Angel Monarch

Sera stumbled along the streets, tears welling in her eyes.

She clenched one hand so hard, blood began flowing from the wounds her nails made, while the other was its perfect contrast. Her right hand gently stroked her belly, where something small and beautiful was growing.

The pain she felt in her heart, and the joy she felt in her mind, made her nauseous.

She continued stumbling until she couldn't hold it anymore. She entered a small, filthy alley and began violently vomiting.

Her stomach was empty, so only acid came out of her. Its familiar burning sensation caused physical pain along her throat's lining.

It seemed pain was her constant companion. Something she could never escape.

In this time of mental crisis and confusion, the familiar sensation of being hurt settled everything in Sera's mind. The pain brought calmness with it, just like it did whenever Harold tortured her.

Sera heaved, still leaning against the alley's wall. Stomach acid dripped from her mouth, which she tried to wipe away, only to realize how dirty her hands were.

She hadn't showered or even washed hands since Malta. Dried blood, mud, dust, soot, and other disgusting materials, including her own vomit, covered her entire body.

Sera glanced at her dirty hand for a moment before turning from the alley and proceeding towards her destination.

Her right hand stayed on her belly, gently stroking it. She couldn't help the small smile from creeping onto her otherwise grim face.

After the Apocalypse, many people already considered pregnancies as miracles. It broke humanity when most of the population died in the Last War. For most families, having children was treated as a blessing.

There were also cases of abortion and a lot of violence surrounding these events. People often got murdered both for aborting their own children, or hurting pregnant woman.

The law also treated people who hurt pregnant woman as one of the highest offences, only preceded by actual murder.

But there was an even greater miracle. An event rare enough that each one led to city-wide celebrations… Evolved pregnancies…

The reason for these pregnancies remains a mystery. Unlike normal women, whose menstrual cycle determines their fertility, Evolved women have nothing like that.

They menstruate once a year for an entire month, but their hormonal levels stay the same, and they don't bleed. Their emotions are the only major change, which turns more erratic for the month.

Evolved women's pregnancies remained a mystery. Each birth didn't just bring a regular baby into the world, but an Evolved one, making it an even greater miracle.

For these reasons and a bunch of others, Sera felt especially ecstatic by learning this news.

Yesterday, she doubted she'd survive the day, but now she felt unstoppable.

A new sense of purpose arose in her. She couldn't let herself die. She couldn't give up now. She needed to live, so her baby could be born!

With a lot more determination, she hurried towards the tower, but upon seeing the large structure stretch above, she stopped. Doubts rose in her mind.

Her hand kept stroking her belly as she glanced down at her filthy body.

The decision she made wasn't as certain in her mind anymore. Was it really the right choice? Will she truly survive? Will her baby?

So many questions, yet no true answers.

Sera inhaled deeply, then gazed upward at the tower. The doubt gradually cleared from her mind as she recalled Fate's last words:

"When Heaven's door opens, and the gates of Hell burst wide.

The Angel rides back home to save and kill all her kind."

This decision may prove disastrous, but her options were limited. There might've been a future for her if she stayed in Europe, yet Sera knew she couldn't.

The mental pressure already began growing back, and letting it fester for too long could lead to terrible consequences.

With a heavy heart, Sera took one step after the other, walking towards the tower. As it loomed closer, firmness appeared in her steps, and when she arrived, all her doubts perished.

Her pristine wings spread wide, and with a single stroke of her wings, Sera flew more than a hundred meters into the air, landing easily on the tower's top level.

Towards the west, the sun continued crawling below the horizon, its last rays reflecting on the sea's gentle waves.

The atmosphere felt especially peaceful. Sera leaned against the railing and watched the sunset of these shores.

She perfectly imprinted the scene in her memory, knowing returning was distant hope for now, nothing else.

A lot of memories and emotions pressed against her mental walls, but she kept everything intact. She didn't have the luxury of losing herself in this current state.

In silence, she waited and immediately after the sun set below the horizon, a portal opened right next to Sera.

She sighed deeply and shook her head, but couldn't help the laughter escape her lips.

"I thought I explicitly said I only wished to see my daughter and my Shadow… What are you doing here, Henry?"

Her words held a perfect monotone, but she couldn't turn around, since the smile on her face betrayed her tough mother act.

"Uh… I'm sorry my Lady! I tried convincing Vicky, but she wouldn't come without Henry in attendance."

Sera smirked, then slowly turned, eyeing the three people standing nearby

Her daughter looked adamant, but also embarrassed, while Henry just seemed scared. Faith couldn't even look into Sera's eyes, shame evident on her face.

"That's no problem, actually it's good that Henry is here. I would like to get a report of our standing in Europe before we proceed with our affairs!"

Henry couldn't hide the surprise from his face, even though he tried. After taking a deep breath, he opened up his watch and began summarizing a report he previously made.

"The Angelic Order lost one-third of its number during the war and gained control of Wien, The Broken-City, and Lizbone! Also, after Bea's declaration of the conflict's end, Catania, Warsaw, Krak, Odesz, and Kiev all pledged their allegiance to us!"

Sera nodded at the new information, not missing Henry's last word, 'us'. It might've been a slip of his tongue, but Henry never made mistakes while talking.

It didn't matter for her at this moment, since something else that Henry said surprised her. "Catania? Really? How did that happen?"

"Since they were the closest to the explosion of Malta, they all became terrified, and the moment Bea's voice ended the conflict, their leadership immediately surrendered. The city's now controlled by their Angelic Order Chapter."

Sera became thoughtful, then nodded to herself as a new understanding settled in her mind.

"Thirteen city-states, am I correct? That's the extent of our control?… Okay, then let's visit each. I need to do something before my resurrection's power boost runs out… Starting with New Athens!"

Without delay, Sera soared into the sky and unfurled all three sets of her wings.

The air turned heavier to everyone still standing atop the tower. They watched with wide eyes as Sera's body burned with golden flames and shined with pure light.

The pressure in the air increased, and with a loud groan, Sera's power shot out in a straight line, hitting the ground near the edge of the Aegis System.

In a shower of dirt, everything exploded there, and silence followed. Soon the ground began shaking, and every soldier standing on the walls watched in awe as the energy circled the entire city.

When both sides met, and the circle became complete, the Sera's energy glowed with even more ferocity.

From the ground, silver, metallic walls rose high into the sky, dwarfing the ones where the soldiers stood. It was also wide and on four points, large gate-like holes appeared in the walls.

After finishing it, Sera returned to the trio, and together they travelled to each of the thirteen city-states. She raised similar walls at each, surprising all the soldiers standing on guard.

Lizbone was the last, and after completing the wall, Sera fell to her side on the grassy plains near the newly formed wall.

She panted, trying to keep her eyes open, not letting the exhaustion overwhelm her. With Faith's help, she rose back to her feet and smiled down at her daughter. Tears welled in her eyes for the thousandth time today.

Sera bent down with a slight groan and hugged her daughter. She felt her small body shake as her reservations broke, and she began sobbing.

Even though Sera still hasn't shared her plan yet, they all felt the change, the finality of the moment.

Something has ended. They reached a journey's end, and now they embark on a new one.

"Don't worry, my little angel. You can visit me whenever you want, but I need to leave…"

Vicky sniffled as her arms tightened around Sera.

"Why?… Why can't you stay?… We won, didn't we?… So why leave after victory?"

Gently, Sera pushed her daughter away, so she could look into her beautiful white eyes.

"I'm uncertain myself, but I know it's the right option… After my previous Evolution, something happened in my mind. I need to figure it out, and solve it before it's too late… Otherwise I will lose myself to bloodlust…"

Vicky's eyes widened, and she was about to suggest a myriad of solutions, just so her mother would stay. But before any word could've left her mouth, Sera giggled joyfully.

"I also have some good news as well before I leave… You are going to have a baby sister or brother. I'm pregnant…"

Sera gently brushed her belly while everyone else just stared at her in utter shock. Strangely enough, Vicky was the least surprised by this new information.

She smiled down at Sera's belly and whispered, "It's a boy…"

"How do you know?" Asked Sera while raising her eyebrow. Vicky seemed surprised by both the question and her own words. Eventually, she just shrugged. "I just do!"

Sera didn't raise any more questions, even though she had her suspicions Vicky wasn't telling the whole truth. Instead of interrogating her daughter, Sera just accepted and changed the subject.

"Well, then… If you are so certain, I give you the job of naming him after his birth!"

Vicky's face froze in a mix of joy and fear. Sera chuckled at her daughter's weird expression, then leaned in and gave a small kiss on the top of her head.

With one hand, she gently brushed her finger along Vicky's facial scar. She did the same with her mother's own. They hugged one more time, before Sera finally rose from the ground and walked up to Faith.

Sera didn't need to say a word, and she already disappeared into her shadow. Together, they walked a few meters away and waited for Vicky to open a portal.

Faith had previously sent the exact coordinates of their destination to Henry, so Vicky knew exactly where the portal will lead to.

Tears filled her eyes as she reached out her small hand, creating a wide portal for Sera to pass through.

She smiled, looked back at her daughter, then turned away from Vicky and Henry. Sera stepped through the portal, leaving Europe behind.

The portal eventually closed, and Vicky broke down crying.

On that day, when the war for Europe's future ended, The Angel left her home to seek a remedy for her misery.

She left her continent after bolstering her cities' defenses, knowing full well her friends would protect all her people.

People at first became angry at Seraphine. Their goddess. They thought her selfish for leaving in their time of need. But after a while, a rumor began spreading amongst the faithful.

Many believed a great danger was approaching, and upon their time of need, their Goddess would return, saving them from certain doom once more.

Nobody was certain where the rumor originated from. Even Lilith and Adam stayed clueless.

The few accounts spoke of an old lady preaching in rhymes about the future. Some witnesses even referred to her as a… Hag…

[End of Part 3 — Ashes of Vengeance]

[End of Volume 2 — Rise of the Phoenix]