Divine Retribution

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**Chapter 6**

The gentle rush of a plaster fountain mingled with the melodious notes of a songbird. Jeremiah sat in a lotus position, his eyes closed, while Karin observed the dark energy swirling around him. Her glasses glinted as she scribbled notes.

“Excellent, Jerry,” Karin said, her smile warm. “You’re getting much better at controlling your malevolent energy.”

As the aura around Jeremiah faded, he opened his eyes, their usual glow dimmed. He examined the sigil on his palm with a weary gaze.

“If you keep this up, you might qualify for Exorcist recruit training. Are you alright?” Karin asked.

“Yeah,” Jeremiah replied, reaching for his shirt hanging nearby. “It’s about the sigil, isn’t it? You used your grace again?”

“Not that I have much choice,” Karin said, moving closer. “I once had a friend, Israel—Jerome’s older brother. Back when we were cadets, he had a fierce rivalry with Micah. Despite their differences, it was clear they cared deeply for one another.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“Israel was cursed at birth. Being the Prelate’s son made him a target. They bound his soul to Leviathan, a Prince of Hell. He had a devil’s power, but he fought to protect those he loved, even as it slowly turned him into a daemon.”

“Then Micah exorcised him.”

“It was a harrowing experience. I’m telling you this because you have the potential to be what Israel couldn’t—a true exorcist, despite your circumstances.”

“And if I don’t want that? You mentioned that overusing Lucifer’s energy might turn me into a daemon—a potential gateway for him into the material world. I’m heading back to my room.” Jeremiah slipped on his white button-down and left. Karin exhaled, her shoulders sagging.

“Don’t be too hard on him; he’ll come around,” Kaiky said, emerging from behind a door.

“Kaiky, how long have you been there?”

“Long enough to hear everything. So, that’s the devil kid. I’m not thrilled about what Micah’s done, but we need all the help we can get. If he can keep from becoming a daemon, he could be an asset,” Kaiky said, a wry smile on his lips. “Assuming he survives today.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We have a major threat and an unwelcome visitor.”

“Oh, no.”

+

Jeremiah walked through an open field, his steps faltering as he sensed a surge of malevolent energy heavy with bloodlust. Sunflowers wilted in his wake. He turned abruptly, spotting Tyreel, his aura a golden shimmer, approaching with calm menace.

“Who are you? Why are you following me?”

“So you finally noticed. Walking around like you own the place takes some nerve.”

“Answer me!”

Tyreel’s eyes hardened. “Do you really think you can talk to me like that?” In a blur, he slammed Jeremiah into the ground, creating a deep crater. Jeremiah gasped, blood staining the dirt as Tyreel loomed over him, a foot pressing into his chest.

“Is that all you’ve got? I’m disappointed.”

A shadow burst forth, revealing Eosphoros. He struck Tyreel with a powerful punch, knocking him off Jeremiah. A dark aura enveloped Jeremiah as he prepared for the fight.

°

Karin stood in the field near the church, Eosphoros and Jeremiah before her.

“Every devil has what we call divine retribution, similar to an angel’s grace. Devils are easier to manifest than angels due to their high concentration of malevolent energy. Eosphoros, do you know your divine retribution?”

“Of course,” Eosphoros replied, dark purple flames swirling around him.

“As an anchor, you can draw on the same ability. Think of Eosphoros as your power source,” Karin said, her smile reassuring.

°

“Let the flame that burns all creation to dust become my strength. Divine Retribution: Purgatory Flames.”

Jeremiah’s aura transformed into a dark purple fire.

“A divine retribution already? Maybe you’re not half bad,” Tyreel commented as Jeremiah and Eosphoros charged at him. Tyreel dodged effortlessly. Eosphoros unleashed a massive fireball, which exploded against the crater’s edge, turning it to dust. Jeremiah used the diversion to close in, his fist enveloped in purple flames aimed at Tyreel’s midsection. Tyreel kicked him away, a beam of light following his strike, sending Jeremiah crashing into a wall.

“Impressive retribution,” Tyreel said, noting the burned fabric on his leg where he had kicked Jeremiah. “You coated yourself with flames as a defense.”

“And you used spiritual energy instead of your leg to hit me.”

“Playtime is over.” Tyreel charged, slamming Jeremiah’s head into the wall repeatedly. Eosphoros fired a flame beam, but Tyreel deflected it with ease.

“Undiluted spiritual energy lets me interact with your retribution. Light always prevails.” He lifted Jeremiah.

“Tyreel!” Micah’s voice cut through the chaos as he raced toward them, lightning crackling around him. Tyreel turned, his dark eyes shifting to white as golden runes replaced his pupils. Time slowed. He gathered energy and struck Micah, sending him hurtling backward.

“So the rumors are true; you house this devil,” Tyreel sneered. “Is this what you do as an exorcist? You’re supposed to exorcise devils, not harbor them.”

Micah stood, shaking off the impact. Tyreel’s golden eyes spun rapidly as three rune circles appeared around Micah. Light beams shot from the runes, piercing Micah.

“Jeremiah is not like other devils. There’s good in him. He’s like Israel.”

“No devil or daemon will live while I breathe. There is no good devil. They are all evil. I will avenge Israel and Mother. I will destroy them all for what they did to our family.”

“I’ll exorcise him if he goes rogue, but until he harms someone, I’ll stand against even the Prelate if necessary.”

“Blasphemy!” Tyreel roared.

“Let the wrath of the god of thunder and lightning rise to my aid.” Micah’s aura shifted to crackling lightning.

Divine Form; Ramiel.

“Why is Micah regarded as the strongest?”

“Because he was the youngest ever to achieve a divine form of an archangel.”

Lightning struck Micah, revealing six ethereal wings of lightning and a halo with two swords forged from pure lightning.

“I’m not afraid of you. You’re not the only one with a divine form.”

“Grant me the gaze of the gods.”

Tyreel’s aura flared, forming golden armor and six wings, while rune circles of gold, crimson, and black appeared in his eyes.

Divine Form; Metatron.

Exorcists gathered at the crater’s edge. Karin pushed through the crowd, her face pale.

“This is bad... very bad. Both have activated their divine forms. It could disrupt the balance of spiritual and malevolent energy around the church. Their divine forms consume too much energy. We need to stop them.”

“I’d like to see how this unfolds. I’ve never seen Micah go all out,” another exorcist said.

Micah charged at Tyreel, his body a blur of lightning. Time slowed as Tyreel’s eyes spun. Micah reformed and delivered a thunderous uppercut, sending Tyreel soaring into the sky.

“How… how did he move when I stopped time?” Tyreel wondered, awestruck.

Divine Judgment.

Lightning struck Tyreel, bringing him back to the ground, reverting him to his base form.

“What is this feeling? Micah looks so powerful... If I could wield this power, I wouldn’t need Lucifer’s energy. I need this power.”

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