Time passed quickly in AN, but even faster was the terrible transformation the planet underwent day by day. Both suns had lost their warmth and glow, the air was polluted and increasingly difficult to breathe. The wind was so strong and filled with metal particles that walking freely was nearly impossible. The acidic rain falling from the black clouds damaged all of nature, and still, no one could understand the real cause of it all—unaware that the worst was yet to come.
It had been over six months since the young apprentices left the valley and Daniel returned to Arcan. The weak tried to survive hunger and disease.
Miguel and his friends had not yet reunited. They waited anxiously for a sign that would bring them back together.
Meanwhile, in Querb, Ramael had given Lucifer the order to prepare for rebellion. She would remain with him to ensure everything went according to plan.
“Get ready for war! Prepare your army, because tomorrow you will strike Portcan and destroy the kingdom’s army by surprise.”
“But… what about the forces from Serf?” asked Lucifer.
“You’ll divide your army into two groups, as you had planned: the first will go to the front tomorrow, and the second will remain on standby to ambush the seraphim. Besides, I’ll give you direct support. I’ve brought with me three of my best disciples, so you have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s very creative, isn’t it? It’s perfect. At last, my dreams will come true…”
Then, Lucifer addressed his army:
“My people, listen! The day we’ve been waiting for has arrived. Nothing and no one will stand in our way—and if they try, we’ll annihilate them! We will not fear, for victory is on our side. Tomorrow will be the day we change history forever! Raise your weapons and prepare for conquest!”
Querb was ready to strike a major blow, knowing that their greatest advantage was surprise. In Portcan and Serf, they were completely unaware of the rebellion that had been brewing.
Meanwhile, Gabriel was with his mother, who was worried about what was happening. He tried to reassure her, though he too was anxious, waiting for Miguel to make contact and tell him what they should do. Just then, someone knocked at the door.
“It’s the village elder,” said the boy.
“But how do you know?” his mother asked, surprised.
Gabriel’s senses and abilities had become sharper, allowing him to perceive things far beyond what any normal Portcanian could.
Qubel had come to speak with him directly. He informed Gabriel that the Oracle of Portcan could no longer foresee what was coming, as a massive barrier was blocking his vision. Only someone with great power could have done such a thing. Gabriel suspected it was likely an Arcanian.
Qubel also asked if Gabriel had any news about Sariel, since the Oracle had been waiting for him at the temple but he had yet to arrive. However, what concerned him most was that, before the vision was blocked, the Oracle had a dream: a rain of fire falling upon Portcan.
Gabriel then warned of a possible war with the Arcanians—and that Querb might be involved as well. Clenching his fist tightly, he swore to destroy the evil threatening them and to bring justice for those who had died.
“Now that you mention it… this is all very strange,” Qubel remarked.
“And we still haven’t gone to see what’s going on over there,” replied the young man, thoughtful.
“And that is exactly what I’m going to do!” said a sudden voice, taking them all by surprise.
“Uriel!” exclaimed Gabriel.
As usual, Uriel had arrived undetected.
“Listen to me, Gabriel,” the young woman began. “You know me, you know how I am, and you also know that we gain nothing by waiting. That’s why I’ve decided to go to Querb on my own. I’m sorry for Miguel, but he’ll have to understand—that’s just how I am.”
“But why do you want to go now?”
“I have a feeling.”
“Then I’ll go with you!”
“No! You stay. I must go alone… I just came to let you know, in case something happens.”
The elder tried to reason with her, warning that she had no idea what she might encounter in that city. Gabriel’s mother also tried to persuade her to be patient. But Uriel stood firm in her decision.
“I’ve never liked waiting!” she said as her aura flared slightly and emitted tiny bolts of lightning.
With that, the young woman vanished.
The elder, stunned, murmured:
“The strength of that girl is impressive…”
“And that’s not even her full power,” added Gabriel.
“That girl is a rebel… I just hope she’ll be alright,” said Aminara, worried.
“For now, I’ll go see the Oracle again—and then our ruler, to inform him of the situation. If I learn anything more, I’ll return,” Qubel said before hurrying out of the house.
In Serf, the wise Allcan also had a bad feeling, so he summoned Rauel and Remeiel.
“My children, I have called you here because I sense that something very bad is about to happen… beyond what we are already suffering. You two have become formidable warriors, but I must tell you—perhaps the worst has not yet come.”
“That’s right, great sage,” responded Remeiel. “But I believe you should alert our people so they can prepare. This is the time.”
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“I’m afraid so. I didn’t want to do it until I was absolutely sure…”
“But I don’t think you called us just for this. Tell us, what’s really going on?” the young woman pressed.
“You’re right. I won’t hide anything from you. I’ve detected that Ramael is currently in Querb—and she’s brought with her three of her strongest soldiers…”
“What? What are they doing there?” exclaimed Remeiel.
“I don’t know. I’ve tried to find out, but I only managed to sense, for a moment, another powerful presence with them. But it lasted only an instant, as I was immediately blocked…”
“Maybe it’s some kind of energy field created by Ramael,” Rauel speculated.
“I thought the same… but that’s not all,” Allcan continued. “One of your companions is heading straight toward them!”
The seraphim siblings looked at each other in silence, instinctively knowing who it was.
“It’s that young woman named Uriel…” said Allcan. “She’s so headstrong and unstoppable that she’s decided to go there alone.”
“She’s always been like that… she wants to fulfill the vow she made to kill the vigilante,” Remeiel said thoughtfully.
“Mmm… I figured. She had it all planned out. Since she couldn’t attack her in Arcan, she waited for her to move. She’s clever,” Rauel affirmed with a smile.
“I can see it in your face, sister. You’re going, aren’t you?”
“This is one of those opportunities that don’t come twice—and Uriel knows it. Brother, you stay alert here. We can’t let our guard down with the other Arcanian. I’ll go make sure Uriel succeeds.”
Seeing her determination, the sage told her:
“My daughter… perhaps I can no longer convince you not to go, so I will only say this: if you manage to defeat Ramael, you will bring down one of Arcan’s great pillars.”
“I’ll do everything I can. Farewell.”
Spreading her powerful wings, Remeiel flew at high speed to catch up with Uriel.
In Arcan, the generals—including Daniel—were gathered to hear the words of Shemihaza, who passionately declared:
“I have called you here, to the great Mount of the Sun, because the time is near when we shall witness the birth of a new era for us. The day we abandon this world and go on to conquer our new home. There, we shall create a new kingdom…”
Some of the generals looked confused, wondering how they would reach this new world. The Patriarch reassured them, stating that there was a method they would use to get there.
Doubt also surrounded what would happen to AN once it was abandoned. But the answer was obvious: it would fall into the hands of the rebels. Shemihaza urged them to put aside their doubts and questions, and to wait for Ramael to complete her task while they watched events unfold.
Meanwhile, Ramael had given the order to begin the attack, and the army of Querb marched into battle.
Just as planned, the first division of the army moved to attack the city of Portcan directly, while the second would ambush the forces from Serf.
In the first city, no one suspected what was coming; everyone was in danger. The forces of Serf, however, had begun preparing for the worst—though their citizens still didn’t understand the reason for such unrest.
The cherubim marched by land and air, with their arrogant leader at the front. Ramael, escorting them alongside her three most loyal soldiers, sensed a powerful presence approaching quickly.
“No one should know about our plans,” she thought. Then, she decided to go ahead and intercept the intruder.
Uriel, meanwhile, had only one thought in her mind: to defeat Ramael. She knew nothing about Querb’s army.
The Arcanian and her warriors moved straight toward Uriel to prevent her from discovering the enemy's advance toward Portcan and the King’s castle.
“I will kill anyone who gets in my way!” Ramael hissed.
Uriel sensed she wasn’t alone.
“How strange… I can feel four great powers coming straight at me. Looks like that Ramael finally noticed. That’s even better.”
“My lady,” said one of her three soldiers, “the one with the unknown power is right in front of us. She seems to be waiting for us…”
“I’ve already seen her. Honestly, I don’t know who she is… but I’ll find out,” replied Ramael.
“At last, I’ve found you… Ramael!” shouted the young warrior.
“How do you know my name? Have we met before?”
“That’s not very important, but I’ll tell you: my name is Uriel, and I’m a disciple of Daniel. I’ve come here for one reason…”
“Oh, now I remember—so that fool really was training disciples. You must’ve been there that day… Tell me, what have you come for?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve come to kill you!” Uriel roared.
“Haha! Don’t tell me your master taught you that kind of joke too?” Ramael mocked.
“I don’t joke,” Uriel replied with absolute seriousness.
“You’re just a disrespectful brat. Honestly, I don’t have time to waste on you. You see, I have many things to do… so go home while I’m still in a good mood.”
“You murdered innocents and ruined my world… I will never forgive you!”
“Oh, you won’t forgive me? How interesting…”
“My lady,” one of her soldiers interrupted, “allow us—your loyal soldiers—to take care of her. You shouldn’t dirty your hands.”
“You’re right. Kill her! And bring me her head.”
“You hear that, girl? We’ll be the ones to end you and lay your body at Lady Rama—huh?”
The soldiers didn’t have time to finish their threat when a powerful energy, accompanied by a radiant aura, began to emanate from Uriel’s body, striking fear deep into them. Still, they launched their attack…
“What is this power?” asked Ramael, astonished.
“Now you’ll die!” one of the soldiers shouted.
“I won’t waste my time on trash like you,” Uriel murmured.
LIGHTNING STRIKE!
“What? This can’t be!” the soldiers screamed in desperation just before being obliterated.
Uriel’s attack, composed of countless lightning bolts, annihilated the three soldiers in an instant—they fell dead into the void.
“Those useless fools! I don’t remember you having that kind of power before. What did you say your name was again?”
“My name is Uriel. And now… it’s just you and me.”
Far away, Remeiel could sense that the battle had begun.
“So that’s Uriel’s power? Magnificent… I have to hurry.”
In Arcan, the generals were also aware of what was happening.
“Ramael’s three warriors are dead,” said Daniel.
“But what’s going on here? Who could have taken down Ramael’s warriors? I’ll have to see for myself,” Asael said in surprise.
“You’re not going anywhere. Ramael must be able to handle this situation herself,” Artaqof scolded him.
“This is getting interesting… I can feel an incredible presence standing before your apprentice, my dear Artaqof,” commented ‘El, smiling, as he watched everything unfold alongside the Patriarch.
