Then I saw another angel descending from heaven. He had great power, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. He cried out with a loud voice: "Babylon, the great city, is fallen! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haven for unclean spirits of every kind, a haven for every unclean and loathsome bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of her fornication. The kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury."
Revelation XVII:6-XVIII:6
1
"Yes!" cried Gabriel, turning his blue eyes toward the gathered angels. Selin was defeated. Haziel gave us a message—he thought for a moment—"Perhaps we misjudged him. We know where the entrance to the Black Gate is."
"It's wonderful," said Anael, "then speak.
"It's the closest place to heaven and the farthest to hell," he smiled. "...It's the North Pole.
" "It's incredible," Ariel said, his wounds healing rapidly and he was thrilled at the thought of being able to fight. "We had it right under our noses the whole time, right under Mount Asgard itself.
" "How did Haziel learn of this? No demon would reveal such a secret..." Zachariel asked, then stood up as if to give weight to his question. His long silver robes fell like massive theater curtains.
"It's simple," Ariel began. "He's Samael's apprentice; his army can read the memories and secrets hidden in torn-out hearts.
" "Now he just needs to figure out how to close that gate," said Gabriel, frowning.
"Yes... it will be difficult because the guardian won't let you tear the secrets from the depths of his heart, if he even has any." Cassiel said. "From what I know about guardians..." he looked at the gathered people with worried eyes and then began to speak. "I'll generalize because they all operate on the same principle. So, as for them... Firstly, they are very honorable and honest, regardless of whether they guard the gates of heaven or hell. That's the nature of a guardian. Secondly, only one person is needed to close the gate; if there are more, the gate will never budge... not even a millimeter. Thirdly, you have to defeat the guardian... We can send Haziel away and send someone stronger and more experienced in his place...
" "No," Uriel denied. "I think Haziel has proven himself capable. He knows his task, there's no point in sending someone new... Do you agree?" Everyone
almost unanimously approved the former apprentice of hell's actions. Time was running out, and the moon in the sky announced the occultation of the sun.
Haziel landed smoothly on the icy land. The snow had stopped falling, and only a gusty wind breathed life into this seemingly empty landscape. The angel's tall black leather boots sank gently into the thick snow. His spread, jet-black wings caught the sun's rays. The delicate, alien shape of the moon appeared on his golden shield. It was a sign of the darkening. Today, hell would break loose… The angel's black cloak enveloped him, covering him from the cold. Red eyes burned amid the pristine white of midnight, and a fiery sword rested between his wings on the angel's shoulders.
He was alone, and as he walked through the snowy desert, he remembered the night of a few days earlier
… "I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm sorry… I didn't believe it…
" "Easy, my dear, it's okay…" Haziel soothed the girl.
He raised the black heart to his face, closed his eyes, and let his imagination soar. A moment later, the heart burned, and the angel knew everything he wanted. He looked around and, spotting Tom lying there, ran to him, scooped him up, and together with the strange woman, they left, heading for the hospital. Descending the stairs, the angel folded his wings; he sensed life in his friend, and that was all that mattered now. They caught a taxi, which sped like a rocket to the nearest hospital…
After a few hours, the situation finally became clear. A tall, bearded doctor entered the waiting room. His expression evoked both fear and joy. He approached the angel and surveyed him. Did he say,
"Family?"
"No, a friend," he replied, trying to decipher the meaning of these words
. "You can see him... and wait a minute, there's that girl with the terribly burned hands, she didn't want to leave Mr. McGuire... she's very afraid of something, she doesn't want to be alone."
Satisfied with the visit, the angel recalled how cleverly the girl had lied to the doctors about the explosion. How she had rescued Tom from the burning installations with her bare hands. The eyes of the medical staff were filled with admiration for the woman who had, in fact, saved the angel.
Haziel entered the light-flooded room. In the center, he saw Tom lying. If he hadn't known he was lying there, he doubted he would have recognized him. The figure on the bed was covered in numerous bandages and plaster. Only his head and part of his left torso were intact. Next to Tom sat a sad young girl. She held her bandaged hands on her lap.
"I'm glad to see you," Tom said.
"Me too... what do you look like? Like... like a mummy..." the angel joked.
"So many fractures, concussions, and cuts, nothing serious." Tom smiled. After a moment, he gently looked at the woman, then at the angel.
"Haziel, this is Teresa Born, the commissioner's secretary.
" "Thank you," she began impatiently. "Thank you for your help."
"No, thank you," the angel replied, smiling.
"I was stupid. I served that idiot like some kind of slave. He threatened me. He said if I didn't obey, he'd ruin my life. I believed him. He's a lunatic... He's a lunatic with power and money. I knew Tom was innocent, but I was afraid to do anything. Until yesterday, that guy in the black suit came. I was in my boss's office, cleaning up some documents. Suddenly, the door opened. He told me to tell him everything I knew about the case... he had these... strange, hypnotizing eyes. Then he told me to take him to Tom. He tied us up and waited for... for you. Tom told me everything. It's terrible, we're in danger, and I never believed... I didn't believe you were real." Teresa burst into tears.
"Relax... I'm flying to the North Pole tomorrow. And... I came to say goodbye... just in case... something... goes wrong." He felt tears in his eyes again and anger that he was allowing himself to do this. No, he's not an angel… has he been among humans too long?
Tom grabbed his hand, his face twisting in pain. “You'll make it, I believe you'll return to us safe and sound with joyful news.”
“Yes… you will, we believe in you…” Teresa shouted, come back as soon as possible. She rose from her chair and hugged the angel. “You must come to us, you must see my hands after the transplant and Tom jumping hurdles.” She smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks like salty waterfalls.
That was the last time he saw them. Here on this cold, beautiful land, loneliness is as natural and as heavy as a steel vise in a blacksmith's workshop.
The
darkening morning sun bled, flooding the sky with crimson red. The setting moon, laughing, crushed the defenseless golden body and climbed onto the throne.
“Welcome, my beauty!” A sweet, death-dripping voice was heard in the middle of the frosty land.
“Welcome, Lucifer.” It's an honor to meet you in such a beautiful place. A place that together we will turn to dust.
The lord of darkness wore only a velvet black suit and a black cloak, reaching down to his ankles. His long, thin fingers were covered with silver rings. His black nails contrasted with the white snow. Short black hair stood out in the cold wind, which no one in the crowd paid much attention to. Eyes as dark as hard coal stared at his chosen one.
"I killed for you..."
"Wonderful," Satan smiled, his cloak swirling in the wind like a pirate flag. His neck was covered with numerous tattoos depicting flames, some of whose tongues crept across Lucifer's tanned face. His
short hair fell loosely, covering his slightly pointed ears. The devil's throat was completely black, like the palate of a dog or a wolf. A row of sharp teeth brought to mind a barracuda, a powerful, predatory fish with a steely grip.
The moon had won. Despite the day, the crippled sun was obscured. The bloody sky darkened, and the wind picked up. Numerous servants of Satan stood around the couple, hoping to see the gates open. "
We can begin our conquest of the world," Naamah smiled. She was dressed in a dark red dress and a red leather cloak with black symbols drawn on it. From above, she looked like a small spot of blood against the snow.
"Yes. I can begin. Soon the world will be mine.
" "And I will rule with you," Naamah added.
"You're wrong," Lucifer smiled, his eyes widening.
"What? How dare you? Without me, you won't open the door, so how can you…"
Satan's hand shot toward the woman. It pierced her insides and entered her heart. Satan howled. It was a stone carved with a serpent.
"So you had that instead of a heart... yes... that's enough," he said seriously this time
. "Nooooo." The demon's voice echoed across the icy land. Suddenly, a powerful shaft of fire, several meters high, erupted from beneath the monster's feet. The female demon, deceived and destroyed, burned on a gigantic pyre. The fire turned black, only to disappear completely into the depths of the earth.
"
The moon has blocked out the sun," said Gabriel. "The gate is open. Uriel, prepare your troops, everyone listen. As soon as the gate opens, let us move. Beyond the gate lies a vast area separating the beasts' lands from ours. Before they cross that area, we must be there and prevent the battle from taking place on Earth. That would destroy it.
" "If we fight in No Man's Land, deep within the Black Gate," began Anael, "will we...will we protect Earth?
" "Yes," replied Gabriel, "but certainly not all of it." There will be casualties… Initially, it will be very difficult, but let's hope that over time, the world will become accustomed to the war raging within.
Lucifer
raised the stone heart high and gazed at the black shield in the sky. A symbol of the end and the beginning of a new era. In his mind, he spoke the words to open the gate. He repeated them with dignity and concentration. Suddenly, the heart began to radiate blackness. A terrible flash tore through the sky.
"It has begun," the devil shouted. He placed the heart on a high golden platform. He placed it in a transparent vessel and then departed.
Then he turned to the guards: "My task is over for now."
"I will return here when the demons leave the gate and help them destroy the world. I count on you to see to everything," he said, before transforming into a cloud of black mist and melting into the delicate, thick snow.
Lightning bolts fell from the sky like cannonballs. They struck in a straight line, creating a gash in the snow over a kilometer long. Suddenly, a powerful earthquake awoke the northern block of ice. Where the lightning had left the gash, the earth began to split. First, it rose slowly upward, then quickly fell, sending clouds of snow into the quivering air. The moon slowly obscured the sun, and the sky was once again flooded with blood. The hole in the earth widened. However, the crack missed the platform and Naamah's heart, which lay within. From deep within the earth, a powerful gust of wind shot skyward, its force capable of blowing the moon from the sky once and for all. Powerful turbulences engulfed the earth. A huge hole, over a kilometer long, gaped from the earth, a path to the beast's lair.
Haziel
realized he was not alone. The powerful quake had frightened all manner of game. The angel watched fleeing polar bears, hares, foxes… Ahead, a row of lightning bolts pointed to their destination. Suddenly, he saw thousands upon thousands of stars in the sky. They were falling from the sky directly onto the earth, or rather, into its abyss. It resembled a meteor shower. Hundreds of thousands of meteorites hurtling towards the entrance to hell. Haziel knew that these were angels who had begun the defense of earth and heaven
.
Hosts of angels descended from the mouth of Mount Asgard, reaching the Pole. Seven archangels commanded God's army. First was Gabriel. He sat on a white winged steed like a noble prince. He was dressed in long white robes. In his right hand, he held a huge flaming sword, illuminating the path of the legions of soldiers. His silver hair danced in the wind and wrapped around his outstretched, snow-white wings. He flew against the red sky to meet the beast. Gabriel commanded thousands of infantry units. They, following their leader, raced downward like the swiftest wind. The outstretched white wings of thousands of angels fluttered like flocks of swans over lakes. The white robes of the infantry soared on the wind, and their swords cut the world with a mighty whistle. Second flew Cassiel. His golden wings resembled the sun in the cold, red sky. Mighty golden armor covered his body like a second skin. Long black hair tied in a ponytail struck gold and made a sound like the ringing of church bells. Cassiel flew on a mighty hawk. His companion silently flapped its several-meter-long wings and, talons poised for attack, sped majestically toward the ground. On Cassiel's back rested a two-handed crossbow and blessed bolts. Hundreds of archers flew behind Cassiel. Armored troops with bows on their backs accompanied their leader. Third was Uriel. He flew alongside Cassiel's archers. He was a powerful, tall angel. He wore enormous armor covered in spikes. Long golden hair flowed from his high forehead, which, together with his impossibly large gray wings, gave the warrior a magnificent appearance. In his right hand he held a black sword, from which dark, delicate, and misty flames emanated. In his left hand he held a ball of lightning. His entire left hand was covered in lightning bolts, flickering and crawling in a terrifying dullness, which the archangel could hurl with deadly efficiency. Uriel flew on a silver dragon, its open mouth revealing strands of meter-long fangs. Golden eyes gazed downward, seeking prey. The powerful winged creature possessed a short neck and a large body, upon which the angel sat. A tattered leather cloak encircled its head. Four large paws, appearing majestically delicate in the sky, slashed the air like a whip. Uriel's cavalry followed. Legions of angels mounted on night-black horses. Figures clad in spiked armor rode toward their fate, wielding black swords. The fourth and fifth angels were Michael and Zachariel. The former was a strong young figure, the latter a much older angel whose beard imbued them with wisdom. Both rode on black horses. They held mighty silver spears in their hands. A war cry was on their lips. They commanded legions of angels armed with mighty spears and great blue shields engraved with angelic symbols. The sixth angel, Anael, looked the most solemn of all the angels.His black armor completely covered his entire body. On his head was a horned black helmet. The armor was covered in symbols and spells. His great wings shimmered with the colors of the rainbow, emitting pleasant sounds barely audible in the crowd. His hands were free; he needed no weapon. He used his talent, not his weapons. The angel sat atop a huge black dragon, whose size was so terrifying that it inspired fear among the legions he commanded. The black beast, with a mouth whose size and teeth defied angelic understanding, sped at breakneck speed into the earth. Its membranous, monstrous wings seemed to propel the entire world on the wind. Its neck and tail were full of spiky appendages curved backward. Seven horns sprouted from his head. Anael commanded an army of magicians, racing after him on black ravens, like death toward their destiny. At Anael's side, but slightly higher, flew the last of the archangels, Ariel. A powerful, serene angel soared atop the body of a massive, winged lion. In one hand he held a sword, in the other a shield carved with an eagle and a bear. Behind Ariel marched his companions: lions, panthers, falcons, eagles, and wolves. All rushing to save the earth and the sky. A few troops would remain, along with the archangel Raphael, a short yet powerful archangel, to protect the heavens.
8
Satan's guards surrounded the stone heart and the golden podium. Gazing into the emerging abyss, they awaited further developments in rapture. Suddenly, from heaven, a surprising rain descended upon the angelic armies, with such immense force that the Satanic guard could barely stand. Their power, might, and size were so immense that the demons were literally crushed by the blast of thousands of wings, lightning bolts, and blazing flames.
9
The abyss of the earth. The black gate stood open to anyone with the courage and willingness to face the danger and themselves. Heavenly armies flowed through the gate and flooded No Man's Land, awaiting the appearance of their enemies. Their task was to prevent the demons from leaving the gate.
No Man's Land was a dry, dark, and vast area. Mountainous deserts stretched as far as the eye could see. And somewhere far away, the processions of hell were galloping towards the Gate. The nervous atmosphere of expectation permeated everyone. Howls could already be heard from behind the enormous mountains. The sky over No Man's Land was dark, the color of steel. In places, a blazing red sun shone through, creating enormous bloody streaks of light. The earth rumbled beneath the monsters' paws, and dust rose high into the sky. But this wasn't heaven… it was a kind of dark, burning dome, upon which hung a red sun. Rivers of lava and living fire flowed across the rocky earth, flowing after hundreds of kilometers into the greatest ocean of flames in the universe. Dust was already visible from behind the mountains. Thousands of angels awaited the signal to attack. Here they came, heartless, leaderless beasts. Time to begin the war…
Haziel
reached the golden podium and stood before the transparent vessel containing Naamah's heart. Suddenly, a rustle sounded behind him, followed by a low, screeching, indifferent voice.
"You are the one who wants to lock up what can't be locked up? You are the one who is nowhere to be found?"
The angel turned and his eyes beheld a strange sight. A small, hunched figure stood before him. The man was perhaps five feet tall. He was stocky. His body was encased in silver robes and golden sashes. Behind his back hung an axe, enormous for such a small figure. His great white beard reached to his waist and swirled merrily along the black buttons on his robe. His head was covered with a layer of curly blue hair. His pointed ears curled back as if he had been walking against the wind his entire life. Dark, small, pig-like eyes stared at the angel and smiled.
"Yes... I think so," the angel replied, surprised. "It's me you're talking about.
" "Closing such a large and powerful gate is bordering on miraculous. So if you're... weak, let's skip the preamble and simply surrender and let the demons of the underworld do their thing," the strange little figure argued.
"I'm strong..."
"That's not enough..." the old man interrupted. This gate hasn't been opened for centuries; its hinges are old and will be difficult to move. He pondered, scratched his beard with his thick paw, and then said, "But if you want, I'll give you a chance. One chance, and then the gate will be open for hundreds of years..." It depends... on the bones." At this point, he smiled and patted the treasure bag around his neck.
"I'm ready and I will take full responsibility," the angel said, not quite understanding what he meant.
"Then we begin..."
The
world shook to its foundations. Powerful earthquakes engulfed the entire world one by one. The earth split open and spat fire. Activated volcanoes spewed out layers of magma that had been accumulating for centuries. The sky darkened. Smoke rising from the Earth slowly but steadily obscured the sun, turning the planet into a large, dark sphere. Earthquakes spread from Canada to Patagon, from Argentina to Japan. Unawareness of the battle raging underground intensified fear. Humanity tried to explain the enormity of the disasters with scientific hypotheses. However, all of them were consistently refuted. Earthquakes were frequent, but for now, they were not large. However, everything was about to change with the arrival of the millennium storms and incredibly powerful hurricanes.
The
outlines of monsters could already be seen above the hills. A mass of creatures poured from the peaks and flowed down a vast, gentle, rocky slope toward the angels marching toward them. In the center moved the infantry led by Gabriel. On the sides were cavalry, and behind the infantry were units of archers. On their sides, like trees, rose the spears of angels led by Zachariel and Michael. At the rear stood the magicians with Anael, Ariel, and the animals. Suddenly, some of the angels raised golden trumpets to their lips, and from the infernal abyss rose sounds so beautiful and so captivating that one could follow them into the fire. Which, considering the location, was highly probable. "
Remember," Uriel shouted, his voice rising like mist over a dark forest, "we must unite. The first attack will weaken their forces. After that, there remains hope."
Behind the closed gates, demons lived and murdered one another, but years of confinement had now grown in numbers and malice to unimaginable proportions. Hundreds of thousands of nightmares flowed down from the mountain like a river flooding small mountain streams in spring.
At the front ran human-like armies. These creatures had scaled skin. Huge teeth prevented their mouths, which held a poisonous black tongue, from closing. These lizards also possessed a long tail. Long arms and legs allowed them to move agilely over difficult terrain. The lizards' yellow eyes burned like torches against the darkening dome-like sky. Above them circled creatures far stranger and more monstrous. Huge bodies, resembling octopuses, rose and fell on long tentacles. Their dark shapes were repulsive in their ugliness. Large eyes surveyed the enemy, and a bird's beak emitted a high-pitched shriek. Instead of suction cups, each tentacle was equipped with spikes that tore flesh and fed shreds into its beaks. Behind the lizards, other beasts were visible. Among them were creatures several meters tall with multiple heads, giants with buffalo heads and hairy bodies. The sky dome was crawling with hordes of giant spiders, spitting webs. Huge beasts with membranous wings and horned bodies. But the most terrifying were the black, hooded figures that levitated among the bustling beasts. They didn't look strong, but in reality, they held the power here. These were black monks, beings similar to humans, yet their heart and strength were far from human.
The Lizards were getting closer; powerful, venom-covered claws sprouted from their hands.
"Now!" Cassiel's resounding command echoed from the depths of the earth.
Suddenly, the red dome was flooded with a wave of arrows. Thousands of projectiles soared upwards, descending in a delicate arc directly on the enemy. Ranks of Lizards collapsed under the onslaught of arrows. But this did not deter the next forces. Uriel and Anael took flight on their dragons, which, with fury in their blue eyes, spat volleys of fire at the approaching creatures. An army of mages shot lightning bolts at the spiders writhing on the dome. The charred spiders fell to the ground with a clatter. The stench of burning corpses hung in the abyss. Now the infantry advanced, flanked by the cavalry, shielded by the mages' lightning bolts…
13
"Aha," said the little old man, the gatekeeper. "It's started, can you feel it?
" "Yes," sighed the angel. He tried with all his might to urge the old man on, but the man refused to force anything. It seemed he had already planned the entire ritual and closing speech. Changing anything would be equivalent to losing hundreds of years.
"So good... I see you care," the dwarf continued slowly. "There are certain tasks you must complete to close the gate. Is that clear for now?
" "Yes, yes," the angel said impatiently. "
The first thing is to find Nammah's heart in the labyrinth I devised." Then you have to defeat the guardian, that is, the great Managa rexus trinaga salva from the Vanta family.. Son of Torzejg
. "You went a bit too far with that great one..." the angel began, but immediately stopped when he saw the guard's menacing expression.
"Sure… you're not the first and you won't be the last to make fun of me, but if a miracle doesn't happen, you'll die.
" "I'm sorry," Haziel said, "but I'm very nervous and I don't know what I'm saying."
"Yes… that's normal. After defeating me, you must burn my corpse. As soon as the last tissue turns to dust, the door to the world will open. Remember, take your heart there… when you pass through the door leading from the labyrinth to the earth, they hold the stone of the Mother of Serpents. You must… lose something.
" "Lose?" Haziel was surprised… lose what?
"I don't know, something you don't want to lose, something you adore and long to be. Remember that in the labyrinth, time moves much, much slower. Place your heart in the crystal and run… Run," the old man said, and his figure blurred until it finally disappeared against the cold sky…
14
The earthquakes intensified. Huge storm clouds filled the sky beyond the smoke. Hurricanes struck with tremendous force, floods inundated cities, and fires scorched their inhabitants. New York burned like a campfire in the middle of a dark clearing, city streets transformed into fiery rivers. Water poured in from the eastern coast of the United States with murderous brutality, flooding Washington and parts of Maine. Crowds of residents evacuated westward, inland. Japan was gradually covered in frothing cold water. Frenzy gripped the people. Love and compassion were forgotten. Everyone fought only for themselves and their loved ones.
15
… From the west, a procession of Tarans moved up the slopes of the ash-gray mountains toward one of the cavalry units. They were figures several meters tall, with bull heads and forward-curving horns. Thick fur swayed in the scorching wind. Powerful metal spikes pierced the Tarans' nostrils. These gigantic, bipedal beasts held stone clubs in their hands, and some held barbed chains. The cavalry units charged toward the enemy. They ran closer and closer, and when they were quite close, they flew high up the mountain, slashing the battering rams at their enormous heads. The huge heads fell off like effigies. However, for some of the angels, these maneuvers were to no avail. Flying over the monsters' heads, they were impaled on sharp horns and crushed by huge hooves. The frenzied wild beasts plunged into the midst of the terrified horses, trampling and destroying anything that failed to escape. Pools of blood flowed down the mountainsides like rivers.
The infantry rose slightly into the air, then, in a horizontal position with drawn swords, advanced towards the Lizards and Octopuses. After a few seconds, the two lines, angels and Lizards, collided. Several hundred bodies, like tattered red rags, were thrown into the air. The slaughter reached its peak. Thousands of Lizards with powerful fangs and claws slashed at the flesh and spattered with blood. White angel squads dealt deadly blows with enormous swords. Escape into the air was impossible. Spiders sat on the red, burning dome, despite constant lightning barrages, entangling every alien flying unit with their poisonous webs.
Several hundred meters away, other infantry squads battled winged red dragons. Powerful beasts, surrounded by a dozen small white figures trying to penetrate the dragons' scales.
Ariel
saw that the situation was becoming hopeless. He charged upon a massive winged lion. His wolves charged into the fray, slashing at his enemies with their powerful jaws. The gray angel rose and slashed with a silver sword at the giant bodies of the octopuses, which could fight several opponents at once. Their enormous tentacles gripped the angels' bodies, crushing their armor and drawing blood. The lion's powerful paws delved into the monsters' vile tissues, ripping apart their entrails.
Anael soared upon the black dragon, thrust out his arms, and with a powerful hurricane swept a dozen or so Tarans from the surface of the abyss. They were ripped upward with such force that their bodies literally exploded into a foul rain upon impact with the red vault. The black dragon spat fire and burned its enemies. Suddenly, Anael noticed more creatures emerging from behind the eastern mountain…ever more ferocious and powerful
…
Reinforcements were arriving from the eastern mountains, the lair of the beasts. Great Sorwas and their smaller brethren, the Drones. The former were humanoid creatures the size of several horses. They possessed spidery, thin, powerful legs capable of piercing armor. Their heads were covered with eyes. Their reflexes were therefore incredible, and their perception was unimaginable. Arms, numbering from two to six pairs, sprouted from their torsos. Each hand was armed with a machete. A flexible, long neck writhed like a snake's body. And from their hideous maws protruded the tips of deadly tentacles, capable of grabbing anything within a radius of several meters. The Drones were much smaller. These creatures, the size of boars, bristled with spikes, could unleash powerful waves of acid from their mouths, burning and devouring bodies in terrible agony. Zachariel and his troops rushed in that direction, shielded by fireballs and groups of Aniel's mages. Zachariel's troops soared high, then plummeted toward the Spider-men. Some of the beasts were pierced in the resulting chaos. Unfortunately, the enemy's immense escape speed and incredible number of eyes allowed them to evade perfectly. The young angels were entangled by the black tentacles extended by the Sorwas and slashed with machetes. The drones, in a fit of rage, released a devastating wave of acid, transforming the ranks of angels into screaming skeletons.
Other troops appeared above the sky. A rain of spears covered the eastern hill. Metal blades sank into the slippery eyeballs of the beasts, which were slaughtering themselves in agony...
18
"Run!" he shouted to Teresa.
The woman looked up and, like lightning, began running toward the voice. After a few seconds, a fragment of a church tower landed where she stood. Millions of water droplets mixed with dust flew into the air.
- Thank you, Tom. - She said in a voice full of emotion.
A few weeks had passed since Haziel's departure. Teresa had undergone a skin graft operation shortly before the maddening events of nature, when the earth rebelled against humanity. She had taken a liking to Tom, so much so that she moved in with him and helped with his treatment. When powerful storms reached Victoria, they decided to flee south into Europe, where it was safer, though certainly not wonderful. They were now in Finland. They had spent a week traveling by car through parts of Norway and Sweden. Everything was going relatively well. Together, they managed to survive massive storms that uprooted massive trees and carried away loaded trucks. From Victoria, they first traveled to Abisko, Sweden, where they had to wait out a several-hour earthquake that reduced half the town to dust. Then, during a massive storm, they reached Kirusa, a large city in north-central Sweden. It was quite peaceful there, and Tom and Teresa went back into the future to let their memories take them. They talked a lot and enjoyed each other's company... After two days, a massive flood forced them to flee. Eastward. "The world has gone mad..." they thought as they drove. It's all pointless. Driven from one town after another, this time they reached the Finnish town of Virteniemi on the vast, night-cold Lake Inari. They were now not far from the Russian border. The snowfall intensified, the sun melting it and creating small rivers flowing through the center of the town.
"We have to get out of here; these earthquakes are becoming increasingly dangerous.
" "Let's hope it's better in the south," said a chilled Teresa.
"Yes... let's hope," Tom echoed.
They didn't seek help from anyone; the wounds were still too fresh. Every night, Teresa dreamed that a few days ago, in a Swedish town, they were attacked by starving people standing outside the barricaded doors of a supermarket. A crowd of starving poor people, whose homes were underwater, surrounded the car and tossed it around. Fortunately, Tom had a gun. Blood on the windshield wipers, on the bodywork… in his mind. The woman woke up every night crying, with images of their heads being blown apart. They both had to be careful. Teresa's hands weren't yet fully functional, and Tom's health also left much to be desired. His left arm was still in a cast. His right arm was wrapped in bandages from elbow to wrist. The cast on his leg made it difficult to walk, and his chest, compressed by hundreds of bandages, made it difficult to breathe
.
The labyrinth turned out to be something the angel had never dreamed of. It was dark, illuminated streets, spread like a spider's web over a vast area. On either side of the roads, a massive wall rose, connecting high above the ground with the wall on the other side, creating a massive, ribbed vault. The angel felt like he was in a Gothic temple. Except there was asphalt, streetlights, and who knows what else. The red light seeping from the lamps gave the dark walls an uncanny atmosphere. Fear lurked in every brick of this colossal structure. In a place like this, time truly moved slower. Haziel walked straight ahead, occasionally veering left and right. Everything was so similar. It was impossible to leave a mark on the walls. Each mark disappeared after a few moments. The angel spread his black wings and took to the air. Now his speed increased many times, but there was no way out.
20
The next days passed peacefully. Humanity recovered. Tom and Teresa gathered strength for another journey, even though they hoped nature had finally calmed down. But after a few moments of calm, days of terror followed. A powerful wave swept in from the Barents Sea and, through Norway, swept into Finland, flooding everything in its path. Fleeing people were entering new territories. The sadness and wildness in their eyes inspired fear. Mass theft and escape from the approaching wave began.
Tom and Teresa got into their car, a spacious van. They used it as a mobile home. At sunrise, they set off towards the south of the country. They passed small houses that, in a few hours, would fall victim to the terrified people fleeing from the north. Some residents decided to stay and defend their homes against the thieves. The animal instinct for survival was awakening in people.
In the afternoon, they reached the town of Posio in southern Finland. It was wonderful. Nearly intact houses, rocky, solid ground, and friendly inhabitants. They decided to wait a few days and then move on towards the Carpathians
.
Ariel soared above the battlefield. He was well fed and rested. He had had a few days of peace when other angels replaced him. This exchange technique was beneficial to them during the constant fighting. He now flew above the fighting armies on his lion, searching for the best places to attack. Behind the archangel flew flocks of eagles, taking creatures in their claws and tearing them apart in midair. Below, black panthers and monstrous wolves were wreaking havoc, leaping for the throats of numerous Lizardmen. Several dozen panthers headed for a group of black monks, intending to plunge into their throats. A group of strangely calm figures raised what looked like empty sleeves, and a rain of fire fell from the red dome, burning everything, friend and foe alike. The charred bodies smiled mockingly at the soldiers marching to their deaths. One of the black monks removed his hood, and a black, horned face appeared before the eyes of the abyss. Chunks of flesh flaked from the damp skin. Pulsating blood visibly moved through the monks' black veins. The black figure screamed as first slippery, membranous wings sprouted from its body, then rows of sharp, sticky legs. Red eyes burned in its dripping black face.
Gabriel flew through the vast tangles of lizards and, with several infantry units, soared over the Eastern Hill. A terrible sight met their eyes. On the other side of the eastern hill, a vast valley stretched out, now flooded with various beasts... Michael moved west, towards the fiery ocean. From the terribly hot lava emerged creatures with hides so thick they could not be penetrated. These were the Lions. Tall, thin figures, seemingly very weak, yet anything approaching within a dozen meters burned from their heat. Unfortunately, Michael's soldiers were unaware of these terrifying properties. The first group transformed into living torches. The second, too, slowly advanced toward the western hills, scorching their opponents in the blink of an eye. Michael soared into the air, where he had to dodge spitting spiders. He took a swing and threw his spear at the largest of the Lions. The monster's hard shell shattered, igniting enormous fires all around. Bloodsnatches grazed over the ocean. They were medium-sized creatures, their narrow snouts tipped with a blood-sucking spike. Long arms equipped with sharp appendages grabbed their enemies and prevented them from escaping.
Mighty red dragons, with black monks perched on their backs, wreaked havoc among the angels. The avalanches of fire mingled with the screams of their victims. The beasts' powerful jaws descended from the sky, grazing dozens of defenseless angels. Dismembered bodies flew into the air and fell dozens of meters away. The monks sent powerful explosions that hundreds of angels were subjected to…
22
Haziel flew between the walls of the maze like lightning, delicately navigating each turn. After a while, he stopped wondering where he was and began relying on luck and speed. Doubt gripped his body to the tips of his fingers. Flight was futile, and time passed inexorably. Suddenly, the angel stopped dead. He landed gently on the street, folded his night-dark wings, and in the glow of red lamps, approached a strangely camouflaged door. He pulled the handle, pushed open the steel gate, and stepped inside. It was a dark and cold corridor. On the opposite wall were dozens of similar doors
. Each one bore golden inscriptions. They seemed similar, yet somehow different.
"What is this?" – The angel whispered to himself.
On the first door was the inscription "Malaga Rexus Triny Salwa From the Vanta family Son of Tolejo." On the second door was a similar inscription, except that instead of Malaga it said Masaga.
- What? - He was surprised – you little old man. The furious angel walked from door to door with increasingly faster steps. "Managa Rexis...", "Managa Rexus Tinir..."
- You're making me guess your name? You... Wait, you said it in front of me, I remember..." he muttered nervously to himself. "It was long and twisted... How it went, how it went... Only one chance, one chance, then it's over for hundreds of years.
" The devastated angel tried to remember the name. And his attempts were futile. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him
. "Did he say something… that he was great…?" Yes, it was right before he said that long name, it probably went… Managa, and then it rhymed Re… xus trinaga… from the Vanta family. That was it. But whose son he was, I don't know, I have to shoot." Haziel walked up to the door, the first parts of which matched, but the last ones didn't, and closed his eyes…
"Let fate decide." He chose the door and opened it…
23
Famine struck the ends of the earth. In a Canadian coastal town, a gang of starving people attacked elderly people, robbing them, and then eating them. Cannibalism spread like a plague. All continents were cut off from each other. Only cars and legs provided safe transportation. In Los Angeles, store employees barricaded themselves in a supermarket and prevented starving residents from entering. An angry mob pressed against the doors, which finally gave way. The barricaded people were beaten to death, hung from windows, and set on fire. People locked themselves in hospitals, where they stole food from cafeterias. Alaska disappeared underwater, as did Iceland. In Australia, over a hundred people died from starvation, and several times that number were killed in the fights to escape during raging storms. Lightning struck relentlessly, destroying the continent piece by piece. Germany, France, and Poland were struck by monstrous hurricanes. Storms uprooted forests and lifted dozens of trucks, roofs, and houses, hurling them considerable distances.
However, chaos did not reign everywhere. There were many places on Earth where peace existed, but the envy and fear of the people here and there brought nightmares to the peaceful lands.
Several
months had passed since the war began. Teresa finally reached Austria. Here, despite the peace, numerous riots and strikes gave no peace. There were cases of stoning when someone was caught stealing food. But everyone stole; there was no other way. Only the wealthy could amass vast supplies and flee to a peaceful place. Those who didn't make it were found and lynched. Food rations were running low or becoming increasingly expensive. In such conditions, cultivating crops bordered on a miracle, and some of the rich countries' supplies were flooded or burned.
Subsequent news deepened the panic: Russia was burning, and North American cities had already disappeared beneath the surface…
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