Chapter I - Awakening

After the pain, there was darkness, utter darkness. Then the feeling of being pulled to one direction started. From time to time, a small wisp of light will past through like in a highway with vehicles traversing at high speed, passing other slower vehicles in the way. However, there was no sounds at all. Everything was silence.

Cifer was one of the wisp of light that was being pulled through in one direction. There was no wind nor any sensation can be felt. His only companions were his memories and his regret. His regret for not being able to live normally. His regret for not being able to spend time with his friends. His greatest regret for not being able to love and have a decent family.

As his spirit continued it's travel, days, months or maybe years had past but time in the darkness does not exist. Only the wisp of light that may be like Cifer, a spirit of those that had passed. Cifer was surprised at first as to why he was still able to think, why he was still feeling regrets.

Continuing his "travel" within the void, he begin to notice a change in his surrounding. The feeling of being wrench out of the flow he was in was suddenly felt and within seconds, he was out of the void and now floating on what everyone would notice as space, the outer space where one can see the stars, planets and galaxies all around. A breath taking scene was in front of him. The sensation of stillness as he floats in the middle of it. No air or pressure can be felt though.

After some time as he take in his surroundings, he heard a chuckle. He was surprised as it was the first sound that he heard for quite awhile now that he may have forgotten what sounds is like. He then searched for the source but couldn't find anything out of the ordinary within the space he was in. Suddenly, he heard it again but this time, it was rather close to him. As he looked again, Cifer was startled at the being right next to him. It was a being in a shape of a man or rather just a silhoutte of a man or woman. It looked like it was composed of pure energy but at the same time, pure light yet it wasn't blinding that one would cover his eyes when looking at this being.

Cifer made no mistake as he still knows of his situation. He died and deduce that he was in what everone calls the "afterlife". He was just not expecting it to be a void, then changing to "space". The being in front of him, he knows was a powerful being. He just don't know yet which one. As he was pondering of the answer to his questions, the being chuckles again and spoke in a sing sung voice, like many people, man, woman, child, speaking all at the same time but not understandable as every voice was in tune, in harmony.

???: How do you like view? Amazing isn't it?

Cifer: Who.. or what are you?

???: I apologize, I did not realize and would think that you already know who I am being a human and all.

Cifer: I am a human but there can be several beings that humans believe that they would meet in the after life. I just don't know which one are you.

???: Oh? Interesting. I peg you for a reader as I know since you were a child that you liked to read volumes of books. Then tell me what you might think I am.

Cifer: Eh? How did you.. no, it does not matter. You are either Death, an angel, or a devil.

???: (chuckle) You would definitely believe in devils even though you have not seen one? But I cannot blame you as you did die being sacrificed to them. But you forgot one more that can also show in front of you in the after life, yes?

Cifer: Ah? Another being...? ... God?

God: There you go, you finally got it. (chuckle)

Cifer: I would have thought that you would have sent someone else as I would've thought how busy you are with all of your creation.

God: I am not that busy to not be able to show my presence to someone I have a task with. I believe that would be rude to have someone tell you what to do when the one that orders it would now show up, don't you think?

Cifer: You got a point.. So you need me for something?

God: Ah.. do not be weary of me, and don't change your view of me as a devil, that's rude.

Cifer: Eh? I'm not... you're reading my mind?!

God: (chuckle) Sorry, it bacame a habit, it's like second nature for me to hear it as there is a lot of prayers that reach me after all, and most of them was not said outloud but in thoughts. But like I said, don't think that I'm a devil just because I mentioned that I have a task for you.

Cifer: You can't blame me can you? It's how us humans were thought to know of them. They entice people and show themselves as angels or gods, then lead you to your doom.

God: (sigh) How their image and name had become the opposite of the truth. Truly a pitty.

Cifer: What do you mean by that? Don't tell me that the concept of angels and devils are... the opposite? But that's...

God: Impossible? Why would it be impossible? But it's deeper than that. I will tell you the story behind them as the task I have for you has something to do with them.

God had explained to Cifer about angels and devils. First, God told him that devils were indeed his creation, but not angels. Angels were created by something else entirely. One by one, Cifer learned how they came to be. As God tells their story, Cifer could not believe the details about them. If this was known throughout, everything about religion will turn upside down.

Devils as God mentioned were his direct subordinate. Their original names were forgotten and was now known as Devils. But they were solely created as protectors of the after life, of souls. They protect them from invaders who tend to steal souls from what God calls the "Life Stream". The Life stream is where souls go after their life ended in the world of the living. While in the life stream, they get swept up by it's current and journey throughout it's passage in time, until the soul would be cleansed once again of it's impurities, it's memories, then after, they will be sent back to life and reincarnated once more, as the cycle of life goes.

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This is where the so called beings comes in. They steal souls for their own amusement. They use the stolen souls as pawn or plaything. They give them life of their own choosing, bodies that will serve them for entertainment. Doing this, souls that were snuff out of the life stream would not be reincarnated and be cleanse. This will turn this souls corrupted from this beings constant use. Then they will be abandoned once this beings became tired of them and sought out newer souls. Abandoned souls would wander without direction. And eventually will find a body that they will inhabit but due to corruption, they will turn out as monsters plaguing the world they emerge into.

Now the ones called devils were the ones that protect and repel this beings from stealing souls from the life stream. They wage wars with this beings and their own creation, or their version of soldiers called angels or celestials.

After the story, Cifer does not have the word to describe what he learned. It was a lot to take in for a mere mortal to learn of the "truth" about the after life. It was rather simple really than everyone had expected it to be.

Cifer: So.. after telling all of that, what do you need of me O mighty Kami Sama?

God: (chuckle) Very good, on to business then. I selected you and pulled you out from the life stream to make a gamble. Even if I'm a god of creation and all that, I still have no clue as to what all of this will end up with but one thing is for sure, in the near future and too much soul has been snatched up from the life stream, there will be no soul left to reincarnate. Only corrupted soul that became monsters will exist and there will only be chaos.

Cifer: I understand, then what does that have to do with me?

God: You will be my herald, my harbinger and executioner. You will be the downfall of those thieving beings. They call themselves gods.

Cifer: Eh? gods? aren't you..?

God: (chuckle) I am God. The same God you read from your bible of the creation. What you may call the "One True God". Now this beings I mentioned who also call themselves gods, where also highlighted on some of your literatures.

Cifer: Seriously? The only beings I know of gods other than you are the mythological greek gods, norse gods and hindu gods? There were some more but they were not as prominent as the first three.

God: Right.. they are the ones. As highlighted from your books that they are arrogant and full of pride. Those are all true. And they are also the ones who steal souls from the life stream. Either they don't care of the implications of what they were doing or they are ignorant about it.

Cifer: .... And what would be a harbinger do? You also said your executioner but.. I'm just a mortal.. a kid?

God: You were a kid, but now, you will be different.

Cifer: Do I have a choice on this?

God: Of course. I am not forcing you. It's just that you are close to what I need and the most with the probability of success.

Cifer: Probability? Could you tell me much that probability is?

God: Unfortunately, I cannot. Human souls are unique that you cannot set it's destiny as only one path. It always changes whenever an action is done. That is also why I have chosen you and although there's more reason than that but you will know in due time.

Cifer: ...I...even if I have regrets with my life, if this may be a chance.. I might find something that I'm looking for. It's probably better than floating in the life stream and waiting for my memories to disappear. I might get snatch so I don't want that as well..

God: Hmmm.. Ahah! then I have a gift for you for agreeing with my request. It has something to do with your past life's regret.

Cifer: My past regret? I don't understand?

God: (chuckle) You will remember of it soon and when you do, you will thank me I think. So do you agree to be my herald?

Cifer: .... Yes I agree. I want this chance again even if it's hard.

God: Then I'm glad. You will be a big help in changing this stalemate between their armies and mine.

Cifer: You mean angels and devils. Hahahah.. I still can't believe it. The angels being the agents of these selfish arrogant gods and devils being your guardians. Safeguarding the souls in the life stream.

God: (chuckle) It gave me a laugh as well when humans has branded them as the source of evil. When they first learned of it, they were heart broken you know? I would have guess that the angels or those gods were the cause of it but there's nothing we can do.

Cifer: By the way, how am I going to fight these gods? Do I really have a chance? If what I read about them is even a bit true, then they are powerful beings to confront with.

God: Of course you will have a chance. You just have to become strong. I will not send you to them if you don't. Besides.. you won't be alone with your endeavor.

Cifer: Huh? Then you pulled out some souls from the life stream aside from me?

God: (chuckle) You will be surprise with the help you will get. It's something that came from your previous life. It's something that you will least expect.

Cifer: Eehh.. cryptic.. well I will face it when it comes I guess.

God: Good, then off you go! I will check with you from time to time if it permits it. Oh by the way, some of my devils will had come with you. It's one of those things that came with you from your previous life. Just want to warn you and all, okay? Farewell Cifer Ordull. Good luck! (chuckle)

Cifer: H-hey wait a minute! What devils! Waaaiiiitt.........!!

Cifer was envelope with light once more and was pulled once again by a force that drag him to his destination as was told by the True God. Cifer's adventure and struggles will now start.