It has been one week since we got back from this taxing battle against darkness itself. We didn't come back unscathed, seeing as Jessica lost her sight and Li and Alma died. It only makes sense. There's no way we could have ended up with no casualties or permanent damage fighting this.

  Even though she's acting like everything is fine, it's pretty clear the internal organs of the psycho dy were damaged as well. She would have probably died if not for Mom's abilities. There was now a circur-shaped scar on her stomach. As for Allison, she had lost an ear in this battle, but to be honest, this probably doesn't hurt as much as the wound that priest and that monster inflicted on us by taking Li away.

  The st I heard of her, she was training to be able to use her powers even though the "alter ego" doesn't want to come out. She told me her goal is to achieve "Id state," but it's already starting badly if that's the case.

  Marth didn't want to listen to me and just went to find Melissi on his own. At least, I know I can count on that cat to take care of him.

  Miss Heisenberg may act like everything is fine right now, but I can tell she's fuming with rage. We all are. Well, except Sally, but she had nothing to do with this in the first pce. She's only staying out of love for Miss Heisenberg and Maria.

  ...

  My thoughts couldn't help but drift to Alma. We had also lost her, after all. This must be really hard for Aria to accept. She may have already been dead, but she was more alive than a lot of people in a sense. She did a suicide attack to give us a chance, but that thing was still going after taking that head on. I guess gods are just made different...

  "That's an awful lot of thinking."

  "Huh, who are you? Why does it matter to you if I'm thinking or not?"

  "Oh, you can hear what I'm saying. Seems like she wasn't lying when she said her genes are extremely strong. Which is ironic considering what she technically is."

  "What the hell, I feel like there's something in front of me talking, but I can't see it."

  Suddenly, a rather pin guy appeared in front of me. Nothing about him stood out. However, this was the scariest part: no one is ever that pin that you feel like you have no opinion of them whatsoever. There's clearly something going on with that guy. Besides, even though it seemed like he used my nguage, he was speaking in some weird nguage. I just naturally understood it.

  "Ah. I kinda forgot; it's been so long since I've set foot home that I tend to forget mortals can't see me unless I want them to."

  "Mortals?"

  Mom and Miss Heisenberg barged out of nowhere and pushed me aside, they were breathing heavily. As usual, both of them were really fast.

  As, this stranger was even more incredible, even though my mom should be able to know where he would appear regardless of how fast he is due to her "communication" ability, it didn't seem to work on this guy.

  "Mom, read his mind! Maybe he's a servant of the god or the priest, we could learn something!"

  Both my mom and Miss Heisenberg were sweating buckets, it was the first time I ever saw them like this. What in the world could frighten those two extremely powerful beings?

  "Dangerous people, showing up at my house one after another..."

  "Come on, Witch, I know full well you could beat any of these kids really easily. Even the apostle of bizareness."

  "It would still take two attacks at least, she may be a child, but she's really strong. Although it's never going to come to this. I wouldn't harm a child."

  "Well, this one takes the cake. There's nothing in the universe stronger than that person."

  "No... If you say that... Don't tell me... That would expin this nonsensical amount of karmic energy. It feels like it covers the whole pnet."

  "Because it does. He has far more karmic energy than all those gods using those apostles. Well, he is one of those gods as well..."

  This guy? A god? Aren't they supposed to be really imposing or have more of a presence than this?

  "Don't get fooled, Audrey, Father's energy is just like this naturally."

  I couldn't believe my ears, she said "father". Then, that means...

  "Yes, Audrey, this is your grandfather. The One that stands above all."

  Why does he look so... human?

  "Ahahaha, you're really asking that. Humans are made in my image, it only makes sense that I look like one."

  "Cease that nonsense, Father! What are you doing here?! What is the goal of all of this?! Was liberating Apophys upon the world part of your pn?!"

  "Gabby, Gabby, Gabby. You always assume the worst."

  "Whose fault is it? I wouldn't be here if I wasn't at least right."

  "No, you're wrong. I just did you a favor. It doesn't matter the race, love should be explored."

  Mom didn't know what to say, but her expression of worry didn't disappear.

  "Humanity always pushes itself when it's down against the walls, this is only a new test."

  Miss Heisenberg unched headfirst at him.

  "Was taking my daughter also part of this test?!"

  His expression and tone immediately changed to a more serious one.

  "I'm not responsible for what that thing does. It just decided on its own to wreak havoc instead of listening. Which reminds me."

  The attack never reached him, as he seemed to focus on a point in the distance. Following his sight, I noticed it was directed at the cloud of darkness above the city.

  "I know everything of this world, mere attacks like this will never reach me. Only the "truth" of the world as I designed it can do damage to me."

  What does that even mean?

  "You'll know in time. For now, appreciate the spectacle, dear granddaughter."

  The cloud of darkness dissipated to form a rainbow-coloured circle above the city. Energy started to gather from everything around us, traveling long distances. Another circle appeared, then another, then another and so on.

  "This is for doing whatever you want without permission."

  After he said this, it was as if a nuke had been dropped in the area, a titanic explosion following suit from the attack.

  "Ah, that feels good. It will probably regenerate, but I needed to teach it a lesson. I'd say it's going to do so in 2 weeks from now."

  "Wait, why are you helping us?"

  "I wouldn't call that helping, I still want to see you struggle against it. This is just another test for humanity, after all."

  He's talking as if he's expecting us to beat that god when that's a near impossible task.

  "I wouldn't say that. You were pretty close all things considered."

  "How do you know that?"

  "Gabby, is your daughter stupid or something?"

  "You don't have the right to call my daughter stupid."

  "Regardless, it should be obvious that I'm omniscient. Your mom's ability is just a weaker derivative of mine."

  He suddenly started to disappear.

  "Wait! I still have questions! Why did you create this apostle war?! What's your goal? For some reason, I find it hard to believe this is just for evolution."

  He put his index finger in front of his mouth but left me with some advice before disappearing.

  "Who knows? If you and Allison want answers, you'd have to go meet me. That won't happen if you get consumed by Apophys darkness though. I look forward to both of your progress."

  He disappeared just like he appeared, leaving us with more questions as me and Miss Heisenberg looked at the sky contempting what we should do.

  "Meet him? How?"

  "Well, when it comes to that girl, father most likely means winning the apostle war, but perhaps this battle we're preparing for may be a test for you."

  "What's his deal with Allison?"

  "I don't know either."

  "Heaven, huh? How do you even go there? I've made some visits to Purgatory but I've never been there."

  "The dder to heaven."

  "What?"

  "Normally, mortals can't go there unless an angel invites them or they're dead. However, angels have access to that dder at any time."

  "I get it. You mean the nephilim can go there."

  "No, Father is most likely making the stairs impossible to manifest for her unless she passes her trial."

  "I don't have the time to worry about that right now."

  "Hm?"

  "Mom! Miss Heisenberg! Please train me!"

  "Sorry, but I already have my hands full with that soldier girl, Aria and Allison. They all ck basic training concerning their use of karma. The Aria girl specifically, she may be an apostle, but she's effectively still a normal human right now as long as she doesn't know how to channel karmic energy."

  "Don't worry, there's still a lot Mom can teach you."

  "Thank you!"

  ********

  2 DAYS LATER

  "Why did you suddenly call me here at ten AM?"

  Allison is still as grumpy as ever. I suppose some parts of her really don't change.

  "You know, I'm turning eighteen today."

  "Alright, I'm leaving."

  She's really quite the character, already trying to leave before I even get to the point.

  "You're still like this..."

  "Nah, you just said something weird."

  "Come on, it wasn't that weird."

  I cut my chocote bar in half and gave her the other part. To my surprise, she accepted. She was really different from back then.

  "It's quite ironic. I'm also turning 18 today. Who would have thought that I would spend my eighteenth birthday sharing chocote with a nephilim on the roof of a witch's house? Not too long ago, if you told me that, I would have ughed at your face."

  "And I would have eaten the fantasy right up."

  "You know, I still remember when she called her club a workshop..."

  Her eyes shone brightly as she said that, looking at the stars in the sky.

  "Sounds just like her... This birthday feels lonely without Marth, the cat, and Melissi... Especially Li and her stupid antics..."

  "Yeah... This may be my worst birthday to date and that's saying something."

  "It can't be that bad, right?"

  "My parents died long ago, and the rest of my family thinks it was my fault. I was the only one who survived that day, so I understand why the rest of my family would think I was cursed."

  I grabbed her shoulders firmly, trying to reason with her.

  "It's not your fault! Why would they bme you?! What kind of family does that?! Even my alcoholic of a father would never stoop so low!"

  "You sounded just like her right now..."

  We both stared at each other, not sure of what do to, both of us fidgeting, trying to find our words.

  "This is weird. I always get this odd feeling when I talk to you."

  "Hm?"

  Allison beautiful blue eyes looked especially stunning in this moonlight, her newfound heterochromia only served to make her more beautiful in my eyes.

  "Could you close your eyes for a moment?"

  "...Yes..."

  Our moment was interrupted by the voice of Jessica and Aria.

  "Jessie, this is bad!"

  "Yeah... Am I interrupting, Faumalhaut, Greenie?"

  We quickly moved away from each other.

  "No..."

  "Nothing was happening..."

  Allison started to make a frown at Jessica. Well, it was fair, considering the kind of retionship they had.

  "Damn Jessica, always inserting herself into anything."

  "What was that, Allison?!"

  "Jessie, weren't you going there to say happy birthday to Miss Allison and Miss Audrey?"

  Jessica became as red as a tomato.

  "No?!"

  "But isn't that what you said?"

  "I have no idea what you're talking about, Ari!"

  She's such a tsundere, so dishonest with her real feelings.

  "Seems like you found a new follower, Jessica."

  "I don't like that sarcastic tone of yours, Allison."

  She moved Aria closer to her, her head was getting closer to her waist.

  "Aria is like a sister to me. I would appreciate it if you didn't call her a follower. She makes her own decision, after all."

  Allison looked to the side, a smile forming on her face.

  "You changed, Jessica... But I can't help but hate you..."

  "That's fine by me. I'm pretty sure Greenie over here does too."

  "Come on, Jessica, you're my friend. I'm way past that point."

  It was the first time I ever experienced seeing Jessica have tears in her eyers after hearing some words.

  "Friend?"

  "Well, you still ahev your annoying parts but I'm sure the fire psycho feels the same."

  "You didn't realise, Jessie? Obviously, me, Miss Audrey and Miss Maria think of you as a friend."

  Her mood immediatly shifted as she jumped headfirst at me and Allison, embraning both of us, crying in the process.

  "What's the deal with this nice girl? This isn't my Jessica!"

  "People change, Allison."

  "Happwy birthday, guys!"

  "Now that I think about it, how do you even know it's our birthday."

  "Your mwom told me."

  "Why does your mom knows my birthday?"

  "You probably have thought about it yesterday. Mom can hear people's toughts."

  "You should have told me sooner!"

  Jessica suddenly removed her grip on both of us.

  "I suppose this is as good an occasion as any."

  She put her head, arms and knees on the roof, in front of Allison.

  "I'm sorry for acting the way I did. I was taking my anger out on the world instead of dealing with it in an healthy way. I shouldn't have been so cruel to you. I won't ask of you to forgive me but I at least wanted to make things right!"

  "Argh! Fine! Just so you know, I still can't stand you."

  "Thats fine by me."

  She jumped at Allison, embracing her again while the tter pushed her back.

  "This is gonna take a while for me to get used to. By the way, I've been meaning to say this but why is that girl calling me Miss?"

  "You don't like it, Miss Allison?"

  "Aria is just awkward and overly polite."

  "Allison is right, you should be more confident, Aria. You don't have to be that polite with us."

  "Alright, Jessie. Happy birthday, Allison, Audrey. Oh, it feels goods when I say your names."

  "I bet it does."

  "Audrey, look at this girl swiping her nose like did something."

  "Come on now, Allison."

  In mere minutes, this lonesome birthday had turned into a small gathering. I wish she was still here to share moments like this with us.

  The girls smiled as I raised my fist towards the city that monster was residing in.

  "Don't worry, Li, I swear we'll make this thing pay!"

  "This is a promise."

  "I wouldn't have it any other way."

  "And we can't forget about Miss Melissi. We still haven't decided who's gonna handle that part."

  Me and Allison looked at Aria, filled with confidence.

  "That's our role. Miss Heisenberg and Mom will back you against that thing. We'll go save Melissi in the meantime."

  "If you have any trouble, don't be ashamed to run away, Aria."

  Maria and Sally joined in on our parade.

  "Seems like we're te to the party, Sally."

  "Yeah, big sis! They're already getting pumped up!"

  We all joined our fists together to swore our oath to beat Apophys.

  "I hope you're ready too, Witch."

  "I have things to settle with that thing. I hope they won't bme me when I take it out before they do."

  Li, wherever you are right now, I can only hope you hear our prayers dedicated to you right now. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have met all those wonderful people.

  [ACT I- MALEDICTUS ANGELUS EXODUS

  END]

  Announcement To be continued in Book 2: Humanity's Curse (Angel's curse act II- Medius Princeps Purgatorium Deorum) Announcement Li's spin-off starts next week. It's name is: "CREATURES HUNT" DOOL