In the depths of the infernal abyss, where shadows danced and flames roared with a hunger that echoed the despair of the damned, I found myself ensnared, subjected to a punishment so severe that it could break the spirit of even the mightiest of beings.
For five long days, I was bound in the most terrifying hellfire—each flicker and crackle a reminder of my defiance against my father, the mighty Satan. Yet, amid the agony, my heart wasn't solely occupied with my own suffering. In the dark corners of my mind, an ember of hope flickered—Merry.
The gentle angel who had once tended to my wounds with a touch so tender that it pierced the armor of my cold, hardened heart. She had risked everything to shelter me, and now, with a growing dread, I realized that her kindness had summoned a violent retribution from the heavens.
Desperate for answers, I reached out to Beelzebub, my right-hand man and confidant. The demon, cunning and resourceful, was tasked with a nearly impossible mission—to glean information from heaven, where whispers of fate were guarded by seraphic sentinels.
Three days crawled by like ages, each moment a tormenting reminder of my helplessness, until Beelzebub finally returned with news that pierced my heart like a dagger.
Merry had been punished for her kindness; she had to lead a miserable mortal life in a lower world without her memories or powers.
Guilt washed over me like an unrelenting tide, and the darkness that enveloped me deepened. The urge to rush forth and rescue her surged within me, a storm of impulsive fury.
But Beelzebub, wise and wary, cautioned against such recklessness. "If Satan senses your affection for her and your defiance against him just for her, he will kill her in that world to erase your only weakness," he advised, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of my emotions.
With a heavy heart, I quelled the firestorm within me, resigning myself to wait. I plotted and planned, each passing moment a painful reminder of the stakes at hand, until at last, the five days waned, and the gates of Hell opened before me again.
The vortex, a swirling maelstrom of dark energy, connected Hell to countless mortal worlds. This vortex was different from the one in Heaven, but at one point, the two vortexes were connected. Through this vortex, we traveled in our spirit form, our true bodies left behind in Hell.
As I stepped into the vortex, it enveloped me in an ethereal embrace, guiding me through the numerous worlds.
I concentrated, reaching out with my power, tracing the faint, glowing thread of Merry's spirit. I remembered every detail—the warmth of her spirit, the light of her quiet laughter, and the way her Healing magic had knit my wounds together.
Finally, I found her, but the sight that greeted me shattered my heart anew. Merry's spirit was fraying, torn apart by some mysterious forces that sought to kill her thoroughly. In that moment, something primal awoke within me, a fierce determination born from love and regret.
I surged forward, enveloping her spirit with my own, a protective shield forged from my very essence. With a surge of ancient power, I supplied her with pure spiritual energy, a sacrificial act that weakened me but ignited a light of life within her. The connection between us pulsed with raw emotion, a bond that transcended the realms of heaven and hell.
As I poured my strength into her, I felt her spirit begin to stabilize, coalescing into a solid form gradually. Yet, just as hope blossomed, the forces of the universe conspired against us.
Merry's spirit, though saved from immediate destruction, fragmented into pieces, scattering across the universe like stars flung into the night sky. Each fragment was a part of her spirit, a testament to the connection we shared, yet a reminder of the distance that now lay between us.
I watched in anguish as the fragments of her spirit drifted among countless planets, each one a world where she would have to endure the trials of mortality to reclaim what was lost. It would be an arduous task, but I vowed to support her in every incarnation she would undertake.
I would protect her until she fully reunited her spirit, no matter the challenges that lay ahead. I pledged to traverse the realms, guiding her in her quest to find each fragment so that I could help restore her spirit to wholeness.
For I had come to understand that love was not merely a fleeting emotion; it was a powerful force that could transcend even the darkest of fates, illuminating the path toward hope and renewal.
With my heart ablaze and a newfound purpose guiding me, I embraced the challenge before me, ready to defy the gods themselves.
The journey was just beginning, but I would stop at nothing to reclaim Merry, to bring her back, and to show her that even in the darkest of times, love could light the way home.
Suddenly, a divine presence filled our surroundings and perceived me; that presence clearly showed hostility toward me. The avatar of Archangel Uriel materialized before us. She scrutinized me intently to know my intentions.
When she realized I had protected Merry from perishing, her divine pressure eased to some degree. I was already injured from saving Merry, and my injury was aggravated further by Uriel's pressure. But I was relieved to see her; if any other archangel or angel had come, I couldn't have believed them at all. I knew Uriel absolutely loved Merry; she was her only well-wisher in that fickle heaven.
Uriel sighed. She came close to Merry, examining her condition closely; her face winced in pain.
"Merry saved you before," Uriel said, her voice flat. "Now you have saved her. Your debt is paid. You should return to your place. I came here only for Merry. I won't pursue you at this time."
I scoffed, "Where were you when she needed you most? Now you tell me to leave? Isn't it funny how her punishment became a death trap for her? You angels are so pretentious. You knew she meant no harm, yet you punished her cruelly. Now someone wants her life!"
"Do you even know who they are?" I seethed, my voice laced with frustration. "What kind of punishment will they receive for attacking her so ruthlessly? Will the heavens truly remain impartial in this case? What will become of Merry? She absolutely needs to recover her spirit fragments from those worlds. You're too preoccupied to even safeguard her life. How can you possibly find the time to assist her?" My complaints echoed in the silence.
"Heaven has its rules," Uriel said, her voice firm despite the hesitation in her eyes. "Every transgression will be punished accordingly, regardless of the severity or the individual involved. I don't know at this moment who plotted against Merry, but I will find them. They will face the consequences of their actions. As for you," she added, her gaze hardening, "you are a demon. You have no right to concern yourself with her fate."
"Only 'I' have the right to care for her," I said, a laugh escaping me, tinged with exasperation. "You're too busy to even fulfill your own responsibilities. I saved her, and I'll help retrieve her spirit fragments. I'll protect her from any harm. I won't let her experience any hardship."
"Why do you care so much?" Uriel asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"Because I love Merry," I replied, my tone resolute.
"If your father finds out about this, he'll kill her. How can you possibly save her? And who knows, maybe he even ordered this attack," Uriel accused, her voice suspicious.
"He doesn't know about her," I said, my tone firm despite the knot of fear in my stomach.
Uriel scoffed. "You have no idea what your father is capable of. Someone from Heaven helped him, yes, but I'm certain he had a hand in this incident. He's Satan; I know his capability. He doesn't just sit back and let things happen. He orchestrates them."
"Then what's your plan?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "How do we protect her?"
"Your involvement in her life is the most dangerous thing for her," Uriel stated firmly. "You have to leave her life completely."
"I won't do that," I retorted, my voice desperate. "You can't protect her alone. Let me help you. Think about her, not your prejudice against me. Satan isn't almighty. If you help, I can keep Merry safe and sound. I plead with you, please help me..."