Unranked

Chapter 6

I spent the whole day, or at least what I thought of it, held up in my little 'room'.

Armaros promised to come check up on me when she came for her hour. Joshua hadn't made a turn, and I was glad he didn't. Neither did the other angels much to my relieve.

Half way through the day I had enough and got up. I threw on the rags I called clothes and ran out.

In the two days I've been here, the only thing I learnt is how to tell what time of day it is. In the morning, the sky was a dull orange as if there was a sun rising. Midday, the sky returned to a bright white color, reminding me of the first time I'd witnessed it. In the afternoon, however, the sky took a purple color. It's weird that Alto had no sun, but I was beginning to think it was a place on its own. Alto wasn't apart of Heaven.

Anyways, the bright white sky met my gaze as I exited. No one seemed to be here until I rounded a corner and ran into Kushiel, who had somehow already pushed me away.

"Ah, Rookie. Just who I came to see." He smirked. "Ready for rematch?"

From behind him three more Angels stepped out. Their names probably would've come to me, but I didn't care as I faced Kushiel.

No voice came. It wasn't here. Joshua and Armaros wouldn't be here for a long time. No help. I was beginning to understand that I was the underdog and they were my bullies.

"Let's get this over with." But instead of raising my fists into a block, I threw a punch at Kushiel. He immediately saw it and dodged it. I guess they didn't call him The Rigid One for nothing.

He laughed as he threw me back. "The Rookie has some guts now. Maybe his used to the deep end."

His lackeys laughed and lunged. I thought that because the number of enemies was now less than half I could take them but I was wrong. I was down on the ground, blood gushing from my nose in less than a minute.

"Perhaps he isn't Angel material." Said one.

"Yeah of course, Joshua is training him." Another one sneered.

"I guess we need to send him back the hard way." The next one agreed.

"I'm afraid your time in Alto is up. Time to be banished." Kushiel sighed and grinned evilly.

Something within me snapped. In that moment, the world slowed. A grey wave originated from me, spreading and turning everything a shade of grey for a moment before continuing.

Once it had disappeared, I stood up. Something felt different, something familiar.

Their faces were slack, wondering what was going on. I walked slowly towards the first Angel, a word coming to my mind.

"Blood." I spoke. Immediately the first Angel began to cough up blood. She backed away as she stared at the blood that kept appearing.

I turned to the second one. "Break."

An ugly snap filled the air. The second Angel stumbled back, holding his now broken arm. It wasn't a scream; it was just a word but a word filled with power.

Kushiel and the other Angel backed away, fear now palpable. I repeated the word blood and the third Angel fell.

Kushiel stumbled and fell. He began to claw his way, desperate to escape from me. This was different not like the power before. This was destructive. This was raw. Chaotic. This did not believe in God's realm and yet the more I used it, the stronger I got.

I looked at Kushiel, the word again appearing in my mind. "Fly, Rigid one."

His eyes grew large as his wings shot out. They were grey in color yet somehow still regal. They began to fly, pulling him without his permission high into the bright sky.

As soon as he disappeared, the rush left me. My knees buckled, my hands keeping me from face-planting.

My breath came heavy as I looked at the carnage. The three Angels were groaning, trying to control their injuries.

"Well, that was interesting." I turned to see Armaros standing behind me with a smirk plastered on her face.

"Yeah, it certainly is." I laughed weakly, leaning heavily on my hand now. "Maybe I won't collapse this time."

"Yeah, maybe." She agreed. She looked at me and the wounded Angels warily. "Your powers are changing."

I wanted to respond but I couldn't as my arms buckled. I slowly passed out but a voice still spoke.

"You have nothing without me." It spoke. His psychotic laugh drowned out any other sound. "The more you use my power, the faster I'll consume you. Soon there'll be nothing but me so keep using my power, Joshua."

Keep using my power.