The Fallen Fantasy: The First Arc

Chapter 45: Why Are You Just Like Me?

Zekiel, ever calm, moved faster than thought. He dodged her attack with grace and instantly closed the gap between them, his cold eyes meeting hers for the final time. "Abyssal Art: Phantom Catastrophe," he whispered again.

With a single, deadly blow, he cut through Vael's body, the same strike that had ended Kaegen's life now cutting hers. Her eyes widened in shock before her body vaporized into ash, vanishing in the wind as Zekiel stood victorious, his axe dripping with the remnants of their blood.

He stood in a silent, cool stance, the desert wind howling around him, his face devoid of emotion as the battle ended.

In that very instant, Hael and Raea both sensed the sudden absence of Kaegen and Vael's life force. Their expressions shifted, a brief flicker of realization crossing their faces.

Raea: Hael?

Hael: Impossible.

Raea: Both Kaegen and Raea? How strong is he.

Hael: [In anger] The Cruel Prince, Zekiel Whirlwind. I'm going to kill him.

Fueled by the rage burning within him, Hael's eyes shifted, turning into a golden red hue, their pupils narrowing into the fierce slits of a serpent's gaze. Unlike his siblings, he had finally activated what he truly is, a God-Eyed Demon.

In Asgard's fight arena.

He was awakening to who he truly was, the demon he had once been, and it had made him stronger.

Inara: [In her head] And there they are, the eyes of the demon, Pride's eyes.

Jaes' eyes were different—no longer the familiar crimson red, but golden with streams of blood-red coursing through them, shaped like a serpent's. In that brief moment, he had awakened as the true demon he was destined to be. His aura surged with overwhelming power, his very presence radiating with an intensity that filled the arena. But it lasted only for a fleeting instant. The glow faded, the surge of power disappeared, and his eyes returned to normal. Unable to contain the transformation, Jaes collapsed to the ground, the weight of his awakening too much for him to bear.

On the road leading to the one who killed their brother, Kaegen, and their sister, Vael, Hael and Raea flew with incredible speed through the vast desert. Suddenly, Hael felt a much darker power, a power similar to his, and he stopped as Raea stopped alongside him, she was confused.

Raea: Hael?

Hael: [To himself] What is this? Why does it feel like there are two of me.

He started getting visions of the fight between Jaes and Inara. He felt the same rush Jaes had felt—the surge of emotion, the flood of memories that had once been sealed within him. But it wasn't just Jaes' emotions he sensed. It was as if he had a counterpart, someone who shared his power, his drive, and his thirst for strength. His eyes shifted to golden red, the pupils narrowing into serpent-like slits. A mischievous grin spread across his face. In that moment, he knew there was an opponent worthy of facing him at his full power—a kindred spirit.

Raea: Hael!? Hael!

Hael vanished in a burst of explosive speed, leaving Raea momentarily confused, her eyes narrowing as she tried to process what had just happened. "Hael?" she muttered, scanning the empty space where he had stood, unsure of what had triggered his sudden departure.

Meanwhile in Asgard, Jaes remained unconscious, his chest rising and falling steadily as Azael and Iris sat quietly by his side. Azael's expression was a mixture of worry and frustration, while Iris kept a watchful eye on Jaes, her fingers gently brushing through his hair in a gesture of comfort. The room was heavy with an uneasy silence.