Azrael
The eighth floor of babel was alive with a bustling cacophony of noise. Adventures drifted from store to store, searching for gear that balanced quality and affordability, all while the children of the Hephaestus Familia called out, eager to promote there wears.
I wandered from shop to shop, carefully analysing every weapon I came across. The weight behind my swings was considerable, and I needed a weapon forged from high-quality metal—anything less would degrade far too quickly. Unfortunately, any weapons made from a suitable metal were leagues out of my price range, as distant as the gaps between heaven and earth...
Armour wasn't much of a concern to me when venturing into the dungeon, so I didn't waste time looking it over. I had no intention of taking serious injury, and even if I did, my body is tough enough to handle it. Investing in armour simply felt like an unnecessary expense.
I continued to search for a suitable weapon—my preference was either sword or scythe, but on my current budget, I couldn't afford to be picky. As my search advanced, I found myself exceedingly disappointed. Perhaps my standards as a divine being were too high, but not a single weapon caught my eye. The weapons here were either produced by rookie blacksmiths or hastily produced for profit—none of them would last at my pace.
Sighing in disappointment, I strode towards the exit of Babel, a mediocre sword in hand. I hadn't found anything that truly felt like it would help—at least, not within my budget. So instead, I settled for the highest quality sword I could afford. I supposed scythes weren't too common, as I hadn't seen a single one. If I had to guess, the sword I purchased today would only last a single dungeon dive.
Walking while lost in thought, I suddenly bumped into something—or rather, someone. Just below me, a familiar red-haired woman lay on the ground. Her short hair reached just past her neck, and she wore a white shirt that strained to contain her ample chest.
"Oi, watch where you're going." Clearly agitated by my lack of concentration, she brushed herself off and stood. I watched as the irritation on her face faded, shifting into a mix of confusion and surprise.
Then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck me, and a subtle grin formed on my lips.
"Hephaestus, it's wonderful to see you," I said, confirming her suspicions before she could even ask a question. The looks from my fellow gods proved that some recognized my appearance, but beyond that, they couldn't sense an ounce of divinity.
That meant, to gods I hadn't been close with, my disguise was perfect.
"Azrael...?" she muttered, her voice laced with slight disbelief. "How are you out of Heaven?"
I let her question hang in the air as I gathered my thoughts.
"That's... a long story," I assured her, not wanting to waste precious time repeating the same tale over and over.
"Well then, what are you doing on this level of Babel?" Hephaestus asked, her tone laced with unmistakable curiosity.
"Actually, I was searching for a weapon, but sadly, none of them piqued my interest," I answered quickly yet calmly.
She seemed to take slight offense at my statement but chose to ignore it for now. After a brief pause, she asked, "Are you perhaps creating a Familia?" I shook my head, dismissing her theory. "Oh, nothing of the sort. The weapon is actually for myself." A flicker of surprise crossed her face. "I suppose I should've suspected as much from 'Oblivion.'" She held a clear image of my plans in her mind—it was obvious.
She released a disappointed breath. "But to think not even a single weapon here could cater to your likes..." she muttered aloud, clearly planning to train her Familia harder.
"Well, there were some interesting weapons... but I'm a bit broke."
She stared at me blankly. "Seriously...?"
"Well, anyway... you're just the person I needed to run into," I said aloud, my words like a fishing line, waiting to catch the fish—her curiosity, in this case.
"Oh, really? And why's that?"
I had her hook, line, and sinker.
"Well, I suppose I wanted to propose a deal..." I paused, making sure I had her focus, taking a moment to align my thoughts. "Eventually, though it may be a while, I'll need to retrieve 'Demise' and 'Futility.' I was just thinking that if you were to make me a weapon, personally, I would let you examine one of them as much as you wished."
Shock struck like thunder, a blizzard crashing through her thoughts, and she froze. "What!? You never even let me touch them back in Heaven, let alone examine one whenever I wanted!" When she finally came to, awe flooded her uncovered eye, like the calm after a passing storm. In that moment, she was no longer the composed, mature goddess—she had reverted to the awestruck, childish deity I remembered from Heaven. Did my weapons really have that strong an effect on her...? And, here I thought she was childish normally...
"I take it that's a deal, then?" I asked, seeking her confirmation. She crossed her arms under her chest, her fingers tapping rhythmically against her elbow as she mulled over the offer, her uncovered eye narrowing in deep thought. After a brief silence, she finally spoke. "Do I get to pick which weapon I can examine?"
My eyebrows knotted together as I considered. "Sure, that's perfectly fine."
She paused, her gaze distant, as if sifting through countless possibilities in her mind. I assumed she was weighing her choice before she finally spoke. "'Demise: Oblivion's Inferno.' That is my decision."
Azrael gave a firm nod of acceptance. "It's a deal. Once I retrieve 'Demise,' you'll be free to examine it whenever you wish—no further notice needed."
"Though, I do have one question," he asked with curiosity. "Why didn't you choose 'Futility'?"
She closed her eyes thoughtfully, taking a moment to consider. "I don't know much about it. Your sword has a clear, defined power, especially since it's the weapon you wield most often..."
"So, you chose the one you're more familiar with, then?" I asked.
Hephaestus nodded in agreement, her expression thoughtful.
Futility: Fate's End.' A title known only to me.
The scythe was dangerous.
Its risks were something even I couldn't escape when wielding it, and there was no way to avoid the consequences. If a mortal attempted to wield it, they would perish instantly. I rarely used it, which led to the lack of information about its true nature. Anyone who had seen it in action never had the chance to spread the nightmare.
I suppose it was a stroke of luck she didn't chose 'Futility.'
Extra Info: 'Oblivion' is another name for Azrael that the deities began to use after his mass slaughtering.
Azrael has a distinct scent of 'Moonflowers.'
His favourite pass time is stargazing.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I will try and upload one today and tomorrow too!