Uriel sat on a boulder in a planet at the edge of the universe, far from Gad's sovereignty and just at the edge of his consciousness. Here in the planet called Plato, Uriel's words and thoughts were outside the grasp of Gad. However, even this far from the throne of creation, Uriel could hear the sickening laughter of Gad as he stared down on creation.
Uriel rolled his eyes and took a glimpse at earth in search of what was amusing the demiurge and what he saw was truly amusing. The world was in chaos as man went wild in the exhibition of his core nature. First came the super-criminals. People who realized that they could do what most people couldn't and decided to do what most people won't.
Banks were robbed with reckless abandon, and vaults quickly became a free for all. It was only a matter of time before money lost its value. People blessed by Gad with the power of teleportation simply appeared in the vaults of banks and emptied the cash reserves. Banks shut down from losing money and the government soon realized that their currency was worthless as whoever had it didn't really own it.
However, robbery and stealing weren't the only crime that grew rampant. Murder also became a common occurrence. Killing your enemy and getting away with it became super easy. Men with super strength simply killed their enemies and strutted away with pride, daring anyone to question them. Those who had super speed simply ran through their enemies faster than the naked eyes or the lenses of CCTV cameras could capture.
As the years rolled by, it became clear that those who were blessed with power could do anything and the government and the law could do little to stop them. Dictators rose, carving sections of countries as their own while exceptionally powerful men called themselves gods and started their own religion. Governments became useless as their currencies were worthless, laws were ignored and armies were weak.
After all, of what use was an army when one man could kill five hundred highly trained soldiers within the blink of an eye. It was complete chaos and extremely amusing. However, this state of chaos only lasted for a few decades before some twisted form of balance and order was restored. It had taken only about half a century of madness but a pecking order was established and there was some semblance of a pattern to the madness.
Society morphed and simply adjusted to the presence of the blessed humans by recognizing them. The powerful were treated like gods while the unblessed were treated like dogs. Lords as the blessed were called were given a very special place in society and were basically treated like the medieval lords. The serfs as the unblessed were called were forced to slave away and pay taxes to the lords. And so it was that a new world order was established and Gad was once again bored. Every now and then the serfs revolted against the lords and in some tiny pockets of the world, the serfs succeeded in gaining control of the government. But this was only for a short time as a man with powers was light years ahead of a powerless mortal. No matter how well the serfs planned or how desperately they struggled, the Lords prevailed.
But all these tiny struggles were sparse entertainment for Gad and he soon grew bored. He had only created a different version of his boring program. A huge disruption, but in the end order was restored. It seemed that irrespective of what he did, order followed him like a curse. Chaos could not be maintained and humans always reverted to systemization. Disappointed, Gad gave up on his dream of creating a rebel that would stand toe-to-toe against him. The secret of potential was all but forgotten and the major purpose of releasing powers to humans was all but forgotten by the demiurge, the fact receding into the farthest part of his infinite mind.
However, Uriel never forgot. A smile curved his lips as the earth stabilized. Events were heading towards the destination he had in mind and he couldn't be happier. Uriel heard the arrival of an angel and he looked up to see Michael who he had been waiting for, for the past five decades. Michael descended on Plato and summoned a boulder out of the barren land he got comfortable and folded his wings out of view. As soon as Uriel saw that his friend was calmly seated he spoke.
'Took you long enough,' Uriel said in a sarcastic tone.
'Oh, don't be coy. There were things to do in heaven, especially since you decided to vanish as soon as the show started.'
'I prefer to watch away from his presence. I wonder how you do it. Hide our plans from him. It takes a mental toll on my mind.'
'Hide what plans Uriel? What are you talking about?' Michael asked, as his face twisted in slight confusion.
'Oh, come on. We have been here century after century and we have talked about how annoying Gad is.'
'Not is, tends to be,' Michael shot back. 'We jested about how annoying Gad can be. He isn't annoying. He just tends to…'
'Oh shut it, Michael,' Uriel interrupted. 'We have insinuated and hinted at it for centuries. We even talked about how things would have been if Lucifer had succeeded,'
'That was a joke,' Michael said getting to his feet. 'Just us trying out our power of imagination, to somewhat prove Gad wrong that we can imagine and think almost like man.'
'Michael,' Uriel said, standing up to face his friend, who he now suspected might be his enemy. 'This is no time to play dumb, crack jokes, or chicken out. We are on the very verge of bringing our dream to reality. All we need to do is push events over said verge and we shall rule. Can't you see? For the first time since the beginning of existence, we actually have a chance. For the first time ever, Gad's sovereignty can be questioned. All we have to do is go down to earth and guide a promising man to attain omnipotence. And with our influence, we shall be able to forge him or her into a weapon that does our bidding. It's true that we can't be Gad. But perhaps we can own Gad. We simply have to usurp that old cargo and put our pawn on the throne.'
'Blasphemy,' Michael said, wide-eyed with realization. 'Treasonous blasphemy. Gad must hear this.'
Michael unfurled his wings and turned around. He took off and was already in the air when Uriel spoke.
'I'm afraid I cannot let you do that. It pains me but it seems your death is inevitable.'
'What?' Michael turned around in shock only to see a burning fireball hurtling towards him. He flicked the tiny sun away with his left-wing, deflecting the attack. The heat of the attack hurt him as his wing caught fire and burnt even as his angelic body struggled to heal and seal the wound.
Michael looked down to see his wing scalding and sizzling and was still struggling with the pain and shock when he looked down to see Uriel flying up towards him read to follow up his first attack with a swing of his mighty sword of fire. Michael jumped away in time, pushing his mighty wings forward so the rest of his body could move back even faster.
However, he was fighting against Uriel, the archangel who guarded the gates of Eden with his sword of fire. He had jumped away in time but as he looked down he saw a tiny slice across his torso as ichor sipped out. His celestial energy quickly sealed the wound just as two drops fell on Plato and infused the planet with celestial energy.
'Have you gone mad?' Michael asked staring at Uriel with pure anger.
'Not mad, convinced,' Uriel said as he took on a fighting stance, his legendary sword of fire, in hand, blazing with power.
'Convinced about what?'
'Convinced that you need to die for my plan to succeed,' he replied as he leaped towards Michael, sword pulled back ready for a fatal strike.
Michael realized that Uriel wasn't joking. In Uriel's eyes were the fiery intent of murder. He drew his sword of truth and only managed to fend off Uriel's strike at the last minute.
'This is madness,' Michael declared.
'Oh I'm afraid it is vision,' Uriel shot back as he slashed again. However, this time, Michael was ready, he fended off the attack with ease and even retaliated with a jab that Uriel countered easily.
'You can't possibly defeat me, Uriel. I am a general of the lord's army. Stop this madness and perhaps we can find a way for you to be saved.'
'I am beyond redemption Michael. The die is cast and one of us has to die,' Uriel replied as he unleashed a furry of attack, which Michael was forced to parry. Strike after strike, and the two angels matched each other move for move. Michael was the better fighter with way more experience and designed by Gad himself to be an angel of war. However, he depended on Gad for his power and he was too loyal an angel to carry out actions that weren't the will of Gad. And as Gad hadn't ordered or sanctioned the death of Uriel, Michael found it impossible to fight with the intention of causing immense harm to his fellow angel. There was also the fact that he loved Uriel and he didn't want to destroy him.
However, Uriel wasn't bound by love or loyalty to Gad and he waged attack after attack with the determination and intensity of someone hell-bent on destruction. Michael quickly realized that he couldn't fend off Uriel's attack forever. If the battle waged on, one of them would have to die.
He summoned his shield and the solar disk appeared on his left arm. He blocked Uriel's next attack and then pushed back, so Uriel's arm flew aside, leaving the angel open for an attack. Michael simply had to thrust his sword through Uriel's heart and the battle would be over. However, rather than a fatal blow, Michael kicked forward, forcing Uriel to be flung back with the force of the kick.
Uriel grunted in pain and had only managed to regain his levitation when Michael slammed his shield into his face and sent him into a daze. Uriel blinked rapidly as he tried to keep himself from losing consciousness. His head spun and he saw stars. However, Michael wasn't done. Michael willed his weapons to disappear and with his fist, he unleashed a barrage of blows upon Uriel until the treacherous angel couldn't maintain flight and started falling down to the lonely planet.
However, even with Uriel hurtling down to Plato, Michael didn't let up. He wasn't angry neither was he bitter, His blows were clinical. He knew better than to let up on Uriel. One second was all Uriel needed to recover and restart the battle. If Michael wanted to avoid killing Uriel, he needed to ensure that he didn't give the angel the one second he needed.
With one final blow, Michael sent Uriel hurtling down to the surface of Plato, and before Uriel could blink his eyes open, Michael landed before him, sword ready and pointed at his chest.
Uriel devilishly smiled as a tiny stream of blood flowed down his chin. Michael saw in his eyes the same evil that dwelled in Lucifer. However, this evil was different. It wasn't rogue or destructive like Lucifer's it was intelligent and calculative.
'I guess this is it then,' Uriel said still smiling. 'I guess this is the end of the rope for me. The shortest rebellion ever, by all standards. Alright then, get on with it. Kill me already. What are you waiting for, my repentance? I assure you that they would be lies. I am afraid that I wouldn't be able to do that as I am too proud to lie. So kill me and quit stalling.'
'I am not going to kill you,' Michael said.
'Then would you mind if I kill you,' Uriel replied with a grin.
'I do,'
'One of us must die Michael. The ball is in your court, but I assure you that if you keep stalling I shall find an opportunity and I shall steal it.'
'Just shut up. None of us has to die. '
'I can't let you live Michael. I can't let you tell him about my plans. If you do I would be forced into an eternity of torment and pain. So it's either I die now or I suffer forever. I'm afraid, I am going to have to go with dying now. And if you wouldn't kill me, then I would kill you and carry out my plan on my own.'
'I wouldn't kill you and I wouldn't tell Gad about your plans. I am Michael. I fight Gad's wars. I am not a messenger who is obligated to say whatever he sees or hears. That's Gabriel's jurisdiction, not mine,' Michael said as he willed his sword to vanish.
He offered Uriel his arm and his brother took it and got on his feet.
'And now dear Michael, you must die,' Uriel said as he kicked his brother and drew his sword out of thin air. Michael barely had enough time to re-summon his shield and stop Uriel's attack. He fended off two other blows and summoned his sword, before creating another opening and disarming Uriel.
'Why brother?' Michael asked, getting really angry. 'Why do you insist on this folly?'
'It is my vision, Michael. The only thing I live for. My passion and my everything. I want it all,' Uriel said as he attacked, called his sword to his palm, and clashed swords with Michael. 'I am tired of being a mere soulless servant. I want to rule over everything. I want everything,' Uriel said as he unleashed blow after blow against Michael, forcing the archangel back.
'I have told you, Uriel,' Michael said, keeping his guard up and trying not to get distracted as he spoke. 'I have told you that I wouldn't kill you and I wouldn't tell Gad about what you have done.'
'And I am to believe you? Some might think you are smarter than me Michael but you are not,' Uriel replied as he flew into the air, flipped over Michael, so he landed behind the angel and slashed his back.
Michael let out a yell of pain as he spun around with a slash. However, Uriel dove away in time to evade the attack.
'I'm an angel, Uriel. I have never lied and I can't. My word is my bond.'
'This is a very peculiar situation, Michael. You must understand. And while I respect your integrity, I fear your loyalty even more.'
Uriel was advancing for another strike when Michael cried out.
'I swear in the name of Gad.'
Uriel froze, understanding the gravity of Michael's words.
'You…' Uriel said, stammering as he struggled to believe his ears. 'You wouldn't dare invoke his name in a lie.'
'I wouldn't,' Michael said, dropping his weapons.
'I intend to carry on with my plans, you know that right?'
'Yes.'
'And that still doesn't change your swear?'
'It doesn't.'
'Are you joining me?' Uriel asked, his eyes brimming with hope.
'No.'
'Oh. Then what are you going to do,' Uriel asked, mentally preparing himself for another round of battle even though his energy levels had been somewhat depleted. Although he ran on renewable celestial energy, he had after all fought against Michael himself and that was no tiny feet.
'I am going to stay away Uriel. I would watch but I shall not act. You want to be mad, go. Indulge the evil madness that has taken over your heart. As I said it is my calling to fight in the name of Gad, not deliver messages as I am not Gabriel. But I swear to you Uriel, on the day your rebellion is revealed to Gad and he orders me to put an end to your foolishness, I shall do it swiftly in his name. It wouldn't matter who you raise against Gad. I shall lead the host of heaven and unleash Gad's wrath upon you just like I did during Lucifer's rebellion.'
'So you wouldn't attack until Gad orders you to?'
'I won't,' Michael said, letting his guard down and relaxing as he became convinced that Uriel believed him.
'Why?' Uriel asked, unwilling to believe Michael with all his heart.
'What do you mean why? I obey Gad's orders. I do not kill proactively and since you have turned this to a death duel, I must either die or let you go.'
'I see. So you wouldn't lie but complete honesty is difficult for you to express. Stop the games, Michael. You know the will of Gad without waiting for his direct order. Gad wouldn't want a rebellion.'
'Have you so quickly forgotten our discussion with him? He wants a rebellion. And perhaps this is his will. Perhaps this is all his doing.'
'No, it isn't. It's my vision, my goal. I planted the idea in his head during our conversation. I led him to that conclusion. He is the alpha and omega but in this case, I am the alpha. I unleashed this chain of events and I shall put an end to it and become the omega too.'
Michael chuckled. 'Yeah right. And how would you know otherwise? Suddenly, you a loyal angel wants to start a rebellion.'
'No. I have been thinking about this for centuries.'
'Yeah right. And you only just bring it up now?'
'The time wasn't right. And I have discussed it with you countless times,' Uriel replied, growing furious.
'Whatever you say brother,' Michael said. 'If you can't see the folly in this stupidity of yours then I'm afraid I can't help you.'
'What are you talking about? Speak!' Uriel ordered as his anger flared and his sword of fire appeared in his hand and burst into a raging flame, ready to destroy and vanquish.
'Oh relax. I just find it ridiculous that you believe, Gad couldn't read your thoughts. He is omnipotent Uriel. He sees all and knows every idea that dances in your mind. Surely he knew about your plans of rebellion before now. Dare I even propose that he planted them in your mind? And then orchestrated the conversation you had with him so you would feel like the manipulator. For it is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver'
'You are a fool, Michael. You are blinded by Gad's glory. There are some things even Gad doesn't know. There are things he can see but he refuses to look at them. How else can you explain the fact that he didn't see Lucifer's betrayal coming? And don't even try the foolish line of, it is beyond my understanding. That's a trick played by human religious leaders against human religious followers. If you can understand, then so can I.'
'Fine. Who created evil?'
'What do you mean?'
'Gad created everything including evil. He is the origin of it all. He created the idea of rebellion and created the very first vessel of the madness.'
'Why would he make Lucifer rebel.'
'I don't know. Entertainment. Why does he do anything he does?'
'I don't believe you. This is my will, my plan, my idea, and my vision.'
'It is your destiny.'
'Exactly,' Uriel said, excited that Michael was finally seeing things his way.
'Written by Gad,' Michael said with a mischievous smug smile. 'Whether you like it or not you can't see reason. Whether you like it or not you can't see the folly in your chosen path for that is his will,' Michel said as he lifted off and flew away, back to heaven where things weren't mad. Back to heaven where order reigned without any form of disruption.
Uriel watched as Michael flew away. His heart was genuinely troubled. He knew that Michael would stand by his oath. However, he couldn't help but wonder about the validity of Michael's words. Was he just a pawn in a game? Was he just a mere jester on a stage set by Gad?
However, Uriel's fate was set and after some time, he came to the conclusion that even if his rebellion was a game created by Gad, he was still going to shock Gad by defeating him. Gad would never see it coming and for the first time in the history of existence, Gad would be genuinely surprised.
And so it was that Uriel rather than abandoning his madness decided to pursue it with great keenness and ensure that success was the only possible outcome. For to kill Gad, one must make no mistake. To kill Gad, one must be exceptionally perfect. And even though only Gad was perfect, Uriel was convinced that he could build a creature that was beyond perfection and beyond Gad.