Armageddon
Ten mintues earlier:
Sher Aka and Miguel’s perspective:
Staying about fifty meters away, they watch Rose dance. Next to them are half of the royal guard and the other half is flying above Rose in the air.
“How are we going to know if it worked or not?” Miguel asks.
“Don’t worry you’ll know. First she’ll get a dress of fire around her then Ifrit will appear if it works.”
“Like…Physically appear?”
“Yep, look out for a woman that looks like she could be your relative and if you see one that’s probably her.”
After Rose’s dance from the bonfire a woman with red hair appears, she seems to be clapping.
“Is that…Is that her?”
“Yup.”
Some of the royal guards seem in shock while others seem to go into a prayer motion before Atlas snaps them out of it, “We’re on guard duty! Shut up and watch!”
“Y-Yes, Sir!”
“What’s going on now? Are they…Fighting?”
Sher Aka looks concerned as she answers, “Perhaps we should have told her to be honest but hold back a little…”
Atlas interrupts, “I doubt she could. It is said that the mere presence of Ifrit makes your emotions take over. Even I am starting to feel fear boil over and I’m just looking at her from afar.”
After watching for a bit more, Atlas says, “Oh no. That’s not good. She activated the Emperor’s Voice, we need to intervene for damage control.”
The guards then stand up and start running but they don’t get far before an enraged looking Ifrit glances at them and they pass out.
“She knocked out the guards, what do we do now!?”
“Nothing we just-”
Suddenly the sky goes red as the animals around the area start to flee. Looking up, Sher Aka feels stunned as she stares into the eye of one of the Six that make up the world and Miguel’s entire body is shaking and paralyzed. As fire starts to rain down from the sky, Fire-Spirits appear and carry both animals and the guards away before impact. Sher Aka gets picked up by a fiery tiger while Miguel gets carried away by a fiery hedgehog, he seems to be passed out from fear.
Once the lightning bolts come booming down Sher Aka seems to regain her composure and begins to violently struggle to get out of the tiger’s grip, “Let me go! I need to be there for her! I need to save my daughter!”
But the Tiger carries on without stopping or letting go.
When the tiger lets go of her she is already back in the city where people are praying, screaming, kissing in the streets, running around naked and eating as much food as they can, expecting imminent death. It is complete and utter chaos.
Then out of nowhere, a white light appears and the voice of Saintess Petunia echoes through the city, “Fret not all ye men and women of faith. End times are not yet upon us. Rejoice! For only in the pits of despair can we truly look upwards and stare at the light with hope beyond what we’re usually capable of. So please, all ye good men and women consumed by fear. Look to the sky, see beyond the grimace of the false God and let us pray.
Gods above we beseech thee,”
As Sher Aka looks around, the mass of crazed people slowly dwindles as they join in prayer.
“The false Gods are flaunting their strength through violence once more. Please protect us small sheep from their wrath for we believe in you. Despite the odds being against us, we believe in you. Despite the world being against us, we believe in you. And despite our own fear working against us, we believe in you.”
The sky then slowly clears revealing the blue winter sky behind it as rays of light break through. Many of the people on the streets start to cry in relief and even those that did not join in prayer before seem to fall on their knees and join in.
“To you we give our everything, our very soul, our body and our heart so that you may guide and protect us.”
The praying people now begin to emit light.
“Heed us great Gods above and the Angels that protect this realm from evil. Take with us our faith and let it fuel your wings.”
The light emitted from the praying people now grows stronger and flies into the sky, many of them falling unconscious once the light leaves them.
“Please protect us, those who have given up their everything to you, Grand Cathedral!”
Bells and an angelic quire can then be heard as a barrier of light in the shape of a grand cathedral surrounds the city and a female angel in golden armor floats down from the sky landing on top of the church.
“Rejoice everyone! The heavens have heard your plea. No danger will befall this land!”
A resounding cheer can be heard from the people as mothers hug their children, husbands kiss their spouses and-
BOOM
A mass of six colored mana rains down from the sky on a hill south of the city. Any debris is caught by the barrier but the shockwave is still felt across the city.
The streets are now so quiet you could hear a pin drop and from the silence both the Angel’s and Saintess’ voice can be heard,
The angel’s voice echoes, “Do you see, followers of the Gods? The false Gods might rampage, they might be fierce and they might be frightening but they are powerless to your faith!”
Joining in, the Saintess adds, “Thanks to our faith, we have manifested a miracle. As such from now on I in the name of the Gods, the Church and the Saintesses award this city the title of Pilgrimage City! May this miracle forever be honored and remembered!”
Loud maniacal cheers are heard from the crowd while some of the non-humans cry in their houses and shelters.
John, Rayla, and Scarlet’s perspective:
Rayla asks, “So we’re going with either number three with the luxury interior package or the number six, right?”
“Hmm…Is the number eight with the indoor toilet out then?”
“You can have the indoor toilet if you’re the one cleaning out the tank.”
“No thanks…”
Scarlets interjects, “I say we take number three. It seems a bit more sturdy.”
“Yeah I ag-”
Screams are suddenly heard from the streets as the sky goes red.
Looking up, Rayla yells, “What the hell is that!?”
Scarlet answers, “I have no idea but it can’t be good! Let’s go down in the basement and wait it out!”
“What about Rose and Sherry!?”
“They have guards with them, now come on!”
Running down to the storage basement of the wagon seller, the three bunker down and wait.
After a bit of time the sound of a broadcast can be heard.
“Fucking Saintess using this to her advantage…” John scoffs.
“Shut it John, maybe she’ll say something after her prayer.”
Quietly they listen to the prayer and after it’s over the sound of bells and singing is heard followed by the voice of someone John is more than familiar with, “That’s her! That’s the fucker that’s after me!”
“Wait, wait hold on. The one that’s after you is an actual literal angel!?”
“Yes! I was going to wait until we got the new wagon to make sure there is no surveillance but that bitch seems busy so let me explain now.”
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