Chapter 202 — The Messenger
Gabriel had been descending for several minutes.
Heaven was no longer visible above him.
The clouds had swallowed it completely.
For the first time in centuries, Gabriel was alone.
No choir.
No guards.
No other angels.
No voices calling his name.
Only the wind.
It moved violently around him, tearing at his clothes and pushing against his wings.
Gabriel didn't slow down.
His six wings remained spread.
Each beat carried him farther from Heaven.
Farther from everything familiar.
Earth continued growing beneath him.
At first, it had looked like a distant painting.
Now he could make out mountains.
Forests.
Oceans.
The enormous walls surrounding the Shinokunis.
He had seen Earth before.
From Heaven.
Never like this.
Never this close.
Gabriel smiled.
"So this is what you've become."
He continued downward.
Then—
something flew beside him.
Gabriel glanced over.
An angel.
Young.
His wings were struggling against the wind.
Gabriel slowed slightly.
"You followed me?"
The angel tried to catch his breath.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"You didn't answer us."
Gabriel smiled.
"I answered."
"You said you were going to find Michael."
"Yes."
"That isn't an explanation."
Gabriel looked down.
"It's enough of one."
The angel frowned.
"You know that's not true."
Gabriel laughed.
"You're getting brave."
"I've been told that."
"By who?"
The angel hesitated.
Gabriel smiled.
"Exactly."
They continued descending.
The angel looked toward Earth.
"What happened to Michael?"
Gabriel's expression changed.
"I don't know."
"Is he injured?"
"I don't know."
"Captured?"
"I don't know."
"Dead?"
Gabriel stopped.
The angel stopped too.
Gabriel turned toward him.
"Don't say that."
The angel lowered his head.
"Sorry."
Gabriel looked toward Earth again.
"I can still feel him."
"Then he's alive?"
Gabriel's expression became thoughtful.
"I believe so."
The angel seemed relieved.
Gabriel wasn't.
Because that wasn't what concerned him.
Michael wasn't simply quiet.
He was unreachable.
There was a difference.
Gabriel had known Michael for longer than most beings had existed.
Michael could disappear.
Michael could become distant.
Michael could refuse to speak.
But he had never become completely absent.
Something had happened.
Something on Earth.
And Gabriel intended to find out what.
The angel continued following.
"Why didn't you tell the others?"
Gabriel glanced at him.
"Tell them what?"
"That you're going to Earth."
"I did."
"You know what I mean."
Gabriel smiled.
"Yes."
The angel waited.
Gabriel didn't elaborate.
"You could have taken the others."
"I could have."
"You could have taken an entire host."
"I could have."
"Then why didn't you?"
Gabriel's wings moved once.
"Because I'm not going to war."
The angel frowned.
"Then what are you doing?"
Gabriel looked toward the horizon.
"Delivering a message."
"What message?"
Gabriel smiled.
"I haven't decided yet."
The angel stared at him.
"That doesn't make any sense."
"It will."
The angel finally slowed.
Gabriel continued downward.
"Gabriel."
He looked back.
"You should return."
Gabriel smiled.
"No."
"You don't know what is down there."
"I know."
"You don't know what happened to Michael."
"I know."
"You don't know what you're walking into."
Gabriel's smile faded.
"That's why I'm going."
The angel stared at him.
Gabriel continued descending.
The angel watched until Gabriel disappeared into the clouds.
Then—
Gabriel was alone again.
The clouds became darker.
The temperature changed.
Earth's atmosphere surrounded him.
Gabriel folded two of his wings slightly.
The wind became louder.
He could hear thunder somewhere in the distance.
Then—
a flash.
Lightning crossed the clouds.
Gabriel looked toward it.
He didn't react.
Another flash.
Then another.
The storm wasn't natural.
Gabriel could feel something disturbing the atmosphere.
Something below.
Something powerful.
He continued.
The clouds suddenly split.
Gabriel emerged beneath them.
The world opened.
Mountains stretched beneath him.
A massive forest covered the land.
Rivers cut through the terrain.
Far in the distance—
Asteria.
Gabriel stopped in midair.
He stared.
The city was surrounded by enormous stone walls.
He could see the palace at its center.
He could feel something there.
Michael.
Not clearly.
But enough.
Gabriel smiled.
"There you are."
Then—
the Earth pulsed.
Gabriel's smile disappeared.
He felt it.
A force beneath the world.
Ancient.
Massive.
Alive.
Gabriel looked downward.
The mountains trembled.
Only slightly.
But he noticed.
The Earth was reacting to him.
Gabriel slowly lowered himself.
His wings remained open.
"That's new."
The pulse came again.
This time—
Gabriel felt another presence.
Someone inside Asteria.
Someone connected to the Earth.
Someone carrying something that shouldn't be there.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
He could sense Michael.
But Michael wasn't alone.
Gabriel looked toward the city.
"Who are you?"
No answer.
The Earth pulsed again.
Gabriel smiled.
"I suppose I'll find out."
Back in Heaven—
the angel Gabriel had left behind returned.
Several angels immediately surrounded him.
"Well?"
"Where did he go?"
"Did he say anything?"
The angel looked at them.
"Earth."
Several expressions changed.
One angel stepped forward.
"Why?"
"He wouldn't say."
"Did he tell you about Michael?"
"Yes."
"What did he say?"
The angel hesitated.
"He said Michael has gone silent."
The room became quiet.
One of the older angels looked toward the celestial horizon.
"How long?"
"He didn't know."
Another angel frowned.
"Gabriel always knows."
The younger angel shook his head.
"Not this time."
Silence.
Then—
one of the great celestial bells rang.
Once.
Every angel turned.
A second bell followed.
Then a third.
The angel looked toward the sky.
"What does that mean?"
The older angel's face became pale.
"The boundary has opened."
Gabriel was already through it.
He flew beneath the last layer of clouds.
The pressure around him disappeared.
Earth was completely quiet.
Too quiet.
Gabriel looked toward Asteria.
He could feel Michael now.
Stronger.
Still silent.
Gabriel's expression softened.
"You really did disappear."
He began flying toward the city.
Then—
he felt something else.
A presence from Hell.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed.
"Hell."
The sensation disappeared almost immediately.
But it had been there.
Something was watching.
Something had noticed his arrival.
Gabriel continued.
He didn't turn around.
He didn't need to.
He knew there were eyes on him now.
From Heaven.
From Hell.
From somewhere beneath the Earth.
And perhaps—
from something standing inside Asteria.
Gabriel's smile returned.
"For a place that was supposed to be quiet…"
He looked toward the city.
"…you've certainly become interesting."
The closer Gabriel came to Asteria, the stronger Michael's presence became.
Gabriel closed his eyes.
For one brief second—
he felt him clearly.
Michael.
Lucifer.
Death.
Gabriel's expression changed.
He felt all three.
But only one truly called to him.
Michael.
Gabriel opened his eyes.
"Brother."
The word disappeared into the wind.
No response.
Gabriel wasn't surprised.
He looked toward Asteria.
The fourth presence remained.
The Earth.
Gabriel could feel it beneath everything.
Waiting.
Watching.
And somewhere in the city—
Brook stood beneath the same sky.
Unaware that Gabriel was approaching.
Unaware that Heaven had noticed him.
Unaware that the man descending toward him had crossed the boundary between Heaven and Earth because one of his brothers had gone silent.
Gabriel folded his wings.
The city grew closer.
His descent slowed.
He looked toward Asteria.
And smiled.
"Let's see what happened to you, Michael."
Gabriel descended toward the city.
And above him—
the sky slowly began to close.
End of Chapter 202