Bab 75: Return of the Sin

Storming away, a light devoid of human emotions pour into the depths of Zariels cold heart. 'Gods, Demons, Heavens, all of you." He barked malevolently in the depths of snow and darkness. "Monarchs, Sovereigns, Battle Lords, all of you. I will wipe your existence to ash."

Zariel slammed his hands against the bark, showering his knuckles a ruby red blood, staining the snow a fiery scarlet. " Connect me to Zero. No, connect me to my fraction. It is time for Zariel to return." He angrily voiced to Anima, who remained faithfully listening.

"Code." Anima metallically answered, demanding something in return.

"Zariel, Code V: Chaos." He answered, losing any semblance of his earlier rage. It was as the young lord had become another person entirely as he placed his palms upon his head, covering over half his face.

Suddenly space began to tremble around Zariel, who appeared rather indifferent. He stood still and cold as a magical black mask holding the single character of "V" Appeared upon his face.

"Access granted, Welcome back," Anima voice, projecting a magical screen of a tall, slender man, who wore dark black robes that covered almost the entirety of his body, leaving only from his nose to his eyes visible. His hair was black, yet his eyes held a radiant emerald light.

The Stranger within the projection shuttered, backing away as he stared at the Mask of V.

"You lived." Said the Stranger fearfully, bowing till his head reached his waist.

"Where you vying for my throne, Aegeus?" Zariel claimed softly, but his words thundered like lightning striking iron in Aegeus's soul, causing his knees to cave and his back to bend.

"O-of course not. I was only surprised to see you." Aegeus reacted almost instantly, not lifting his head. "There were many who thought you dead, m'lord."

"And are you one?"

"I-I,"

"I'm only jeering," Zariel calmly declared, yet his voice seemed to lack any hint of playfulness. "How is my fraction since my fall?"

Covered in a heavy sweat, Aegeus quickly cleared his throat, "Many were slaughtered after your supposed fall, m'lord. We were hunted like dogs for a hundred years before Zero, interfered allowing us to escape. But over half of us are left."

"And the hundred years that followed?"

"Healing and keeping the Order. Many were lost without you, myself included. Zero had us maintain on stand by since."

Shuttering his gaze from beneath his back, Zariel welcomed the night with open arms. He was frowning, but his mask hid all he showed. Returning to the realm of light once more, he spoke with absolute calmness.

"Send word to the Battle King, Titus. Tell him that I Zariel... Zariel Snow has returned. Tell him his son has returned and that I am coming."

Finding it almost impossible to breathe beneath his clothing, Aegeus ripped the mask of clothing covering his mouth. Yet, only the chilling words of Zariel seemed to press deeply into his chest, crushing him whole.

"Titus. He--"

"It matters not what he did," Said Zariel indifferently, "You are to deliver my words for all to hear. The Realm of Illuthat shall know that I, the Destroyer of Realms, Killer of The Bed of Chaos, has once more risen from the Depts of the Nine Hell and into the land of the living."

"Thy will be done," Aegeus, falling to his knees uttered, without any of his earlier hesitations.

Good, see that it is done," Severing the projection, a soft unwilling sigh left his lips. Pulling his mask from his face, Zariel stared up at the twilight. Placing his hands upon his back, he gripped the owl-shaped pummel, drawing his sword that reeked of death.

Holding his blade that did not reflect light but rather absorbed it, a great evil began to flutter through the breeze. Be it the trees, the grass, or the elements. All began to wither before the aura emanating from the blade.

"If those like Aldrich and Arthur Pendragon have risen from the dead, the chances of me beating one is all but zero. I need power. True power. I cannot be passive anymore. It is time for a change."

Flicking his blade through the winds, Zariel glanced down at the withering wasteland of decay. "My Time within the Ninty Layer of Hell, Levatus, was not all for not. Torment breeds insanity, and insanity bred my power."

Finding a smile, a cry of faint laughter so depraved the withering trees and grass began to fade into dust, whispered through the air. Wiping the tears brimming at the corner of his eyes, the Silver Devil sheath his blade with a sharp clink sound before heading back to camp.

Noticing the faint sounds of a blade wisping through the air, Zariel caught sight of Aurelia training in the dead of night. He was not impressed. "Gripping a sword tighter doesn't bring results like most think. Relax the arm and the grip. The only time one should hold a blade so tightly is during a clash of power.

Noticing the pale devil drawing closer from the shadows of night, Aurelia frowned, finding the familiar sent of Levatus upon his breath. She shuttered a bit, finding something almost irresistible upon the young man nearing her.

'Aurelia wants to do that thing on that tv-show about the man-eating people. Is Aurelia going to eat Zireael?' muttered the Young Morningstar, low enough for none to hear, instinctually following Zariels correction as she had always done.

"There," Zariel added, tracing his gaze over her new form. He had always marveled at her ability to use a blade and Arcana so innately. "Rain and Thunder are different. For now, you cannot combine them, so do not try. Focus on them separate till you are ready."

Flaring her nose defiantly, Aurelia snorted quite crossed, "Why? I made this technique all by myself. I should be able to use it how I please. Why is it you seem to understand my technique more than I?"

'By herself, huh?' Thought Zariel calmly quite suspicious of the nature of Aurelia sword technique. He had been shocked when she first created it but had always found it rather suspicious that such a girl who lived in Alos was capable of crafting such a Martial Art.

"Do you want my help?" He asked, not deterred by the threatening glare of the golden eye girl glaring, but instead well come it, growing to enjoy agonizing her throughout the years.

"hmph. Aurelia will allow you to help! Just this once!"

Rolling his eyes, Zariel groaned, "Again. It has been what? Six or seven years, yet you still talk like that. I fear for your enemies when you start talking in the third person while killing them."