Chapter 335 (End of Book 7)

Washington D.C. - 2:45 PM

I eyed the Angel in front of me wearily. My head was pounding and my body felt sluggish after reverting to normal. There was no need to check that I was out of Mental Points, but I knew my points total was fine. Sara became my source of power after my resource pool was emptied thanks to the Armor of the End.

“General Malphazarin,” I greeted in a tired voice, my exhaustion catching up to me.

He tilted his head. “Judge Tarleann had mentioned that you knew my name.”

“Yup,” I confirmed before running my hands through my hair. “I would appreciate it if you could give me a few minutes to recover.”

Malphazarin panned his gaze over the rubble leftover from the Hellbreaker and my fight with the Demon Lord of Potential. “I believe I can grant you that request, Anthony Franklin.”

“Oh! Wait, sorry,” I said just as he turned away. Now was as good a time as any to ask, as the Seraphim was undoubtedly in a good mood at what he saw. He paused to look at me. “Could you tell me what happened to Glaraphel? Did he… reconstitute, or whatever?”

“Inquisitor Glaraphel is making a full recovery,” Malphazarin answered. “He has requested returning to your side despite not being well enough yet, and I do believe you will be seeing him soon, if it pleases you.”

I considered that for a moment. “Yeah. I only summoned him a few times, but he’s done right by me. Wouldn’t mind seeing him again.”

“He will undoubtedly be overjoyed to hear that. Will there be anything else?” he asked.

“No, that was it. Thanks, again.”

“You are welcome, Anthony Franklin,” the Seraphim replied before disappearing just as quickly as he arrived.

I let out a breath of relief. Tarleann had judged me a Half-Angel instead of a Nephillim, which would have gotten me killed on sight, but I hadn’t been entirely sure if the Seraphim would agree with her ruling. Killing Crokillik and his army would have gotten me a lot of good will, and I was glad to see I wasn’t about to get smote just for existing.

Pulling a vial of tea out of my inventory, I took a drink and my headache started to fade fast.

<<<>>>

[[Item]]

Potent Witch’s Brew

When imbibed, restore 50% of your Mental Points.

<<<>>>

This potion had been finished on the way to pick up Jamie, and it was a huge step up from the Arcane Breakfast Tea, which only restored 20%. Bethany had been so excited to have finished the recipe, and I used it liberally here.

I wasn’t about to let my guard down because an administrator didn’t show up when the Grim Reaper did. With Malphazarin around, Crokillik’s counterpart, risking it was a bad idea.

“Is the loot where I expect it to be, love?” I asked softly, looking towards the sky.

<<<>>>

[[Patron Message]]

Yes. You’ll find Crokillik’s Core and the book he dropped in the remains of the White House. It hasn’t been moved or altered in any way.

Which I find strange. There doesn’t seem to be an administrator for this area, and it’s arguably one of the most important places in the world to them. Between what Hernigan alluded to and the Grim Reaper’s words, I think the Dealer might have taken matters into his own hands here.

<<<>>>

“If he had, then I owe him some thanks for clearing the way for me,” I chuckled as I stood up.

Flying to the White House from here wouldn’t be a long trip. While I headed in that direction, I started looking through the notifications. There were possibly a couple hundred of them. I wasn’t going to read through all of them, so I used a function that only really saw use after large-scale battles.

<<<>>>

[[Notice]]

Compiling System Report for Washington D.C.

All screens will be condensed into summaries.

<<<>>>

[[Victory!]]

You have murdered x878 Resistance Members; +127,310 points.

You have murdered x59,441 Demonic Bomb Carriers; +3,031,848 points.

You have murdered x12,713 Demon-Corrupted Players; +5,492,427 points.

You have defeated x515,235 Low-level Demons; +0 points.

You have defeated x209,598 Mid-level Demons; +0 points.

You have defeated x135,574 High-level Demons; +0 points.

You have defeated x67,249 Elite-level Demons; +0 points.

You have defeated x97 Dungeon Mid Bosses; +8,175 points.

You have defeated x39 Dungeon Bosses; +6,500 points.

You have defeated x48 Roaming Bosses; +2,000 points.

You have defeated x24 Scenario Bosses; +0 points.

You have defeated x12 Hidden Bosses; +12,000 points.

You have defeated the Hidden Boss [Demon Lord of Potential, Crokillik]; +0 points.

[[Notice]]

You have permanently killed several Demons, offering 7,919,695 points to Angelic Ascent.

The fire of your soul is overflowing. You have achieved Race Evolution.

<<<>>>

This was the earliest I had disrupted their army, and I was surprised to see that there was such a large active player resistance still going on. Still, seeing the numbers caused some of my energy to return; I had killed a lot of people, but I had been expecting that. The amount of enemies that went with them made the numbers more palatable.

All of the points I received from killing Demons went into Angelic Ascent, fueling my transformation when I was in Hell, but I was surprised to see that it had overflowed. I had been waiting for my race to stop being Dormant, but this was more than that.

When I navigated to that particular screen, I was so surprised I almost stopped flying.

<<<>>>

[[Notice]]

Your race has evolved from Half-Angel (Dormant) to Half-Angel.

Your race has evolved from Half-Angel to Angel.

Your race has evolved from Angel to Angel of Death.

[[Race]]

Angel of Death

You have been recognized by both Death and Esaraphelscion, the Angel of the End.

 Your race is considered to be both Angel and Reaper. All stats can be increased to a maximum of 30 points over the scenario limits. Melee attacks and offensive abilities now deal additional holy- and death-aligned damage. This ability can be toggled at will.

Esaraphelscion’s Vow is resonating with your race. Use Break Free to enter your Angel of Death form, and the Mental Point cost is drastically reduced.

<<<>>>

“Hot damn,” I said as I read and reread through my new race.

Like Half-Angel, this wasn’t something I had ever seen before. I had thought that I was just called the Angel of Death by the Entwined With The System passive, but apparently not. The Grim Reaper had recognized me just like Sara and morphed me into something completely new.

At least I wouldn’t have to worry about being labeled a Nephillim anymore.

“How do you feel about my race being hijacked?” I asked, gesturing towards the menu in front of me.

<<<>>>

[[Patron Message]]

It is a boon. Not wholly unexpected, and very welcome. I’ll be happy for anything that helps make you stronger.

Don’t change now, but I will be looking forward to seeing your new form. The little extra you had received when the system called you the Angel of Death was nice, so this is probably going to expand on that.

<<<>>>

With a grin, I remembered Sara’s reaction to seeing my Angelic form after I came out of the administrator layer. Hopefully this, too, was to her taste. I couldn’t wait to see.

But for now, as I landed on the ground in front of the mostly destroyed White House, I continued through my menus to see what other screens had been compiled for me.

<<<>>>

[[Patron Quest Complete!]]

You have activated the Hellbreaker at just the right time to completely level everything. It is unfortunate that so many people had to die, and they deserve a moment of silence, but overall what you have accomplished here is an overwhelmingly good thing, Anthony.

You should be proud of yourself. I know I am.

Reward: +750,000 points.

[[Scenario Report]]

You have broken and completed 24 scenarios, gaining +288,000 points.

You have gained 24 accolades on your MVP Token.

[[Demon War Finale Complete!]]

The final Demon has fallen, and the war against Heaven and Earth has been completed. Despite giving everything he had, the Demon Lord of Potential, Crokillik, and his army are nothing more than scorch marks and dust.

With their defeat, North America can breathe a little easier.

Scenario MVP: Anthony Franklin

Reward: +100,000 points, the Ark of the Covenant.

[[Patron Quest Complete!]]

You’ve done it! You defeated the Demon Lord of Potential!

Anthony, I always had faith in you, but this was a race against the clock against an enemy who was already close to matching your Angelic form. This wasn’t like defeating Pustibule, who could barely fight his way out of a paper bag, this was a general of the Demonic Army in the prime of his power while still gaining the full boosts of Hell.

I have chills, Ant. Literal chills.

You have done a superb job here. I will be sure to have an extra reward for you when we meet again at the Patron’s Ball.

Reward: +200,000 points.

<<<>>>

Empowering my Angelic form to battle the Demonic Emperor was the main reason why we went down the Hellbreaker route. I could save the most lives by ending the system early, which was only possible due to Sara’s influence and the ring she gave me. Getting strong enough to kill the final boss was important for that goal.

But, damn, seeing those MVPs was nice, too.

My bank account at Rexxel’s had been made under a Platinum Patron’s Package, which gained interest whenever I completed quests. Patron Quests, the most abundant, had the lowest returns. Regular quests were followed by scenario quests, then for the last scenario quests in their storylines, before topping out with the highest returns by being an MVP.

After twenty-five accolades being awarded to me back to back, I’m pretty sure I could fill a vault with all the points I had and go swimming in it.

Sara, too; she had gotten the same package that I had. I was, without a doubt, the richest player in the system, and while I couldn’t speak for the Patrons I’d wager a good chunk of my wealth that she topped the charts alongside me.

Feeling good about how everything went down, I entered the rubble of the White House. I immediately homed in on my prize: the drops from the Demon Lord.

Crokillik’s Core was an orb the size of my fist. It was red on the outside with black liquid swirling inside, and shined with a malevolent light. Holding it made me feel grimy, even through my gloves. There was no description attached to it, but I knew exactly what to do with such an object.

Bethany was going to brew it down into nothing to make something special for Corwin. I had plans for him in Hell, and I needed him to reach the next stage of his evolution either before then or during the attack.

I recognized the skill book once I got my hands on it, and it was not one that I was planning on using. Ooze Form was as close to a race change item you could get without actually being one. It made you nearly immune to most physical attacks as your body changed to slime on command. You couldn’t get paralyzed or poisoned or have to sleep, nor were you affected by critical hits since you were one gelatinous mass, and you weren’t subjected to the normal weaknesses of the monster type.

It sounded good on paper, and it really was.

The downside was that you would actually become a slime, and they were the worst. I sent it into my inventory without a second thought.

“I’m ready, general,” I said aloud. Malphazarin reappeared in front of me in an instant. “Thanks for waiting.”

“If the Angel of Death requests a moment alone, then I am obliged to give it to him,” he responded humbly before bowing down to me with his wings outstretched.

I arched an eyebrow at the highest sign of respect the general was offering. “No worries, man. How did you get here so fast?”

“The moment I felt the excess of holy energy blanket the city, I left my station in Ottawa to see what had happened,” he explained as he straightened up, his white-feathered wings returning to rest against his back. “It caught us all by surprise, but I made it as fast as I could and witnessed the end of your battle with that filthy creature.”

“From Ottawa to Washington D.C. in a handful of minutes,” I said with a light chuckle. “You sure were rushing, huh?”

“Indeed. The blast destroyed the barrier that was erected around the Demonic army, and I needed to make sure that there would be no survivors to roam God’s green Earth,” he finished before taking another look around. “I am happy to report that there are not any Demons remaining for several miles. The bomb has completely eradicated them.”

“Good to hear, but… happy to report?” I asked, crossing my arms. “Since when would someone like you want to report to someone like me?”

His gaze returned to me, and I could see confusion in his orange eyes. “Why should I not?”

“Because I’m just a player and you’re the General of Heaven?” I returned, confused.

“You are more than just a player, Anthony Franklin,” he said, brow furrowing. “Not only have you ascended from Half-Angel all the way to becoming the Angel of Death, but you are also the Avatar of our Highest Sister. Equals, if your ring is to be believed. I can sense the Fallen you have killed. Two Demon Lords have been slain by your blade, and the largest infestation upon this world has been destroyed due to your initiative. To ignore your importance is to be willfully blind to divine providence.”

I ran my fingers through my hair and blew air out from my lips. That hadn’t been what I expected when this was all said and done, but it wasn’t unwelcome.

“I can see your point,” I said before putting my hands on my hips. “Okay, so you’re here. Now what?”

“That is up to you,” he answered.

“Huh?”

Malphazarin tilted his head again. “I am unsure of what you are confused about.”

“You said what we do next is up to me,” I repeated, pointing at my chest.

“That is correct.”

“In what way?” I asked with a confused laugh. “You’re Heaven’s General, man. 

“And I am relinquishing command of the Heavenly Army to you,” he replied stoically. My confusion didn’t seem to bother him at all.

I stared at him, waiting for him to say it was a joke. Not that I had ever heard Malphazarin joke before. He was as straight an edge as you could get. I would even go so far as to call him a wet blanket, though never to his face. The longer I stared at him, the more awkward things became, so I started looking at it from his perspective.

Things fell into place rather quickly. Angels were all about hierarchy. Powers were always over Principalities, Cherubim were always over Dominions, Seraphims were always on top with Malphazarin occupying the highest seat on the chain of command. I wasn’t sure where an Angel-Reaper hybrid like me would stand, but that probably didn’t matter in the slightest.

Because I was the Consort to the Highest Sister, the one above them all. I looked towards the sky.

<<<>>>

[[Patron Message]]

I think I can see the gears working in your head, Anthony, and if I’m reading your glance right then you are correct.

You are the highest power on Earth thanks to your connection to me. I can’t go into much detail because of my rules, but you are now in command of the most powerful army in existence. This was just one of several of my plans coming to fruition, so feel free to praise me for a job well done.

<<<>>>

“Oh, you deserve all the praise and more,” I said with a grin as I snapped away her message before looking back down at the Seraphim. “Do you have any problem with listening to me as a leader, Malphazarin?”

“So long as you lead us down the path of righteousness, then not in the slightest,” he replied without hesitation. “By my order, the host of Heaven will follow you wherever you take us. If you need time to consider your orders, then I can return another time.”

I stroked my chin as I stared at the Angel. There was a lot we could do with an army at our backs. The biggest advantage was that we could strike at the Demonic Emperor even earlier than expected.

In order to bypass the most foes, we would have to travel all the way to Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya. That would get us the closest to the Burning Palace and our final destination. We wouldn’t have to fight or sneak through an army-occupied Demonic city to get there, just a few castle walls.

There was no telling how many thousands of people would be saved by cutting down our traveling time. Kenya was not close, even taking the Angel Express.

But Hell wasn’t one to one with Earth. Different portals led to different places, and there was one much closer that would put us on the outskirts of that city. It would be a lot more feasible going through the city with an army of our own at our backs. 

“No, there’s no need to consider my orders,” I told him, and he somehow straightened out. I looked back up at the sky. “Esaraphelscion, the Patron’s Ball will be in four days, correct?”

<<<>>>

[[Patron Message]]

That is correct, Ant. You will be receiving the invitation tomorrow.

<<<>>>

I nodded. “Perfect. General Malphazarin, prepare the army to be mobilized. They need to be in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in five days. Help the players along the way, only going so far as imprisoning the truly evil ones, before clearing out the city of monsters. Do whatever you can to save as many lives as possible. Understood?”

“I understand and obey,” he said, bowing again with his wings outstretched. “Your orders will be passed on the moment I return, and we will heed them with all haste. Am I to assume that we will meet you there?”

“Yes. I have a stop I have to make in Detroit to answer a challenge, but me and my team will head to Ann Arbor as soon as we’re done,” I answered before holding up a finger. “There will also be a Demonic Evolution Hound on my team. No one, and I mean absolutely no one, is to hurt a hair on his furry body. Glaraphel can give you more details, but that is non-negotiable. He will need to be evolved into a Cerberus and his power will be put to good use.”

This caused Malphazarin to pause for a moment, and I could tell he didn’t like what he had just heard. Still, he nodded. “Your word is law, Anthony Franklin. If you say this… dog shall not be harmed, then none will dare.”

I could practically taste his hesitation at calling Corwin a dog, but I knew his word was good. “Excellent. Then let it be so,” I said as I pulled a doorway out of my inventory. “I’ll see you all there.”

The Angel Express was miles away, but still within reach of my Heelies of the Twice Blessed. I was looking forward to relaxing, taking my time upgrading the growth items I had collected. Thanks to the Hellbreaker and the plethora of boss kills I had done, everything was going to be maxed out.

I had made out of this whole scenario like a bandit.

“If I may ask,” Malphazarin said as I reached for the doorknob. “What are your plans for us once we’re in Ann Arbor?”

Pausing, I looked at the general. “Exactly what you’ve been wanting to do for months now, general,” I told him with a grin. “We’re going to march on the gates of Hell, wage war against their army, and put the Demonic Emperor in his grave. I’m going to end this game once and for all.”