Uncertainty. Anticipation.
Ever since the defeat in Heresy, Gabriel had counted down the hours until his supposed death, wondering if his choice was for the better. A decade had passed since the council's destruction, and yet, Gabriel was still standing. In the moment of 'Death', Gabriel realized that the source of 'divine light' was not from the Father nor the Council, but rather from within.
From his deathbed, he had risen and had been waiting for the machine's arrival, looking from the halls to see the red snow all around. He smiled, sighing. It seemed like the machine had not changed a bit, unlike him. Sharpening his swords, he waited. And waited.
Surely the machine would arrive soon.
Focusing on his senses, he finally felt the familiar presence enter the room. It was the machine.
Here is the final clash between Steel and Light, the finite end to it all. Drawing out his swords, Gabriel shouted.
"Machine, I will cut you down with all the justice and with all the splendor. As your executioner, I shall judge you for your sins. And this time, you won't escape the consequences. "
A thousand images flashed before his mind as he positioned himself. From his status as an apostle to Archangel, his sins in the Father's name, and his fall and revelation.
Was this the right thing to do? Is his fall to apostasy, not a sin? Will he be able to best this machine? Will the light return to this cold, dark world?
It had to. And he was only one machine away from achieving it.
...
...
Not the Judge of Hell
Not the Apostate of Hate
Just [Gabriel].
...
As Gabriel lunged at V1, the machine dashed back to avoid the thrust. V1 quickly retaliated with a shot from his revolver, but Gabriel dodged the shot by teleporting up and above V1, about to land a descending blow. With speed incomprehensible, Gabriel landed a kick on the blue machine as it dodged his blades. Recovering, V1 saw the number 50 on its fuel gauge. 'This will not do.' It thought as Gabriel pursued the machine relentlessly.
Each spear of light was met with a barrage of nails.
The glittering coins that the machine had used so deftly were rendered unviable as Gabriel made sure to stay away from the machine's line of sight.
A magnet latched itself onto Gabriel's armor as a barrage of saws encircled him.
V1 was aiming to restrict Gabriel's mobility. Tearing the magnet off, Gabriel teleported behind V1 to deliver a strike outside of its perception.
"I expected more from you, machine!"
Gabriel spoke as he swung his blades in a twirling motion. As Gabriel brought down his swords, V1 saw a chance to counterattack. With its feedbacker arm, It met the blade head-on as a precise dash avoided the rest of the crushing blow.
+PARRY
+DISRESPECT
V1 refueled itself from the energy of Gabriel's attack and readied two coins just as Gabriel recovered.
The brief window of time was more than enough for the machine to exploit fully.
YOU ARE READING
A machine's guide to Divinity
FanfictionViolence, Fraud. All gone. And with Treachery soon to follow. The machines are decimating everything in its path and Hell itself is on the verge of being wiped out. Or so it seems. Hell was aware of its layers being destroyed, but it didn't care fo...
