Abaddon

Chapter 14 : Divine Help

The cold splash hit my face. My eyes snapped open with a scream. Chains dug into my wrists, holding me against the rock wall. The air was damp, heavy with mana that pressed on my chest. Torches burned weakly along the cavern walls, their light revealing robed mages and armored knights. Their presence filled the space, each one radiating mana strong enough to crush the weak.

I turned my head. My gaze locked on Uriel.

Her hands were bound above her. Her body was beaten, marked with bruises and cuts. Blood ran from her brow, dripping down her face to the floor. Her head hung low, her life force faint but still present.

Rage burned in me. I pulled on the chains until my muscles tore in protest. The iron did not move. My strength drained. My mana slipped away, leaving my body heavy and unresponsive. My shoulders sagged. My head dropped.

Footsteps echoed.

A man walked out from behind the crowd. His robe was white, and prayer beads hung around his neck. Runes etched into the beads glowed faintly. His mana spread through the cave, thick and suffocating. My body stiffened under the weight of it. Every step he took felt deliberate, assured.

He stopped before me. His eyes closed as he drew in a breath.

“Interesting,” he said. His eyes opened, fixed on me. “You carry demon blood. Hers.”

His lips curled into a grin, sharp and cruel. His presence filled the space, swallowing everything else. My instincts warned me that nothing about him was ordinary.

He turned to the crowd, spreading his arms wide.

“Heralds!” His voice shook the cavern walls. “Today we do not only vanquish the archdemon Uriel and her knights. We vanquish her champion.”

The cave erupted. The Heralds shouted, their chants rolling together in a storm of sound. Their voices shook the ground and rattled my chest. Then silence fell at the lift of his hand.

He turned back to me. His eyes never left mine as he walked closer. He leaned down, close enough for his breath to reach my ear.

“I cannot have you spoiling my plans too, Archie.”

My eyes widened. My body tensed. My name. He knew who I was.

The question hit me at once. Who was this man?

Before I could think further, the cave shook.

A thunderous boom split the entrance. Stone shattered. Dust and rock crashed down. Screams rose from the Heralds as debris struck, crushing those too slow to move. The robed man turned sharply, his grin fading. His eyes narrowed at the figure hidden within the cloud of dust.

He stepped back, his lips moving in a tongue I didn’t know. A flash of light burst from his body, and in an instant he was gone.

The Heralds panicked. Spells flew into the dust, their voices rising in frantic chants. Mana burned through the air, but their attacks hit nothing. One by one, their screams cut off. Bodies hit the ground with dull thuds. In moments the cavern was silent again.

I turned my head to Uriel. Her chin lifted slowly. A grin tugged at her lips. Her eyes locked on the shadow walking forward through the dust.

“Azrael,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. “What are you doing here?”

My eyes fixed on the figure.

He stepped forward, his armor bright, every edge gleaming. His face was clear, his features sharp, his eyes golden. Behind him spread three pairs of wings. A halo burned above his head, steady and strong. In his hand was a blade that hummed with raw power.

The word left me on its own.

“An angel.”

His gaze passed over me for a brief moment before settling on Uriel. His voice was calm, clear, unshaken.

“How did you end up here, little sister?”

Uriel let out a weak laugh that turned to a groan. “I’ll tell you when I’m out of these chains.”

He moved toward her, eyes running over the bindings.

“These are not common.” His tone was flat, assessing. “Chains imbued with hellfire. That explains how they kept you here.”

He raised his sword. The blade cut through the chains with ease. The iron snapped and fell in pieces.

Uriel landed on her feet. Mana flared out of her body. Steam lifted from her skin as her wounds closed. The bruises vanished. She stretched her arms, rolled her shoulders, and straightened. Her strength had returned.

Azrael turned to me. His sword swung once. My chains broke apart. I dropped to the ground, my legs too weak to hold me. Pain surged through me, and I hit the floor hard.

“Archie.” Uriel rushed to me. She knelt, pressing her hand against my back. Mana flowed into me. Heat spread through my body. My chest loosened. My mind cleared. My limbs steadied.

“I told you not to come here,” she said, her voice breaking. Her eyes glistened as tears formed.

“I had to,” I answered.

She looked at me, lips trembling, then pulled me into her arms. Her embrace was firm, steady. For a moment, the weight of everything lifted.

A cough broke through the silence.

We looked up. Azrael stood before us. His expression was calm, his eyes steady, his sword resting at his side. A faint smile crossed his face.

“Save this for later,” he said. “There is still a battle outside to be won.”

Uriel helped me to my feet. My legs steadied under me. Together we followed him toward the entrance. The torches flickered as we moved.

We stepped into the open air. The sky had darkened to night, clear with no beast in sight. The trees were torn from their roots, scattered in different directions. I stared at the destruction, unsure of what had taken place. Azrael noticed my expression and gave me a small smile.

“I’ll explain what happened back at the camp.”

Before I could reply, a bright flash of light enveloped us. In the blink of an eye, we were at the camp.