The wind howled across the barren landscape as Mary, Lela, and Loosie stood in the aftermath of their confrontation. The battlefield that had been so full of chaos just moments before was eerily quiet now, save for the distant echoes of fading celestial energy. The angels had retreated, but their presence lingered in the air like a heavy storm cloud, casting a shadow over everything.
Mary's crimson eyes flicked toward the sky, where the last remnants of divine light were dissipating. Despite the victory, a gnawing feeling of unease settled in her chest. She could sense that the war was far from over. This was just one battle in a much larger, more dangerous conflict—one that she couldn't face alone.
"Are you all right?" Lela asked, her voice cutting through the silence. She stepped forward, concern evident on her face as she looked at Mary's exhausted form.
Mary's grip on her Saber of Mist tightened, though her body was aching from the battle. She met Lela's gaze and nodded, though the doubt in her heart was impossible to ignore.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of exhaustion. "But we need to prepare. They'll be back. And when they do, we'll need to be ready."
Loosie, who had been standing off to the side, her hand resting on her dagger, let out a soft huff. "I agree. The Archangel won't let this go. He's calculating—he'll find a way to strike back."
Mary turned toward Loosie, her sharp gaze cutting through the gloom. "We need allies. The Archangel's forces are too powerful for us to take on alone. We need a strategy, and we need to move quickly."
Lela nodded, her eyes narrowing as she thought. "The Council of Mages... They've always had ties to celestial magic. They might know something about the Archangel's plans. We should approach them for help."
"I don't trust the Council," Mary said, her voice low. "They have their own agenda, and they're not to be relied upon. But... if we can leverage them, it might work to our advantage."
Loosie grinned, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Sounds like a plan. Let's shake them up a bit."
"We don't have time for games," Mary replied, though there was a slight edge of amusement in her tone. "We need answers, and we need them now."
The decision made, they began the long journey toward the Council's headquarters, a towering citadel nestled deep within the mountains. The road ahead was treacherous, winding through dense forests and perilous cliffs. Yet Mary's resolve was unwavering. The Archangel's forces had tasted defeat for now, but they would return, and when they did, it would be in full force.
As they traveled, Mary couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. She had been so focused on the battle, so consumed by the fight, that she hadn't stopped to think about the bigger picture. What was the Archangel's ultimate goal? Why had he come to Earth in the first place? And why was she—someone who should have been an outsider to all of this—caught in the middle of a war between Heaven and Earth?
The answers eluded her, but she knew one thing for certain: if she didn't act soon, the world as they knew it would be lost.
As night fell and the shadows of the forest deepened around them, the trio set up camp. They needed rest, but Mary's mind wouldn't let her sleep. She couldn't afford to. Every minute counted. Every decision they made from here on out would shape the future of everything she held dear.
Lela, sensing Mary's unrest, sat down beside her by the campfire. "You're worried," she said softly.
Mary didn't look at her. She stared into the flames, watching the orange glow flicker and dance. "I'm not worried. I'm preparing."
"Preparing for what?"
"The worst." Mary's voice was flat, but there was an underlying edge to it. "The Archangel's forces are unlike anything we've ever faced. We're not just fighting for survival anymore. We're fighting for the future. For our very existence."
Lela was silent for a moment, then placed a hand on Mary's shoulder. "We're in this together. You don't have to bear this burden alone."
Mary finally met her gaze, her red eyes softening. "I know. But I can't help but feel like I'm missing something. Something important."
Loosie, who had been sharpening her daggers by the fire, chimed in, "You're just feeling the weight of it all. We all are. But don't forget, we've got each other. And we're going to figure this out. One step at a time."
Mary sighed, leaning back and letting the warmth of the fire seep into her cold skin. "I hope you're right."
The rest of the night passed in relative quiet. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. But sleep did not come easily to Mary. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. She couldn't escape the nagging feeling that they were running out of time.
The next morning, they continued their journey toward the Council's headquarters, the landscape growing increasingly rugged and desolate as they neared their destination. The mountains loomed overhead, casting long shadows across the narrow trail.
As they ascended the final stretch of the mountain pass, a cold wind began to blow, carrying with it a sense of foreboding. Mary's instincts flared. She stopped, holding up a hand to signal the others to halt.
"What is it?" Lela asked, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
"I don't know," Mary replied, her voice tense. "But something's not right."
Before she could say another word, the ground beneath them trembled. A deafening roar split the air as a massive shadow descended from the sky. The trio looked up in shock to see a gargantuan creature—part angel, part beast—swooping toward them, its wings unfurled like a dark storm cloud.
It was an angelic abomination, a creature born of Heaven's twisted desires.
"Prepare yourselves!" Mary shouted, drawing her blade and stepping forward to face the creature.
Lela raised her spear, her face grim. Loosie drew her daggers, ready to spring into action.
The creature landed with a thundering crash, shaking the earth beneath their feet. Its eyes, glowing with divine fire, locked onto Mary.
"You will fall, vampire," the creature hissed, its voice like grinding stone. "Heaven's wrath will consume you."
Mary's eyes blazed with fury as she raised her saber, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We'll see about that."
The battle had begun once again, and this time, it was a battle for survival against something even more monstrous than the angels they had already faced.