Memories overwhelmed Manya like a flood. She rushed across the marble floor. Angels used spears to hold her down, but her unwavering focus remained on Ira, who seemed unaffected. Drinking from a wine glass made of gold.
Ira rose from her seat, and in that moment, the entire hall came to life, the other figures from the side thrones standing up in unison. From afar, Ira had a regal presence that made her seem like a queen, captivating the room with her commanding air. The soft fabric of her gown adorned with lace, complementing the cool blues of the wings. And a white halo above.
"We've talked about this. And who wants an ice queen on their staff?"
"Even then, I'd still be a queen."
While Ira being admired by other angels, Manya longed for something simpler. All she wanted—was to reach out and hug her best friend and ask if she was, ok?
"Release her," Ira said.
Manya was about to hug her, but Ira shoved her away with her wings. "A slayer dared to lay hands upon a celestial? Bind her!" Ira said.
The guard tied her with an energy rope, which connected itself to the pillars around.
"Ira, it's me, Manya."
"Ira? What manner of word is this?" Ira said.
"Probably a term mortals used to signify detritus," an angel from sides said, followed by laughter among all.
"Ira, what happened to you? Why don't recognise me? Wait—don't tell me you lost your memories too?"
"Recollections. How may I banish them from my mind?"
"Then, come on, give me a hug."
"How can I erase it from my memory?" Ira's eyes drifted away. "The day I lost my brother, and how can any of us erase the memory of the day we lost our future lord?" An air of sadness enveloped the room. "And how can we suffer his murderer to persist, a murderer who charmed him, ensnared him in the belief that humanity held goodness? Father spoke the truth—humans are naught but peasants, unworthy of the love and benediction of angels." She gazed at the angel behind. "I yearn to witness her suffer, as my brother did, until her life flows forth in crimson torrents."
"Ira, there's a misunderstanding."
An angel slashed Manya hard with a whip filled with blades and shock, which scraped her skin from the waist, missing SL particles.
The angel kept on torturing her. Despite the tormenting pain, she remained steadfast and offered a warm smile to Ira. There was empathy and concern lingering in Ira's gaze, hinting at her old self hidden behind a beautifully dressed yet confused personality. Manya's each step forward created a turmoil on Ira's face. With each hit, the slashes grew stronger, making it a challenge for her to even take a step. Her body was close to surrender, but her smile and gaze were intact.
"With but a handful of slashes, and she had already descended into madness," an angel from the side taunted. Joined by a wave of giggles.
Manya gazed at that angel. "You are alive, because I still see pain in her eyes," she stared at Ira. "The pain you can only see in the eyes of a friend."
"Stay away!" Ira said. She pressed her temples. "Keep her away! I don't want to see her, kill her!"
Everyone except Manya was shocked to hear such words from Ira. She was speaking like a human. A powerful impact of the whip forced Manya on knees. She could feel blood dripping out from her legs. Ira's arm shot up in concern, but her stubbornness quickly took over again.
In a matter of seconds, Manya grabbed the whip before it hit her and swiftly entangled it around the angel's neck. Every angel present in that hall flinched as if they had encountered a ghost.
Manya smirked as she looked at the angel, who made comments about her. "Scared of a human who's struggling to stand, petty angels," she said. Where are they looking?
Every angel present had their gaze directed downward. As she followed their gazes, a terror formed on her face. "Why's my blood?" she pushed away the angel in her grasp and touched the wound on her thigh. "Golden?"
"It's fake!" an angel said, whose mouth was covered with the same golden liquid or her blood. Spreading a wave of relief. The angels encircling her attacked. Armed with weapons suitable for close and long-range combat. Manya's agility had increased, thanks to SL, but it also caused her to lose more of whatever golden substance flowing inside her body.
A heavy object struck her, sending her crashing into the wall. It was Karulsh, who had equipped an advance, heavy gloves, strong enough to destroy a pillar in the way with just a flick.
"You aren't human," he said.
"I believe it now," she pulled herself out from the wall. "A human would have died after losing blood, enough to paint the entire ground. And… don't get me started on its colour." She charged at him with the short sword, determined to hit away his head, but he dodged.
Her strength was decreasing with each passing moment, making it harder for her to focus on several targets. Ira was sitting on the throne, still confused. Struggling to fight the battle happening inside her head.
"What did you do to her?" Manya said.
"I have guided her to the revelation of her divine essence," Karulsh said.
Although Manya evaded his next attack, she could not escape his unexpected shoulder push, causing her to stumble into an angel positioned next to a throne. Once she stood firm, she found her short sword passed through his chest.
"Rest in peace." She glanced back at Karulsh. "That's how you do a one shot kill."
Karulsh flew to her in a rage, and she dodged him by quickly hitting the ground. Made him smash into his own kind. Manya chuckled. It wasn't a skilled moved but her legs, who had betrayed her inability to stand for long.
Few seconds later, an intense tingling sensation coursed through her feet. The disintegrated particles of SL were clinging to her bare or injured skin. Bringing warmth and relief to her limbs.
'Warning! Urgent medical attention is required!' Aery said. 'Contacting the nearest MS team for pickup. Medical team will arrive in 28 minutes.'
"You are calling them now?" she sighed. "I miss you, Yash."
***
The angels prayed to God, seeking the strength to remove the impurity in their home. Ira was still struggling to grasp the situation. Manya giggled. "Remember the day you found me near men's washroom!" The intensity of Ira's pain increased.
"Stop!" Ira said.
Faced with their helplessness against a human, the angels started gulping down the healing portions.
"Can I get one?" Manya said.
With a soft tremor, the hall began its transformation. The carpet in the centre began to ripple and move. Ceiling disappeared into walls. Throne seats and walls dissolved into the ground, leaving behind a spacious and open windy expanse. Ariots and flying semi- transparent platforms crowded the sky, hosting angels like an audience stand.
The entire hall transformed into an empty ground, enough to host a stand up with thousands as audience. At the far end, there were a few steps of winged stairs leading to a place that was elegantly designed. A cabin house appeared to be crafted by genuine angels, with a combination of gold and silver, shimmering in the light.
"You are the first, mortal," Karulsh said, his gaze unwavering. "Save for the celestial beings who had been granted a fleeting glimpse of the sacred abode of our venerable archangel, Lady Trishark." He went up to Manya, his hand gear—adapting to the surroundings.
"Great design, I am impressed," Manya said. While assessing the situation, she understood that continuing to fight would only result in her own death. Wait—they are egotistic. "Who is this esteemed one you are talking about?" Karulsh halted, his eyes gleaming with pride. And I stand correct.
"Allow me to illuminate the greatness of our esteemed lady," Karulsh said. "Her eyes, a mesmerising shade of emerald, a reflection of her indomitable spirit. Her wings, majestic and magnificent, glisten with an iridescent fusion of cobalt and gold. She had led the celestials into myriad battles against the forces of darkness and chaos. In this entire boundless cosmos, none could stand before her without the tremor of awe within their gaze. Her mere glance possesses the power to sunder planets, and her every step is deemed a divine weapon."
"That's some serious obsession," she whispered. "Aery, can you hack any of these ariots or any weapon around here?".
'Exploitable links found. Physical connection needed to gain access.'
"And why do I have to ask such things? You are supposed to be smart?"
'In test missions, AIs can only follow command. Even the suggestion has to be asked first.'
Aery had marked the nearest hackable technologies. Manya just needed to gather the device, or a key held by the angel on the platform above. "So, I just have to get that device? No big deal. It will be a piece of cake with broken legs and a glassful of blood left inside me."
The sun above again dipped behind the clouds. It cast its golden fingers through the gap, creating a breathtaking spectacle on the ground below. One of the biggest rays fell upon the cabin of Archangel Trishark. Forming a divine layer around it. "I so wanted that lighting in my room."
Karulsh gasped in awe. "The blessing from the divine, a deed mortals could never hope to merit." He signalled his lackeys to end the remaining life in Manya. "Let this be a celestial decree, a lesson echoing through the heavens, reminding mortals of the peril in defying the divine."
She glanced up at the sky. "Krishna, are you telling, there would never be a beautiful day as today to die?" she smiled. "If I die today, please take care of Ira and mamu." She smirked. "You were right. I am worthless."
Within moments, a never-ending barrage of guns—trapped her. Her live footage was being displayed over the entire land, to instil fear in the victims, devoid them from any hope. Do attacks from futuristic weapons always tickle like this?And why are they killing like humans? "What about angels and their divine punishments?"
The guns they were using were floating mid-air. Nobody was touching them. She believed the reason for them not using their "Divine" weapon would demean their status.
The assault came to a halt. Her gaze fell to her chest, where most of the assaults hit. Instead of a scratch or wound, the impact resulted in just smoke. The angels around were as surprised as her. "Aery?"
'Your SL has absorbed the impact and became formidable for the moment. Still critical, but your bodily functions are showing signs of improvement.'
"Why can't I feel those improvements?" Most of her body was numbed and heavy. Within a few minutes or seconds, the temporary relief would disappear, making way for excruciating pain.
Finding the perfect distraction, with drops of adrenaline coursing through her veins, she rose to her feet in one swift motion. Summoning every ounce of her recovered strength, she jumped towards the platform, feeling the wind rush past her face. I can feel wind? Her heart was pounding in her ears. Approaching the target, she grabbed the diamond-encrusted object on the chain wrapped around his forearm and kicked him away. And sending the surrounding angels into the battle formation.
"Aery, now what?"
'Assistance with your mission is now within my capability.'
"… Nice. Could you get me a gun or that sword?"
'Affirmative.'
The floating platform beneath her disintegrated into several squared semi-transparent pieces, providing a brilliant cover to her, while forming a path towards the short sword laid by the edge. Aery abilities were limited to one platform, and the ariot.
'We now have operational control over the ariot.'
"…"