As the dust and remnants of Thalassa’s sacrifice slowly dissipated, Gabriel descended to the ground, his divine wings unfurled and illuminated by the remnants of the holy light. This time, he did not bother hiding them. There was no longer any point in masking his true identity, not with so much at stake.
Elias, still reeling from the revelations and the carnage, stood frozen in place, his mind grasping for answers. His eyes were filled with shock, and he could barely hold himself together, trembling as he sought an explanation. “Gabriel…what is going on?” he stammered, his voice cracking under the weight of what he had just witnessed.
Gabriel glanced at Elias, his expression grave. He unsheathed *Zerachiel*, the divine blade humming with celestial energy, before speaking.
“The heavens are no longer what they once were,” Gabriel began, his voice resonating with authority and sorrow. “The void—*that* which the Demon Lord embodies—has corrupted all that was once sacred. And now the very root of existence is in peril.”
“Heaven is not just a single realm. It is an infinite expanse of transcendental worlds, woven together in a vast network we call the *Weaves*. These worlds are not finite, Elias; they are bubbles, an infinite number of them, each with their own cosmos and reality. But all of these worlds exist within a greater structure—*Ophanim*, the Giga Bubble that encompasses everything. And this great bubble, in turn, is held by countless threads, like strands of a spider’s web, extending beyond sight and comprehension.”
Elias could barely keep up, his mind racing as he imagined this unfathomable web of worlds. “Ophanim…?” he whispered, trying to grasp the magnitude of what Gabriel was saying.
“Yes,” Gabriel confirmed. “*Ophanim* holds the *Weaves*, and the *Weaves* themselves are connected by the Threads of Creation, stretching into realms we cannot even comprehend. Beyond these threads lies the vast nothingness—the Void—an existence outside time and space. And the Demon Lord, with his embodiment of Void, is tearing through the Weaves, consuming and corrupting them.”
Gabriel's gaze darkened, and his wings trembled with fury. “If this corruption reaches the deepest threads, it will consume *Elyon*, the Creator's Realm. *Elyon* is where the Creator resides—the one who made all things and the one who will end all things. If the Void reaches there, the very foundation of reality will crumble, and everything—the Weaves, the Ophanim, all worlds—will fall into oblivion.”
Elias was struck speechless. His mind spun as he tried to comprehend the scale of what Gabriel was saying. “The Creator… is in danger?” he managed to say, his voice barely audible. “But... that means… everything would cease to exist.”
“Yes,” Gabriel affirmed. “That is why I and my brothers were sent, to stop the Demon Lord before it is too late. We are the Archangels, tasked with protecting creation. Michael was the first, the mightiest among us, but he fell to the Demon Lord’s power.”
“Michael…” Elias echoed, stunned. “Your brother?”
Gabriel nodded, his expression somber. “Yes. He fell in battle, sacrificing himself to halt the Demon Lord’s advance, but it was not enough. Now only a few of us remain—Raphael, Uriel, and I. We were sent to finish what Michael began, to confront the Demon Lord before the corruption of the Weaves reaches *Elyon*.”
Elias stood frozen, the weight of Gabriel’s words crashing down on him like a tidal wave. Raphael… Uriel… These were the names of beings so far beyond mortal comprehension that even the greatest legends could not grasp their power or purpose. Yet here Gabriel was, speaking to him of cosmic struggles beyond time, of battles that determined the fate of not just their world, but of all existence.
"And what happens if... the Creator is destroyed?" Elias asked, his voice trembling.
Gabriel's gaze met his. "If the Creator falls, then everything ends. The Weaves, the threads, the heavens—everything would collapse into the Void. There would be no rebirth, no second chances. The end of all things."
Elias’ mind reeled. The stakes had never been higher, and for the first time, he truly understood the gravity of the situation.Gabriel paused, allowing his words to sink in, but Elias stood there, utterly lost. Everything he had ever believed, everything he had ever known about the world, seemed trivial compared to the cosmic scale Gabriel described. Even with his wisdom, which allowed him to sense the past threads of time and the fates of all those around him, Elias could not trace Gabriel’s past. It was as if Gabriel had never existed in the mortal realm at all, his threads severed from the flow of time.
“But why did you hide?” Elias finally asked, his voice trembling. “Why didn’t you reveal yourself sooner? With your power, we could have fought together, maybe prevented all of this.”
Gabriel looked at him, his gaze sharp and unwavering. “I couldn’t risk exposing myself, Elias. The moment the Demon Lord senses my true presence, he would have known Heaven was intervening directly. The balance of power would have shifted, and his retaliation would have been far worse than anything you’ve faced.”
Elias struggled to comprehend it all, still disoriented by the revelations. “But I can see the threads of time, the flow of fate… and yet, I never sensed you, Gabriel. How is that possible?”
Gabriel’s wings unfurled slightly, casting a faint glow. “I exist outside the mortal threads of time, Elias. I have the power to conceal my true self, even from those who would seek to understand the past. My presence was compressed, hidden beneath layers of divine magic. It was necessary to ensure that the Demon Lord did not realise Heaven’s hand in this war until the right moment.”
Elias, bewildered, felt as though his entire understanding of reality had been upended. How could someone of such power have been concealed from his sight, hidden from his ability to perceive the past and fate itself? It was beyond his comprehension, even as Gabriel stood before him in the flesh.
But before Elias could ask more questions, a faint sound echoed up from beneath their feet. A voice—soft but distinct—cut through the tense air, breaking the flow of their conversation.
"Selena…" Elias whispered, recognising the faint echo of her voice.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed. "The crater."
Selena's faint whisper had drawn them out of their moment of reckoning, bringing them back to the battle still at hand.Selena’s eyes fluttered open, and the first thing she noticed were Gabriel’s wings—radiant and vast, stretching out against the bleak sky above them. She blinked several times, trying to grasp the sight. Then, a giggle escaped her lips, a light, almost childish sound that broke through the tension.
“Are those real?” she asked, her voice weak but laced with amusement. “You’ve got wings, like… like a bird!” She reached out with trembling fingers as if to touch them, her face scrunched up in playful wonder. The wings shimmered softly, catching the remaining light of the setting sun, casting long, ethereal shadows around them.
Gabriel, unflinching, raised an eyebrow at her reaction but didn’t pull back. “Yes, they’re real,” he replied in a matter-of-fact tone, but there was a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Selena, still marveling at the wings, was about to say something more when Elias crouched beside her, his voice soft but tinged with concern. “Selena… how did you survive? Ladon’s attack should’ve… there’s no way…”
Selena’s smile faded, her expression shifting to something deeper, more thoughtful. She looked up at Elias, her eyes gleaming with an odd mixture of confusion and clarity. “I didn’t survive,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I was dead, Elias. For sure. My body… it was destroyed. I felt it.”
Elias leaned in, frowning. “But you’re here. How? What happened?”
Selena closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to recall something distant and otherworldly. When she opened them again, there was a glimmer of something mystical in her gaze. “I saw it,” she began, her voice soft and dreamy. “The sacred tree… Ygdrana.”
Elias’s eyes widened. “The sacred tree? You mean the Tree of Life?”
Selena nodded slowly, her fingers tracing the dirt beside her as if reliving the moment. “Yes. But it wasn’t just a tree… it was more than that. There were roots, endless roots, stretching out in every direction, connecting everything—worlds, souls, life, death. It was like the root of all things.”
She took a deep breath, and a faint smile touched her lips as she continued. “While I was there, I met someone. A figure. She was… beautiful. Almost emblematic. Her presence was like the essence of life itself.”
Elias leaned in closer, completely captivated. “Who was she?”
Selena’s eyes gleamed with nostalgia as she spoke. “Her name was Aria.”
Gabriel’s wings rustled softly as he listened, his expression unreadable. “Aria?” he asked, curiosity evident in his voice. “What did she tell you?”
Selena’s gaze grew distant, and she began to tell her tale as if she were reliving it all over again.
---
In her vision, Selena found herself in a realm unlike any she had ever known. The air was thick with the scent of earth and growth, and beneath her feet, the ground pulsed with life—like the beating heart of the universe itself. She looked around and saw roots—massive, gnarled tendrils stretching in every direction, weaving through the very fabric of existence.
It wasn’t heaven, nor was it hell. It was something far more primal, the birthplace of all things. The roots of the sacred tree, Ygdrana, seemed to hold the very essence of creation within them. They twisted and coiled, shimmering with faint, glowing lights, each representing a life, a world, or perhaps even a star.
As she wandered through this strange, root-filled expanse, she felt oddly at peace. It was serene, a place where time seemed to slow, and the burdens of the world felt distant, almost forgotten. That’s when she saw her.
Aria.
The figure emerged from behind a particularly large root, her form glowing with an inner light. She was tall, with flowing hair that seemed to blend with the ethereal surroundings. Her eyes sparkled with warmth, yet there was a sense of age and wisdom behind them, as though she had witnessed countless eons pass.
Selena couldn’t help but feel a sense of familiarity, even though they had never met. Aria smiled at her, a smile that was both gentle and knowing, and approached her with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly.
“You’re not dead,” Aria said, her voice soft yet filled with authority. It was a voice that echoed in Selena’s mind as much as it did in the space around them.
Selena blinked, confused. “But… I felt it. My body was destroyed. There’s no way I’m still alive.”
Aria chuckled, a light, melodious sound. “In this world, being killed without reaching the root isn’t really death. Your soul is still connected to the threads of life. You haven’t reached the true end yet.”
Selena frowned. “But… how can I go back?”
Aria’s expression turned serious as she looked deep into Selena’s eyes. “You’ll need a new body.”
“A new body?” Selena echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. The idea felt foreign, strange, and yet… oddly fitting for this place of roots and creation.
Aria nodded. “I can help you. But there’s a price. A vow.”
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Selena hesitated, uncertain. “A vow?”
“Yes,” Aria said, her voice soft but firm. “In exchange for bringing your body back, you’ll make a vow with me. A bond, of sorts.”
Selena bit her lip, feeling the weight of the decision. But when she thought of her friends—of Elias, of Gabriel, of the fight that still needed to be fought—she knew what she had to do. She nodded.
“I’ll do it.”
Aria smiled, and in that moment, the realm around them seemed to brighten, the roots pulsing with renewed life. “Good. Then let us begin.”
---
As Selena recounted the story, her voice grew softer, more reflective. “I don’t remember the details of the vow,” she admitted. “But I do remember one thing—her name. Aria.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered her words. “And the container of the vow?” he asked. “Do you know where it resides?”
Selena shook her head, looking slightly frustrated. “No… I can’t remember that part. But I do know that I wouldn’t be here without her.”
Elias listened in awe, struggling to comprehend the strange, otherworldly experience Selena had undergone. The sacred tree, Aria, the roots of all existence—it was all so far beyond what he had ever imagined.
He looked at her, his voice soft. “So, you’re not really the same Selena?”
Selena smiled, a bittersweet look in her eyes. “I am… and I’m not. I’m still me, but this body… it’s new. A gift from Aria.” She paused, glancing down at her hands as if seeing them for the first time. “It feels strange, but I’m still here. And that’s what matters.”
Gabriel watched them both, his wings stirring faintly in the breeze. There was more to this than met the eye, but for now, he said nothing.
Selena stirred slowly, her eyelids fluttering as she regained consciousness. There was an innocence in her expression, her eyes wide and curious, almost like a child waking from a long, strange dream. She looked around, blinking rapidly as if trying to match her surroundings with the memories that were still forming in her mind. Her body felt lighter, different, almost as if it wasn’t her own. She touched her hands, turning them over with a faint giggle, her voice soft and unfamiliar.
“Everything feels… strange,” she mumbled, a childish lilt in her tone. “Like I’m not really me.”
Elias, standing nearby, watched her with a slight frown, his normally sharp gaze softening. There was something off about Selena’s new form—her mannerisms didn’t match the mature, determined woman he knew. She seemed younger, less composed, and more carefree. The sight made him sigh deeply, wondering what exactly the cost of that vow had been.
Gabriel, meanwhile, walked past them both, his attention fixed elsewhere. His stride was purposeful as he approached the lifeless body of Kaelus, sprawled out in the dirt. The angel’s once mighty form now lay broken, the remnants of the power he had once wielded scattered like ash around him. Gabriel stopped, looking down at the body with cold, almost indifferent eyes.
He knelt beside Kaelus, nudging the body with the toe of his boot, his lips curling slightly in disdain. “Such a waste,” he muttered, his voice low and filled with disappointment. “He was given the power of the Seraphim, and yet…” Gabriel’s gaze hardened. “He couldn’t grasp it to its fullest.”
There was no remorse, no sorrow in Gabriel’s tone—only a quiet reproach. Kaelus had failed in his mission, and for that, Gabriel had nothing but contempt.
Selena, watching from a distance, wasn’t shocked in the slightest by Kaelus’s death. The old her, the one before Aria and Ygdrana, would have rushed to his side, desperately trying to heal him with trembling hands. But now, her new body felt slow to react, her mind seemingly detached from the urgency of the situation. She tilted her head to the side, her expression almost blank as she stared at Kaelus’s lifeless form.
Gabriel straightened up, his wings casting long shadows as they continued to shimmer faintly in the fading light. He glanced back at Selena and Elias, noticing the lack of shock in Selena’s eyes.
“Don’t worry,” Gabriel said, his voice calm and assured. “Seraphim bodies are immortal, as long as the Creator lives… or as long as one of us does.” He looked back at Kaelus’s body, his gaze sharp. “He will be back soon enough.”
Selena blinked, processing the words slowly, and then nodded absently. “I see… that makes sense, I suppose.”
Elias, standing next to her, couldn’t help but notice the odd tone in her voice—detached, almost as if she wasn’t fully present. He frowned again but said nothing. There were too many questions swirling in his mind, too many things he didn’t understand about this new version of Selena. But for now, all he could do was watch, waiting for whatever came next.
Gabriel, on the other hand, remained focused. Despite the battle and chaos that had unfolded around them, his wings remained unfurled, casting an imposing figure in the midst of the devastation. His eyes scanned the horizon, ever watchful, ever prepared for the next move.Selena stirred, her movements almost playful, her eyes wide with a childlike wonder as if the world around her was entirely new. There was an innocence to her, a youthful energy that didn’t match her usual self. Her small hands fidgeted with the hem of her robe, and she hummed softly, as though the gravity of the situation had yet to settle in her mind. It was as if her body and spirit no longer aligned, an odd mismatch that made Elias sigh quietly.
He glanced around at the chaotic landscape—the scorched earth, the swirling ash, the distant groans of the crumbling battlefield. Everything felt wrong, especially seeing Selena so… disconnected. His eyes narrowed briefly as he tried to make sense of her strange demeanor.
Gabriel, on the other hand, walked with a deliberate, measured pace toward Kaelus’s motionless body. His face was unreadable, but when he reached Kaelus, he paused, staring down at the fallen figure with a look of thinly veiled disdain. The lifeless form of Kaelus, once a powerful figure, lay broken at his feet.
Gabriel’s eyes flickered with disappointment. “He was given the power of the Seraphim,” he said, his voice cold. “But he couldn’t grasp it to its fullest.” His gaze lingered, his lips curling into a subtle sneer. “What a waste.”
There was no sympathy in his words—just a quiet reproach for the failure Kaelus had become.
Selena, standing nearby, watched without a hint of shock. The old her—the one before her encounter with Ygdrana and Aria—would have gasped, rushed forward to heal Kaelus, her heart racing with concern. But now, her reactions seemed delayed, her mind disconnected from the situation. She blinked slowly, as if processing what was in front of her took longer than it should. There was no panic, no rush to act—just a quiet, almost serene detachment.
Gabriel straightened, casting one last glance at Kaelus before turning back to Elias and Selena. His wings, though subdued for discretion, still shimmered faintly behind him, their presence undeniable despite his attempt to hide them. His voice broke the stillness.
“Seraphim bodies are immortal,” Gabriel said, his tone calm but authoritative. “As long as the Creator lives—or one of us remains. Don’t worry.” His eyes flicked back to Kaelus. “He’ll be back soon enough.”
Selena nodded absentmindedly, her lips curving into a soft, almost dreamy smile. “I suppose that makes sense,” she murmured, her voice light and airy, as though the reality of death and resurrection didn’t fully register with her anymore.
Elias, standing next to her, shot her a sidelong glance, his brow furrowing. This wasn’t the Selena he knew—the one with quick wit and a compassionate heart. Something had changed, and it unsettled him deeply. But with everything that had happened, he didn’t know where to begin asking questions.
Gabriel, however, remained composed, his focus unwavering. The battlefield around them still crackled with residual power, but his mind was already looking ahead, prepared for whatever came next.
Selena’s childlike appearance and behaviour had started to weigh on Elias, his mind swirling with concern. The once strong and mature woman now looked and acted like a mere child, her body regressed to that of a twelve-year-old. Even Selena herself couldn’t understand what had happened. She looked down at her small hands and slender frame, confused by her own appearance.
Gabriel stepped forward, sensing the unease. "The Ygdrana tree was likely low on energy during the process of recreating her body,” he explained, his voice calm yet carrying the weight of divine knowledge. “The void’s radiation may have disrupted the flow, leaving her in this incomplete state."
Without hesitation, Gabriel raised his hand, calling forth the sacred blessing only an archangel could wield. A soft, golden light began to swirl from his palm, growing stronger as it gathered around Selena. The light radiated purity and warmth, enveloping her entirely in its gentle embrace. Slowly, the change began.
First, her flat chest swelled, becoming fuller and more pronounced, forming a natural curve that was both graceful and revealing. Her hips widened, shaping into a voluptuous, hourglass figure, her body gaining a feminine allure. Her waist narrowed, accentuating the curves of her now mature form. Her legs grew long and elegant, the once-childlike limbs transforming into something that exuded both grace and strength.
As her body adjusted to this new form, her face began to shift. Her lips became fuller, taking on a soft and alluring shape, while her eyes deepened, the once wide-eyed innocence replaced by a stunning, mature gaze. Her skin, glowing with the divine light of the blessing, took on a smooth and flawless complexion. Her beauty now radiated from her every feature—her curves, her striking face, everything about her was mesmerizing.
Her hair, once a vibrant crimson, began to shift in colour. Jet-black strands weaved into the red, creating a beautiful contrast, as though her hair itself held the power of both night and flame. The mixture of colours gave her an almost ethereal appearance, both striking and dangerous.
But as her body continued to grow, the dress she had been wearing couldn’t handle the transformation. The fabric stretched and strained before finally tearing apart, unable to contain her new form. Her pale skin was exposed, the torn fabric hanging loosely from her body. In an instant, Selena’s cheeks flushed crimson, her hands moving to cover herself as embarrassment took over.
Without thinking, she summoned a small bolt of lightning, aiming it at Elias in her flustered state. The bolt struck him, sending him sprawling to the ground, his hair singed and messy from the impact. Despite the shock, Elias couldn’t help but smile, the corners of his mouth twitching as he looked at her with a mix of amusement and surprise.
Gabriel, watching from a distance, folded his wings slightly, the faint remnants of the swirling light still fading from his hands as Selena, now a fully grown woman with unparalleled beauty, stood before them.Selena’s regressed form was causing Elias great concern. Her behaviour, childish and naive, seemed completely out of place for someone as powerful and mature as she had once been. Elias glanced at her, puzzled by the sudden shift, but even Selena herself seemed confused, unable to comprehend why her body had reverted to that of a child.
Gabriel, observing both of them, stepped forward and began to explain, his voice steady. “The sacred tree, Ygdrana, was likely depleted of energy during the process of reconstructing her body,” he said. “That’s why it regressed her to a younger state.”
With a decisive movement, Gabriel raised his hand, preparing to use his divine blessings to restore Selena’s physical age. The air around him shimmered, and a soft, radiant light began to swirl around his palm. The light grew brighter, wrapping Selena in a warm, glowing aura. Slowly, her transformation began.
At first, her small, flat chest started to expand, filling out as her frame took on more mature, womanly proportions. Her curves became more defined, her hips rounding out in a way that gave her body an appealing hourglass shape. Her waist, slim and delicate, accentuated the newfound curves of her figure. Her legs grew longer, graceful and elegant, giving her a stature that spoke of both beauty and strength.
Her face underwent its own metamorphosis. Her once youthful features became more refined—her lips grew fuller and more enticing, forming a soft, natural curve. Her eyes, once wide with innocence, deepened into a stunning, soulful gaze framed by long, dark lashes. Her complexion brightened, her skin flawless and radiant, as though touched by the divine light itself. Every aspect of her was enhanced, her beauty now more captivating than ever before.
Selena’s hair, which had once been a striking crimson, began to change in colour. Jet-black strands mixed with the deep red, creating a stunning contrast that shimmered in the light. The blend of colours seemed to flow like molten metal, giving her hair an almost otherworldly appearance.
But as her body continued to grow and develop, her clothes couldn’t keep up with the rapid transformation. The dress she wore strained against her expanding figure until it finally gave way, the fabric tearing and falling away from her body, leaving her exposed. Her skin, soft and flawless, glowed in the aftermath of the transformation, her intimate form revealed.
In an instant, Selena’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, her hands darting to cover herself. Flustered and overwhelmed by the sudden change, she instinctively summoned a small lightning bolt and hurled it at Elias, more out of reflex than intent. The bolt struck him with a loud crack, sending him tumbling to the ground, his green hair singed and standing on end. Despite the impact, Elias couldn’t help but grin, his expression a mixture of amusement and disbelief.
Gabriel, watching silently, allowed the swirling light of his blessing to fade, his wings tucked back. Selena, now fully restored to her mature form, stood before them—a vision of breathtaking beauty. Her new body, tall and graceful, radiated both allure and power. The transformation had enhanced every part of her, from her flawless skin to her striking hair, making her a figure of divine magnificence.As Selena adjusted to her new form, Elias couldn’t help but remark, “Selena, you look absolutely stunning. It’s like you’ve become a goddess.”
Selena’s cheeks flushed at the comment, misinterpreting Elias’s admiration as something more inappropriate. “Is that how you see me now? Just a pretty object?” she shot back, though she accepted the compliment with a reluctant nod.
She glanced down at her tattered clothing and sighed. “I could really use some new clothes, though.”
Gabriel shook his head. “Creating things from nothing is no simple feat, especially given the energy constraints here. I can’t conjure up garments at will.”
Without further ado, Gabriel removed his red cap and tossed it to Selena. “Use this for now. With your skills, you should be able to alter its fabric into something more appropriate.”
Selena caught the cap, looking at Gabriel with a mix of irritation and gratitude. “Fine, but please look away while I sort this out.”
Gabriel, bemused, tilted his head. “Why? Back in Heaven, I’ve seen countless beings in their most private moments. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
Selena’s eyes narrowed with a fierce glint. “That’s because the gods are perverts who overstep their bounds,” she muttered under her breath. Her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
Seeing her resolve, Gabriel shrugged and turned his back, followed by Elias who complied without a word.
Selena, with her newly acquired garment adjusted, approached Gabriel. “What about Kaelus? How long will it take for him to recover?”
Gabriel’s tone turned serious. “A Seraphim’s power is considerable, but unlike Kaelus, who was summoned from the mortal realm, I was born into divine status. It could take him anywhere from two days to several years to recover, depending on his will to fight.”
Selena’s eyes widened at this revelation. “You’re from Heaven? I thought all that talk about justice and honor was part of your knightly facade.”
Gabriel’s expression softened. “It’s not a facade. It was the fate of the host body I’m currently using. The ideals of justice and honor were instilled in it, but my true nature and origin are tied to the divine realm.”Selena, still processing Gabriel’s revelation about his divine origins, took a moment to reflect. “So, you were just using a vessel with those ideals?” she asked, trying to reconcile this with her understanding of him.
Gabriel nodded. “Yes, the ideals of justice and honor were part of the vessel’s nature. My true essence is that of an archangel, and my role was to uphold these principles in the context of my mission. But my essence and my mission are distinct from the mortal perspective.”
Selena looked thoughtful, then glanced back at Elias, who was still recovering from the lightning strike. “And what now? With Kaelus down, and the threat of the demon lord looming, what’s our next move?”
Gabriel’s gaze grew steely. “We must focus on the immediate threats. Kaelus’s recovery will be crucial, but we also need to ensure that the rift caused by the demon lord doesn’t destabilize further. Our next actions will be determined by the shifting circumstances of this battle.”
As Gabriel spoke, Selena worked on adjusting the red cap into a makeshift robe. Her hands moved deftly, using her magic to alter the fabric into a flowing garment that covered her properly. The red and black colors blended seamlessly, creating an elegant yet simple outfit.
Once finished, Selena tied the robe securely and looked up at Gabriel. “Alright, I’m ready. What’s the plan?”
Gabriel’s expression was serious. “We need to be vigilant. The demon lord’s influence is still spreading, and our next steps must be strategic. We’ll need to regroup, gather our remaining forces, and prepare for the upcoming challenges. There’s much at stake, and every decision counts.”
Selena nodded, her resolve firm. “Then let’s get to it. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”
Elias, still somewhat disoriented but recovering, approached the group. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Just point me in the right direction.”
Gabriel gave a nod of approval. “Good. Let’s move forward and deal with the threats head-on. Time is of the essence.”
With a renewed sense of purpose, the group prepared to face the challenges ahead, united by their shared goal and the looming threat of the demon lord’s corruption. The battles were far from over, and their journey had only just begun.