However, unlike Luke's reaction, Mika and Yuichiro's expressions clearly showed deep empathy.
"They committed suicide..."
Paimon and Angel Mika were both single-mindedly devoted to the Progenitor, and the Progenitor cared for them just as much. But... dropping his usual composure, the Progenitor's face was filled with disbelief as he murmured.
"Paimon, Mikael... how could this happen?"
The Progenitor pulled Angel Mika's body into his arms, feeling Angel Mika's body temperature gradually fading away, and repeated incessantly.
"How could... how could..."
Bael had just regained a shred of rationality from his grief. He examined Paimon's injuries; although the shoulder was a mangled mess, it wasn't a fatal wound for an angel. However, Paimon's heart had been crushed, and given that blood-stained right hand... "King, could it be that Paimon committed suicide? God will never tolerate such an act; Paimon's soul..."
"Say no more."
The Progenitor's voice carried an irrepressible sorrow; he couldn't understand why things had turned out this way.
Bael thought for a moment and decided to speak up for Paimon.
"King, Paimon loved you more than anyone, and looked forward to your return to God's side more than anyone..."
Bael paused, but ultimately continued.
"There are things I don't need to say for you to know. This is all part of God's plan, a trial, and it's all..."
"So I am expected to accept everything before my eyes? A reality like this? Such inhumane atrocities?"
The Progenitor's tone had become somewhat chilling.
Sensing the Progenitor's unstable mood, Bael hurriedly said.
"King! The great cause is not yet complete. Arrogance during this process will..."
"Preposterous! I have never felt so arrogant! I have never felt such despair and powerlessness!"
The Progenitor didn't want to hear any more talk of grand designs and began to shout at the sky.
"To cling to life after being treated like this! What is the purpose of living? Half of the angels have already fallen ill. If I stand by and watch them die, what is the point of reaching Paradise?"
"Cough, cough..."
All of the Progenitor's accusations were interrupted by a sudden coughing sound. The Progenitor turned to look at Bael in disbelief.
"You too..."
Bael wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled bitterly.
"I'm very sorry, I won't be able to go to Paradise with you."
The Progenitor felt his heart skip a beat and questioned.
"Are you all planning to let me go alone?"
"Sorry, I can't leave Paimon here alone. We'll stay here and watch over the house for a bit."
Bael's answer pained the Progenitor, yet he still couldn't save anyone.
"I cannot live up to your expectations."
Bael shook his head and explained with a smile.
"I have no expectations of you, nor of God, nor of Paradise. My expectations have already been destroyed."
As Bael spoke, he picked up Paimon's body.
"I have always been loyal to you. Please use me as a sword as you wish. I will await your instructions."
"Instructions..."
"Whether it's to wait for death, fulfill God's plan, or... your resistance."
Bael left carrying Paimon's body, while the Progenitor stared blankly at Angel Mika's body in his arms.
No matter how he looked at it, Luke felt that Urd and Rig were a couple. No, no, what was he thinking? He was starting to see things through fujoshi eyes.
Having witnessed the Progenitor's past, Krul understood his suffering, but her hatred for him remained. His suffering was no excuse for taking Ashera away.
She now suspected that her brother being turned into a demon was an experimental attempt by the Progenitor to resurrect Mikael, involving immortality and energy conversion.
The "Photon Quantity" the Progenitor currently used was practically the polar opposite of the Demonic Aura curse power used later.
There was still too little information.
"The Progenitor's power conversion should be related to that 'God' or whatever."
Luke nodded.
"Makes sense. The Progenitor's faith in God is already showing contradictions; it should be reaching a breaking point soon."
At the request of Krul and Luke, Mika accelerated the memory playback and discovered that not long after that, Bael also committed suicide.
To let his soul's resting place be with Paimon, the Progenitor placed their graves next to each other.
This was a graveyard filled with crosses, but Angel Mika's grave was not there.
"In this hell, suicide is a grave sin. The two will be eternally bound to this land, bound here."
A look of sorrow, never seen before, seemed to have become a permanent fixture on the Progenitor's face lately.
"King, the power required to return to Paradise has been concentrated on the tower."
Luke pointed at several angels nearby and said to Krul.
"They are angels who look like your brother and those old acquaintances."
"I'm not blind."
Luke frowned and looked around.
"Strange, where is Angel Krul?"
The Progenitor didn't turn around, simply asking.
"So many angels have died. Is there still any point in returning to Paradise?"
Angel Ashera—Amon—did not answer, looking at a cross not far away with the name Belial engraved on it. That was his sister's grave; Belial had also died from the disease.
After a while, the Progenitor seemed to have convinced himself.
"We set out to return tomorrow. Go and notify everyone."
"That's wonderful!"
Several angels looked excited; the King's great undertaking was about to succeed!
The Progenitor returned to the top of the tower alone, his fingers constantly operating on a light screen in the air, his mind deep in thought.
God's power and the angels' source of life is "Light." Miracles are triggered by "Light." Therefore, we collect "Light" and built the Tower of Babylon, all to return to God's side, to return to Paradise.
The Progenitor condensed a sphere of light in his hand, and it grew larger and larger.
Except for Yuichiro, the others felt discomfort and repulsion just from sensing the power within this sphere of light.
Seeing everyone frowning, Yuichiro felt a bit strange; he didn't have any special sensation.
The light sphere in the Progenitor's hand suddenly split into three.
"Everything about 'Light' is connected to divine power. Miracles cannot be triggered at will, otherwise, one would violate taboos and be punished."
There are three taboos—Resurrection, Life Extension, and Creation.
"Merge."
The light spheres in front of the Progenitor began to fuse again, turning into a halo.
After countless private studies, the Progenitor had found a way to use "Light" to create miracles behind God's back. Thus, Mikael was born.
The Progenitor pressed his palm down, and the halo turned into a spatial portal. A coffin bound by chains was lowered from the space.
Inside that coffin, Angel Mika lay peacefully. The fatal wound on his neck had been repaired; it looked as if he were merely sleeping.
The Progenitor looked up at the sky.
No punishment descended. Has God forgiven me? Or is this a test of my arrogance?
"If You do not give me an answer, I will use the 'Light' of the Tower of Babylon..."
The Progenitor became resolute.
"To first resurrect Mikael."
Seeing this, Krul shook her head.
Luke asked curiously.
"During this period, the Progenitor was too merciful as a ruler. A sentimental ruler only brings disaster."
Krul could already foresee that the consequences of the Progenitor's actions would be significant, perhaps even leading to the destruction of all angels.
You will get 30 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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