As Arthur finished talking, he let out a long breath and looked at Yahweh. "So, what do I do now? Why am I here, in this world? I'm not really angel material."
Yahweh chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. "True. You have free will. You have your own thoughts, unclouded by Heaven's system. And the system I developed will probably consider you a fallen angel eventually."
He paused, then smiled. "But after chatting with you, I believe that might not be a bad thing."
Arthur raised an eyebrow. "How so? Don't you hate the fallen angels for their sins?"
Yahweh's expression softened, and suddenly his young face showed the weight of millennia. "No father could truly hate their children. Even if their sins are countless.
The only thing I feel is sorrow for being unable to stop them from walking that path. But it is fate."
He paused and looked at Arthur with renewed curiosity. "But you seem to have certain knowledge of what will happen in the future. Care to elaborate?"
Arthur rubbed his nose, a nervous habit from his old life. "I do know a few things. But I must ask you—you seem like a normal person. Then why the hell is this world so... weird! It's basically a hentai! I mean, who even designed such fate!"
Yahweh raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "The world wills are beyond our understanding. They work in their own way.
This world is rather... unique. It is somewhat like the Japanese cartoons they make—anime, I believe they're called in the future. Perhaps like the...ones you said." He chuckled lightly.
"But, it's not all bad, right?"
Arthur retorted immediately. "It's not just bad, it's the worst!"
Yahweh laughed heartily, and the sound echoed through the throne room. "It's been eons since I had so much fun talking to someone who would treat me as a regular person. It's really nice."
His laughter settled into a warm smile. "But I believe it's rather nice. Much better compared to some of the crazy world wills that are in a constant destruction and rebirth cycle. Trust me, those are far more chaotic."
Then his expression turned serious, and the atmosphere in the room shifted. "As for why you are here and who brought you, it's a rather dangerous knowledge, even I don't know much. Are you sure you wish to know?"
Arthur gulped. The sudden change in tone made his angelic instincts scream warning. "Uh, sure. It's better to know, right? I mean, ignorance hasn't helped me so far."
Yahweh smiled approvingly. "Indeed. Ignorance isn't often a bliss, it's a curse. Very well. Let me tell you. But before that, do you know about beings that exist beyond the worlds, like the outer gods?"
Arthur almost panicked. His mind immediately went to his friend Jake's other obsession. "Wait, you mean like Lovecraftian mythos? The tentacles and insanity-by-just-looking kind?"
Yahweh nodded with approval. "You are smart. You know not to invoke their names casually. But luckily for you, the one who brought you here isn't one of the senseless ones. He is... I guess rather easy-going?"
He paused, choosing his words carefully. "He has gone by many names, so much so that his original name has been forgotten by the worlds. Some call him the Shepherd of Stars, some call him the Revelation, some call him the Hidden One."
Yahweh then raised his hand, and a complex barrier of divine magic materialized around them. The air shimmered with power. "Although he is your benefactor, I prefer not to invoke his name openly. Well, here goes. Are you ready?"
Arthur nodded nervously, his hands gripping the armrests of his chair.
***
Yahweh's voice took on a resonant quality, as if he were reciting from ancient texts that predated creation itself:
"Hastur, the Shepherd of the Stars. The King in Yellow. The Unspeakable One.
The stars are not silent, nor are they kind. He watches, waiting, whispering... guiding the lost along paths best left unseen.
In the oldest of forgotten texts, scrolls that crumbled to dust when the first humans learned to read—Hastur is not merely a god of whispers and madness, but something far more ancient. The Shepherd of the Stars.
Long before the universe took its first breath, when the void was a canvas of infinite darkness and The Blind Idiot God still dreamed at the center of chaos, Hastur wandered among the embryonic stars, guiding them through the chaotic abyss.
Some claim he was once a being of purpose, a cosmic guardian who watched over the fledgling constellations, ensuring order amidst the chaos of creation. He dwelt in the Lake of Hali, in the city of Carcosa, where twin suns set upon alien horizons. A place that exists and does not exist. A place that was and never was.
But the stars themselves hold terrible secrets.
Over countless eons, Hastur listened to their murmurs, their celestial songs—songs filled with knowledge, horror, and cosmic truths that no mind, mortal or divine, was meant to comprehend. He heard the whispers of Yog-Sothoth at the gates of dimensions. He witnessed the dance of Shub-Niggurath across dying worlds. He understood the true nature of reality, and that understanding... changed him.
It is said that as he gazed upon the boundless cosmos, as he watched civilizations rise and fall like mayflies, as he saw the futility and beauty of existence in equal measure, a dreadful realization took root within him—an understanding so profound and terrifying that it shattered his original purpose.
The King in Yellow became his aspect. A symbol. A warning.
Those who see the Yellow Sign are forever marked. Those who read from the play—the one that drives men mad—touch the edge of his consciousness.
No longer merely a shepherd, Hastur became a harbinger of revelation, bearing forbidden truths to those willing, or unfortunate enough to listen. He does not destroy. He does not corrupt. He simply shows you what is. And that is often worse than any nightmare.
But unlike his kin—unlike blind Azathoth, unlike crawling Nyarlathotep, unlike gluttonous Shub-Niggurath—Hastur still remembers what it was to care.
To guide. To protect, in his own incomprehensible way.
He is the only Elder God who weeps."
Yahweh's voice faded. The barrier flickered.
Arthur realized he was holding his breath. His hands were shaking.
Arthur's eyes widened as Yahweh finished speaking. His mind was racing, trying to process what he'd just heard. He didn't know how to feel about the fact that a literal Lovecraftian horror had given him a second chance at life.
Then a memory surfaced. His last moments. Dawn's terrified face.
"Before my death... I said something to my little sister. I said I would watch over her always, to look up at the stars to find me if she missed me. Do you think..." He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
Yahweh nodded slowly. "Perhaps. We can't comprehend how their minds work. But due to him, you have a connection with the concept of stars. Almost as if you are their child. A nameless star yet to be named."
Arthur asked hesitantly, fear creeping into his voice. "Do you think he will... manipulate me to do his bidding?"
Yahweh shook his head. "Not him. I have never heard of him even reviving a mortal ever. You are the first. He usually reveals knowledge and guides those he takes a fancy to. But the bond between you and him..." He paused, searching for the right words. "It's almost like that between a father and a son."
Arthur stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the crystal floor. "What the hell! You're saying I'm the child of some eldritch horror! Please tell me you're joking."
Yahweh sighed, and there was genuine sympathy in his eyes. "I wish I was. I don't know what he wants. But I believe he merely wished to give you a chance and witness what you make of it. Even if he had other motives, what can we do? He is stronger than most world wills." He shrugged helplessly. "We are like ants before beings of his caliber."
Arthur slumped down back into his chair. "Then do I just live in fear, hoping he doesn't come back to cash in the favor?"
Yahweh shook his head. "I'm afraid so. But rather than fear, embrace your second chance, my child. Live. Be happy. Maybe even fall in love and have a family. You can do anything you wish." His voice softened. "I know it's hard to let go of the past. To forget your loved ones. But as you might have noticed, your old memories will be merged or overwritten by new ones. In time, you won't remember any of it."
Arthur's eyes widened in horror. "What?"
"Your human memories are incompatible with your angelic existence. Slowly, they will—"
"Please no!" Arthur pleaded desperately, standing again. "I don't want to forget them! I've already lost them, now you tell me I won't be able to remember their memories too! Why?"
Yahweh stood and crossed the distance between them. He embraced Arthur gently, surprising him with the warmth and tenderness of the gesture. "I'm sorry, my child. But you have to move on. That's how it works. I can help you retain your memories temporarily with my power, but..." He trailed off.
Arthur looked up at him with tears in his eyes, real tears that an angel shouldn't be able to cry. "But you will also die one day."
Yahweh nodded, his expression pained. "Yes. The Great War is coming. And when that happens, you will also forget." He pulled back slightly, looking Arthur in the eyes. "I know it's wrong of me, but today I actually asked to meet you for a favor. You can refuse if you want."
Arthur stopped him, wiping his eyes. "I'll do it."
Yahweh looked hesitant. "It's a terrible burden, Arthur. And I haven't even spoken what it is yet."
Arthur sighed. "It doesn't matter. You've treated me with sincerity and answered my questions honestly. You didn't have to do any of that. You're God—you could have just commanded me. But you didn't. You talked to me like a person. So I'll help you if it's possible."
Yahweh nodded. " Very well. But before that, I want to ask you some questions Think of it as a test. Just be honest, there's no penalty even if you answer wrongly."
Arthur hesitated then asked. "Can I ask you something as well?"
Yahweh nodded. "Sure child."
"Why don't you prevent your own death, when you know it will cause problems later?"
Yahweh smiled wryly. " I am old Arthur. Very old. I have lived a long life and watched everything that is there to see. That's why I know, as long as Me and Lucifer are alive, they will never know peace. The original fate was for us to be locked in eternal battle, fighting wars again and agan.
I chose to walk away from that. And before I do that, I wish to clean up my mistakes. Seal the beast of apocalypse, and end my rebellious son's tyranny.
Once the devils are free from his rule, there will be a chance of peacce. And if I'm also gone, the Angels would stop seeking the destruction of devils. That my child, is the best outcome."
Arthur nodded with respect, "I understand. Alright, go on with your test."
"What do you think of mankind?" Yahweh asked with a smile.
Arthur sighed. "Starting with the big one,huh? Humans, they are fundamentally flawed creatures. We lie, we kill, we fight each other for the simplest things. And we always blame others for our shortcomings. A race that is always walking towards an inevitable destruction."
He paused and closed his eyes. "But there are so many of them that are good. They build, they create, they spread joy and happiness.
Among their darkness, they shine so brightly, like the stars in the sky. It's to painful too watch them try, and fail to share their light with the others.
Yet, their existence makes me question that inevitable ending. Perhaps there could be salvation for them, or perhaps the game was rigged from the start."
Yahweh sighed softly. "A rather cynic view, yet it's not entirely wrong. Now, how do you feel about the devils?"
Arthur scoffed. "They are even worse than humans. They act so superior and better than humans, yet rely on those very humans for their existence. They are beings of sin, and the world would be a better place without them honestly.
Specially hate that they corrupt humans into becoming their slaves, even steal the very blessings you gave to humans for their survival.
But even those among the darkness may find the light. In time, after watching the humans and interacting with them, they may change, and learn to co exist rather than just take. But That day may be far away, or never come."
Yahweh smiled. "That's rather harsh but acceptable. Atleast you are not like some of my other children who shouts "heretic" and "Burn them all!" at the mention of devils."
Arthur shrugged. "They are not far off."
Yahweh then looked at him in the eye. "And what about Angels, your new siblings?"
Arthur coughed. "They are like robots following a program. Their personality and character is basically set in stone. They don't know how to adapt or evolve, and always looking up to you for guidance. It's blessing and a curse.
They can be obedient workers and loyal soldiers, but they fail as a race because they have now will or desire to grow.
It's a shame really, there are some good ones out here, like Gabriel, the clumsy little sister everyone likes to dote on. Michael, the kind older brother who is responsible and watches over his siblings. Even Raphael, although I didn't know her for long, she feels genuinely kind and caring."
Yahweh had a pained smile. "Yes. That's quite true. Even when I give them will and desire, many would think it as something bad, and follow their worst impulses, then think it's my will. Even when I never made them do anything.
Alright, final question. What if you had the chance to change everything about them? To enforce your will upon them? to force them to follow your path even if it's the best way?"
Arthur didn't think. "I won't do that. Ther flaws, their mistakes; their joy, their success- all of them belongs to them and only them.
Even if it's for the worse, that's what makes them who they are. I won't change that to make them into obedient puppets. That's not a way to truly live."
Yahweh smiled brightly, and for a moment, the weight of ages seemed to lift from his shoulders. "Thank you, my child. I accept your answers. My request is rather simple, but it's a burden too heavy to bear."
He took a deep breath. "When I... fall... I wish for you to watch over my children. All of them."
He gestured to the stars above. "You are now Kokabiel, The angel of stars, whether it's your desire it or not. Be the guiding star that lights up their path in the darkness.
Angels can be rather... stubborn. Help them be more open-minded and free. Maybe find new purposes.
And the humans—watch over them, like you promised to watch over your sister. Help them, guide them, show them a better path. Even when they stumble and fall, even when they commit unforgivable atrocities, watch over them. Don't give up on them.
And the devils, try not to be too harsh on them. They have no control over their birth, but they can change in time. Maybe a day will come when everyone can co-exist peacefully."
He sighed deeply. "It was supposed to be my duty, but I wish to entrust you with this burden. Will you accept, Kokabiel, Archangel of the Stars, the Guiding Light of Heaven?"
Arthur paused for a long moment. He understood what this entailed. The weight of it. The responsibility. And yes, it was a great burden.
But what did he have to lose? He had nothing here. No Family. No future he'd planned for. No dreams of college or career. All of that died on that highway.
The other angels, they treated him well. Michael's warm smiles. Raphael's gentle concern. Gabriel's infectious joy. He wished to help them. To protect them.
And Gabriel... he felt she was like his little sister, despite being older than him by eons. He would protect her from any harm if possible. Maybe that was enough. Maybe that could be his new purpose.
So he took a deep breath and straightened his shoulders. He bowed slightly, showing respect not to God, but to someone who had shown him kindness when he didn't have to. "I accept your request, Yahweh.
But you also know I might fall, and be regarded as an enemy when you die. I'm not like others. I'm not going to sit back and allow bad things to happen if I can prevent it. Nor do I care about vatican using your name to do bad stuff."
Yahweh stood and placed a hand on his head. The touch was warm, paternal. "Thank you, my child. Then me then bestow upon you a gift. It's the first time I have ever given someone a gift without asking. But you deserve it. It will help."
He reached into the air, and reality parted. From within, he pulled out a beautiful golden key made of pure light. Its very presence filled the colossal room with a warm aura that made Arthur's skin tingle.
Arthur looked up in awe. "What is this thing?"
Yahweh smiled. "The most important treasure of Heaven. It's the Key to Heavenly system, which allows you to control Heaven itself and the faith system and prayers. I intended to leave Michael with it, but I believe you would be a better choice."
He then joked. "Don't go acting around like me yet. It will only allow you to access the system after my passing."
Arthur was stunned. "Are you sure? It's very important. Michael is more—"
"A father should trust his child, don't you think?" Yahweh interrupted gently.
Then, with a blinding flash of light, the key dissolved and flowed into Arthur's body.
Pain.
His back arched. His mouth opened in a silent scream.
It felt like every star in the universe was being born inside him at once. Burning. Tearing. Reshaping.
Holy power erupted from his body in waves. The throne room shook. The crystal floor cracked beneath his feet.
Arthur fell to his knees. His wings, all ten of them—spread involuntarily, trembling.
Then they began to tear.
Two new wings ripped through his back. Not metaphorically. Actually tore through flesh and light and whatever angels were made of.
He screamed.
Blood—or something like it—golden and luminous, dripped onto the floor.
The pain was beyond anything he'd experienced. Beyond the metal rod through his chest. Beyond dying.
This was creation. Transformation. Rebirth.
His hair began to change. Golden strands turned black, spreading from the roots like ink in water. Black as the void between stars. Black as the night sky his sister would look up at.
His eyes burned. He could feel them changing. Blue dissolved into violet. And within that violet, stars appeared. One by one. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. An entire galaxy compressed into his irises.
He could see everything.
Every star in existence. Their birth. Their death. Their light reaching across impossible distances.
He could feel them. Each one. Burning far away. Calling to him.
"Brother."
"Child."
"Kin."
The stars welcomed him. They were celebrating his birth.
Arthur's twelfth wing finally emerged, and the pain stopped.
He collapsed forward, catching himself with his hands. His breath came in ragged gasps.
"Look up, child," Yahweh said softly.
Arthur raised his head.
The ceiling of the throne room had vanished. In its place, the universe itself. Every star visible. Every constellation. The Milky Way stretched across the darkness like a river of light.
And he could touch them. All of them.
He reached up with one trembling hand.
A star responded. Light condensed in his palm. Warm. Alive. Beautiful.
"You are no longer just an angel," Yahweh said. "You are the bridge between Heaven and the cosmos itself. The stars are yours to command. And you are theirs to love."
Arthur stared at the light in his hand. This tiny star. This impossible, beautiful thing.
He thought of Dawn. Looking up at the night sky. Searching for him.
"I'll keep my promise," he whispered. "I'll watch over them. All of them."
The star in his hand pulsed once, as if in answer.
Then it shot upward, rejoining the cosmos above.
Yahweh placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder and helped him stand. "Rise, Kokabiel, Archangel of the Stars. Rise, and accept your duty."
Arthur stood. Twelve black wings spread behind him. Yet they were shining as countess motes of light flickered on his wings. His wings were like the night sky, full of stars.
Black hair fell across his violet eyes. A halo in the shape of two wheat stalks appeared on his head . He looked different. Felt different.
But somewhere inside, he was still Arthur Morgan. Still the boy who protected his sister. Still the son who loved his family.
And now, he had the power to keep his final promise.
***
The world outside was also going through a reality-altering event.
Michael was the first to notice. He was discussing patrol schedules with Kamael when suddenly, the sky changed.
Michael dropped the report he was discussing. The paper disintegrated mid-fall as reality rippled around him.
"What in Father's name—"
The eternal daylight of Heaven flickered. Then died.
Night fell. True night. Something that had never existed in Heaven before.
Every angel froze. Thousands of them. All staring upward.
The stars descended upon them.
Not metaphorically. The actual stars of the cosmos pressed against the barrier between Heaven and the universe. The sky wasn't just filled with starlight—it was made of it.
Countless points of brilliance, each one pulsing with a heartbeat.
Gabriel fell to her knees. Tears streamed down her face. She didn't know why she was crying.
"He's beautiful," she whispered.
Raphael covered her mouth with both hands. The sheer presence of it, the birth of something new overwhelmed her senses.
Metatron stood at his post, unmoving. His eyes were wide. "Father... what have you done?"
Azrael smiled. For the first time in eons, the Angel of Death smiled. "Something wonderful."
****
On Earth, a farmer in Mesopotamia was plowing his field when suddenly, the sun vanished.
He looked up in terror.
Night. Middle of the day. But the stars—
They were everywhere. So bright he could see his own shadow. Could see every blade of grass. Every stone.
He dropped to his knees.
"By the gods," he breathed.
In Egypt, a priestess was conducting a ritual. The sun was Ra's domain. But suddenly, Ra's light was gone.
She ran outside. The entire city had stopped what they were doing. Everyone was staring up at the sky.
The stars had never been this bright. Never been this close.
A child pointed upward. "Look! The stars! They're moving!"
The stars were celebrating. Swirling in patterns that didn't exist before. Beautiful. Mesmerizing.
The priestess felt tears on her cheeks. "Something beautiful has been born."
In a village in what would one day be China, an old man sat outside his home.
He didn't panic. He just watched excitedly.
The stars formed shapes. A great bird with twelve wings. It spread across the entire sky, then dissolved back into individual points of light.
"Magnificent," he said.
His grandson ran to him, scared. "Grandfather, what's happening?"
"The heavens are celebrating, my child." the old man said with a serene smile.
In a tribal settlement in Africa, warriors were gathered around their fire.
The sun disappeared. But they didn't need it.
The stars provided light.
A mother held her child close. "Don't be afraid. The stars are watching over us."
The child looked up. "Will they always watch?"
"Yes," the mother said, somehow certain. "Always."
Across the entire planet, every human who looked at the sky felt the same thing.
Safety.
Like someone was watching. Someone kind. Someone who lit upp their path through the darkness.
After seven minutes that felt like days, daylight returned.
But no one forgot what they saw until they breathed their last many years later.
That day turned to night, when true darkness came, the stars shone just a little brighter.
And for the first time in human history, the night felt like a blessing instead of something to fear.
***
Lucifer sat on his throne in Hell, surrounded by flames and screaming souls. He was reviewing reports from his generals when he felt it.
A surge of holy power. New. Different. Powerful.
He scowled, his beautiful face twisting with anger. "The old bastard has made another powerful pawn." He crushed the armrest of his throne, leaving claw marks in the stone.
"I need to build up the legions of Hell soon. Maybe I can tempt some of my former siblings to fall."
He smirked coldly. "After all, if I could fall, so can they."
***
In Olympus, the Greek pantheon also felt the shift in cosmic balance.
Nyx, the primordial goddess of night, was in her palace when she suddenly felt her dominion over night get challenged. Not threatened, but... Overwritten.
"How interesting," she muttered curiously with a chuckle. "A child of the stars? The Biblical God is full of surprises. Maybe I should pay him a visit later."
Zeus stood on his balcony, watching the sky with concern. Hera stood beside him, equally troubled.
"They grow even stronger," Zeus muttered. "We need to stop them before they take over all the worship. If the Biblical God continues to create such powerful beings..."
"Then we may need to form an alliance," Hera finished. "Even if it's temporary."
Zeus nodded grimly.
***
In Asgard, Odin sat on his throne, Huginn and Muninn perched on his shoulders. His single eye, which could see across all nine realms, focused on Heaven.
He stared for a long moment, then smiled. "Such pure light. It almost made me forget about boobs for a moment."
Frigg, standing beside him, sighed. "Must you be so crude?"
"I'm being honest! That's a compliment!"
Thor spun his hammer Mjolnir. " I hope he is strong. I wish to fight him."
***
In the Hindu pantheon, Indra reclined on his throne, a drink in hand. He'd been enjoying some entertainment—dancing girls and good wine—when the cosmic shift reached him.
He sat up slightly, interested despite himself.
"Another little bird was born?" He smirked and took a sip of his drink. "Let's see if he's boring like the rest of those stuffy angels, or if he has some fire in him."
Agni, the god of fire, appeared beside him. "Should we be concerned?"
"Concerned? No." Indra waved dismissively. "Interested? Yes. Things were getting dull anyway."
***
Back in Heaven, Arthur collapsed to one knee, breathing hard. Twelve white wings spread from his back now, each one radiant with starlight.
Yahweh helped him up gently. "How do you feel?"
Arthur looked at his hands. They were the same, yet different. He could feel the power coursing through him. The connection to every star in existence. The weight of Heaven itself, now partially his to command.
"I feel..." He paused, searching for the words. "I feel like I could reach out and touch the cosmos."
Yahweh smiled. "Perhaps you truly can." He placed both hands on Arthur's shoulders. "Remember your promise, Kokabiel. Watch over them. All of them."
Arthur nodded. "I will. I promise."
"Then go on. Your siblings are waiting. And they have many questions."
Arthur turned toward the door, then paused. "Yahweh?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For everything."
Yahweh's smile was warm and sad. "You're welcome, my child. Now go on. Your new life awaits."
Arthur... no, Kokabiel, walked toward the massive doors. They opened before him without touch, responding to his will.
Outside, every single angel in Heaven was waiting.
And at the front, Gabriel smiled brightly, tears of joy streaming down her face.
"Welcome back, brother."
Kokabiel smiled gently. " Thank you, sister."