"Michael, Michael."

  —What is this voice? Someone is speaking directly to my spirit, but... what is this power? My body... I can’t control it. How can someone possess such strength?

  So many questions flooded the young man's mind, who was paralyzed.

  "Michael, listen to my voice. Gather the chosen ones and come to the castle."

  The young Portcanian was unexpectedly summoned to the castle by an unknown yet powerful entity. Without hesitation, he began using telepathy to call his friends. They, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly agreed. Meanwhile, Portcan was in a fierce battle for survival against the cherubim.

  —Friends, friends, you must come to the king's castle at once —Michael transmitted.

  On their way back, Remeiel and Uriel flew over Portcan and could see with their own eyes the devastating image of war. Their hearts filled with anguish and their eyes with tears. Clenching their fists in pain and anger, they headed to the king’s castle, answering Michael’s call.

  The people were fighting for their lives and hiding the children and the weak. The presence of the army of Querb was cloaked in darkness, and no good remained in them. They killed mercilessly, without the slightest consideration. Their leader, Lucifer, had only one goal in mind: conquest. To do that, he needed to weaken from below.

  The planet’s reaction was catastrophic: earthquakes, climate changes, the suns were dying, nature was fading, and the towns were being shattered.

  Michael, Rauel, Raphael, Remeiel, Uriel, and Sariel arrived at the castle gates, obeying the call. However, it was impossible not to be shaken by the unleashed chaos, and their rage drove them to want to fight. Michael encouraged them to move forward, though some demanded to know what was going on. The young leader had no answers.

  —Why did you summon us here? —Remeiel asked.

  —We're here because…

  At that moment, the doors opened, and someone standing inside called them with a calm yet authoritative voice. It was an extremely strange voice, and it exuded great power. They were told:

  —I am the one who called you!

  While their bodies trembled, Michael apologized for Gabriel's absence. However, the one speaking replied:

  —Don't worry, he will come.

  —Listen: I know you cannot see me, and it's better that way. There's little time, so I will speak quickly: there are many things about the universe you do not know, but you are still young and will soon begin to understand. The universe holds inexplicable and magnificent mysteries, and above all, an immense power called will.

  That vast force is what made this and other worlds exist. Its power constantly renews, and new worlds are born — but others are also destroyed. The effect of creation brings destruction with it, and that energy is what has now affected this beautiful and vast planet.

  ? But there are those who seek that great power for their own ends, and they will do anything to obtain it. That is why you have been chosen. You are the ones who will fight from now on and must put an end to the evil that has infiltrated and corrupted many of this world’s inhabitants. As you can see, all we once knew is no longer the same, and it will never be again.

  That change may be good or bad for you. That depends on how much you’re willing to give.

  ? From this moment on, you will be recognized as the Guardians, and you will carry a heavy responsibility: risking your lives without hesitation to achieve the common good for all species.

  ? Stand up, angels and seraphim. Just as the Arcanian were called generals and watchers, from today onward, you will be known and remembered forever as the ARCHANGELS. The legendary weapons were forged only for those who attain such a rank, and before your new mission begins, allow me to bestow upon you your proper garments…

  The war has begun, and soon you will understand what your purpose has always been…

  At that moment, their bodies began to rise and were wrapped in garments made of a material never seen before — as light as it was resistant — crafted exclusively for the kind of battle only an Archangel could face.

  Now, they were ready to fight…

  Meanwhile, in Portcan, Lucifer advanced and drew closer to the gates of the kingdom, where only the last line of resistance remained, signaling that victory was within his grasp.

  Aminara was crying uncontrollably, and Gabriel couldn't take it anymore, so he decided to go fight.

  —Mom, I don’t want you to worry or cry anymore. I’m going to stop all of this! I don’t know what’s happened to my friends, but I have the responsibility to do something —and I’m not going to wait any longer.

  Gabriel went out into the city to fight and made his way through the enemies attacking him, though clearly, they were no match for him. He managed to capture a cherub and forced him to speak about what was happening and the reason behind it. The soldier replied that soon a new king would rise and all the realms would bow before him.

  The young man didn’t understand who the soldier was referring to. Who was this one who wanted to become the new king of AN? Who was this murderer?

  He knew his duty was to interrupt this conquest and destroy the enemy. After releasing the cherub, who died, he launched himself like lightning toward the castle to protect it. The young angel was so powerful that on his way, he defeated hundreds and hundreds of soldiers from Querb.

  Clearly, his power had increased greatly thanks to his past battles, but his actions echoed across the Mount of the Sun, where the Watchers were, and they did not go unnoticed.

  —Whose presence is that? I believe I’ve felt it before —said Artaqof.

  —He has considerable power. Who could he be? —asked Shemihaza.

  —His name is Gabriel… and he’s the one who defeated me —declared Samael.

  —You let yourself get beaten by him? —mocked Asael. —You’re useless!

  —What did you say?

  —Enough, both of you! —Artaqof silenced them, pausing before adding—. That Gabriel has great power…

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  —There’s no reason to panic… —interjected ‘El.

  Then Yehadiel spoke seriously:

  —Sorry to interrupt, but if there’s someone with that kind of power, we have another problem. Don’t forget the ones who killed Ramael.

  —They won’t come here, so don’t worry. Even if they manage to end the cherub’s rebellion, our objective has already been fulfilled —said ‘El calmly.

  —The cherub has reached the castle gates… and so has that warrior —pointed out Artaqof.

  Gabriel was arriving to intercept the cherubim when he sensed something:

  —What’s on that mountain? I can feel many presences gathered… and also my master…

  Daniel couldn’t hold back any longer as he watched the world being destroyed, and decided to join the battle.

  —I’m sorry, my lord, but I can’t stay here any longer. I will go and join them to end all of this. You can do as you wish.

  —Mmm… just as I expected…

  At that moment, ‘El surprised him from behind and stabbed him with his dagger in front of everyone. Gabriel could feel it…

  —Poor Daniel, so predictable and distracted… Did you forget our pact?

  —So it was you…! Damn you! —shouted Daniel as he bled out and weakened from the Watcher’s powerful weapon.

  (The Patriarch, surprised but silent, did not recognize the strange weapon held by ‘El.)

  —“Where did he get that? I’ve never seen it before…”—

  —I’m sorry, but you knew the consequences of betrayal —concluded the Watcher as Daniel collapsed.

  After ‘El pulled the knife from the guardian’s body, Asael approached. Smelling the blood, he grabbed Daniel and bit his neck, feeding on him in front of everyone, who watched with astonishment and disgust.

  —I didn’t know you did that —said Artaqof.

  —You should try it —suggested Asael, wiping the blood from his mouth.

  Gabriel could feel his master's presence vanish and, because of that, his rage grew so intense that he began to lose control. But suddenly, he saw the leader of the rebellion reaching the castle gates…

  —Who is that? Is he the leader the soldiers spoke of? He looks a bit different… No matter! I’ll finish him off, and then I’ll avenge my master. They’ll pay for this!

  When he was about to attack Lucifer and his army, a voice reached his heart:

  —“Friend! Don’t grieve. You are not alone.”

  Upon hearing those words within himself, he knew who it was. Looking toward the castle, he was surprised:

  —But… it’s them! Friends! How are you coming out of the king’s castle?

  His companions, seeing him in the sky, raised their hands to greet him. His rage turned to emotion and tears.

  —“You no longer have to carry all that anguish alone,” —Raphael told him.

  —It’s time to fight together! —he added.

  The young man couldn’t find the words and still didn’t understand why his friends wore special clothes, so he tried to ask them, but Uriel replied:

  —We’ll tell you later. Now let’s fight!

  —So that’s the one who caused all this mess? —asked Raphael angrily, looking at Lucifer and his advancing army.

  To which Michael, without hesitation, responded firmly:

  —Seems so. I’ll take care of him… and you, take care of his followers.

  And the Archangels went to meet the cherub and his great army, completely overwhelming them.

  —What the hell is going on here!? Someone explain this to me! Where did these guys come from, and why were they in the castle? —shouted ‘El in outrage.

  —If I may, sir —said Asael—, they are disciples of that traitor Daniel, and that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you for a while now...

  Portcan’s resistance was being crushed, but the hopes that seemed to die with them were reborn when the ones now called Archangels appeared.

  Only they began to push the enemy forces back with their powers. Lucifer didn’t understand what was happening and decided to go to the front himself, cutting through the worn-out soldiers of Portcan. The bloodshed didn’t stop until Miguel dropped in front of him like a great meteor, causing a powerful shockwave that shook the hearts of the cherubim.

  —Who are you?

  —My name is Miguel, and I’m an Archangel, protector of this world.

  —Archangel?... I didn’t know something like that existed. Well, I’m the leader of Querb, and soon I’ll be king of this entire world! So you better kneel before me, because there’s no one who can stand against me —warned the cherub.

  —I don’t care! —Miguel replied with a cold stare.

  —Then I’ll have to show you my full power…

  —Sleep in the depths of fantasy… MELODY OF ETERNAL DECEPTION!

  Lucifer played a powerful melody with his harp, one capable of killing anyone who heard it. However, an invisible shield protected Miguel from the deadly spell.

  Realizing that his attack had no effect, Lucifer gave the order to kill the Archangel, and the soldiers launched at him. But Miguel’s immense aura filled the attackers with fear.

  In Arcan, they were stunned—never before had they seen anything like it.

  —I swear he’s on the same level as many of you, and he might even be able to kill you —said the Patriarch.

  When the hundreds of cherubim rushed Miguel, he used one of his most powerful attacks to end them all at once…

  —It ends here! SUPERNOVA ATOMICA!

  A gigantic explosion erupted from the Archangel, and Lucifer stood no chance against the great attack that wiped everything out. But before the spectacular blast could reach them, the Patriarch gave the order to save them…

  —Quickly, Asael, get the cherub and his soldiers out of here before they’re destroyed!

  And by Shemihaza’s command, Asael transported Lucifer and his army off the planet through a dimensional portal, allowing them to escape. Raphael saw it and tried to stop it, but a powerful force blocked him, weakening him and his companions.

  Artaqof, the second most powerful after the Patriarch, had intervened with his unknown power.

  The Archangels didn’t know what was happening to them and fainted almost instantly.

  Asael finally managed to remove Lucifer along with his second squad and some survivors of the first, who numbered in the hundreds.

  The battle was over, although not the war, but it had left great losses and enormous damage to the planet.

  Those who had survived the brutal rebellion came out to the streets to celebrate, unaware of the deeper consequences of what had occurred. The nightmare was finally over, and the violator of peace had been driven out.

  After some time, the warriors awoke from the temporary slumber that overtook them during battle. Many questions remained unanswered; however, their hope of healing the planet remained intact.

  Despite Arcan’s involvement in the disaster, their total guilt couldn’t yet be proven. But the Archangels were aware that much was left to do.

  From the skies, countless winged beings descended joyfully upon Portcan. They were the seraphim who came to aid the angels, as well as many cherubim who had fled Lucifer’s regime and had taken refuge in Serf.

  The young warriors were sad because they no longer felt their master’s presence, and they knew he had died. But they found strength in the knowledge that he never accepted betraying his world and died fighting—just like the Guardians.

  —He died fighting for what he believed in —said Miguel—, and he left us his legacy. We will continue growing and carry his memory forever. We still have hope that one day all of this will end, and everything will return to the way it once was… don’t you think so, my friends?

  The governments of Serf, Querb, and Portcan decided to exclude Arcan from their treaties, and from now on it would be considered an enemy. Weapons would always be aimed in that direction.

  Suddenly, a great rumble began to shake everything, and four bright stars emerged from the castle and shot into the sky with great force, vanishing…

  Everyone wondered what those shining lights were and where they were going…

  In Arcan, they already had their suspicions…

  —Could those be…? —asked Shemihaza.

  —Hehehe… In the end, this turned out to be more convenient than I expected —thought the mysterious ‘El, with a cunning smile.

  TO BE CONTINUED…