Chapter 887: Azazeal is here. For you. |
Ares shut his eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and finally raised his head as the pressure over him lifted. He glanced at Kyle and Cassian, muttering an apology. He couldnt endanger his entire clan for them.
Yet his eyes burned with resolve as he secretly sent one final message to them.
Stay alive. I will come for you. You joined meits my responsibility to protect you.
Then, he turned and left.
If Ares wanted to save the two, he would need to gather more alliespowerful ones.
Kyle watched his fading figure, his vision blurring from the pain tearing through his body. But there was no way he would let Nathaniel leave without a parting gift. So, with a deceptively innocent expression, he looked at the man. He didnt speak aloudjust smirked and silently mouthed the words before being dragged away.
Azazeal is here. For you.
Nathaniel blinked, watching as Kyle and Cassian were effortlessly dragged away.
"Aza... what? Was he threatening me?"
He turned away with a shrug, a faint smile playing on his lips as the two Rulers beside him praised his wise judgment. Obviously, they had no idea how wicked he truly washe had mastered the art of doing terrible things under the guise of righteousness.
But just as they moved a little farther, Nathaniel suddenly froze in his tracks.
The name finally registered.
His cyan eyes widened in disbelief.
"Azazeal... Did he just say Azazeal?"
He placed a hand over his mouth as the name echoed in his mind like loud blaring alarms. A sharp breath escaped his lips.
"Impossible... hes alive? But... how?"
The Rulers with him noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor and paused as well.
The beautiful lady among them stepped closer and gently patted his shoulder.
"Whats wrong, Nathaniel? We shouldnt waste any more time. Its been days, and we have yet to find the Dark Celestial who caused chaos in our territory. Lets search for another day and then just call it quits. Hopefully, hes already dead somewhere."
Yet instead of responding to her, Nathaniel vanishedrushing after the Celestials who had dragged Kyle and Cassian away earlier to carry out the punishment hed ordered.
The lady was stunned but sighed and turned to leave with the other Ruler.
"He must have remembered something important. Lets head back to the castle."
The other Ruler glanced back.
"What about the Dark Celestial we were searching for?"
She shrugged casually.
"Do you think I care? Nathaniel likes to be absolutely surehe eliminates anyone who might pose a threat, just to avoid risk. I only follow him because he is one of the Rulers who holds a Celestial Crown. Lets just go. If he needs us, he will contact us."
The other Ruler chuckled.
"Just admit hes the strongest around, your typeand you like that tainted smile of his."
Her lips curled upward.
"Perhaps. But I know one thingin the end, were all just using each other in the pursuit of absolute power. Im no different. Neither are you. Everyone is corrupted. It all began when the Rulers discovered theres an End."
Yet, the other Ruler simply sighed.
"The End? But doesnt that mean another beginning? Isnt it just a myth? Who even knows if the ancient texts are accurate?"
***
Simultaneously, Nathaniel arrived at the entrance of Hells Layera vast wormhole surrounded by dark, chaotic currents. He muttered to himself as he looked around.
"Impossible. Azazeal is dead. I made sure of it. How did that insect know his name? And... did he say Azazeal is herefor me?"
He scanned the area for the Celestials who were supposed to throw Kyle and Cassian into Hells Layera place no one knew who had created or left behind. It had existed since the birth of the very first Celestial.
When he finally found them, he realized he was too late. The two young Celestials he had punished had already been thrown into Hells Layer before his arrival. He shot an icy glare at the Celestials responsible.
"The one time I dont want you all to be efficient, you go and do the job perfectly?"
He rubbed his forehead in frustration.
Now that the Celestial who mentioned Azazeal was gone, there was no way to uncover how that insect knew the namemuch less why he claimed Azazeal was here, or how he knew about their past.
"Hah, just when I start to think things are settling down, another pain shows up."
Nathaniel turned and left.
If it was true that Azazeal was alive and had come for himshouldnt he welcome his old friend properly? Yes, he should.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, well. I dont know how you survivedor even managed to enter this realm when I sealed the gate with my own hands. But if youve really crawled your way so far, my friend, dont blame me for being ruthless."
His gaze darkened. Azazeal was the only name from his past he still rememberedbecause the power he had taken from him was the strongest and most exquisite.
Nathaniel absently rubbed his collarbone, where a familiar purple flower shimmered faintly, pulsing with a quiet, radiant glow.
He had been wondering why it had been acting up latelynow he understood... it was because its true owner was nearby.
"I cant stand anything that threatens me. Besides, Im sure youre still very weak. No Celestial can advance beyond the 4th stage in the lower universes, no matter how hard they try. The lesser universes simply lack the resources to fuel that kind of growth."
His lips curled into a cold, cruel smile.
"Ill find him... and erase him before he becomes a threat. Convenient, reallythe idiot, doomed to die in Hells Layer, handed me the news on a silver platter. Thats why I always say lower beings are plain foolish. They just never learn their lowly place."