—Present Day - After the Abandonment of the Garden of Eden —
Two weapons of unmatched power rang out across the landscape of a sky bound dominion. This world was one of the first to experience a new Holy War across Paradioso-Chutz that had tainted so many.
Two Virtues did battle against one another while the rest of their armies charged headlong below. They did battle amongst the air, painting the silver edges of the clouds red with blood and skin.
"Your movements are sloppy, Raphael. Move as if you intend to kill me, or I will not be satisfied in the sense of victory that I know is already mine for the taking!" Gabriel barked, dashing across the sky with a spear in hand at speeds unattainable by other angels.
Raphael responded, flashing a greatsword in one hand.
"Calm yourself, Gabriel. Our bout has just begun!"
The two Virtues of the war danced amidst the air while their armies fought below. Each side held divine weapons in hand, tearing each other to pieces in the name of what their Gods had commanded.
Raphael wielded a greatsword known as Nakir, with a pungent light pouring from his other hand known as Zadkiel. Gabriel wielded a great spear and shield, both known by the same name—Shurugal.
Each of the Virtues received the same message from the Most High days prior. They gained their own weapons of divine chaos, like the two battling here. Each Virtue received two weapons, while all other angels' ranks gained only one.
"You still move too slowly; your movements are predictable!" Gabriel roared, bashing his shield into Nakir's edge.
He threw Raphael out of sync with the song they fought in rhythm to.
"If you keep fighting like this, your death will come before the climax of our cotillion!"
Ethereal, somber music with guitars—heavy and low in riffs like roars of a dragon, but high-pitched—played in the back of their fighting. The two moved so fast and in sharp degrees they fought in sync with the rhythm and beat.
It created a dance of splendor and chaos that enhanced the strength of each attack they made. They acted out a performance only a playwright infatuated with pain could describe.
Gabriel continued his lust for Raphael's demise, ramming his blade spear into his gut with a Splunk! just as the sinister and boisterous tone of the song had arrived.
Gabriel pulled in his former friend, bashing him again in the face with his shield. He left an indent on Raphael's face whilst throwing him off his spear's edge. He then pirouetted in the air and spun his spear in a circle overhead.
Rapheal was then gashed across the chest. Blood escaped from his torso, gathering in the wind like water spray from a hose. The blood, akin to rain, precipitated from Raphael's chest onto the clouds that stayed underneath them.
War after war tore through the landscapes outside Eden, creating battlefields of death that were littered with atrocities so vile that many would doubt that angels could create them. Beings of peace with tidings of love and care were twisted with malice, rage, and revenge.
The Fallen would be mourned after the fighting had quelled, stoking the despair and pain that sat rife in the world.
It was what the Most High decreed, a war for the return to Eden. The winning Virtue and their clan would become the leaders for all other angels. The duty in this realm was to kill those who opposed you for not conforming to your will.
The expectancy was that you would kill for those who were slain under your legion.
"ha'adon hu mekor hakoch shli, Pardigmat Hashalmot!" Gabriel called, his body and his spear brimming with gold energy, his shield lowered to the side.
Gabriel then darted back from the canvas he was creating, rising above Raphael with his holy spear to the sky. He created three javelins of pure gold-energy to smite his prior friend out of the air to the clouds below. Each javelin punctured devastating holes in Raphael, but Gabriel wasn't done with his domination or theatrics.
Gabriel wanted to end his display in style and glory, one that would sweeten his highest spectators above. The music around heralded his victory, speeding up in tempo and spectacle-worthy flair.
His six wings grew ever larger along with the size and scale of his spear. Gabriel slowly fell out of the sky with grace and a small twirl before racing for his adversary at speeds bordering on a race against light.
The sky flashed from blue to an otherworldly grey, white, and gold just as Gabriel neared his friend. He resolved to give him a swift end, one he may not get at the hands of other Virtues.
But Raphael wouldn't take this gesture of war lying down.
"I told you, Gabriel, our bout has just begun!" Raphael bellowed. "I will not let you subjugate my people to your will. You shan't be the one to do so, nor anyone else for that matter!"
As Gabriel neared Raphael, a blinding white light shot out from his fallen adversary's form, obscuring Gabriel's vision and causing a slight hesitation in his attack. He pushed on through, landing it flush, but the assault was stopped in its movement forward.
Gabriel tried his best to see through the blinding white that was enrapturing the world. It had caused even the other warring angels to stop in admiration and confusion at what was taking place.
He saw Raphael standing upright with Nakir being used to block his attack; his friend was dressed like a bridegroom in all white with a halo mimicking a crown. He was fully healed of all his wounds.
This was his most powerful form, and the tide of the battle had completely inverted on its head.