Capítulo 8: Chapter 7: I didnt stay dead
Victory tasted bitter. The weight of divine judgment—his judgment—hung on his shoulders. This place had been a cesspool of sin, but obliterating it came at a cost. The dead didn't simply vanish; they left scars, on the world and on his soul.
"You hesitate," Castiel's voice cut through the stillness like a blade, calm yet unyielding.
Aaron's eyes narrowed. "I'm not hesitating," he replied, his voice hoarse. His boots crunched against the brittle ground as he turned from the ruined cityscape. "I'm processing."
"Processing leads to doubt. Doubt leads to failure. Lucifer waits, and your delay gives him time to strengthen his defenses."
Aaron gritted his teeth. The angel's unwavering demeanor always struck him like a hammer. "You know, for someone who's supposed to be my guide, you're about as comforting as a lecture from my old drill sergeant."
"Comfort is not my purpose. Ensuring your success is." Castiel's words carried the weight of finality.
Aaron sighed, running a hand through his ash-streaked hair. Ahead, the land gave way to a steep incline, the coastline just visible in the distance. Waves—black as pitch—crashed violently against jagged rocks, sending bursts of molten spray into the air. Even from here, the sea exuded malice.
He climbed the ridge, each step crunching against loose gravel. When he reached the top, the sight before him stole his breath. The coastline stretched endlessly, a jagged scar where Hell's land met the infernal sea. The waters churned like living tar, flecked with streaks of molten fire. Broken docks and skeletal shipyards jutted into the water, their wooden beams twisted and blackened as though clawing for salvation.
"Inviting," Aaron muttered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. "Let me guess. I have to cross this charming little sea?"
"Correct," Castiel replied without hesitation. "Beyond this lies Cocytus, the frozen lake. But first, you must traverse the leviathan's domain."
Aaron's frown deepened as he surveyed the wreckage scattered across the beach. The remnants of old ships lay half-buried in the sand, their rusted hulls and shattered masts whispering of past battles. The wind carried the faint sound of creaking wood, as though the wrecks still mourned their failures.
"Fantastic," Aaron muttered, descending toward the shore. "And where exactly am I supposed to find a ship?"
"You will create one."
Aaron blinked, halting mid-step. "Create a ship?" He gestured at the wreckage. "What do I look like, Noah?"
"You are God's chosen," Castiel said, his voice even. "The miracles granted to you extend beyond mortal craft. Use what you know. Forge a vessel from your will and His light."
Aaron groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Right. Because that's totally in my skill set."
He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. The divine power within him stirred, a constant reminder of his connection to the Creator. His gaze swept over the shattered shipyard. It wasn't impossible. He had done the unthinkable before. This was just another test.
Closing his eyes, he extended his hand. Words he hadn't known moments before flooded his mind, unbidden but undeniable. "Come forth, dreadnought of the Republic, and stand as a testament to the strength of both faith and liberty!"
A golden light burst from his palm, spiraling outward. The air shimmered with heat, and the wreckage began to rise, as though answering a silent call. Rusted beams, shattered timbers, and molten fragments floated toward him, swirling in a cyclone of divine energy. The ground beneath his feet trembled as the light intensified, fusing the fragments together with an ethereal glow.
What emerged was a vessel that defied comprehension.
The ship loomed massive, its sleek, obsidian-black hull edged with veins of molten gold that pulsed like a heartbeat. Towering turrets lined the deck, their barrels glowing faintly with holy fire, as if waiting to unleash divine wrath. The prow was carved into the shape of a flaming sword, its blade cutting into the waves with an almost otherworldly precision.
Steam hissed from its vents, and its superstructure gleamed with symbols of divine judgment etched into the plating. It was a paradox: ancient and futuristic, both forged of Hell's corruption and purified by God's light.
Aaron stepped aboard, the deck humming beneath his boots. He ran his hand along the railing, the warmth of the ship's divine energy seeping into his skin.
"A battleship?" he muttered, more to himself than Castiel.
"A ship from a time not yet passed," the angel said. "It will serve."
Aaron took the helm, his hands gripping the wheel. The ship responded instantly, its engines roaring to life with a sound that seemed to shake the heavens. The waves parted before it as the battleship surged forward, cutting through the tar-like sea with unrelenting power.
The churning waters grew more violent as the ship pressed onward. Lightning crackled across the blackened sky, illuminating the sea in brief, jagged flashes. Aaron's grip tightened as the air grew heavy, charged with a sense of impending doom.
"Any idea what this leviathan looks like?" he asked, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his chest.
"Imagine every nightmare given form," Castiel replied. "Now imagine it hungrier."
The sea ahead began to bubble and rise, the surface convulsing as though something massive stirred beneath. A deafening roar shattered the air, and the water erupted, revealing the leviathan in all its unholy glory.
The creature towered above the ship, a grotesque amalgamation of scales and spines that glistened like molten metal. Its eyes burned with unholy fire, and its maw opened to reveal rows of jagged teeth, each one the size of a man. Tentacles lined with barbed suckers writhed from its sides, slamming into the sea with enough force to send waves crashing against the battleship.
Aaron didn't hesitate. "Fire!" he commanded, and the ship's turrets roared to life. Divine shells arced through the air, exploding against the leviathan's armored hide in bursts of radiant fire. The creature roared in pain, its body writhing as the holy light seared its flesh.
The leviathan retaliated, lunging forward with a speed that belied its massive size. Its claws raked across the ship's hull, sending a jarring tremor through the deck. Aaron gritted his teeth, raising his hand as divine energy flared around him.
The black waves roared as the leviathan circled Aaron's battleship, its immense form barely distinguishable against the churning sea and the hellish horizon. The beast's eyes burned with unholy fire, and its laughter reverberated through the air like a chorus of the damned.
"Pitiful," the leviathan's voice boomed, distorted and grating, a sound that crawled into Aaron's mind. "You, a mortal—broken and forsaken—dare to challenge me? You died young, a speck of dust in history, unable to save anyone. Even your precious Christ could not deliver you from death."
Aaron's grip on the wheel tightened, his knuckles white. "You talk too much," he shot back, though the leviathan's words struck a nerve. They clawed at buried fears and doubts—ghosts he had battled since the beginning of this journey.
The leviathan surged forward, its gargantuan body rising above the waves. With a thunderous roar, it slammed its tail against the water, sending a tidal wave rushing toward the ship. Aaron raised his hand, holy energy radiating from his palm.
"Psalm 93:4," Aaron declared, his voice cutting through the chaos. "'Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea—the Lord on high is mighty.'"
The wave froze mid-air, its surface shimmering like crystal, before shattering into harmless fragments. Aaron turned his focus back to the leviathan, his eyes blazing with determination.
"Let me show you what faith looks like," he said, raising both hands. Divine energy crackled around him, condensing into orbs of black light rimmed with holy fire. The air hummed with power as he aimed at the leviathan.
With a deafening roar, Aaron unleashed the first volley. The black holes tore through the air, their gravitational pull distorting the very fabric of the battlefield. They collided with the leviathan's hide, ripping through scales and flesh as if the beast's size and strength meant nothing.
The leviathan howled, thrashing wildly as the black holes imploded, leaving gaping wounds in its form. "You dare!" it bellowed, the rage in its voice shaking the sea. "You are nothing but a vessel! A fool clinging to borrowed power!"
Aaron smirked grimly. "Borrowed? No. It's entrusted."
As the leviathan lunged, Aaron barked a command, and the battleship's turrets roared to life. Divine shells arced through the air, striking the beast with pinpoint accuracy. Each explosion erupted in radiant fire, forcing the leviathan to recoil.
The beast circled again, its voice dripping with malice. "You wield the words of scripture like a shield, but what do they protect? You couldn't even protect your own life."
Aaron ignored the jab, drawing strength from his faith. He planted his feet firmly on the deck, the sea spray freezing in the air as he invoked more scripture.
"Isaiah 41:10," he shouted. "'Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'"
Another volley of black holes erupted from Aaron's hands, each one larger and more devastating than the last. They collided with the leviathan, dragging it momentarily beneath the waves. The sea erupted as the beast broke the surface again, its roar shaking the heavens.
The ship rocked violently as the leviathan's tail slammed into it, but Aaron remained steady. He raised his voice above the din. "Matthew 16:18: 'And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!'"
The cannons fired again, synchronized with Aaron's attacks. Holy energy rained down upon the leviathan, a relentless assault that seemed to light up the entire sea. The beast's defiant roars began to waver, its movements growing sluggish as the divine onslaught wore it down.
"You're right about one thing," Aaron called out, his voice unwavering despite the chaos. "I did die young. But you forgot the most important part: I didn't stay dead."
With that, he channeled all his energy into a final attack. A massive black hole formed between his hands, its pull so strong that even the turbulent sea seemed to still in its presence. Aaron thrust it forward, the force of the attack shaking the very air.
The leviathan let out one last, ear-splitting roar as the black hole consumed it. Its massive body disintegrated into nothingness, leaving only the churning sea and the smoldering remains of the battlefield.
Aaron lowered his hands, his chest heaving as the divine power within him settled. He looked out over the water, the waves already beginning to calm.
"Looks like you weren't strong enough after all," he muttered, turning back to the helm.
Castiel's voice broke the silence, steady and unwavering. "Your faith is your greatest weapon, Aaron. Never forget that."
Aaron nodded, his resolve stronger than ever. He steered the battleship forward, the path to Cocytus now clear. The frozen lake awaited, and with it, the final confrontation with Lucifer. But Aaron was ready. No beast, no doubt, and no sin could stand against the divine will that guided him.
The horizon shifted as Aaron guided the battleship through the remnants of the battle. The waters, once alive with fury, now lay eerily calm, reflecting the ashen skies above. In the distance, a pale mist began to creep across the waves, its chill biting even through the divine warmth coursing through Aaron.
Castiel's voice broke the silence, its familiar tone tinged with something resembling pride. "You're nearing Cocytus, the frozen lake of the ninth circle. Beyond it lies the final trial."
Aaron glanced at the mist ahead. The air grew colder with each passing second, frost creeping along the ship's railings. "Does it always get this theatrical, or is it just me?" he quipped, though his focus remained sharp. "Frozen lakes and demons—feels like I'm living in a Dante fanfic."
"You're the one who decided to play hero," Castiel retorted, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. Then, with a sudden change in tone, he added, "But this is no ordinary accomplishment. Congratulations, Aaron."
Aaron blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "For what? Surviving that overgrown sea snake? Or not getting smacked into oblivion?"
"Neither," Castiel replied, the faintest trace of humor in his words. "Congratulations on ascending to the Caster Class."
Aaron stopped mid-step, gripping the wheel tightly. "Come again?"
"You've been recognized for your mastery of divine scripture, your unwavering faith, and your ability to command the forces of Heaven and Earth," Castiel explained. "The system has granted you the Caster Class. It's rare, even among Servants."
Aaron let out a low whistle, leaning against the wheel. "So, what's next? Do I get a pointy hat and a staff? Or maybe I start slinging fireballs like Gandalf?"
"You've already proven capable of conjuring black holes and commanding battleship artillery imbued with divine light," Castiel pointed out. "I'd say you're well past the fireball phase."
Aaron smirked, though he couldn't deny the weight of the moment. The idea of being a Caster—of being recognized for his faith and skill—felt oddly validating. It wasn't just about power; it was about purpose. Every verse he'd recited, every ounce of faith he'd poured into his battles, had led to this moment.
"Alright," he said, straightening up. "If I'm a Caster now, what does that mean for the fight ahead? What's Lucifer got waiting for me on that frozen lake?"
Castiel's voice grew somber. "Cocytus is the final trial. The lake is the domain of ultimate betrayal, frozen by the despair of souls who abandoned their faith. Lucifer waits there, his chains forged from the weight of his sin."
Aaron nodded, his expression hardening. "And I'm supposed to break those chains?"
"Not alone," Castiel replied. "The powers you've been granted—the black holes, the holy cannons, even the verses you wield—they're not just weapons. They're manifestations of divine will, tools to restore balance."
Aaron stared out at the mist ahead, his resolve unwavering. "Then I guess it's time to finish this."
The frost grew thicker as the ship entered the frozen expanse, the water beneath the hull transforming into solid ice. The battleship groaned as its cannons adjusted, their barrels trained on the unseen threat ahead.
"Aaron," Castiel said, his voice soft but firm. "Remember: you were chosen not because you were perfect, but because you were willing. That is what makes you strong."
Aaron smiled faintly, gripping the wheel. "Thanks for the pep talk, Cas. Let's go give the devil his due."
The ship pressed on, the frozen lake stretching endlessly before it. In the distance, a towering silhouette began to take shape—a massive figure bound in chains, its presence radiating malice and despair. Lucifer awaited, and Aaron was ready to face him, armed with faith, scripture, and the unshakable belief that even the darkest soul could be redeemed.
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CANDESCENT REPENTANCE ORDAINED WORSHIP NATIONS System: (CROWN System)
Name: Aaron Morgan
Title: ?? ?? Human ??
Race: Human
Servant Class: Ruler (Free of alaya's throne heroes)
Alternate Classes: Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider Caster, Saver (as of current time 33 AD)
|I forgot to add Archer and Rider. I apologize.|
Age: 16
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 177
Source: Abrahamic/Israel/Bible/World
Country of Origin: USA
Alignment: Chaotic Good lawful
Stats:
Strength: A
Endurance: EX
Agility: B
Magical Energy: EX
Luck: EX (F-- because you are in hell. Blame the demons)
New Noble Phantasm:
???: ???
New skills:
Territory Creation: A+
High-Speed Incantation: A
Item Construction: A+
Independent Manifestation: EX
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