Chapter 2: The Chosen Ten
As the last traces of Lucifer's dark presence dissipated, the sacred chamber was left in silence. The Creator's decision to accept Lucifer's challenge weighed on the angels, each of them feeling the gravity of the mission before them. Heaven had never before faced a trial of such magnitude, and now, the weight of humanity's future rested upon the shoulders of ten chosen souls.
The Creator's voice, calm and infinite, broke the stillness. "My faithful, the time has come. I ask each of you to guide a champion who will carry humanity's light through this trial."
Ten beams of radiant light appeared in the chamber, each representing one of Heaven's finest—a being of virtue tasked with selecting and guiding a mortal soul.
Gabriel, the messenger, stepped forward and bowed. "Lord, we are prepared. Each of us will choose a mortal, a soul worthy to stand as a champion of light. We shall guide them with strength, compassion, and patience."
The Creator's gaze softened as He regarded His loyal angels, pride in His eyes. "So be it. But there is one soul I have chosen Myself. His name is Ano."
A ripple of surprise passed through the gathering. It was rare for the Creator to choose a mortal personally, and for a moment, the angels exchanged glances, sensing the importance of this choice.
Michael, the Archangel of War, stepped forward, his expression respectful but curious. "My Lord, what sets this mortal apart? What has he been given that we do not yet understand?"
The Creator looked to Michael, His eyes filled with both sorrow and hope. "Ano's heart is unlike any other. He has endured loss yet remains compassionate. He has known darkness but still seeks the light. He is no warrior, yet he possesses a courage that surpasses even the strongest souls. In him, I see a spark of what humanity could be, a light that has resisted even in the deepest shadows."
The angels listened with quiet reverence, sensing there was a deeper purpose in the Creator's choice. A question remained, however, as to how this ordinary human would rise to face the trials ahead.
The Creator's gaze returned to Michael, and His voice grew softer. "Michael, I entrust you with Ano's guidance. Protect him, teach him, and show him that strength lies not in the sword alone. His journey will require resilience, compassion, and faith, for his path will differ from the others."
Michael bowed deeply, accepting the weight of this responsibility. "As You wish, my Lord. I shall guide him with all that I am." Yet, within him, questions stirred. What did the Creator see in this mortal that set him apart from the others?
Turning to the remaining angels, the Creator's voice filled the chamber, His words both gentle and commanding. "Each of you shall also choose a champion. Find those who reflect your own virtue—a soul with the strength to rise above darkness. Guide them with patience, and remember, their hearts must remain their own. For only in choice can true strength be found."
One by one, the angels nodded, their resolve firm. They would descend to Earth and seek mortals whose virtues matched their own, not merely in strength but in heart.
Gabriel, Heaven's messenger, envisioned a writer—a scholar who wielded words to heal and inspire rather than to harm.
Raphael, the healer, thought of a doctor who risked everything to save others in conflict zones.
Uriel, angel of wisdom, considered a philosopher who sought truth above all else, a soul unclouded by illusion.
As each angel focused on the soul they might choose, a shared purpose settled over them. Their task was clear—to find those who could carry the light even when surrounded by shadows, champions who could face Lucifer's chosen without succumbing to despair.
Michael's Conversation with the Creator
Before descending, Michael took a step forward, his mind still on the responsibility given to him. "My Lord," he began, "how should I train Ano? Should he be prepared as a warrior?"
The Creator's gaze softened, filled with understanding. "Teach him strength, Michael, but know that not all battles are fought with weapons. Show him the paths of mercy, patience, and faith. He will face trials that cannot be won with force alone. Prepare him to stand for forgiveness, even when it seems impossible."
Michael nodded, though questions lingered in his heart. Heaven's greatest warrior was being asked to train someone whose strength lay in compassion as much as it did in resilience. Bowing his head, he replied, "As You command, my Lord."
With that, Michael and the other angels prepared to descend, each one of them renewed in purpose and commitment. The Creator's blessing guided them, and they knew that the mortals they chose would shape humanity's fate.
The Angels' Descent
With resolve burning brightly within them, the angels took flight, descending toward Earth to seek the champions destined to stand against darkness. Each angel was drawn to a different part of the world, sensing the souls that resonated with their own virtues.
As Michael made his way down, he found himself wondering about the path awaiting Ano. The Creator's words echoed in his heart, reminding him that the truest strength came not from the sword but from the soul.
The first steps of Ragnarokhad begun, and humanity's champions prepared to face a world where light and darkness would clash like never before.