Chapter 270: People Lose

"Don't. Ever. Speak. Of. The Great One. In. Such. A. Manner," his father growled, each word punctuated by a heavy pause. His voice resonated with a power that seemed to shake the very foundations of Hell.

Shame and defiance wrestled within Gabriel. He straightened his back, meeting his father's gaze with a steely glint. "Then enlighten me, father. Why am I here? Why was I stopped from ending a millennia-long threat, every time?"

His father remained silent for a moment, his shadowed face unreadable. Then, with a sigh that seemed to echo through eternity, he spoke. "The Great One works in ways beyond our comprehension. Your actions, while fueled by righteous intent, could have upset a delicate balance. A balance that safeguards this world, and countless others, from a far greater evil."

Gabriel scoffed. "A greater evil? You expect me to believe that after all this time? Hila is a constant plague, a threat to everything we hold dear!"