Kapitel 53: Omniscience in Marvel 51

(Sorry I hadn't written in a while. Something came up in both school and my personal life which I had to take care of.)

***

Title - No title comes to mind.

…

??? POV

– You may all rise –

The resonance of his command reverberated throughout the celestial expanse, saturating the Realm with a profound sense of Reverence, Adoration, and Authority.

Fury.

That was the emotion I yearned to harbor in that moment, yet inexplicably, I found myself incapable of harboring animosity towards the entity enthroned amidst the celestial heights.

Halaliel.

That was the name I go by in this life. A name given to me after the forceful annexation of our home Realm, but in a life long since forgotten, I was known as Annette.

Indeed, I am what is commonly referred to as a Reincarnate. After traversing the corridors of time for several decades within this plane, I have come to realize that mortality cannot grasp the essence of death.

What constitutes the soul? What embodies the spirit? What defines existence and what signifies Oblivion?

No matter how much Humans feel and assume, the true meaning of those concepts remains hidden from them. I didn't know how I came to exist in this realm, I only knew that I once was, and then I wasn't and suddenly, I was again.

Heaven, or rather Heven was once home, it gave me the freedom I always sought but never got In the life before this one.

As Annette, I was many things, but most special of all, I was beautiful. So beautiful that I attracted the envy of others. I never truly understood why that was so.

Why were they envious? Wasn't it just an appearance? Something so superficial. I didn't ask to be born beautiful. I didn't ask to be born at all. I was born without my permission, so why should I be blamed for how I came out?

Yet, I remain grateful for my current life. Or I was before my paradise was taken away from me!

At the moment of my birth, I thought, "A Harpy?"

That was the first name that appeared in my mind upon seeing the giants in my immediate surroundings. But the words of a wet nurse proved me wrong as she said. "Uwa~ what a beautiful little angel, she'll bring about the end of the entire civilization with such beauty."

At first, my thoughts were; As expected.

However, for some reason, she lacked the Envious glint that always passed through the eyes of every female who looked at me. I thought to just give it time, but even as I grew, none looked at me that way.

The reason was obvious. Men or Women, they were all exceedingly beautiful that beauty wasn't even facilitated when used in comparison. The Angel Race, as I came to understand, was a race focused solely on material things, a stark contrast to the Mythological Angels I grew up hearing about in my past life.

Deep down, I was disappointed, yet for some reason, I found Joy in that fact. We were all born with an immortal body filled with magic unique to each Angel, and I, perhaps as a crystallization of my desire was given a Skill Description; A Being that Consumes All.

I thought nothing of it at first, but as I delved Into it, I discovered something. Through its power, the target's mind, their body, their everything…All come under my control.

With that skill I was able to dominate a section of Heven to the point that even the Queen herself decided not to interfere with my business as long as I stayed in my lane.

I thought I finally got everything I lacked in my past life. A group of friends who look at me with the adoration I was always supposed to get. They worshiped me, adored me…I was their everything.

Until

They came. Beings of light with a body physique similar to ours. However, while we were of flesh and blood, they were something else all together. I didn't know what that was, but I knew one thing.

They were the enemy.

With a condescending voice, the one in the lead said. "You have all sinned and fallen short of our God's Glory. Surrender peacefully and no harm shall befall you. Resist and be eliminated with extreme prejudice!"

Knowing the angels, there wasn't a need to exchange words before an attack was initiated, and with the attack from our side, we were all forced into a war we never stood a chance to win.

And while I tried to survive by escaping while my followers sacrificed themselves to clear a path, 'She' appeared in front of me. Her eyes were filled with so much compassion that made me want to puke.

She approached me after effortlessly downing and incapacitating my followers before cupping my chin and saying. "You sad Creature."

Was it because of her tone or was it her words? I didn't know but something within me flipped and I immediately devoured her. To turn her into one of my playthings, but as Luck would have it, that was the decision that ruined my life.

In the Void of the Subconscious Mind, I smiled victoriously as her mind was being submerged as assimilated into mind. Soon, I will know all she knows while having absolute control over her… That was what I thought.

But while I was in reverie, her voice echoed once again. "You…are not a bird trapped in a cage, are you?"

A loss of concentration. That was a fatal mistake any Magic practitioner could make while executing a skill, and although I wasn't an expert, I surely wasn't a novice that I would lose concentration over just a question.

I had assimilated thousands of Angels, so I wasn't a novice to this. It was her voice…or rather, her mental presence that I had invited into mine, and instead of assimilating her, I was being assimilated.

Feeling her mental strength, I knew struggling was futile so I just gave up. If this life was a reward for the life I had lived in my past life, I was content.

With that train of thought, I opened my eyes to get a glimpse of she, whom I was about to be consumed by, however, what entered my sight was that of a man seated upon a throne looking condescendingly upon me.

The look in his eyes seemed to spark a fire in my heart. One of fury and hate. Relying on the boost from this burst of emotion, I activated my powers once more in a bid to show that man who was the boss, but what greeted me was an abyss.

And as the saying goes, when you stare into the abyss…It stares back.

For the first time since I could remember in both lives…I felt it. I was being looked at. Not the outer shell that was my body. Not my mind that the people around me feel like they understand, but me. Me. ME!

…

"Hey look. It's that girl from class 3 that was on TV."

"Showbiz, right?"

"They say she's a child prodigy."

"How come her eyes are a different color?"

"Annette is such a weird name too."

Sounds of children chattering rang out in a classroom as one child walked through the hallway with her head hung low while ignoring them.

However, as though her action was being perceived as rude, a duster was thrown at her, hitting her by the side of her head and drawing her attention.

"?!" She turned in alarm reflexively due to the mild pain on her head. It was a normal response any human would have out of curiosity when something not supposed to happen, happens.

"That hair color's against the rules isn't it?" One peculiar looking kid not older than 7 years of age said while smiling sinisterly. "Let me fix it for you."

Perceiving the veiled threat in his words and the being looked at by those eyes, she turned and ran, only for them to run after her.

"Hey! She's trying to get away!"

"Get her!"

Fortunately for the girl, she was quick on her feet and managed to hide in the library where she finally let out a breath of relief as she saw the group of boys and girls run past the library doors.

As she stood and made for a table, she came across another girl with glasses drawing on a piece of paper while smiling happily. Under normal circumstances, she would've ignored the girl and just walked away, but the drawing drew her attention.

"That's a cute drawing." She said in praise, but the girl quickly hid it away while trembling. She didn't know if it was fear or just nervousness, but being emotionally mature, she knew her presence there was unwanted. "Oh…sorry for bothering you. I'll go now." She said and walked away.

"...Nagasaki Annette-chan, right?" the other girl asked hesitantly. "From class 3…"

"How do you know my name?" Annette asked, slightly surprised.

"There's nobody who doesn't."

"I see…"

…

"What's this!?" Annette asked excitedly while pointing at a drawing on the other girl's book.

"A dwarf."

"And this?"

"An elf."

"The elf is so cute!" Annette squealed in excitement as she admired the picture.

The other girl on the other hand blushed massively due to the amount of praise she was getting from Annette. "Y-Yeah, it's called fantasy…"

"I don't know much, but this is amazing!" Annette said sincerely.

"No. I think you're the amazing one for being on TV, Nagasaki-san…" the other girl replied fidgetly.

And so, time passed with the two girls becoming friends. Due to Annette's massive bullying, she always sought solace in her new friend's drawing in the library.

That was what kept her happy and mildly sane in the school. Her new friend always had something new to draw and the thought of putting your imagination into drawing was a massive attraction to the young Annette.

One certain day, Annette came into the library while shivering. Her new friend noticed this and worriedly asked. "Annette-chan, did the boys give you a hard time again?"

Instead of replying, Annette cried into her hands before finally saying. "I hate boys…"

The black haired, with a bob cut for hair quickly rummaged through her bag and pulled out a book. "T-Try reading this!" Her hands trembled while her voice cracked as she gave the book to Annette.

"This is…?"

"I started drawing my own manga." The black haired girl said while twiddling her thumbs nervously. "It's about a girl who wanders into another world and starts living in a kingdom of elves."

"I-I d-drew the elf b-based on you, so…won't you give it a read?" She asked while still twiddling her thumbs nervously.

At that moment, it was as though Annette had seen the light for the first time in her life. Her friend sat there, shining so bright in the darkness that was her life that she immediately forgot her sadness.

"Okay." Was all she said, but her meaning was fully expressed.

And just like that, 10 years passed and they were both in highschool.

"Hey Annette. Wanna go watch a movie this weekend?"

Annette was currently reclining on the window of her classroom as the wind blew her hair back into the class. The scene looked so beautiful that anyone's breath would be hitched at the sight, but to her classmates, it was a normal occurrence.

"Hey, don't try to get ahead of the rest of us, man." To the first boy's question, another boy shot down, but the first boy didn't bother with him and walked towards Annette.

"C'mon. It's my treat."

Annette merely glanced at him before turning and leaving the classroom. Throughout the entire ordeal, there was not a change in her expression.

"Hahaha. You were completely ignored!" The group of boys in the classroom immediately burst out in laughter at the boy who had asked Annette out.

Meanwhile, as Annette walked through the hallway, wherever she passed, the girls there would give her the stink eye before gossiping at her.

"Don't you think she's too full of herself just cause she's cute? She won't even look at the boys."

"But I hear she's been getting it on with guys left and right behind the scenes."

"Woah! For real? What a slut."

Of course Annette heard all this but didn't satisfy them with a reaction. Ten years. What hadn't she heard in those ten years? However, as she got to the roof, she pulled out the book from ten years ago and began reading, and as she read, silent tears fell down her cheeks.

…

That was amazing Midori, the last chapter seriously moved me to tears." Annette said in excitement as she and her best friend walked back home. She was so excited that she was actually blushing while hugging the book to her chest.

(A/N: what? Did you think she cried because of the insults? Please. She's been getting those insults for years.)

"Oh, thanks for being a long-time reader." Midori replied impassioned.

"So? What kind of story are you going to draw next?" Annette asked only for Midori to stop walking. "Midori…?"

"I'm not drawing manga anymore."

"Huh? Why? Did something happen?"

"Just…when I draw manga, I get teased for being an Otaku, and in the first place, why are you so nice to me anyway? If you stick with me, then you'll also-"

"Stop." Annette immediately interrupted with a low tone. "As long as I am with you, Midori, I don't care. So please don't say things like that."

…

"You've led a fascinating life, haven't you?" An indifferent voice rang out in the abyss around Annette as the scene of her life was being played before her.

"GET OUT…GET OUT YOU MONSTER!!"

"I am afraid I can not do that. After all, We have only just begun. In order to understand the root of your mania, I must plunge to even further depths…" the voice Echoed in reply while slowly receding as the scene continued.

…

"Let me introduce you, Annette." Midori began as she pointed to a teenager sitting on her bed. "This is my…um…boyfriend."

"Nice to meet you, miss Annette." The teenager said while smiling politely. He had a brown hair cut in the same style as Midori's with a good portion of his eyes hidden.

Annette on the other hand, had a stupefied expression as she observed the two.

"Haha. I'm really surprised. I never knew you had such a cute friend, Midori."

"Hey, what are you trying to say?"

"I mean, I thought you were just an otaku who drew manga…" the boy said bashfully as he scratched his head.

"Cut it out, that was a long time ago!" Midori slapped him softly on the shoulder while blushing mildly.

Annette who was observing this went through a few emotions before she finally accepted the reality of things. The friend she thought belonged only to her now had someone far more important than herself.

"Thank you…To this day, truly…Midori's manga has saved me countless times." Annette said with a sad smile.

"Haha. You're exaggerating…" Midori chuckled nervously. It looked as though she still couldn't handle being praised by Annette.

Annette on the other hand, merely smiled and picked up another manga from Midori's shelf and began reading while totally ignoring the two couple.

Hours passed and soon, the sound of the rain pouring down heavily came to their attention as Midori stood up from her studying table to check out the weather. "Whoa. It's seriously pouring now. Sorry guys, I'm gonna go deliver an umbrella to my mom." she said before hurriedly leaving the room, leaving Annette with her boyfriend.

Annette silently acknowledged her before turning back to the book in her hand. However, "Hey."

The boy called out, and just as Annette turned to look at the boy, he was already in front of her, and before she could react, he had already pinned her down on the bed.

"Huh..?" Was the confused sound that came out of her mouth. Immediately, she began to struggle to free herself from the boy's hold, while screaming. "Wait! STOP! STOP THIS!!"

Unfortunately, her voice was drowned by the rain, so no one could hear her screams even if anyone was passing by.

"Silly me! I forgot my phone-" Midori, who had returned, smiling happily, immediately froze at the sight of her boyfriend on top of Annette. "Huh?" The smile on her face immediately fell as she observed the scene.

"MIDORI! HELP ME!" Annette cried out to her friend to save her, however what she got in reply was.

"I knew the rumors all say you've been doing this and that in secret…" Midori said slowly. Her glasses, as well as the lighting in the room prevented Annette from seeing the look in her eyes. "but to think they were true…"

"YOU WHORE!"

…

It was the look in her eyes. That look of betrayal that finally did it for Annette.

As her eyes met Midori's, she felt a sharp pang in her chest, as if her heart had been stabbed with a thousand needles. It wasn't just the accusation that cut deep; it was the look of betrayal etched in Midori's gaze.

The trust she had placed in her best friend shattered like fragile glass, leaving behind a hollow ache of disbelief and anguish.

In that moment, Annette's world crumbled around her, the foundation of her friendship collapsing beneath the weight of accusation and abandonment. She couldn't comprehend how Midori, her confidante, her ally, the only friend she ever had, could believe such malicious lies about her.

The pain of betrayal mingled with the terror of being pinned down, trapped and defenseless against someone she once trusted implicitly.

Desperation clawed at her throat as she struggled against the weight pressing down on her, both physically and emotionally. Tears blurred her vision, mixing with the rain outside, as she pleaded for salvation from the one person she thought would always stand by her side.

But Midori's silence spoke volumes, a deafening condemnation that echoed in the hollow chambers of Annette's shattered heart.

In that moment of despair, Annette felt utterly alone, abandoned by the one person she thought she could rely on. Betrayal cut deeper than any physical wound, leaving scars that would never fully heal.

It was unknown how she managed to even leave the house, but when she came to herself, she was just standing at a crossroads. The rain fell, having no pity towards the heartbroken girl.

And as she stared aimlessly into the night's dark sky, a bright light shone to her side, and before she could even compute what that was, darkness truly took over.

…

"Halaliel, are you listening to me?" The sound of a man brought a little Halaliel out of her day dream causing her to coldly reply.

"What?"

"Sigh. I don't know why you seem to dislike your Father to this extent, but know that if you ever want to visit Alfheim, I will take you there." The man said before leaving the room.

Annette showed no reaction to his words as she continued staring at the picture book in her hands. One where a human girl seemingly wandered into a realm filled with Elves.

…

"STOP! NO MORE! DON'T! LOOK! AT! ME!"

Annette, or rather Halaliel screamed out, Shattering the dark abyss-like void as light was born from the burst of her mental energy.

In the real world, as soon as Halaliel opened her eyes, she found herself kneeling in front of the Angel who made her pass through the life she thought she'd left and buried behind her.

"So this is your story? How truly Pitiful." The angel said and stretched out her hands to Halaliel. "You don't have to feel that way anymore, for my Father is Love himself. In him, would you find your peace and place of belonging."

…

It was unknown how many people underwent a forced conversion similar to Halaliel, but as someone with a soul energy from two lives, she was strong enough to be noticed by Aspect who was presiding over the Takeover.

Seeing that she had lived a life he could only attribute to be a Human's in the future Earth, he was happy to bring her up into the ranks of Angels despite.

And while he could feel she had a strong distaste towards the male gender as a whole, he disregarded it since Leucadius, despite being a man, was of a higher form of existence.

He believed she too would come to understand that.

As an Archangel, she would communicate with Leucadius far more closely than other Angels, and being in his presence, he believed she would come to grow in both Wisdom, grace and power.

…

"A hundred years…That is how long you'll have to prepare a banquet for the Gods. In a Hundred years I will be hosting a Myriad Pantheon of Gods who deem it fit to Visit Heavens. Do your research. I expect nothing but the best from you all