. Todays events have put the
mission on hold, however.
Your explanation makes no sense, demon-spawn, Roland
interrupted him. Magical harmonics fluctuate often in your world;
do you seriously
Allow me to prove you wrong, Faust shot back, then
hurried out of the room, Rolands next set of insults too slow to
intercept him.
You trust that Nephlim too much, Avalon. Remember what
they are, Roland spoke, his contempt thickening his words. He
shook his head and sighed; hed hated Humans since the day theyd
come to be.
You once fought amongst the very best of their knights long
before I was even accepted into this order, and they proved to you
they have redeeming qualities. They deserve your respect, Avalon
thought, but merely said, He deserves it. He does a lot for us.
Pah, he scoffed. It is only a matter of time before his
demon breaks his chains and betrays us when we least expect it, his
seemingly limitless scorn continued.
But until then, he is a valuable liaison between the Nephlim
and the Covenant, and youd do well to respect him as such,
Astraea intervened, her voice rising with anger. It wasnt wise to irk
the Madame. She was the vengeful sort, and was very protective of
her subordinates. If it werent because he was already dead, Avalon
mightve thought Roland a death wish.
Tensions were thick in the air, with an uneasy silence filling
the room. Avalon wasnt going to intervene, but Faust did deserve
Divine Avenger

28
Rolands respect.
After what seemed like an eternity of silence following
Rolands words, Faust returned, holding a thin, silver rectangle
under his shoulder. He courteously bowed to both Avalon and
Astraea (ignoring Roland completely), then handed the rectangle to
the Sephiroth, revealing a small 10 by 8 screen, with what looked
like an encyclopedia opened. The image it displayed was that of a
man with golden-brown eyes, short silvery hair and pristine white
skin, though slightly tanned, as if hed been to the beach recently.
His nose was round, his jaw square, and he smiled in such a way that
he betrayed malice and animus.
This mans name is unknown, but his stage name is also
Samael. He fronts a band called the Watchers, a collection of
extremely notorious individuals, most of them suspected mage
criminals, Faust explained.
This might not seem like much of a lead, but their concerts
usually involve vivid Covenant imagery, special effects we believe
to be magical in nature, among other things. Weve suspected hes
had some sort of magical involvement since he first appeared earlier
this year, but we never had any sort of evidence until earlier today,
when Samael communicated with us, he continued.
You suspect they might both be the same person? Astraea
questioned him, eager to know more. This was a rare occasion, when
the Nephlim had better information than the Covenant. Theyd need
his cooperation to succeed.
His exact words were sins past, long shadows cast, correct,
Avalon? Faust asked him, growing somewhat more secure about his
predictions. The hint of a small smile started developing on his face.
Yes, but what would that have to
Faust made some quick motions with his hands, commanding
the small tablet-like apparatus to do his bidding. Human technology
eluded the Covenant; even their most basic apparatuses confused
them to an exaggerated, even humorous degree. There was a certain
degree of xenophobia concerning
A loud, angry noise exploded from the rectangle in Fausts
hand, cutting off all Avalons thoughts. He recognized the sounds as
the angry chords of a heavy metal song, but with a tribal and
primitive feel; the angry vocals of a man, distorted by technology
and fury, sounded in the background. He growled, ire thick in his

29
voice, perfectly in harmony with the music that backed it.
We were forsaken from our rightful place/ We were
relinquished from our true and proper grace/ We are the victims in
this evil fight/ And from injustice we will make things/ RIGHT!!/
Because you cannot quell the flames that burn in our/ Hearts!/ We
wont abandon this plight we will fight or well die/ For sins past,
long shadows cast!
The music stopped right there, suddenly and abruptly, almost
unfairly. He was almost saddened by the sudden finish; he had been
completely enveloped by the primitive rage of the music, and the
sheer, aggressive power of the vocalist. It was almost as if it were
calling out to him.
Sins past, long shadows cast. It was a message, Faust
claimed, looking at Roland confidently.
Nonsense. Do you believe a song made by a Human and a
message by a Grigori automatically makes them the same thing just
because they have a similar line? You are even more foolish than I
thought, Roland mocked him. There was no way hed believe this.
Grigori means watchers in Human tongue. His band is
named The Watchers. I dont think its a coincidence, Faust spat
back, his anger unrestrained. Or do you have a better lead? he
challenged his superior, his anger rising slowly.
Roland started to open his mouth to speak, but Avalon cut
him off, sick of their bickering.
What do you define as Covenant imagery? he asked,
curious. It was unlikely that Humans outside of the Nephlim knew
of the Covenant; even their most basic traditions and cultures were
censored from the latter, hidden even. They were not ready for some
things, at least not yet.
The lyrics to one of their songs at one point mentioned the
Divine, and how they drove the watchers into an exile. Another one
mentioned that they were created to seek knowledge and empower
the world with it, be it magical or mundane, Faust continued,
pausing temporarily to catch his breath, and it matches the Seekers
task. I even went to one of their concerts several weeks ago to keep a
closer eye on them, and I sensed a very subtle amount of magic in
the area, meant for mind control. Had I not known how to deal with
it, I mightve fallen under its grasp as well.
And why were we not informed of this? Roland demanded,
Divine Avenger

30
his anger rising slowly.
Midgard jurisdiction, Roland. Its our problem, not yours,
Faust responded, smiling snidely at Roland. He probably felt
accomplished by beating Roland at his own game, but his victory
would do them no good if it bred further enmity between them. Their
enemies paths had not been revealed, and this infighting was
straining them, giving their foes an advantage.
If we are to stop this conflict before it grows out of control,
we will have to launch a martial intervention into Midgard soon,
Astraea started. Faust, how soon can your leaders convene and
The Argent Violet wont be able to respond as quickly as
you want them to. Theyll be tied up with all their bureaucratic
nonsense for at least a week, thanks to these attacks; given our
current relations, it may take even more, Faust replied, irritated.
Now he seemed to be overstepping his boundaries, as if he wanted to
take over the entire operation.
No, he was probably just afraid. He was still too close to
polymerizing one of the most powerful demons ever encountered
directly into his soul, and probably saw this as a way to possibly free
himself from its clutches. Avalon found it hard to blame him; he too
hoped he would be set free someday, though it would hardly be a
simple task.
When will they perform next? Astraea asked him, her
silver eyes lost in deep thought.
Tonight. Itll be their last concert for some time. Id planned
to investigate them; Commander Alaura herself believes there is
something suspicious about them.
So what do you suggest we do? Roland asked him,
sounding intrigued. He probably expected Faust to suggest an
unsponsored covert operation, but hed never stoop down to those
levels.
A black op, was Fausts answer. There went that.
Before the others could respond, he cut them off. Id be in
my territory, so Ive no need for any special authorizations, and
Avalons rank as Divine Avenger makes him an autonomous,
extralegal force that is recognized and acknowledged by both the
Covenant and the Argent Violet. Its plausible.
It is plausible, but unwise. We would only be increasing
tensions between both of our orders, Astraea replied, surprised at

31
Fausts unusual aggression.
But if we dont act now, we might lose an opportunity to
preemptively strike at the heart of this conflict, was Fausts
response.
For once, I agree with the demon-spawn. We do not know
the extent of the Grigoris influence; any opportunity to assess the
threat has to be taken seriously, Roland said, siding with Faust.
Now that was something that didnt happen every day.
Avalon took a moment to analyze the implications of this
plan. The operation had its validity, but if they were discovered, it
could worsen the already existing tensions between the Argent
Violet and the Covenant.
Still, there was more at stake than simple political retribution;
an individual Grigori was more dangerous to Humankind than the
Covenants Martial Forces. Too many innocent lives were at stake.
That made his mandate even clearer.
It shall be done, the Avenger told Astraea.
As expected, I shall be going with you. Neither of you have
ever faced a fully powered Grigori before; you will need someone
with experience to assist you, Roland told them both, his voice
firm. As the last surviving warrior of the Crusades, his knowledge
would prove invaluable.
Faust said nothing, while Avalon replied, Your presence has
always been appreciated, old friend.
Astraea remained quiet and pensive, then decreed, Avalon,
you will partake in this operation as Divine Avenger of Justicia
Adamante, she told him, a grim look in her silver eyes. The old
Sephiroth had seen much bloodshed in her lifetime; she was clearly
tired. Avalon hoped this conflict would be brief, but in his heart he
knew it would not be so. Tread lightly; I suspect we are being led
into a trap, she added.
Regardless, we should make preparations to leave soon.
This band is popular, and Detroit will be very crowded once the
concert starts, Faust told them both, taking his computer from
Astraeas hands.
Then you would be well advised to avoid as much collateral
damage as you possibly can. The Violet already believes todays
events are being carried out by rogue Fuerza Superior elements. We
dont need to pin another nail in our coffin, she told them both.
Divine Avenger

32
Yes, Astraea. I will gather my equipment, Avalon said, a
smile that had not been present in his face for many long years
spreading across his visage. This was what he lived for.

***

To the public eye, there were four branches in the Martial
Forces of the Covenant. But to the higher echelons, there was a fifth,
secretive branch: Justicia Adamante. It was autonomous and
unknown to the civilian populace, as well as most of the
government. Their members, handpicked by Astraea from every
other branchs Fuerza Superior divisions, were sworn to absolute
secrecy, and were the deadliest and most elite warriors of all
Empyrea.
The order had been formed two-and-a-half millennia ago, as
a secret police against demonic action. But while Astraea was the
tactical leader, the Divine Avenger, an individual chosen for his skill
with both a blade and magic, and his incorruptible ideals, was the
one who held the true power. Roland had been the first Avenger, and
Avalon had been chosen as his replacement.
The Divine Avenger was the single most powerful entity in
all of Empyrea. He was under direct command of the entire Council
of the Covenant, and even so he still had powers of his own. If he
received a target, it was his duty to chase him down relentlessly and
unforgivingly until only one of them were standing, or hed spared
their life; if the second option was chosen, his judgment was final
and irrevocable.
So far, the only lucky one had been Faust, and it was only
because neither the Humans nor the Nephlim were formally a part
of the Covenant. Hed decreed that until they were a part of the
Covenant, they had no right to judge them for their actions. Until
then, the so-called demon-spawn was under his guard. Avalon hoped
that the Nephlim would be merciful on Faust if they were ever
accepted into the Covenant; the man had done a lot to redeem
himself, and he certainly proved he had courage and honor to match
even the greatest of Divine warriors. At the very least, he deserved
an honorable death.
Even so, that might have to change now that the Grigori had
resurfaced. Fausts possession made him vulnerable, and could make

33
him an important ally to their cause, whatever it was. Samael had
made it clear that he had a plan, but the lack of a pattern to follow
besides the dead Human Rights activists made them even more
dangerous. Fausts lead, while it made some degree of sense was
tenuous at best. But it was the only lead they had, and Faust had
never led them astray.
This was all a leap of faith, and one that Avalon wasnt sure
he was ready to take. They had to start somewhere though, and Faust
could be trusted. Theyd just have to hope that his hunch was right.

***

Avalon stood in a large, barren chamber, devoid of any form
of adornment. Before him stood Almacia, a large suit of armor,
charcoal black, old beyond words, and one of his most powerful
weapons. It could reorganize its atomic composition to assume a
different form for different needs, and it was nearly impervious to
most known magic and weaponry. However, only warriors that were
judged worthy of wielding its full power would unlock its true
potential. Roland had been the first, as he had been Divine Avenger;
Avalon had only recently (an odd 1300 years ago) become the
second.
Avalon didnt just consider this armor just equipment; he
regarded it as an extension of himself, his body, and his will. Not
only did it enhance his speed, strength and magical stamina, but it
also functioned as a powerful conduit for magic, in the form of
runes. He usually wielded five on both of his hands, each assigned to
one of his fingers. Runes each represented the purest elements of
existence; principle matter, such as light, chaos, sound, among
others, could be manipulated through them; their effects could also
be combined to form powerful, complementary byproducts. In the
hands of skilled masters, the combinations had no end.
Beautiful, is it not? Every time I look at it, I feel alive
again, Roland spoke to Avalon as he materialized behind him. The
armor was one of his connections to the physical realm, his Spirits
home. Roland was more connected to the suit than just by his
memories of his past service; part of his soul was housed within this
powerful armor, making him an excellent security system of sorts.
You have openly faced the Grigori before. What can we
Divine Avenger

34
expect from them? Avalon asked as he placed his hand over the
armor. The suit liquefied and spread over his body, warmly oozing
itself across his frame.
Your magic will not work against them; even their simplest
spells are more powerful than yours ever will be. Remember, they
are naturally attuned and calibrated to use these energies; you must
focus on martial skill, Roland explained, as Almacia spread itself
over Avalons body. The thick, resin-like liquid began to harden, and
shape itself across his body.
The armors upper torso molded itself into a black, long-
sleeved shirt with a silver pentagram on the chest, with leather
gloves covering his hands, and a blue digital watch formed over his
left wrist. The liquid resin on his lower torso condensed into a thick
denim fabric, covering his legs, thighs and feet, where they formed
boots. Though he was dressed as a Human civilian, Almacia was still
powerful enough to block the strongest of blows and the mightiest
magic. The element of secrecy was their one guiding principle; how
Samael had discovered his existence was beyond him, but hed make
sure the Grigori took that knowledge to the grave.
Avalon flexed his body, now that the armor had completely
morphed around him. As heavy and bulky as the suit might have
looked, his disguise was comfortable and light as cotton, and though
it may have looked like ordinary Human apparel, the armors still-
extant power synchronized itself with his movements, amplifying his
speed and strength. Midgard had an obsession with creating similar
suits, which they dubbed powered armor. Their experiments had all
failed miserably.
The key to Almacias effectiveness, as well as Humankinds
own failure with their prototype armors, was its composition. The
armor was made of genesium alloy, a metal that could conduct
magical energies with ease and efficiency, and store it within itself,
acting like a battery of sorts. It also refined all magic that coursed
through it, purifying it to increase its performance and effectiveness,
making it both a conduit and a filter.
His armors left glove, now disguised as a watch, had a small
groove that housed the hilt of his Spirit Blade, his most important
weapon, and his trump card against the darkness. It had once been
Rolands sword, Durandal the Strong, but it had been shattered upon
his death. This hadnt stopped Justicia Adamante from harnessing its

35
powers again though, and so Avalon had reforged it, further refining
its core lattices. Durandal the Strong had been reborn as Joyeuse the
Just, the most powerful weapon in known existence. No known
blade could withstand even a single blow from it. And it only
answered to those who proved themselves worthy of its power.
He stepped out of the hidden chamber, and back into the halls
of the Elysium. In his 1300 years of service to Justicia Adamante, he
had never seen so much activity going on at once. Centurions
readied themselves and bore their arms and armors, eagerly awaiting
their deployment orders, while Sephiroth sorcerers meditated in
perfect synchrony. He searched around for Strigoa, his friend, to at
least make sure she was safe, but he saw her nowhere. Commander
Alaura was also out of his sight, though in her case, he suspected she
was already in Midgard. It was too dangerous for her to be here.
I doubt we will have time to say hello to your beloved
senator. Shall we leave a message instead? Roland snidely
suggested behind him.
No. Strigoa is secure, and that is good enough for me. We
have a war to end, he replied, strong adamance in his voice. Now
that he was justice incarnate again, he had to separate his feelings
from his actions; his mandate came first. The Covenants fate now
rested on his shoulders.
He walked along the halls of the Elysium, past barren gray
walls that held no decoration of any sort, brightly lit by magical fires
perched high in the ceilings. These lights burned perpetually, and
theyd never been replaced since hed joined the Order. To him, they
were a representation of Justice; always burning brightly, unfazed by
time and age, bringing light where there was none. He liked it.
As he walked on, numerous Centurions stopped to salute
him. It was unnecessary; he didnt hold any rank over them and they
were not entitled to follow him, but he courteously returned their
salutes. To them, he was Justicia Adamantes leader, not Astraea,
and the mere sight of him was enough to remind them of their
strength as the most powerful warriors in Empyrea. His pace was
such that he barely noticed that he had reached the Portal Chamber
until he practically stood in it.
The portal consisted of a large circle etched on the ground,
with numerous symbols Avalon had never understood. They were of
different colors, and of a language alien to the Avenger; perhaps they
Divine Avenger

36
were of the older, more archaic dialogues of Fereshte?
Besides the runes, there were also different colored mirrors,
each one of them an eye color of the Covenants species. A total of
five gleamed with their own light, giving off an aura that surrounded
him in magical light. It was a beautiful thing to behold.
Well, you look like youre ready to rock, Fausts voice
sounded as he entered the portal chamber. He wore loose jacket of
Human origins, covered in a complex pattern of blues, grays and
whites overlapping its entirety, along with a white, design-less shirt
and dark blue jeans. Black aviator glasses covered his eyes, and a
long, black glove covered his demon claw. The light from it though
still shone, however. It would give him away to someone who knew
what he was looking for.
We need to act soon, was Avalons cold response. He took
his job very seriously.
Agreed. Did you speak with Alaura?
No. Did you?
Yes.
Is she all right? Avalon asked him, worried. If she died,
then their alliance would suffer deteriorating damage. No other
Nephlim was trusted by the Covenant.
Shes fine. Are you going to talk to her?
Avalon said nothing.
I see, Faust whispered, knowing hed hit a live nerve. They
still werent on talking grounds.
May I remind you that we have a mission to conduct?
Roland interrupted, a hint of annoyance in his voice. He mustve felt
they were stalling.
Taking advantage of the timely interruption, Avalon began
channeling his magic around the mirrors and runes. He knelt down,
coursing his magic through his armor and into the runes on the floor.
Static crackled in the atmosphere, and the lights that emanated from
the mirrors brighter and stronger. A low hum droned around them,
making the air vibrate softly.
Once were in Midgard, youre going to have to let me take
over. The worlds changed a lot since your last intervention, Faust
spoke, raising his voice. The hum grew louder and stronger,
reflecting the increase in magical energies.
Last time I intervened in Midgard, I killed an Enivid posing

37
as a dictator, and stopped a world war through it, Avalon replied
lowly, without breaking his concentration. The light from the mirrors
began to shine brighter and more powerfully; it began to burn the
insides of his skin. His body was sweating lightly beneath his
clothing, and beads of perspiration dampened his forehead.
Yeah, but that was half a century ago; the Humans have
Both warriors disappeared in a blinding flash of light. Their
atoms, their souls, and their very essence was carried over from
Empyrea to Midgard, in Detroit, Michigan.
Changed in attitudes, values, and Faust paused,
noticing his surroundings, and sighed. Ill never get used to how
sudden the teleportation is.
Where there were once different colored mirrors, there were
now broken shards of glass, sharp and jagged. The runes had been
replaced by ugly graffiti, colored angry-red and mucus-yellow,
blemishing the creaky wooden floor of their new location. Winds
howled through the insides of the room, their cool breeze chilling the
atmosphere. There was no more magic in the air, only the smell of
worn-out paint and years of decay and maltreatment.
So, this is Detroit, Roland muttered, materializing next to
both warriors. I love what they did to the cesspit; quite welcoming,
he added under his breath, audible enough for Avalon to hear.
Why you refuse to give Humans another chance will always
elude me, Roland, was Avalons response. He stood up from the
wooden floor, and the planks, ancient and worn, creaked in agony.
Outside the abandoned building, gray clouds filled the sky, and
lightning and thunder crashed. Small drops of rain pattered the roof
lightly, barely audible from where they stood.
How soon until the concert begins? Avalon asked Faust,
inspecting himself. Hed no idea if the clothing he picked was
adequate for Midgards current culture and customs. All he had to
work with was Fausts usual wardrobe from his travels back to and
fro Midgard, which in itself was eccentric and noticeable. It was the
blind leading the blind, as Humankind would say.
Less than an hour, Faust responded, moving towards a
door on the far end of the room. The floor creaked with every step he
took; Faust was either too heavy, or the floor was too worn.
Whyd you pick this sector of the city to establish a portal?
Faust asked Avalon as the latter walked up to him, kicking the door
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38
open.
It was never our choice. They were here long before the
Nephlim first appeared. We merely secured their locations, and
began to regulate them, Avalon replied as he stepped outside, trying
not to wretch at the abomination that was Detroit. So much of nature
had been destroyed, all in the name of their technological greed.
So you established a sort of border patrol? Faust continued.
Yes, we also started monitoring for workers visas and
citizenships, Avalon said, mocking his unprofessional nature.
Now, do we not have a mission to finish? Avalon finished. Faust
had always asked too many questions for his own good.
Yeah, I guess we do. Follow me, he said, motioning
Avalon to follow him.
Avalon trailed behind Faust, thankful that the streets around
here were empty. This entire neighborhood, their buildings old, worn
and decaying, had been scheduled for demolition since the 1940s,
yet every attempt made had either had its funding cut off, or its
vehicles and equipment suffer unfortunate accidents. It was
becoming a ghost town; people were genuinely afraid of stepping
anywhere near it, making it easier to hide their portal without risking
exposure to Humankind.
Avalon couldnt help but feel excited. After eons of silence,
the Divines oldest and greatest enemy had returned, directly
disturbing the peace and tranquility that had dominated the
Covenants recent history for far too many years. Avalon smiled;
deep down, he knew that though his mandate was to preserve peace,
what he really wanted was a worthy adversary. He hoped these
Grigori were more than up to the task.

39
19:43 Hours, July 23, 2021
Beholder, Detroit City, Michigan, United States of America,
North American Continent, Midgard

Divine Intervention

What do you call this...contraption? Avalon asked, holding
a tiny black box in his hand. It had a short antenna poking out of its
topside, and a small, hole-filled receptacle containing a microphone,
something that altered the way one heard a Humans voice. It was
small enough to fit in his hand, yet the size gave him no indication of
what it did or what it couldnt do. It was annoying.
Its a radio. It transmits your voice from one end of a certain
distance to another. If you press this button here, you
Uninterested, the Divine closed his palm over the device,
cracking its inner circuitry and wiring in his hand. He then loosened
his grip, and then let its small, broken shards fall to the floor, looking
at his companion with cold eyes.
Hey, try not to get too excited; I dont buy these by the
dozen, the Nephlim said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Faust had been trying to introduce him to technology for decades,
since the biplanes creation. His attempts had been coldly rejected,
like a leprous cretin attempting to court an exotically beautiful
woman. His determination was admirable, though irritating.
It will be inconvenient; Human technology is too easy to
intercept, Avalon told him, as they both walked into the concert
grounds. They treaded slowly across the cold streets of Detroit, a
major industrial city, as Faust had described it.
There wasnt much to say about the city itself. It reeked of
pollution and decay, tall buildings strewn dirtily with graffiti and
obscenities, while streets were full of vehicles that spewed toxic
gases into the very air they breathed. Some of its inhabitants walked
the streets, homeless and hopeless, searching in vain for food, odd
jobs, or both. The city was large and ugly and dirty, a giant
bastardization of the land, all for the sake of its Human masters
collective greed. Nature had been slowly seeded with mechanical
monstrosities, and its flesh had been boiled into necrotic tumors,
slowly spreading into the still-pristine lands of the North. Their
Divine Avenger

40
technological wonders were like a cancer, spreading uncontrollably
across the world.
Yet even under duress, the inhabitants remained noble and
virtuous, a very rare sight for Humans under stress. This city,
monstrous and unnatural as it was, was ironically the most beautiful
place on Earth, simply because of its citizens. Perhaps the Humans
truly had potential for grandeur, and his judgments werent
misplaced.
Where exactly are we going? Avalon asked his friend,
treading lightly behind him. The people around him gave him
uncomfortable looks, mostly due to his odd clothing, but he ignored
them, pretending he didnt notice. None of them were Argent Violet,
or Nephlim for that matter; it wouldnt matter if they saw him.
Were headed towards a tavern called the Beholder, a few
blocks away from here. Weve believed this place has a connection
to the Empyrean underworld for a long time, but weve never been
able to prove it, he responded.
Why are you not telling us these things? Did the Violet
suddenly enact their own Prime Article?
You have your secrets, we have ours. These measures were
enacted by Alaura, yes, but there are no hard feelings behind them,
Faust replied nonchalantly. Perhaps he was exacting his revenge on
Justicia Adamante for hiding so many things from them.
If we lack tickets, how will we get in? Avalon asked him.
It was only now that hed realized that Human musical performances
were much different to what he was used to back in Empyrea.
I have a contact that can get us in, Faust told him.
Is she affiliated with the Violet?
No. Shes a neutral party.
Even worse, he thought. The neutral parties could switch
allegiances quickly, during the blink of an eye; they were
unpredictable, something hed rather not contend with on the
battlefield. But hed keep his mouth shut; Faust had never led him
astray. Yet.
They kept walking amidst the crowds of Humans. Their attire
made them stand out, earning them gaping looks from the crowds,
but they both continued, ignoring their stares. Avalon was sure some
of them were affiliated in some way with the Argent Violet; Detroit,
and by extension Michigan, was a magical focal point. There were

41
items in Lake Michigans waters that conducted magic more
powerfully than the purest forms of genesium. The Humans hadnt
realized this yet though, something the Covenant was thankful for.
Such power in the hands of an undisciplined race was dangerous.
The Beholder is right in front of us, but were taking the
back door, Faust said, leading Avalon into a dark alley, behind the
large, chapel-shaped building. The walls between them were littered
with graffiti, colored gold and white. Humans had always neglected
care to their buildings, yet there was something odd about these
markings.
Have you noticed anything strange, Avalon? Roland asked
Avalon, his avatar standing between them.
Should I notice anything?
Look at the walls. This was not Human nor Nephlim
handiwork, Roland responded, waving his hand over the graffiti.
Avalon hadnt really paid attention at first, but as he stepped
closer, he recognized one of them. It was a small diamond that was
crossed by two lines from either end, which represented sound. He
looked around at the others, and recognized more of them. Besides
sound, there was a horseshoe surrounding a small cross for faith, a
large circle crossed by an x for imprisonment, but the one that
disturbed him the most was small and eye-like, with a minuscule V-
shape where the iris should be, for mind. There was no doubt that
whoever had drawn this graffiti had some knowledge of magic and
the arcane. This combination of runes was perfect for mind control
and brainwashing; this was no mere coincidence.
These runes are charged too purely. I sense the life-mark of
a Grigori within them, Roland said, his ethereal hand glowing a
light gold as he absorbed the magical radiation that the runes
emitted. This was a technique called aura reading. Only Sephiroth
could readily perform this, but Roland, being a Spirit, could perform
his own, cruder version of it. Faust, with his demon, could also
perform it, though his was limited to only recognizing demonic
magic.
Faust ignored Rolands ramblings, and approached a section
of the wall, clean of any markings. He tapped it seven times, pausing
between the third and the fourth, and then uttered something in a
Human language, one Avalon didnt understand. He wondered if the
Nephlim had gone insane, until the wall disintegrated into thin air.
Divine Avenger

42
Standing in front of Faust was a slender woman, tall with
flaming red hair and wildly blue eyes. She wore thick glasses that
made her eyes look bug-like and bulgy, and her skin was covered in
tattoos, cherries and spider webs and the image of a dead, decaying
woman all on her neck. She had thick red lipstick and much eye
shadow, and wore a black shirt with matching jeans and high heels.
Who was she?
Immediately when she noticed Faust, she tackled him, giving
him a strong hug; she looked as if shed not seen him in years. The
latter returned the favor, holding her with his one Human arm. He
made no attempt at hiding his smile. They both hung there, frozen in
time, in perfect peace.
Ahem, shall we get moving? Roland spoke out,
interrupting their moment as he smiled spitefully. Humans had a
phrase for this action, cock-blocking, was it? Perhaps Roland felt
satisfied with himself, the bastard.
Faust blushed slightly, and then introduced his lady to them.
Avalon, Roland, this is Rhandi. Rhandi, meet Avalon and Roland.
Frabby. These your buddies? she asked, her eyes looking at
them wildly. Her expression betrayed a lack ofsanity? She didnt
look in her right mind; no wonder she wasnt Argent Violet.
Yes, these are my companions. You said you could get us
inside? Faust asked her, calmly. He looked at the Human as if she
were his own daughter; perhaps there was a deeper relationship
between the two of them, one that Avalon had no understanding of.
Ill get it done, its easy breezy, she said. Just follow me!
she exclaimed, a sudden excitement surging in her voice. Odd,
Avalon thought. Perhaps shed never had company before.
Something is very strange about her, Roland whispered, as
they started following her. His avatar vanished behind Avalon,
leaving a trail of light-red sparks. Joyeuse, disguised as a watch on
his wrist, absorbed them, glowing with a dim red color.
What gave that away? Avalon asked him, though he too
didnt know what to make of her. She seemed quirky, but appeared
to be lucid enough for coherent thought. Yet this was not enough to
draw a solid conclusion about her minds condition. He nonetheless
followed her and Faust into the dank, dusty corridor, dimly lit by a
few yellow light bulbs. The corridor reeked of rat and Human feces,
with a subtle hint of alcohol-filled vomit. It was disgusting.

43
I read her aura. She has some small control over magic, but
she is not a Nephlim, Roland said, his voice tinged with confusion.
The Humans had always been an enigma of nature (if one could say
they were natural), but their genotypes had always been predictable,
at least until now.
Perhaps she is a mutant? Avalon asked him, whispering as
low as he could. He didnt want to risk offending their newfound
ally. He walked a few steps behind them to keep them from
listening.
Unlikely. No Human-mutant has ever lasted beyond the two
months of age; their bodies cant handle the energies.
Then it is not our concern for now. I doubt this is right time
to have this sort of discussion, he told Roland. His watch glowed
brightly, and then dimmed again to a pale red; the Spirit was sighing.
Intending to be as polite a guest as possible, Avalon hurried
up to catch up to both Rhandi and Faust, both of whom clearly
hadnt noticed he had been lagging. Their laughter echoed
throughout the dank corridor, which in turn seemed endless and
labyrinthine. The Beholder mustve been larger than it had appeared
on the outside.
So she comes to me and says, look mom I can control
water, and I says to her, maybe you can take a better shower
now! Rhandi said, bursting with laughter as she held onto Fausts
arm for stability. Faust lightly chuckled along with his companion, a
rare smile of joy and peace spreading across his face.
She sounds like a great kid, he replied, his eyes never
leaving her.
Oh she is whiptastic; you have to come and meet the rest of
the gang someday, she kept rambling. She seemed like a genuinely
honest woman, if a mite unstable, but her race eluded him. Fausts
connection with her ran deeper than mere consort, he was sure of
that. Buthow deep?
At the end of the long corridor, they found a steel-framed
door, threshold covered in runes Avalon had never seen. They
emanated a dark aura that Avalon could feel, even though he wasnt
properly attuned to their magical frequencies.
Explosive runes. They appeared inert, giving attackers a
false sense of confidence, until the caster activated them. I lost many
warriors to them, Roland explained, refusing to show himself.
Divine Avenger

44
So they must be expecting us, Avalon muttered to himself.
Demons could sense each other, and even communicate
telepathically if they were close.
It is likely. The Grigori made use of these runes during the
times of the Crusades, when they performed their old incantations.
Perhaps your friends gut feeling was right, Roland continued, the
blue watch dimming again.
Can we disarm them? Avalon asked the Spirit. He didnt
want to risk any collateral damage; Alaura would kill him for that.
If we knew the proper incantations, maybe. Without them, it
would be unwise. Perhaps our new Human companion might be able
to shed some light on their activation ritual? Roland replied,
undignified. As a frequent detractor of Human Rights, he most likely
felt his virility was under attack by Fausts ingenuity. Still, if a fight
ensued, he knew Roland wouldnt let his prejudices get the best of
him. At least there was some consolation there.
In the meantime, Faust spoke with his companion, a more
somber gaze now filling his face.
Rhandi, I need you to leave now, while its still safe. I dont
want you to get caught up here, Faust told his Human friend. He
looked genuinely concerned about her; was she his lover?
Will we still see each other this Friday? she asked quietly.
Faust nodded.
The young woman smiled, and lightly kissed his cheek; he
hugged her back strongly.
She then approached Avalon, and held out her hand. Good
luck, be safe, she told him happily.
Avalon smiled politely, and grasped her hand, surprised by
her strong grip. He glimpsed at her eyes briefly, and noticed a slight,
black distortion in her iris, as if they were reorganizing themselves.
Yet when blinked once, he saw that they were blue again, just as
theyd been when he first saw her. The distortion had been real
though, of that he was sure. He was under no strange influence or
spell, nor was it a light trick. Hed have to ask Faust about this later.
But there was one thing he was sure of: she wasnt Human.
Can she be trusted? Avalon asked Faust as he walked over
to him.
Family is family regardless of blood, Avalon. I think I can
trust her, was Fausts indignant reply.

45
Avalon said nothing, simply approaching the steel door, and
twisted the handle.
As the door opened, he felt the loud boom of the music
explode all over him, washing him in primal, furious music. The
mobs inside the hall pushed and slammed into each other, and they
screamed and yelled, excitement and emotion hanging thick in the
air. Avalon was surprised at the concertgoers near-primitivity; these
moshes, as Humanity called them (Roland preferred slaughter), were
as if someone had unchained a large pack of hungry beasts, set them
loose amongst each other, and forced them to resort to cannibalism
for their survival. There were at least three people lying on the floor,
blood spilling from open wounds, and another held his elbow at an
uneven angle. Their bodies were stacked upon each other without
much concern about their well-being; Avalon wouldnt have been
surprised if they were dead.
There was raw emotion spilling from the music, and the
crowds eagerly met it with their own, further perpetuating the chaos
with their own violence. They cheered at the band, their excitement
growing as the musics volume rose. Gold-colored lights began
flashing on and off, blinding Avalon slightly.
The man theyd sought to apprehend was among the leather-
clad, pierced and tattooed band members, making little attempt to
remain hidden. Samael, the lead vocalist of the band, wore a gold-
rimmed black spandex outfit with chains and spikes protruding from
of his shoulder blades, knuckles and knees. He wore piercings on his
lips and sported a large tattoo over his left eye, while his right eye
was covered in scars and deformations. All of it was obviously
prosthetic, and he looked very much like the Samael that had
addressed them back in the Atrium of Light.
His suspicions were cemented though when he started to hear
a low voice chanting softly in his head. Res ut emad, etnem ut emad,
amla ut emad. The chant repeated itself lowly in his mind, trying to
pass by unnoticed. He didnt remember what these words meant, but
he was sure of their origin: it was the old Grigori language, an
ancient, abandoned, and forbidden idiom. There was no way the
Humans couldve learned it, much less embed it with magic. Faust
had led them not just to their enemy, but also into what had to be an
elaborate trap.
The music grew louder and stronger, and the chants
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46
themselves grew more powerful. Avalon mightve been able to resist
for a while longer, but Faust wouldnt be able to advance under this
influence; continued exposure would eventually make them succumb
to its dominant power.
Rather than wait for the music to subside, Avalon took
matters into his own hands. He pressed his pinky finger, the one
holding the sound rune, against his middle finger, for spectrum,
along with the union rune on his thumb, and channeled his magical
energies into it. His hand tingled slightly and began to glow a light
blue color as he gathered energy.
Silencio absoluto, he chanted calmly.
The energy gathered in his hand exploded in a small, halo-
shaped supernova. The Humans would feel a small gust of wind on
their bodies, but Avalon and Faust, attuned to the spell, would notice
its ultimate effect.
The air around both of them popped, and the slight smell of
ozone filled the atmosphere. Around them, people jumped and
shouted, moshed and clubbed at each other, but they did so in
absolute quiet. Their actions made no sound, not even a whisper.
Even the band was silent, their movements looking almost laughable
without any of their powerful racket. They looked like caricatures in
a childrens book.
Selective muting? Wow, I need to learn that trick, Faust
remarked, impressed by the effects of the spell. Nephlim had their
own magical strengths, but controlling more primordial elements
was something that would always elude them. Their bodies werent
meant to handle such feats.
Roland, can you sense any Grigori auras here? Avalon
asked the Spirit. He shouldve picked them up by now.
The vocalist in that band is a decoy, and an obvious one at
that. But I am detecting a strange aura, familiar, yet unlike any I
have seen before, he told them. A quick, momentary silence
followed, then, I sense it now, a lone aura, very strong and very
obvious. I sense no concealment spells or masks; he wants us to find
him, Roland replied. He seemed nervous, almost afraid.
I sense something else too, something worse. We should be
careful, he added gravely, his avatar present behind both of them.
Follow me, he ordered them.
A small brawl broke out between two or three patrons.

47
Avalon couldnt tell, nor did he care why they fought; he was busy
following Roland, trying not to get lost in the damned crowds. The
Spirit didnt have this sort of problem; he simply passed through
anyone that got in his way. Though that made him hard to follow, he
left an odd trail that was easy to spot; everyone with whom he came
in contact would feel the air forcefully pulled out of their lungs, the
oxygen deprived from their very system. The hypoxia would make
some of them dizzy, while others would collapse on the floor, unable
to breathe properly for more than five or six seconds. Some of them
blamed it on their low quality booze, something that humored
Avalon. All alcohol was low quality in his eyes.
Faust, are you armed? Avalon asked the Nephlim. His
right hand unstrapped his watch, and Joyeuse immediately morphed
into a small hilt, the weapon still not summoned. The Avenger began
channeling some of his magic into it in preparation for the coming
fight. Joyeuse was a condenser as well as a conductor; if it contained
magic, it was even more powerful than it already was. No sword or
armor could withstand its power.
Indigo and Viola, and myself, was his response. They were
two of his custom-made guns, and his preferred weapons. Rather
than use swords, like any honorable warrior would, Humans and
Nephlim preferred these weapons, long tubes from which metal
projectiles were shot at incredibly high speeds. They accomplished
their job nicely, but they were easy to track and were prone to
jamming under harsh weather. Swords suffered from none of these.
Besides his sword, he carried a total of five runes etched onto
his gloves, symmetrically spread across both his hands. The small
diamond that represented sound was etched on his pinkies; what
looked like four lines crisscrossing each other at odd angles, for
spectrum, was sketched on his ring fingers; a diagonal hourglass
split down the middle with a line, the rune of kinesis, rested on his
middle fingers; a whirling whirlpool took place in his index fingers,
for light; and finally a small line across his thumb, revealing unity as
the final rune. This was the most important one, because through it,
other combinations of magic could be made possible.
Both of them were well armed, and could easily take down
this entire concerts crowd if they wanted to, but that wasnt their
mission; what they were to do required subtlety and precision.
Killing one of the most dangerous beings ever to have walked the
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48
planes of existence would require more than just brute strength; it
would require intelligence, cunning, and guile. And luck.
Mostly luck.
Suddenly, Roland held his hand out, signaling them to halt.
I see him, he told them. His avatar evanesced again, its
sparks floating quietly back into Joyeuse. The fool is speaking to
himself, muttering things incomprehensibly. We need to strike him
down now, before he notices us.
What if there are others? We cant just kill him yet; we need
information, Faust retorted, looking at Avalon. His nerve was
obvious, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. But there was
something else hidden in his eyes. Avalon couldnt place it, yet he
knew that though his suggestion had validity, there was a hidden
undertone beneath it.
Faust is correct. We need to assess the situation before we
bring him in. If there are others, he may lead us to them, Avalon
told him.
Next to him, Faust breathed laboriously, taking quick,
shallow breaths. Some of the color left his skin, and sweat beaded
his forehead.
Are you all right, Faust? Avalon asked him nervously.
Faust would be too vulnerable to a demonic takeover, due largely to
the Grigoris own equally dark nature. If their powers began to affect
him, he would become a liability. If they wanted to proceed
properly, Faust would have to abandon the mission.
Im not abandoning the mission, Avalon. You cant do this
alone, he shot back. He hated the way Faust could seemingly read
his thoughts, but they both knew that if he were compromised, there
would be more to worry about than just two Grigori.
If you compromise this mission, I will kill you, Avalon
warned him. He hoped he didnt have to though, Faust wasnt his
jurisdiction, and the Violet would never forgive him.
Like I told you at the Atrium, Ill manage, he rasped
coarsely, struggling to talk. Against his better judgment, Avalon
would allow him to stay. He was already outmatched and likely
outnumbered; hed need the help.
Avalon carefully walked forward, and hid himself behind a
small group of Humans, their bodies shielding him from Samaels
view. The four were young, less than 20 years old, yet they were

49
meaty and tall, their arms as thick as tree trunks. Theyd make
perfect barriers for him; in the meantime, he motioned Faust to move
behind their target, to have better flanking positions. He kept his
eyes peeled on him though, for any sudden moves; their mission was
going to hell before theyd even started fighting.
Though he blended in, Samael wasnt trying to keep himself
hidden from the crowd. He wore an ashen white hood and jacket that
covered his whole face and head, and he hunched himself, giving
him the appearance of a stereotypical Human prophet, but his black
sneakers and blue jeans made him look as ordinary a Human as those
surrounding him. His lips moved frantically, and he made wild
motions with his hands when he spoke. He was agitated, infuriated,
arousing Avalons curiosity.
The Divine Avenger re-calibrated his runes effects as subtly
as he could. He held both his fingers pressed tightly against his palm,
channeling the sound absorbing energies into the surrounding area,
yet snubbing himself, Faust, and Samael. As the enchantment took
over the spectrum, he noticed Samael pause his speech, and begin to
look around, seemingly scanning the area for something. Avalon
froze; he knew the Grigori were even more attuned to magic than
their Seeker forerunners, who were already at an exponential level
above him. He surely knew something was amiss. Either he found
nothing or gave up though, for he soon returned to his wild, frenzied
speech. Roland and Avalon could hear him perfectly.
Etnetepmonci, oy? Odnalbah saste em euq ed?! He yelled
angrily atno one?
Samael, adan y soa sohcum ecah omsim lo etsijid,
another voice, distorted and thick, spoke. Whoever he spoke to was
out of sight, but his anger was clear regardless, and he was clearly
more powerful than Samael.
Worse, he was infinitely more dangerous.
Adreim al a euf es odot euq atneuc sairad et abirra iuqa
sareivutse is! Oyoh ut ed las!! Samael yelled back.
Can you understand anything they say, Roland? Avalon
asked him, confused. The Grigori language was the most confusing
language hed ever come across.
Words and phrases, but not everything. This is an older
dialect, Roland replied as he concentrated. Samael promised
something, and he was unable to deliver, he translated slowly.
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50
Deliver what?
Let me focus, Avalon, Roland chastised him.
Sodatluser somereuq, sasemorp somereuq on! the
distorted voice spoke again, his tone low and menacing. Aicneicap
al arbos son on!
They are running out of patience, Roland kept translating.
They want results, not promises.
Do I look like a politician to you, you arrogant piece of
shit? Samael said, breaking out into a normal language. I know
what Im doing! Its just that these damned Humans have ruined
everything for us! Theyre in league with the Covenant now; do you
have any idea how difficult it is to
Sasucse sut ed sortah somatse ay. Adan ardlav on adiv ut
o. Sonrarebil arap sem led lanif el atsah seneit, the second
person hissed.
I know, I know; or my soul shall be cast into the deepest
darkest pits of the nether, whence it shall remain unseen and unheard
for no less than a thousand years, gagged, cock-and-ball-tortured,
and forgotten by all those whom I once held dear. I read the rule
book, Samael responded sarcastically, clearly annoyed by the voice.
He has until the end of this month to finish his assignment.
Whoever he is dealing with is running out of patience, Roland kept
muttering.
Which is perfectly correlated with what he told us at the
Atrium of Light, Avalon replied. Everything was starting to make
sense, in a way.
Se aicnagorra ut
I dont think you understand, Araqiel. You need me, not the
other way around; without me, you people are dead in the fucking
water! So dont even think of treating me as expendable, he cut him
off, his shouts echoing in the muted background.
Araqiel? Was he not the commander the Enlightened
Army? Avalon asked Roland as quietly as he could.
And the first of the Grigori as well, was his worried
response.
Avalons blood ran cold. One Grigori, a relatively unknown
foot soldier, was enough trouble; now they were dealing with a fully-
fledged demonic warrior, wielding power beyond anything they
could ever muster. The mission had suddenly turned more than just a

51
simple reconnaissance or even a covert operation; there was more
going on here than any of them suspected.
Samael, redop ut samitsebus, returned Araqiels voice,
disembodied and ghostly. His voice had no visible source; Avalon
wondered where it was coming from.
Samael overestimates his power, the Spirit kept translating.
And you underestimate my importance. If you were as
powerful as you claimed to be, you would have broken out on your
own very long ago. You need me more than you care to admit.
I doubt it is really Araqiel. He was killed in the Crusades,
two thousand years ago, an incredulous Avalon muttered. They
couldnt have brought him back to life; even the Grigori had failed in
perfecting that kind of magic.
Maybe he was trapped in some sort of limbo, Roland said,
sounding unsure. No one save myself survived the final battle of
Crusades.
Sorto ed senoicasrevnoc rahcucse nareibed on saziuq,
someone muttered behind them.
Avalon didnt know what it meant, but the sudden, painful
shock of dark magic around his body made it clear that hed been
discovered. As the lance of energy burned every inch of his body, his
assailant kicked Avalons backside. His strength was such that the
Avenger felt his bones crack while the air forcefully left his body.
He winced in pain as he slammed into the cold marble floor,
Joyeuses hilt slipping from his grasp. He was now not only
disabled, but disarmed. And he was directly in Samaels field of
vision.
Bossman, Im gonna have to hang up on you. Ill call you
tomorrow, same time. Toodles, he cheerfully spoke, directing his
words at the unseen person. Avalon tried to stand up, but he was
unable to move an inch of his body. The darkness hold on him was
too strong; it was numbing his every nerve, making his body little
more than dead weight.
The Grigori chuckled as he stood up from his lone column.
Youre late, and you were obvious. What, they dont teach you kids
basic infiltration in school these days? Samael said, kicking
Joyeuses hilt out of Avalons reach.
Weve been expecting you, he said as outlines of a smile
developed on his now-unhooded face. It was the same man that had
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52
spoken to them at the Atrium of Light, and the same criminal Faust
had shown him. Save for his incapacitation, this plan had been
executed perfectly.
Ya know, when I came up with this marvelously ingenious
plan to lure you into my trap, I was almost afraid you wouldnt take
the bait! He said, circling joyfully around him, like a vulture
waiting for his prey to succumb to its death throes. He laughed
maniacally and evilly, his deranged hysterics reminding Avalon of a
wild animal. He was clearly beyond insane.
The Avenger looked around, trying to find Faust, but he was
nowhere to be seen; perhaps he hadnt been spotted yet. Samael and
his enforcer were still focusing entirely on him; maybe they thought
hed come alone. Regardless, he calmed himself down, and tried to
find a way to loosen the magic cast upon him.
Ah ah ah, dont try to fight Apollyons spell. It usually ends
pretty badly. He kneeled in front of Avalons face, and whispered
into his ear, Your bones are shaken and your muscles twisted, until
your entire inner body is turned into a divinely tasting marmalade!
he proclaimed excitedly. Its much better than my usual bread
spread, he said, licking his lips. Was he into cannibalism?
The impact of a metallic boot on his ribcage knocked
Avalons breath out of him. Three successive kicks shook his body
even more; their power was such that even Almacia couldnt
diminish their sheer force. He wanted to scream, but he held his
breath, determined not to give in. Weakness was death, and he had
no intention of dying today.
Im sure you understand theres no hard feelings behind
this, Avalon. Your kind and mine simply dont like each other,
Samael said, placing his foot on his back. Its always been like that,
since before the Crusades. Like Christians and the rest of the world,
Capitalists and Communists, vegans and carnivores, he continued,
his dementia seemingly increasing.
Another shock of dark magic coursed through his body,
burning his nerves and crushing his bones. He held his breath again,
determined not to give them that satisfaction. Yet his nerves, his
bones, his blood, they all ached and burned, as if fire had been
coursing inside his body.
He finally gasped slightly, something that seemed to satisfy
both Grigori. His body felt excruciatingly sore, and he could barely

53
feel his body; the cold marble floor numbed his pain slightly, but his
body pounded intensely.
Not so strong after all, arent you? Samael continued
gloating. The Grigori mustve thought he was triumphant, yet the
pain wasnt nearly as agonizing as he thought it was.
Though it might not have been absorbing all the force,
Almacia was still functioning properly, soaking up most of the
kinetic energy. He struggled to remove the damned enchantment, but
to no avail. Damn it all.
I guess you shouldnt have been sent alone in the first
place, Samael continued to brag. Then he hadnt noticed Faust. His
enhanced magical senses shouldve detected his friends demon the
minute they stepped into Beholder. Either he was deceiving Avalon,
or Faust had turned tail. Neither was a particularly good option.
Hes not alone, Grigori, Fausts voice rang.
Oh, there you are, Faust. Zathar still treating you nicely?
Samael cried out -joyously- as Faust held his guns to Samaels head.
Dramatically timely as always, Avalon mentally cursed him.
But why was Samael so excited about being threatened?
Be quiet, lest I accidentally pull the trigger and give the
floor a new paint job, Faust threatened him.
Hmm, I feel cross now. I didnt sense you when you came
into the Beholder; my powers mustve gone rusty. Apollyon, did you
sense him? No, wait I created you; of course you didnt, Samael
jeered, not even trying to hide the sarcasm in his sorrow. He knew he
was in control here, and he wasnt hiding it from them. Faust was
treading a dangerous line, without a single bit of caution.
Avalon cursed the situation, unable to assist his friend. It
would be a lopsided fight, and Faust would be unable to hold his
own against them. He needed to break free somehow, but this magic
was simply too strong for him.
Samael snickered softly, before he exploded into laughter.
Oh, this is just hilarious. Oh you two have no idea who
youre fighting, dont you? You think Im some second-rate thief?
Low-life scum? I am Samael, death and darkness incar
A loud bang resonated in the silent concert hall, with two
more going off in quick succession.
Annoying is more like it! Faust cried out.
Samael screamed in pain, while Apollyon shouted something
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54
in his strange language. Concertgoers began to run, their panicked
screams and shouts muted by Avalons silencio spell. Faust fired
several more shots, though in his position, Avalon couldnt see what
was going on.
As more shots were fired, Avalon felt the darkness binding
him decrease, its power slowly dissipating from his body. His body,
though still stupefied, could now move again, albeit clumsily, and
the pain was slowly leaving, his body having healed almost entirely.
As he groggily stood up, Faust quickly tossed him Joyeuses
hilt, and drew his second gun. Taking advantage of their opponents
stupefaction, the Avenger finally summoned his blade.
Joyeuse, Justicia Fiatus! Avalon exclaimed.
A crimson flame expelled from the hilt, leaving in its wake a
beautifully ornate blade. It was a bright scarlet, with streaks of silver
near the tip, with elaborate sets of runes crisscrossing the blades
surface. The hilt had also changed, now jet-black with a deep, cobalt
blue ricasso that shone with energy. This was his weapon, and his
will, Joyeuse, the sword of justice.
As people cleared the concert hall, Samael stood up calmly,
two bullets lodged in his eye and forehead. He groaned in pain as the
skin around them reddened, swelled, and then seemingly popped the
bullets out of his skin. His wounds had healed near instantly; what
shouldve killed him didnt even faze him.
The Grigori laughed uncontrollably, while Apollyon walked
up to him, also seemingly unharmed. He was tall, clean-shaven and
bald, with a muscular stature and a towering figure; he dwarfed
Samael by at least a few inches. He wore a simple white jacket with
black jeans; his beefy body seemed to tear his clothes at their very
seams.
Impressive. You hid yourself pretty well, demon-spawn.
And your mastery over sound is quite masterful, Divine Avenger,
not to mention your Spirit Blade is most impressive, he said, clearly
deriding them. But Im afraid none of your skills or weapons will
make a difference in your fates.
Both of them drew swords seemingly out of thin air, simple
golden blades that seemed too ordinary to oppose Joyeuse. There
was no incantation involved, but Avalon could see a small field of
magic forming around both weapons. Avalon readied Joyeuse,
thankful it was already at maximum charge; Faust on the other hand

55
nervously slipped a new clip of ammunition into his guns. The
Nephlim would find himself greatly outmatched in this fight.
Samael immediately charged at Avalon, swinging his sword
with his full strength. The Avenger brought his sword to bear,
Joyeuse meeting its impact with a loud clang. Both fighters swung
their blades a second time, sending sparks flying out into the air. It
lit the room up, like a miniature sun of sorts. The bright light blinded
him momentarily.
Tread lightly, that blade is made of nihilium, Rolands
voice warned Avalon as him and Samael traded blows. His sleeve
glowed where Joyeuses groove shouldve been, betokening he
wasnt projecting himself.
Welcome back, Roland. I trust you enjoyed your vacation?
Avalon gritted through his teeth, as he dodged another blow from
Samael.
I was being blocked, Avalon. Now focus.
The Grigori left himself wide open to a forward attack;
Avalon took advantage of this and lunged at Samael, attempting to
stab him right in his heart.
But the Avenger was too slow; Samael quickly brought up
his blade, and parried by holding his sword at a 45 angle. Both
warriors locked their swords, flares burning from the friction
between their reactive metals.
Suddenly, Samaels sword disappeared, a trail of black mist
hovering in the space where he once held his sword. Avalon lost his
balance and nearly tripped, but recovered it quickly enough to avoid
a kick aimed squarely at his chest.
Whats the matter, Avalon? Am I too fast? I thought you
were better than this! Samael taunted him as he summoned his
sword again. The golden blade gleamed maliciously in the remaining
light. By this time, the concert hall was essentially empty save for
the four warriors, which meant he could use more of his offensive
spells, especially since Joyeuse was already charged.
Crescente! he exclaimed, as he pressed the light, kinesis,
and unity runes against his blades hilt. The energies that were held
within Joyeuse were unleashed as a crescent-shaped beam of light. It
burned with brightness and intensity, so much that even the oxygen
they breathed was almost entirely consumed; Avalon even lost his
breath, albeit momentarily.
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56
Just as the crescent appeared to reach Samael though, it lost
cohesion and dissipated into a loose stream of ions and sparks,
harmlessly disintegrating before they even reached Samael. The
spell simply broke apart, its particles unbound by a stronger force.
I believe I told you that your magic will not work against
them! Roland furiously berated Avalon. They can warp your
powers without even batting an eyelash!
You really should listen to Roland. Now he was good at
killing us; hell, he got me at least three times before I managed to
kill him, and even then he still iced me! Samael added as he poised
himself for another attack. He grinned at Avalon, and winked at him
cheerfully, as if this was all some sort of big game.
You have faced him before? Avalon asked as he held his
sword in front of him, recharging it. He was thankful that Joyeuse
still held some of its inner power; this would shorten the process
significantly.
Roland was about to respond when Samael charged again,
cutting off the Spirits words. His strength was ferocious, and his
attacks were brutal. Avalon could barely keep up, the Grigori had
thrown him into a defensive position; all he could do was parry,
block and dodge.
Ducking to avoid another blow, Avalon rolled on the floor,
and hit the Grigori with a spinning back kick, knocking the air out of
him, and making him lose balance. He attempted to stab the Grigori
in the chest, but the bastard sidestepped with lightning speed;
Avalon wound up slashing his left shoulder instead, staining his
ivory robe with crimson blood. The wound healed almost
immediately though, as if hed never even cut him.
Conventional attacks are not affecting him, and magic only
makes him stronger. How do I kill him? Avalon asked Roland as he
readied himself for another attack.
If you shatter his blade, his powers should be gone
permanently. And please, do refrain yourself from all magic; I do
not want to see this filths smile any longer, Roland angrily spat.
Samael suddenly cut off the rest of Rolands words, both
their blades clashing and echoing in the now empty halls. They both
parried and locked blades again, the flares from their metals contact
becoming blindingly bright. Both warriors made eye contact, with
Samaels golden, cross-shaped eyes, staring back at him with

57
demonic emptiness, a grin of pure insanity masking his face.
Avenger, heres a little suggestion for our next encounter:
Never energize your blade with magic. It just makes you a big target
for us, Samael jeered at him.
As he spoke, Joyeuses blade began to glow, and the air
around him began to crackle with energies leaking out of the blade.
Avalons eyes widened with shock when he realized what was
happening, yet he was too slow to stop him.
The overcharged Joyeuse exploded in his face, sending the
Avenger flying a good three or four meters in the air, his flight path
shattering one of the Beholders walls before the rough asphalt
streets finally broke his fall. He slammed against the rock-hard
foundation, feeling some of his bones crack and snap as he tried to
get up. His head spun, and he struggled to reclaim his balance. He
was defenseless, and disoriented, a perfect target.
Roland, are you still there? Avalon asked as he groggily
stood up. Every muscle in his body ached, and his bones popped
with every motion he made. Around him, Humans gathered en masse
to inspect him, their excited chatters making his head throb. Some
took pictures with flashing cellular cameras, and others keyed
furiously on their pads, most likely updating their personal weblogs
about the incident. Alaura had told them about incidents like these;
she would be furious about this.
Still metaphorically alive, he responded sarcastically,
appearing again next to Avalon. The Humans gasped in shock as
Rolands form appeared out of thin air, taking them all by surprise.
Boo.
The crowd instinctively retreated in cowardice and fear,
Humankinds only consistent traits when faced with danger. Their
cowardice was beneficial though; it meant they would be more likely
to stay away from the fight. Theyd minimize collateral damage on
their own.
Are you all right? Roland asked him as Avalon got up.
How the pike did he manage that? Avalon growled as he
picked up Joyeuse, inspecting it. The blade itself had suffered no
damage, but it felt hot to the touch, and there was no magic within it.
All of it had been burned away, used up in the explosion.
He turned your spell against you, the Spirit answered,
astounded and confused. He seemed surprised by the action; perhaps
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58
the old Spirit wasnt as wise as he claimed to be.
They can do that? Avalon cried out loud, as he stood up.
He shook his head, and wiped some blood off his forehead. He
would have to improvise.
I am as surprised as you are, Avalon, Roland answered, his
voice hinting fear.
I thought you knew what we were getting into! Avalon spat
back furiously.
When I was still alive, I was too busy killing them to
understand them! Now focus! Roland retorted.
Their conversation was interrupted when the Beholders wall
exploded a second time. Samael was hurled through the air, his
bodys impact bending a nearby lamppost with a loud clang.
Gunshots soon filled the air, and out came Apollyon and Faust,
engaged in their own duel.
Faust fired several shots at Apollyons direction, prompting
the latter to twirl his blade like a whirlwind in front of himself.
Impressively enough, he was holding his own against him,
remaining seemingly unscathed. The Grigori on the other hand had
taken a few bullets, and there was also a small exit wound on his
skull, but like his earlier wounds, they simply healed in the blink of
an eye, leaving no visible scars.
Having seemingly run out of ammunition, he discarded his
weapons, attempting to best Apollyon in melee combat. His claw
glowed a dull gold, empty of any magic; he mustve learned from
Avalons mistakes.
Nearby, Samael rose again, his wounds gone, though his
clothes were tattered and bloodied. Avalon ignored his own injuries
and rushed his opponent, determined to end this fight. They were
exposed far too much in the open streets, the element of secrecy
having already been lost. The Argent Violet had most likely already
detected them; they were already blatantly eschewing their thin veil
of secrecy. His only choice now was to kill Samael, then withdraw
quietly, without attracting any more attention.
Both warriors clashed again, their blades lighting up with the
intensity of a solar flare. Their blades flashed gold and red under the
harsh yellow streetlights, giving their fight the appearance of a
deadly light show.
No energy? Youre learning, kid, Samael taunted him as

59
they locked blades again.
Avalon ignored his taunts and broke their standoff with a
quick thrust-kick to his chest, his armored boots sole hitting Samael
directly in his chest. The forceful blow pushed the Grigori back, the
air leaving his body with a loud pant. It threw him slightly off
balance, staggering as he struggled to recover his ground.
The Grigori attempted to swipe at his head, but Avalon
ducked and punched him in the stomach, complementing it with a
second thrust-kick in the gut. He finally tripped and fell to the
ground, his sword slipping from his hand. Avalon pointed Joyeuse at
his face, as a sign of his victory over him.
Do not move, he ordered him. His sword was aimed right
at his jugular vein; if Samael made any movement, he could cut him
down without much of an effort.
Go ahead, kill me, Samael jeered, spitting at Avalon.
Tempt me, bastard, he replied, considering it. A quick
slash would be all he needed; he could then destroy Samaels
sword
A sudden, painful scream pierced the shroud of the night. It
was Faust.
As he turned to face his friends duel with Apollyon, he saw
to his horror that he was losing. The Grigori slashed him in his face,
leaving a large, gaping gash over his left eye, and quickly followed
with a roundhouse kick to his head. Faust was immediately knocked
down, the force creating a large crater upon the streets surface.
Faust weakly tried to stand up, but Apollyon was too fast for
him, ending his flurry by stabbing Faust directly in his heart.
Avalon was shocked and momentarily stunned; Samael
immediately took advantage of it, recovering his blade and footing
with blinding speed and unnerving agility. He parried Avalons
blade out of his hand, and stabbed him in the kneecap, where his
armor was notoriously weak. Where Avalon was once victorious, he
now knelt at the mercy of his opponent, his sword pointing right at
his necks jugular veins.
And here I was, thinking you would defeat us in combat,
Samael spoke as Apollyon removed his blade from Fausts body.
Blood littered the streets, pooling around the small crater where
Faust lay. His wounds mustve been greater then Avalon had
noticed, and the blood loss was intense.
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60
I cant deny it, I am impressed. You lasted longer than we
thought you would, but while you started off fresh, you came
crashing down in a disappointing spiral of defeat and humiliation,
kinda like the current US President, he continued, wiping his sweat
and some blood off his sword using his jackets sleeve.
The blade soon vanished quietly in a fine black mist. Avalon
considered attacking him again, yet thought against it; he was
outnumbered, and disarmed, and though they held no weapons,
theyd proven to be much stronger opponents than he expected.
Were your souls not polymerized with Demons, the fight
might have taken a different turn, Avalon defiantly threatened him
as they both eyed him. He resisted the urge to leap for his sword; he
had to wait for the right moment.
Oh, I doubt it. You see, youre too predictable. I barely had
to use magic to beat you, Samael told him, smiling coldly at him.
Around them, Human civilians that still hadnt cleared the
area flocked from second and third floors, peering at them intently.
Some held recording devices, intently filming their conversation
with excitement. There went their stealth.
Youve drawn quite a crowd, Avalon. Excited?
Not in the least, scum, Avalon spat back at Samael.
So Roland did train you well. A shame his beliefs about
racial superiority havent rubbed off on you, he told him.
Samael pointed his right hand at the nearest building, one
with at least a dozen people gazing at them.
Oblivio! He called out.
A golden lance of energy shot straight from his hand, flying
at lightning-quick speed. The beam hit the buildings windows, which
immediately began systematically cracking and exploding inwardly.
Several Humans were hurt, while others screamed in terror, hurrying
out of the crashing building in a wild frenzy. All other bystanders in
the area followed suit, quickly clearing the area in a panicked frenzy.
Murdering innocent civilians. Truly your kind has not
changed much since the Crusades, Samael, Roland muttered as he
appeared between both warriors.
Roland, old buddy! Howve you been? Hows that beautiful
family of yours? Samael casually asked him.
Everyone I loved was killed by your kind, Grigori scum.
Right! I remember that now! Some by my hand too! He

61
shouted with glee and joy.
Enough of this! Roland growled, his ire uncontrolled
Chill out homeboy, dont get all feisty on me, Samael
quickly retorted, pretending to be offended by his statements.
Apollyon gazed quietly at them, without saying a single word.
Kill us or release us, Samael. But do not waste our time with
small talk, Avalon demanded, annoyed at Samaels inconsistent
nature. If they were to be so insistent about talking, then they would
at least converse about something relevant.
For thousands of years, you thought my people were dead,
banished in Hell, destined to be destroyed. Your actions, your
neglect, and your prejudice nearly destroyed my race. But Hell soon
became a haven, a welcome home free from the prejudice we all
experienced in Empyrea, Samael told them angrily, his voice
burning with rage.
And you intend to return the favor? Roland skeptically
asked. Avalon doubted he believed any of it; two lone Grigori, while
powerful, were a threat only to Humankind and their offshoot.
Nononononononononononooo, no no, no. No. Youve taken
this all completely out of context, old friend.
Then what do you want? The Spirit demanded.
Samael psychotically laughed again, any trace of his
supposed sanity disappearing. Oh Roland, Im here to prepare
everyones workers visas!
Your incoherence astounds me, Grigori, Avalon muttered
quietly under his voice.
Oh really, Divine Avenger? Then listen to this: Antenora,
Caina, Judecca, Ptolemaia, Samael recited as a large smile
spreading across his face. They ring a bell, Roland? he hissed
playfully.
Avalons heart suddenly stopped when he realized what he
was talking about. They wanted to start a second Crusade!
Any concern Avalon had about his own life suddenly
disappeared; he had to stop these bastards right now. He conjoined
his light, kinesis and unity runes on both his hands, and quickly
pointed at the nearest streetlight.
Crescente!
The beams of light became jagged and sharp, solidifying into
long lances of pure light. His hand made a quick, thrusting motion;
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62
the lances soon sped at both their enemies in a blinding flash.
Yet as before, they dissipated into harmless ions, a their
energy still coherent enough to form a small gust around them both.
Oh. So you havent learned. Man, and I thought Roland
took this out of context, Samael started laughing, as he wiped sweat
off his brow.
Listen to me, kids. This isnt vengeance; its freedom, its
justice! Im not trying to wage war on you, I never did! Yet if my
people decide to fuck you over, it will be well deserved; I just want
to give them the freedom they deserve.
Opening all four portals proved deadly the first time you did
it; your actions could destroy Midgard and Empyrea! Avalon
exclaimed. His plan wasnt just insane; it was mass-murder, a
damned holocaust. It would tear the fabric of reality apart almost
instantly.
Your point being, Divine? We Grigori have created worlds
before, and we can do it again, Samael told him casually, his smile
widening. Its not as hard as your people make it sound.
Avalon was about to respond, when a feral snarl erupted
from Fausts limp body. It echoed with rage, same as Samaels song
had displayed earlier, immortal and unyieldingly evil. The last
remaining Humans that foolishly stood their ground began to run
away, their panic audible even though they themselves were beyond
Avalons eyesight. Damned eyewitnesses; the Violet would cut off
his head for that alone.
Ah, the Beast has awoken! Apollyon, thats our cue,
Samael told his lackey.
Samael quickly approached Avalon and kneed him hard in
the stomach, dropping him to his knees. He coughed some blood as
he felt one of his ribs puncture his lung. A quick roundhouse kick to
the nape soon followed, his head soon cracking the concrete streets.
Well see you around, kid, Samael told him, and then both
he and Apollyon vanished, their bodies leaving the same black mist
as their swords.
Avalon spat some blood and concrete from his mouth as he
stood up, cursing under his breath and hurriedly picking up his
sword, his wounded knee torn with pain. His targets had escaped,
and now his friend was in danger, along with Avalon and the rest of
Midgard. He couldnt just stand there and brood, he had to

63
Hello Avalon. I missed you, a cold, harsh voice spoke
behind him.
His blood chilled when his fears were confirmed, and when
he realized how badly theyd been deceived.
Hello, Zathar. How long has it been? Twenty years?
Avalon asked the demon as he turned to face him.
Grigori, eyewitnesses, and now Zathar; the paperwork for
this operation will be unforgiving, Avalon thought miserably.
Nineteen years, eleven months, and twenty-nine days, to
be exact, the demon responded, irately. And you mispronounced
my name, again, he added, irately.
Zathar was the force behind Fausts powers, the demon that
fueled his energies and tore at his soul like a cancerous disease.
While Fausts body remained virtually the same (cuts, wounds and
torn clothes notwithstanding) his eyes, now uncovered by his
aviators, shone with a golden-white light, while an ivory, phantom-
like outline formed behind his body, a samurai-like armor, with
glowing tusks protruding from its mouth and scintillating, beady
white eyes, ghostly and threatening. Its torso was skeletal, only the
ribs and the spine were visible, and his arms looked just like Fausts
claw, covered in runes and tattoos in his native demonic language.
I never thought you would hold a grudge, Avalon replied
calmly as he tightened his grip on Joyeuse. There were still Human
civilians in the area; collateral damage was sure to happen. There
was no way to minimize it without exposing himself, but regulations
be damned. Alauras ranting would mean nothing if he didnt stop
Zathar.
Rather than wait for the demon to attack him, Avalon
decided to strike first, raising swiping his sword at Zathars center
of mass. But Zathar merely blocked the blow by raising his left arm,
his spectral forearm holding his blade in place effortlessly.
You really dont remember much of me, dont you,
mortal? Zathar taunted him. He quickly backhanded Avalon in the
face, then attempted to punch him again; however the Avenger was
quicker, and was able to dodge the brunt of the blow in time,
managing to deliver a quick nick on his left cheek.
I remember you had an attitude problem, the Avenger
replied, as he started to charge his sword with magic again. Demon
or not, Zathar was still bound to Fausts soul, limiting his overall
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64
powers. This made him an easier challenge than the Grigori, albeit
still a deadly opponent in his own right.
Save your breath, mortal; youll need it to scream when
I tear you limb from limb! The demon roared, his spectral shadow
growing in size. His hold over Faust was increasing by the second.
We need to stun him before he achieves a stronger grip on
Fausts body, Avalon stated, pouring energy into his armor as well
as Joyeuse. The situation was getting out of hand with every second.
And how do you propose we do that? Roland cynically
asked him.
As the pair concocted a plan, Zathar concentrated his
spectral energies into his left hand, Fausts claw, morphing it into a
golden blade.
New trick? the Spirit inquired, confused.
No, he could always do that, Avalon replied sarcastically
as he raised his blade in anticipation.
Then old age is catching up to me, the Spirit muttered,
disappointment filling his voice.
Zathar assaulted Avalon with swift motions from his bladed
arm. Avalon parried several movements, and then stabbed his sword
into the beasts wrist, attempting to disable his fighting capabilities.
But as he struck, the same ethereal force field that had deflected his
first blow stopped this one firmly in its tracks, with no effort.
It seems the nihilium has amplified his power, Roland
mused quietly as he observed the fight.
Your words are very reassuring! Avalon gritted through his
teeth as the demons force pushed him back. Zathar attempted to
strike him down, lunging his blade straight at Avalons chest, but the
demon was too slow, and Avalon was able to sidestep just in time.
But he was wounded and exhausted; hed be unable to hold out for
much longer unless he concluded this fight soon.
Roland, advise me, Avalon asked the Spirit.
But only silence answered back.
How convenient, the Avenger cursed under his breath.
Suddenly, the Avenger noticed Fausts right arm was
changing. The skin was melting off as the specters outline
brightened around it. The limb began to glow a bright white, until
the skin completely fell off, leaving a white claw similar to the one
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65
sharp as the first one, while the stench of burnt flesh permeated the
air, nauseating him.
Inconvenient, he muttered to himself.
The demon assaulted Avalon with great fury. Avalon had a
hard time to keep up with his attacks; if he parried one blade, hed be
exposed to another. He had to play defensively, his one weakness.
Though sparks didnt flare from their impacts, Joyeuse was starting
to heat up, both from the sustained attacks and holding its energy for
too long. He wasnt sure he could survive another explosion like
Samaels.
Zathar swung both his arms at him, Joyeuse barely able to
parry both of them simultaneously.
The Avenger unsummoned his blade and rolled back, and
saw the demon strike the asphalt floor beneath him, picking up dust
and debris.
Joyeuse, Justicia Fiatus, he exclaimed, summoning his
sword a second time. He then combined his pinky and middle fingers
against his sword, for sound manipulation, one of his specialties.
Onda sonica! He cried out as Joyeuse let go of its power.
A strong sonic boom erupted from Joyeuses blade,
shattering several glass windows and sending Zathar flying a few
meters from him. It was a harmless spell; he had no intention of
killing him.
The lumbering juggernaut walked slowly towards Avalon,
seemingly having trouble controlling his body. He staggered and
muttered incomprehensible words in his language, while his blades
grated the floor, leaving behind melted asphalt.
Suddenly, without warning, Zathar began to choke and gag.
He staggered in place, his mouth foaming as he struggled to breath.
The demonic entity struggled to keep walking, hindered by an
unseen force.
This was Avalons chance. He energized his own armor as he
held the kinesis rune, giving him increased speed and strength as he
ran up to Zathar. A quick kick to the chest, followed by a vertical
swipe, and finally a jab to the neck brought him down, his increased
strength creating a second crater, much larger than the one Apollyon
had left. He tightly choked his neck while he pointed Joyeuse at him,
ready to make a killing blow if necessary.
Great Maklos, please keep me from doing that again,
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66
Roland dizzily rambled, disgusted as he took form next to the inert
Faust. His avatar limped away from the Nephlims body, visibly
upset by the ordeal. He appeared tired, sitting down and panting,
taking in deep breaths as he shook, until he finally sat on the floor
next to him.
You stopped his heart? Avalon asked him, recognizing his
technique.
It seemed like the only logical action at the time, Roland
replied. Hed used it before on others, including Avalon himself. It
taxed him, but its success rate was absolute. Its only catch was that
the victim had to be caught completely unaware of Rolands
presence to work perfectly.
Avalon got off his friend, yet kept his blade drawn, worried
that Faust may suddenly arise and attack him again. He kept himself
from charging Joyeuse again, fearful that he might have permanently
damage it. Yet Fausts limp body made neither movements nor
sounds. The only signs of life he displayed were the bubbling blood
beneath his nose, and his rising chest; he still breathed.
Avalon felt his own bodys pain dissipate slowly, the burning
aches cooling down. Almacia had begun its healing. Hed sometimes
forget about it, as it didnt work in the heat of battle; he also rarely
received grievous wounds, or anything similar to what happened
today.
Fausts own wounds began to heal as well, his cuts sealing
quickly, while his dark bruises disappeared. The skin on his new
claw though refused to grow back; hed likely lost that to Zathar. It
almost made what little information theyd gleamed useless.
We need to get out of here now, before the Argent Violet
finds us. They will be rather displeased with this mess, Roland said
as he inspected Faust again. That takeover had been too powerful;
another similar possession, and hed be forced to kill his friend.
I agree with you, but I doubt it will be possible anymore,
Avalon said as he looked up at the sky.
A brilliant white light suddenly shone on Avalon and Fausts
bodies, blinding him momentarily. The whirring rotors of a vehicle
the Humans called a helicopter rumbled the air around him, while
strong gusts of wind whipped up around them, picking up dust and
other assorted debris.
So much for a stealthy retreat, Avalon sighed. Everything

67
had come undone.
This is the Argent Violet. You are in violation of our
Sovereignty Laws. Step away from the body, drop your weapons and
surrender, we have you surrounded! A womans voice ordered
over a loudspeaker. Hed recognize that voice anywhere, and he
knew that her presence meant trouble.
So, the half-breeds commander has personally joined the
fray, Roland chuckled, cynically. He despised the Nephlim; the
way he saw it, they lacked direction, spirit, and discipline to even
begin harnessing their energies; they were running before they
could even walk. And while he acknowledged their leader had the
heart, he doubted she had the skill or mindset to lead an army, even
one so small as the Argent Violet.
Astraea is going to kill us when this is all over, Avalon
muttered, sighing as the helicopter touched down on the streets a few
meters away from them.
Us? Roland replied, chuckling softly. Speak for yourself,
Avalon, I am already dead.
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68
00:00 Hours, July 24, 2021
Beholder, Detroit City, Michigan, United States of America,
North American Continent, Midgard

Argent Violet

The helicopter settled down amidst the debris, lifting up
clouds of dust and other particles as it slowly touched the ground.
The vehicle was silent as a whisper, barely audible compared to its
conventional counterparts. Though the blinding light kept him from
discerning any details, he recognized the outline as that of the
Jayhawk, a small, stealthy helicopter designed for stealthy insertions.
From it, at least seven figures emerged, wearing what he
recognized as Hostile Environment Support suits. They were silver-
white, fully enclosed jumpsuits with purple ribs across the chest.
Their suits knees, arms, wrists and shoulders were entirely protected
by red armor plates, while a gray helmet with a green visor covered
their heads. The glass pulsated with a viridian light, and a series of
tubes connected to the suit from where the mouth shouldve been. It
was likely a rebreather apparatus; HES were made to operate under
extremely hazardous environments. Had this city become one?
Tyrian Knights? Roland asked as all seven of them
approached them in a staggered formation.
That voice belonged to Alaura. You doubt it? Avalon
responded quietly.
Roland said nothing, merely looking on as six of the soldiers
took their positions, surrounding him in a circle. If they thought that
would stop him, they were sorely mistaken, but he remained in place
simply because he wanted no more trouble. The last time he had
been to Midgard, hed almost been declared an enemy of the state.
Any wrong move would result in open war between both factions.
Recall your weapon, Avalon, Alaura called out to him, her
weapon aimed square at his chest. The others trained their sights on
him as well. Their rifles would barely dent Almacia, assuming he
allowed them to fire. With his kinesis and spectrum runes, he could
stop the energy in visual range; their gesture was purely symbolic at
best, and Alaura had to know it.
Im not going to ask you again. Recall Joyeuse, the woman

69
ordered. Her Knights armed their weapons, the click of safeties
removed filling up the air around them. Their weapons red dot
sights filling his chest with crimson pinpoints. Avalon couldnt help
but smile to himself. If Alauras elite warriors really needed aiming
assistance at this range, they were pathetic.
If they really think we will surrender that easily, they
overestimate their own power, Roland muttered, without noticing
Avalon was sliding Joyeuse back into his Almacias sleeve. The
length of the blade was slowly absorbed into his shirts fiber, until a
quiet click sounded. Joyeuses hilt soon turned into a blue watch
again, its strap comfortably hugging his wrist.
You must be joking, Roland murmured in disgust as he
finally noticed Avalons surrender.
They are just doing their jobs. No need to start a fight,
especially an unnecessary one, Avalon replied as he held his hands
against his head and kneeled. He knew their protocol, from the
arresting procedures to their incarceration terms. And tension or not,
the Argent Violet was an ally of the Covenant; he refused to drive a
further wedge between them.
Raymond, Delhommer, bind him. Nuez, Garcia, check
Faust, Alaura ordered. She shook and waved her hands in quick,
successive motions as she commanded them. Avalon knew nothing
of Nephlim hand-signals; all he knew was that a raised fist meant
stop.
Nonetheless, he knew enough to stay still as the two Knights
cautiously closed in him while their mates flanked his sides. They
knew they were dealing with someone dangerous, yet they didnt
realize (or acknowledge) he was their ally as well. Fools.
One of them stepped in front of him, and took out a small,
pen-shaped apparatus from his armors left breast pocket, and
attached it to a thin glass film. Several buttons and dials littered the
device, with a small LCD screen filling up one side of the cylinder.
Please hold still, he said as the man told him as he held the
device in front of Avalons face. The Knight fiddled with them,
turning several knobs and pressing buttons calmly while he muttered
something under his breath.
A band of green light emanated from the device, enough to
cover his entire face. The man waved it from the top of Avalons
head to the length of his neck. The light gave his skin some slight
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70
goose bumps, but otherwise it didnt bother him. His eyes were
particularly bothered by it though. The light seemed to burn them, as
if it were going deep inside his pupils and directly into his brain.
Commander, hes Divine. No toxins detected. ID checks
out; its Avalon, the man informed his teammates. The chatter on
his radio seemingly increased, the quick, tactical expressions
replaced by excited chatter. It was as if theyd have seen a celebrity.
Of course theres no toxins; have you seen who were
dealing with? the second one reprimanded him. We should be
asking him to help us.
It doesnt matter. Raymond, bind him; Delhommer, dont
question my orders, Alauras angry voice sounded over their radio.
Yes, maam, the soldier said, withdrawing the device.
Given the chaos him and Faust had caused, he could hardly curse her
wrath. The paperwork was sure to be a nightmare for her.
Nervously, Raymond withdrew a pair of cuffs from a pouch
on his back. They were thicker and more constrained than the norm,
and as they surrounded Avalons hands, he soon discovered they
were much stronger as well. Had Avalon been a Nephlim, they
wouldve likely guaranteed absolute constriction of his wrists; all
they did though, was annoy him.
This is unnecessary, Raymond, Avalon told him as the
cuffs locked over his wrists. He tested them, pulling his hands in
opposite directions and realized he could break them very easily;
they were almost toys. Still, he surreptitiously conjoined his kinesis,
spectrum, and unity fingers; though he wasnt expecting a fight, he
wanted to be prepared.
Useless as well. Do you really think these toys are going to
hold us down for long? Roland asked him as Avalon stood up. He
eyed Raymond with a caustic look, his rage unbridled. The Knight
however didnt meet his eyes.
Just following orders, sir, Raymond replied, shrugging. He
didnt seem to enjoy it anymore than Avalon did, but he did as he
was told. At least he honored his uniform.
Spineless worm, Roland muttered with disgust as he
walked besides them. He held even their elite in disdain.
Without saying a word, Avalon stood up and followed the
Knights lead, minding the second one behind him. Nearby, the
second team tended Faust, his limp body lifeless and immobile. One

71
examined him with a device similar to the one Raymond had used on
him, while the other two soldiers placed him on a stretcher, injecting
Fausts blue elixir through his neck, along with several other
concoctions. Inoculations and vaccinations were frowned upon by
nearly the entire Covenant, yet it was nearly standard procedure for
Nephlim and Humans. Their differences ran deeper than just simple
eye color.
The Knight brought him over to Alaura, and saluted. The
commander made some more of their unintelligible hand-signals;
Delhommer nodded and sped off, leaving him alone with Alaura.
The second one, Delhommer remained close by, hovering as if he
were expecting trouble.
Subtlety. You dont get the meaning of that word, dont
you? she angrily asked, turning off her visors pulsating feature, her
violet eyes gazing at him furiously.
Tell that to the Grigori, commander, was Avalons reply.
For seventy-six years, she started speaking while she pulled
out a metal tablet similar to the one Faust had used earlier, Ive kept
this realm safe. No security screw-ups, no information leaks; hell
even the conspiracy theorists are under control! She exclaimed with
outrage as she pressed the tablets screen.
And in less than two hours, this shit happens, Alaura
gritted through her teeth, pointing at the screen. There were pictures
of him and Faust, their battle against Samael and Apollyon. Blades
were drawn, images of their magic and energies being exchanged.
Some images even displayed wounded civilians limping away from
the site. Avalon considered mentioning their actions had prevented
further collateral damage, but then thought against it. It would wiser
to remain quiet than to tempt her ire.
And this, she continued, the device now displaying a video
of the fight. The angles were crazed and frantic; it even looked like it
had been shot from another building. But the image was crisp, and
their faces could be easily seen. Their magic was also present in the
video, Joyeuses blinding explosion perfectly visible.
In just two hours, all of this made it to social networks,
blogs, tabloids and fucking myvideo! God, I hate myvideo! Do you
know how difficult this has been to contain? Alaura demanded from
them, finishing the video prematurely.
This was an illegal operation you pulled off, Avalon; the
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72
rest of the Violet wont stand for this! She angrily continued. Some
of her Knights stole brief glances at them, surprised at her anger.
I am aware of what I did, Commander. But it was
necessary, the Grigori
Delhommer, take him to the helo. Ill come up shortly, she
told the remaining Knight, cutting him off.
Lets go sir, the Knight said. Yet the cold metal of a rifles
barrel pressed against his head meant it wasnt a request.
Sighing exasperatedly, Avalon walked to the helicopter, the
Knight vigilantly watching over him. The walk was short and
uneventful, and private Delhommer wasnt much of a talker. He
stoically lead Avalon onto a seat of the UH-63 Jayhawk, where he
attached additional shackles on his feet.
I am not your enemy, Delhommer, Avalon told him as he
finished shackling him.
I know, Im just following orders, he replied. It seemed to
be the only thing these warriors really did. The Knight inspected the
bonds, then left Avalon alone in the chopper, regrouping with his
unit a few yards away from them.
What do you think they are doing? Roland asked him,
sitting down in front of Avalon.
Planning their quarantine. I doubt Alaura is particularly
happy about these events, Avalon replied, as he gazed at them. Four
of them had gathered next to Alaura, and were discussing their plan
of action. A small, green hologram of the surrounding area was
displayed in front of them; several buildings were outlined in red
lighting, likely indicating their importance.
Curious about their plans, pressed his sound, spectrum, and
unity runes firmly against his palm, and channeled his sonic
manipulation energies into the area around them, intent on at least
getting an idea of what they were up to.
Vigilante Platoons first and second squads have
quarantined the surrounding area. Weve got radars set up at street
level and underground; nothing can go in or out without us noticing.
Third and fourth squads have begun to comb the area; their
objective is to find any object saturated with more than two hundred
merlins. Judging by the amount of Dynames radiation in the area, I
think its safe to say its artificial. Someone is causing it.
This is where you four come in. I want you to sweep this

73
entire area for the source of radiation. Every building, every room,
every car; I want you search down to its atoms if you have to, she
ordered the quartet. He wondered if they were under her personal
command; hed heard rumors that Alaura led a specific platoon
herself, but hed never confirmed them.
What do we do when we find it? Delhommer asked her.
Nothing in this entire area has been sanctioned by the
Argent Violet. Its illegal; you take it out, she responded.
And if we encounter resistance? Delhommer asked again.
He seemed nervous, almost afraid. Maybe it was the lack of a clear
enemy; Humans had always been particularly careful about collateral
damage, and Nephlim were no different.
Then you take them out quickly and efficiently. Human,
Nephlim, Divine, I dont care; their actions here can be considered
an act of war. Lethal force has been authorized, I dont want any
more witnesses, she ordered them. Her concern was evident in her
raised voice; the woman was worried.
And the prisoner? Another Knight asked.
Well once hes done eavesdropping, Im taking him to the
board. Im sure theyll have a lot of questions for him, she said, as
she glared at Avalon from a distance. He in turn, smiled at her, and
nodded lightly in her direction.
Good hunting, gentlemen, she finished, raising her hand
above her forehead. The four soldiers saluted as well, and fanned
out, their rifles shouldered. He immediately stopped casting his spell
as he saw her returning to the helicopter, slinging her rifle behind her
back. Behind her, the two remaining Knights carried Faust on a
stretcher, quickly following her to the helicopter. They attached a
few wires into his bared, thin chest; an instrument behind him soon
started beeping, and a screen displaying a green wavy line began
oscillating. An additional transparent mask was placed on his head,
its purpose eluding Avalons knowledge of their medical procedures.
Their technology eluded him more with every century.
You know you two, these suits arent just cool Halloween
costumes. Our visors can trace any bit of Dynames radiation back to
its source; we knew you were spying on us the minute you cast your
spell, she told Avalon as she stepped into the helicopter. Behind the
green light of her visor, Avalon could see her grin victoriously. He
paid it no heed though; he wasnt trying to start a fight.
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74
Dynames radiation? Avalon asked, confused.
You call it magic, we call Dynames. Clarkes law: any
sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,
she told him casually.
So you treat it as your own technology? Roland asked,
seething with anger.
How is Faust? Avalon cut him off as the two Knights
finished attaching needles to his near-dead body. A quarrel between
Alaura and Roland was much worse than with Faust; they both
lacked self-control when angered, and were stubbornly
uncompromising about their beliefs. Their high ranks within each
organization made them even more unforgiving than they should be.
His bodys stable. Some lacerations, a bit of internal
bleeding, but hes in good physical shape, she replied as she looked
over him. Thick cloth straps had bound his body, and four pairs of
handcuffs chained his claws. His white hair had also started to fall
off, and he violently convulsed.
Some stability, he thought, especially when he remembered
hed been stabbed in the heart with a nihilium blade. Those weapons
were deadlier than any of them would ever know.
Zathar may have taken over him briefly, but hed likely
thrown Fausts mind into a state of flux. Two sets of life-marks,
what the Humans identified as brainwaves and DNA, were fighting
over control of his body. His mind was always the first thing to be
attacked; Faust would often use it a shield, and it was starting to
consume his sanity. It was evident in his erratic speech, and large,
discernible gaps in his short- and long-term memories. The last time
Zathar had taken over was almost twenty years ago, nearly
destroying Faust. This possession had been far more powerful than
that; Avalon was surprised his friend was still alive.
Am I your prisoner? Avalon asked his friend. He was not
exactly on good terms with her, particularly because of his previous
intervention. He was sure that if she could have it her way, hed be
executed, regardless of their orders deteriorating relationship.
The Violets board will decide that. Youre lucky I didnt
get the Amaranthia government involved, she spat as she sat down
in front of him. She took out a pair of earmuffs from a small,
overhead box, and then handed them to him.
What are these for? he asked her as the helicopters the

75
rotors powered up.
Earmuffs! Theyre sound suppressors! She loudly replied
as the choppers blades started whirring. The frame rose a few inches
above the air, while dust and debris were picked up by the wind as
they climbed, the helicopters rotors unbearably loud noise drowning
out their voice as they cleared the buildings around them.
He raised his left hand up to her eye-level, pressing his
pinky, index, and thumb against his palm.
Silencio absoluto.
The sound around them was quickly muffled out, the
helicopters blades whirring quietly. He smiled at her as she looked in
quiet disbelief.
I want one of those, she muttered, annoyed as she tossed
the earmuffs on seat next to her. The Knights next to Faust
conversed quietly, amazed by Avalons power. Their weapons were
primitive next to his abilities.
So, do you want to tell me why youre here? Alaura asked
as the helicopter cleared the citys skyline.
We were tracking down a criminal, he answered honestly.
Political red tape was the bane of their nations relations. Hed tone
it down slightly, but not without going past the Prime Article.
Why werent we informed?
Security reasons, Roland flatly said. He remained standing
next to Avalon, calmly gazing at the cityscape. Detroits lights shone
like stars in the night sky. Even Roland couldnt deny their beauty.
Roland is right. Had we told you, he might have escaped
beforehand, Avalon added.
So instead you left us with a massive security leak, Alaura
shot back, angrily.
If we had not acted, it would be much larger, Roland
calmly replied.
We know their objectives, commander. Believe me, any
security breach you may have was worth it, Avalon told her.
Oh really? Then share your Intel, she challenged them.
Avalon remained quiet, while Roland looked the other way.
The Prime Article forbade that information from them.
The skylight is beautiful tonight, Avalon told her, as he
gazed down at the skyscrapers.
Im sure it is, she muttered, visibly frustrated.
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76
Maam, contact from Sergeant Raymonds squad. They say
they found hidden a hidden basement in the Beholder, one of the
Knights behind him called out.
Patch him through, she ordered him. As she spoke, Avalon
stealthily toyed with his sound-manipulation spell, modifying it so
that it would amplify the sound coming from her headphones.
Commander, we breached our way into the Beholders
basement, and found a trap door that leads down to another level
beneath it. Were starting our sweep now, Raymond informed her.
Copy that sergeant, keep me posted.
As she finished, she pointed a small, violet handgun at
Avalons head. It was Viola, one of Fausts cherished pistols.
Espionage within a combat zone is punishable by death at
the tactical commanders discretion, she told him, as she removed
the pistols safety. Behind her, the two Knights cocked their
weapons, their rifles barrels aimed at straight at his nape.
So many thoughts ran through Avalons head, yet only one
seemed to really bother him.
When the pike did you reload that weapon? Roland asked
her astounded, stealing Avalons thoughts. He hadnt even seen her
take that weapon in the first place, let alone reload it. Faust had
practically spent every bullet into Apollyon to no effect.
I know you dont take us seriously, but if you eavesdrop
again, I will execute you, Avenger. I dont care about the
repercussions, she threatened him as she pressed the gun into his
forehead.
You will not succeed, but I invite you to try, he calmly told
her as he raised his right hand. His middle and index finger were
pressed against his palm, the signal for energy manipulation. His
hand soon started to glow a cyan-blue light.
All kinetic energy in my sight is at my mercy; I can shut
down this helicopter if I want to, he warned them calmly. The light
encompassed the entire vehicle, from their weapons to the
helicopters rotors. He was in no mood to be piked around with.
My my, Avalon, when did you become so bold? Roland
asked him, impressed as he smiled with glee. Though a fierce fighter
in his own rights, Avalon was more passive than most Divine when
the Nephlim were involved. This action was more than aggressive;
it was a statement. He was more than glad to sacrifice them to stop

77
the Grigori, and he was not afraid of letting them know that.
Weapons on hold, she ordered both her Knights as she
withdrew Viola from his forehead. He had her beaten.
You should know, there are explosive runes at the bottom of
the Beholder. Warn your men, commander, Avalon told her to ease
up the tensions between them. Even though they were provoking
him, he had to remind them that he was on their side.
All squads, be advised, the area is littered with explosive
runes; proceed with caution, she warned her squads. Their
responses were immediate.
Vigilante 1-1 here, no trace of any booby traps over here.
This place is deserted.
This is Vigilante 2-1, we got nothing. No magical loci
either.
Vigilante 3-1 ditto.
Commander, this is Vigilante 4-1, we saw a few runes, but
they were inert. No energy was flowing into them.
Understood Raymond, keep me posted; the rest, keep your
eyes peeled. I dont want to send any of you off in body bags, she
told her soldiers, quietly sighing with relief at their well-being. She
had stopped worrying about PR scandals and simply cared about her
mens wellbeing. She was a real warrior, regardless of her species.
So where are you taking me? Avalon asked her.
To our headquarters in Flint. Were holding an emergency
meeting thanks to your intervention, she told him coldly.
Really? We are honored, Roland smugly replied.
Roland, dont fuck with me, the young woman told him.
Though she was 320 years old, she had the temper of a rabid child.
You are not my type, he replied quickly, smiling at her.
And Im not into dead people. So thats that, she quickly
replied, angrily.
Commander, this is Raymond. Theres something wrong
here.
Whats happening, Raymond? She asked her soldier. She
knew Avalon was still spying on her, but she made no attempt to
stop him; perhaps she took his threat more seriously than she let on.
I dont know maam; our sensors just picked up a massive
Dynames radiation spike. Theres a rune here, I dont think Ive seen
it before, its channeling energy from all around us, even our suits. I
Divine Avenger

78
think all these other runes are linked to it, they started showing some
increase in radiation after we first saw it, Raymond told her,
alarmed.
Can you disable it?
It should follow the usual runic conventions; I think so,
yeah, Raymond replied to her. The Knight himself sounded
worried, and the background chatter didnt help. It was hard
Do what you can Raymond.
Alaura then opened a second channel within her radio, and
began broadcasting another message.
All Argent Violet forces, this is Commander Lothar. We
have a probable magical threat within the area. All squads are
advised to evacuate quarantine zone effective immediately.
The choppers altitude suddenly increased, rising far above
the Detroit skyline. A rush of vertigo dizzied Avalon as he looked
down, the city suddenly becoming as minuscule as a childs playset
as the vehicle rose to its operational ceiling.
What warrants an altitude increase? Roland wondered as
he casually peered out of the cabin. Sometimes, the Avenger envied
the old Spirits deathless nature.
Likely to avoid possible shockwaves. Some Knights have
said that these vehicles are notorious for their dramatic crashes,
Avalon told him as he fought his nausea.
What do they mean by that?
In all Human war movies, a helicopter crash is always
central to the overarching plot.
What is a movie? Roland asked him, confused.
Your guess is as good as mine, Roland, Avalon shrugged,
equally confused. How could Avalon have known? His last visit to
Midgard was seventy-six years ago.
Strong gusts of wind hit the helicopter as it continued
climbing, yet their flight remained stable. One of the Knights
whispered something about his fear of heights, while the other one
simply scolded him for his cowardice. Avalon stole a quick glance at
Faust, and saw that he remained as still as a corpse. The instrument
behind him still beeped incessantly, its green light rising and
dropping periodically. Hed seen these instruments before, but their
purpose had always remained unknown to him.
Before he could ponder any further, an alarm went off in the

79
cockpit. Several red lights began beeping wildly, and a few others
turned on in the ceiling above them, outlining the specific
procedures to be taken (and they were all confusing).
Commander, radiation spike! the alarmed pilot yelled out.
What?! How many merlins?! Alaura demanded, alarmed.
Four-hundred and fifty merlins and rising!
Dammit!! Alaura cussed under her breath as she hurried
into the cabin. Avalon disengaged his sound spell and looked at his
Knight guards.
Are four-hundred and fifty merlins dangerous? Avalon
asked them, confused. He knew Nephlims bodies couldnt handle
magic to the same degree as the Covenants races could, but these
measures of theirs were new to him.
Were nearing the redline. Our suits can barely function at
five hundred; anything above it instantly kills us, one of them
answered. His voice shook with worry as he spoke, and they both
eyed Faust suspiciously, their weapons aimed at him as they spoke.
They likely thought he was playing dead, merely waiting for the
right moment to strike them down; he remained stone cold and
immobile, however. His pattern still remained consistent.
Vigilante Platoon, can you hear me? Alaura frantically
contacted her unit. Abort mission and evac now! Radiations
increasing
A strong gust of wind cut her off, the sheer force of the
shockwave shaking their vehicle uncontrollably, throwing it into an
unstable spin. The sound of a large explosion followed soon after, its
own strength completely canceling out Avalons sound spell.
Around them, buildings started collapsing, shattered glass flying all
around them. The screams of people still inside the buildings
muffled the engines whining. The soldiers behind him screamed in
panic and fear, while the pilot frantically tried to reestablish control.
Hang on, were in for some chop! The pilot exclaimed as
he struggled for control. The aircraft spun as its blades whirred out
of control, every passenger but Avalon and Roland succumbing to
the fear of death.
An uncontrollable spin? Even our weakest transports would
have been unaffected by an explosion of greater magnitude, Roland
calmly derided their captors as their chopper violently lost altitude.
The Spirit calmly sat down next to Avalon, quietly smiling at their
Divine Avenger

80
jailors misfortune.
Roland, now is not the time for that, Avalon snapped back
with irritation. The explosion had thrown a large amount of magical
radiation into the air, energy he could absorb to boost his energy
manipulation spell. It didnt matter what type of energy he used; if
he didnt do something, theyd all be dead.
What the pike are you doing, Avalon?! Roland demanded
as he saw Avalons gloves glow with blue energy.
Giving my spell a boost! he shouted as he struggled to
control the energy. The sheer chaotic nature of the raw radiation heat
up his glove and burned his hand, yet he continued to absorb it,
fighting the burning pain. He longed to scream, but he fought against
it; it would throw his concentration off.
Are you mad!? Roland demanded from him with disbelief.
Butt Avalon ignored him.
Alto! he cried, releasing the energies from his hand.
His hand exhumed a large, cyan-colored wave of pure
energy, encompassing their helicopters hull. The helicopters spin
stopped almost as quickly as it had started; the Knights behind him
sighed with relief as the craft began to fly normally. The thick smell
of urine permeated the air though; one of them had soiled himself.
Report! Alaura asked her troopers from the cabin.
Nominal conditions, Avalon answered for himself and the
Knights. He shot a quick glance at Faust; his friend hadnt budged an
inch since the fall; his gas mask and needles were still on his face
and neck, respectively, while his strange monitor remained beeping
and oscillating normally.
Yet while everything was fine in the sky, things on the
ground werent so good; Alauras frantic eyes were all he needed to
know that everything had gone awry.
Vigilante 1, do you copy? She cried out.
Vigilante 2? 3?! Yet there was no response from any of the
teams, only static and white noise.
Raymond?! Dammit someone respond! Alauras voice
stated cracking. Regardless of her mask and her distance from him,
Avalon could perfectly hear her sobs. He felt sorry for her; she
couldnt have anticipated this sort of destruction.
Outside, the screams of a thousand dying victims pierced the
shroud of the night, their cries of pain echoing, drowning out the

81
sounds of their helicopters engines. Even Avalon couldnt believe
his eyes; the destruction was all consuming, extending beyond what
he could see. At least five miles of the cityscape had been
completely devastated, every building leveled and turned into
smoking rubble. Cars burnt wreckage piled on the streets, while
fires burned and consumed people alive while they screamed in pain
and horror; those who survived cried out for their loved ones or
prayed to Gods that would not answer their calls for help. There was
nothing that could be done to save them.
If the explosion hadnt killed them, then its fallout would.
This city had now been rendered uninhabitable from the increased
radiation, and its population would have to be evacuated by weeks
end at latest. Green smoke clouded the air around them, looming
ominously, like a god of death fervently preying on its victims.
My family lived here. I used to think it was safe, one of the
Knights said lowly, his voice breaking.
Safety? There was never any safety in Midgard, Roland
told him as he gaped at the destruction in horror. Even he couldnt
hide his fear, or his sorrow, at the loss of life that had occurred
today. Yet there was no sympathy in his voice, only pure,
uncontrolled only hatred. His longtime enemy had returned, after
hed given up everything to destroy them. And though Roland hated
Humankind with every fiber of his being, collateral damage was
something he despised even more. Regardless of Rolands silence,
Avalon knew they were both thinking the same thing.
These bastards would pay.
Midgard was no longer neutral ground. This event had
merely been the opening shots, the wake-up call for Midgard. The
Argent Violet couldnt fight, let alone win against this enemy.
The second Crusade had begun
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