All-Mighty God, his face stern and unreadable, stepped forward, his voice carrying a weight that silenced the assembly. "The time has come," he began, his voice deep and echoing across the chamber. "The fragile peace we've maintained for centuries has been shattered. Lucifer walks free, and chaos spreads across the mortal world. We cannot allow this to continue."
He glanced around at the gathering of gods and angels, his gaze settling on each one of them with a mixture of expectation and command.
"Gabriel is dead,"
the All-Mighty continued, his voice filled with a sadness that quickly turned to cold determination. "And now, the mortals are no longer blind to our war. But they are not ready for what's to come. We must intervene, we must stop this before Lucifer gains more power. Prepare yourselves. This will be a war unlike any other."
The gods and angels exchanged looks, some of concern, others of pure battle readiness. Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, cracked his knuckles, his thunderbolt gleaming in his hand as a rumble of thunder reverberated through the hall. Odin, the wise Allfather, simply nodded, his spear Gungnir already in hand, his single eye shining with a readiness born of countless battles. Thor, eager as ever, gripped Mjolnir tightly, the weight of it bringing a smile to his bearded face.
The Archangels—Michael, Raphael, and Uriel—stood at the ready, their divine wings shimmering with radiant light. Michael, the warrior of heaven, placed a gauntleted hand on his broadsword, the flames of righteousness flickering along its blade. Raphael, ever the healer, adjusted his armor and took up his staff, his face calm yet determined. Uriel, the fire of God, clenched his fists, small embers sparking from his armor as he prepared to summon the full force of heavenly fire.
Hermes, still nursing his bruised throat from the All-Mighty's earlier wrath, quietly stepped back into the shadows, unwilling to draw further attention to himself.
The All-Mighty God raised his arms, calling forth a massive, radiant portal in the center of the hall. "Today," he declared, "we descend upon the earth. We must find Lucifer and put an end to this madness before it spreads."
The gods began to move in unison, each grabbing their divine weapons and armor. Zeus' storm-wrought armor gleamed as he walked to the portal, his thunderbolt in hand, crackling with untapped energy. Odin adjusted the raven-feather cloak around his shoulders and glanced at Thor, who was already spinning Mjolnir in anticipation. The gods of Olympus and Asgard followed closely, along with the legions of angels, their glowing swords and spears at the ready.
"Let's remind the mortals of the power of the gods," Zeus said with a grim smile, stepping into the portal.
The All-Mighty God watched as the gods and angels, one by one, entered the portal to the mortal realm. As the last of them passed through, he stepped forward, turning to look once more at the grand hall, the domain of the divine. It would be the last time he saw it in peace for a long time.
He stepped through, the portal closing behind him.
On Earth, the skies over Japan darkened as the first signs of the gods' arrival manifested. Thunderclouds gathered, swirling ominously above the cities, and the wind howled as if carrying the whispers of ancient battles. Lightning flashed, and the earth rumbled beneath the feet of mortals.
In the midst of this, the armies of demons—released by Lucifer's machinations—continued their rampage through the city streets. The mortal soldiers, scattered and struggling to maintain control, had no idea what was coming.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and the very heavens seemed to tear open. From the rift, Zeus descended, riding on the winds of a storm, his thunderbolt glowing with an intensity that shook the ground. Thor followed close behind, landing with a crash that sent demons scattering in all directions. Odin, ever-watchful, appeared with his ravens circling above, his spear poised for battle.
The Archangels arrived soon after, their radiant wings outstretched as they hovered above the city. Michael, with his sword blazing, was the first to charge, cutting down the nearest demons with a single strike. Raphael moved swiftly, his staff glowing as he healed wounded mortals, restoring strength to those who had suffered in the initial attack. Uriel followed, engulfing entire swaths of demons in heavenly fire.
The gods and angels had come to the mortal realm once again, and with them, the full weight of the celestial war.
But as they fought, they knew this was only the beginning. Lucifer, ever-cunning, was somewhere out there, pulling the strings, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And for the mortals—Raiden, Zohar, Kaito, and all the others—it was only a matter of time before they became entangled in this ancient conflict. The world would never be the same again.
The New Age War would go down in history as the moment the gods returned to earth—not as protectors, but as warriors.
Back in the chaos of the streets, Zohar hurried to catch up with Raiden and Kaito. He found them standing at the edge of the makeshift evacuation zone, both looking pale and shattered. The weight of what they'd just experienced—the loss of family, the carnage around them—hung heavy in the air. It was as if their minds were trying to process an impossible reality, but there was no reprieve.
Just then, Kirashi and Shigenori appeared from around the corner, both of them visibly shaken by the horrors that had unfolded. Kirashi's eyes widened when she saw Raiden and Kaito standing there, looking completely hollowed out. She rushed up to Zohar, her voice trembling.
"What happened to them?" she asked, glancing between the two. "What's wrong with Raiden and Kaito?"
Zohar hesitated, unsure of how to word it, but eventually sighed and said, "Their families... They didn't make it." His words seemed to knock the wind out of Kirashi. She stood frozen for a moment, her eyes welling with tears as she processed the tragedy.
Without another word, Kirashi moved toward Raiden, wrapping her arms around him in a warm, heartfelt embrace. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice barely above a sob. Raiden stood still, stiff at first, but then slowly leaned into her, letting the tears he had been holding back flow freely. Kirashi began to cry as well, her shoulders shaking as she held him tighter.
Meanwhile, Shigenori approached Kaito, who stood with clenched fists, his eyes locked on the ground. Shigenori put a hand on his shoulder and spoke in a low, firm voice. "I know what you're feeling right now. But listen—nothing can hurt your family anymore. You did everything you could, and you're still here to protect your brother and sister. That's what matters now."
Kaito looked up, his eyes red from holding back tears, but Shigenori's words seemed to break through his hardened exterior. "How do you know?" Kaito asked, his voice thick with emotion.
Shigenori glanced over at Kirashi, who was still hugging Raiden. "Because we lost our parents too," he said softly. "Me and Kirashi... we were really young when it happened. We didn't know how we'd keep going, but we did. We fought through it, and you can too."
Kaito took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He nodded slowly, though the pain still lingered in his eyes. "Thanks... I needed that," he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shigenori squeezed his shoulder one more time before stepping back. "We're going to get through this. All of us."
The five of them stood together in the middle of the street, surrounded by the remnants of a world that had just been turned upside down. The weight of their losses hung heavy, but in that moment, they knew they weren't alone. They still had each other. And despite the unimaginable chaos that had descended upon them, there was a small flicker of hope that they would find a way to survive—together.
The chaos erupted in an instant. Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito had barely taken a few steps toward the convoy when the sharp whine of a malfunctioning helicopter sliced through the air. In the distance, the tail of the chopper was spinning wildly out of control, smoke trailing from the rear. People all around began to scream, but before anyone could react, the helicopter spiraled downward, crashing into the crowd.
Without thinking, Raiden and Zohar grabbed Kaito and tackled him off the side of the convoy truck, the three of them tumbling to the ground as the helicopter's blades ripped through the camp. The deafening sound of metal crashing against metal filled the air, followed by the sickening thud of the helicopter's body slamming into the earth. The propellers spun out violently, rolling through the center of the camp like giant scythes, leaving devastation in their wake.
Bodies scattered as soldiers and civilians alike tried to flee, but the damage had been done. The back end of the convoy was torn apart by the impact, sending debris flying everywhere. The scene descended into utter pandemonium as flames erupted from the wreckage, the heat searing the air around them.
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito lay on the ground, stunned, covered in dust and dirt from the impact. For a moment, everything was eerily quiet. Then the screams of the wounded and the desperate shouts of soldiers filled the air once again, breaking through the haze.
Raiden sat up first, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to make sense of the chaos around him. His ears rang from the blast, and his head felt like it was spinning, but he forced himself to focus.
"Is everyone okay?!" he yelled, pulling himself to his feet and offering a hand to Zohar and Kaito.
Zohar groaned, clutching his side as he got up. "I'm good... I think," he said, wincing as he rubbed his ribs.
Kaito looked shaken, his eyes wide as he stared at the burning wreckage and the soldiers scrambling to contain the damage. He glanced back toward the medical tent where his siblings were supposed to be, his face contorting with fear. "My brother and sister... they were back there!"
Raiden grabbed him by the shoulders, forcing him to stay calm. "Listen to me. The medics will have moved them, okay? They had separate convoys for the wounded. We'll find them, but right now, we need to stay together."
Kaito looked torn, desperate to run back toward the tent but knowing Raiden was right. "Okay... okay," he muttered, trying to regain his composure. Zohar stepped in beside him, giving him a reassuring pat on the back.
The remaining soldiers rushed forward, trying to usher the panicking civilians away from the burning wreckage and get the situation under control.
"Everyone, stay back!" one of the soldiers barked, motioning for the evacuees to retreat further from the crash site. "Get to the far side of the camp, we need to secure this area!"
Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito began to move with the crowd, their hearts racing as they stayed close together. They could see other convoys that had started to mobilize, soldiers working to keep things organized despite the chaos.
"Is this ever going to end?" Zohar muttered, his voice grim. "Every time we think we're safe, something else happens."
Raiden's jaw clenched as he surveyed the burning wreckage. He didn't have an answer. It felt like the world was unraveling faster than they could keep up. But one thing was clear—they couldn't let their guard down, not for a second.
As they moved further away from the crash site, the weight of the situation began to settle in. The sight of the wounded, the desperate civilians, and the soldiers doing everything they could to keep order—this was no longer just about survival. This was war.
And they were right in the middle of it.
As the smoke began to lift, a shadowy figure started to emerge from the thick haze. Kirashi, squinting through the gray clouds, caught sight of the silhouette and felt a chill run down her spine. Her heart raced as she shouted, "There's someone out there!" Her voice barely carried over the panicked cries and the crackling fires around them.
The soldiers standing nearby immediately tensed, turning their focus to the figure looming in the distance. The smoke swirled around him, making it impossible to see clearly, but something about his presence struck fear into their hearts. Then, without warning, two massive, black, feathered wings unfurled from his back, cutting through the smoke like knives. His crimson red eyes glowed ominously from within the shadows, piercing through the haze.
The soldiers froze in fear. One of them, his voice trembling, barked out the order, "Take cover!" They hastily raised their guns, pointing them at the advancing figure.
A deafening volley of gunfire erupted, the bullets whizzing through the air as the soldiers opened fire. The figure stumbled and collapsed to the ground under the hail of bullets, disappearing again into the lingering smoke. For a moment, everything went silent. The gunfire ceased, and the only sound was the distant crackle of flames.
But the silence was broken in an instant.
Before anyone could react, the figure moved. With terrifying speed, he launched himself toward the soldiers, emerging from the smoke like a nightmare. In the blink of an eye, he tore through their ranks, his sharp claws slicing through armor and flesh alike. The soldiers barely had time to scream before they fell, one by one, their bodies hitting the ground in a bloody blur.
The smoke cleared, revealing the figure standing amidst the carnage, his wings spread wide, black as night and glistening in the flickering light of the fires. His eyes burned with an intense red glow, and a single twisted horn jutted from the left side of his forehead. His sharp teeth gleamed in a wicked grin, and his long, clawed fingers dripped with fresh blood.
Raiden, Zohar, Kaito, and Kirashi stood frozen in place, watching in horror as the figure straightened up, surveying the destruction he had just wrought. His presence was suffocating, his aura thick with malice and power.
Raiden's breath caught in his throat, his mind racing as he tried to comprehend what he was seeing. The black wings, the demonic features, the terrifying power he wielded—there was no mistaking it.
Zohar's voice was barely a whisper as he muttered, "Lucifer..."
The name hung in the air like a curse. Lucifer, the fallen angel, the prince of darkness, had come to the mortal realm. And they were standing right in front of him.
Kaito's eyes widened in disbelief. "How... how is this even possible?" he stammered, his voice shaking as he backed up, gripping Raiden's arm.
Lucifer's gaze swept across the battlefield, his eyes locking onto them for a brief moment. His wicked grin widened as if he recognized the fear in their hearts. With a slow, deliberate motion, he raised his hand, his sharp claws glinting in the light.
For the first time since the chaos had begun, Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito felt the weight of what they were truly up against. This was no ordinary demon. This was the king of hell himself, and the war was only beginning.
"We need to move,"
Raiden whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.
But none of them moved. Not yet. They were trapped, paralyzed by the overwhelming presence of the fallen angel before them.