Asmael
"Kh-" He flinched and staggered while her arm grabbed the grace lodged inside his chest. For a moment, he looked so weak, so vulnerable. Until the light shattered her chains, and he grabbed the final one to pull her straight into his head. With a thunderous slam, his forehead smashed into hers with force that could bring an elephant to its knees.
An unearthly force tore into her skull.
An unearthly force smashed into his skull.
And for a moment, the world turned white.
Memories.
Wishes.
Bonds.
Emotions.
These things define someone's soul. Their being. Twisting them is no easy feat. Even a regular soul can endure, and humans have the most valorous souls. Still, twisting the emotions, the memories, the very essence of someone is no easy feat, even for an omnipotent ruler. Because such is the power of free will.
But a single element in the world, more solid than the mountains, more vast than the seas, less visible than air and hotter than the flames exists. And this element can raise a soul to unmatched heights. But it can also cause it to fall.
Like seeing the house of your beloved burning, being unable to find her no matter how hard one searches. And finally, realizing that in your crusade against the enemy, you forgot to visit her. Upon that realization, the love turns into a poison, and the invincible armor of a man's soul reveals a chink.
And suddenly, a brilliant light shone over him. It was a pillar that cut through the dark, and brimmed on his body like a heavenly spotlight. For a moment, his eyes looked blank, lifeless. "I am... As... Mael..." His lips cracked a malicious grin.
What am I saying? My name... your name is Samael!
He stepped forward, his expression was unlike anything he ever showed. It was haughty, arrogant, and full of darkness. And yet, a sickening bright light poured from one of his eyes while he stepped and trampled on the ground, rubbing his foot on the burnt grass as if a corpse was standing in its place.
"At last, I have slain the strongest of the demons, Samael!! Fu fu fu... what a pathetic sight...!!"
I killed myself? Impossible! What in the world am I seeing here? There is seriously something wrong with me. Why can't I move?
The wind swept against his body freely, and a bright light shone from his head, as if a halo was burning over him, taking claim of his body! "I dedicate this victory to my father, the great YHWH..."
Then, his eyes flashed for a second, and he looked annoyed at something that brushed against his shoulder. He noticed his unsightly, malformed black wings, which were far more alike a filthy bat than a holy archangel like himself. So he dug his fingers into their tendon and dag hard, until he could reach into the bone and plucked them off one by one, scattering them on the ground like trash.
?? Hey! Stop that! Aah---arghhhh!
He smiled, finally satisfied at his handiwork, while the first couple of wings fell into the ground lifelessly. "Now it's the same... Just like my big brother, Lucifer..."
Don't be absurd!! That filthy archangel... my brother!? Impossible! This is just ridiculous!! It can't be!!
And so the final remnants fell, and began to fade away along with his noble dark horns, which he plucked off his forehead callously. He sighed in satisfaction, his grin looking more and more unhinged.
Ahh...ahhh... they're dissappearing! Those were my wings she healed that day!!
This... can't be!!
A flock of angels appeared from the sky to welcome their new brethren. The laughter of cherubs rang in the air, beautiful bright wings decorated the sky. And from above the Creator and his Metatron watched from below. The mechanical herald spoke with a passionate boom. The word of the Lord was unmistakable.
WELL DONE MY SON, ASMAEL.
ALTHOUGH YOU WERE ONCE UNWORTHY,
I WILL RECOGNIZE YOUR VALOR AS AN ARCHANGEL.
I SHALL GRANT YOU THIS AS A REWARD.
And the pillar of light intensified, until a beautiful set of six silver wings slowly descended from the ground, approaching the former demon in a beguiling glory. He looked at it with marvel and awe, its six hues were unmistakable. "I see... this is the grace of purity that my brother left behind! Haha, how glorious!"
A... a grace?! If I were to take a filthy power like that into myself, i'd no longer be able to stay among my comrades.... And Lilith... my son too...
The Metatron smiled with satisfaction. Lucifer's betrayal was unexpected, but Father could easily bewitch the minds of man, seraph and demon alike. With this power, they could ensure the balance of the two races would be maintained. The demon king would make a fine replacement for the strongest Archangel.
Asmael spread his arms widely, approaching the Grace with eyes filled with love, like a child. This power, the power to surpass others, the power to end everything, the power to protect his comrades, it was so close.
You've got to stop.... Please, stop.... ....!!!
His sense of self. His very nature. The moment he closed his arms to accept this power, he threw away his sense of self. The grace and his soul sublimated, and the Archangel of Death joined the ranks of the heavens. Asmael was born.
STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPP!!!
"Fuhahahaha! This power, it is incredible!" His body glowed and the light became one with him. He soared the skies with his angels, and prepared for another assault against demonkind. He would purge these souls, save them from destruction. Such was his father's dearest wish.
This is a nightmare.
None of this is reality.
It's alright. I will wake up soon.
The angel of balance was thrown back by the blow, while Asmael didn't move an inch. He just stood there, his forehead bloodied, smiling down at the ground ominously. The light in his chest only grew brighter.