Book 7, Chapter 72 - Zephon, The Angel of Death (1/2)

Book 7, Chapter 72 - Zephon, The Angel of Death

The Highest authority in any temple was the High Priest. Ranking below them was the Apostle, Oracles, and finally the Grand Prior.

The last three were equal in standing. Often they were chosen as candidates for the position of High Priest when it became available. Typically the Grand Prior was considered last, given their military focus. Apostles, on the other hand, were chosen only during special periods and thus often were seen to hold higher authority than Oracles.

Apostles were different from other members of the Temple because they were given the opportunity to accept a fraction of a god’s power. The power they wielded wasn’t because of their title, but because of what it implied – the chosen favorite of a god.

In this way Zephon and Selene were similar. Once, Selene had been called the Apostle of her Temple back in Skycloud.

At the time Ramiel Caelestis had foreseen the threat Arcturus Cloude had posed. The Governor was too powerful and could not be contained. He had hoped to elevate Selene, installing her as a check against her uncle. Thus was she given the power of the God King, the Temple’s greatest secret.

Zephon Allgood was elected as Highmorn’s Apostle. He had become an outstanding member of the realm before the age of forty – a unique talent, a rare gem even among the very best of his generation. Eventually he was chosen by the High Priest and groomed as a likely replacement.

He had been a fine choice. Both in strength and devotion, he was unrivaled in Highmorn. His greatest obstacle was a lack of notable service, but that wasn’t insurmountable. Lucian Ambrose’s plan was to cultivate his abilities and reputation over time, until eventually it came time for the mantle to be passed.

Alas, things changed. A series of unforeseen events occurred that Zephon was not prepared for. Among them was the death of High Priest Lucian. It was a terrible, unbearable tragedy.

Suddenly Zephon had lost the foundation his life was built on. Since Apostles had no official power in the Temple, and since Zephon had no accomplishments to tout, he found himself in an awkward position. The only option he saw as a way to get out of this predicament, was to complete his inheritance as soon as possible.

He had to get stronger. If he wielded more of his god’s power he could maintain his elevated status as Apostle. To accomplish this he locked himself away to complete the ritual. His voluntary cloister lasted six months.

Zephon achieved his goal. He received the legacy of the god, but got more than he bargained for.

What Selene took from Skycloud’s Temple was a fraction of the God King’s power – a drop in the bucket to the mighty being. Of course the nature of this power, the power over time, was special. It highly empowered Selene’s abilities.

Zephon acquired a great deal of power from another high-ranking god. Even if sacrifice was necessary, power was worth it. The mental energies he was awarded surpassed Selene’s and turned him into the realm’s mightiest demonhunter.

At last, Zephon thought, the power he wielded would demand obedience. Only, he emerged from his seclusion to find the world had changed again. The foreign monster named Cloudhawk, despite a weaker position, had destroyed Sky Fortress and defeated four Supreme Gods. All the realms – leaderless and defeated – chose to join the demon’s side. Even Highmorn.

Wolfblade’s agents had come. From the highest Temple authority to the lowest noble family, all paid lip service to Green Alliance. What did Zephon’s struggles count for now? What was the point of his sacrifice when everyone he knew fought for the enemy? When the Temple he gave up everything for abandoned its faith and existed now in name only?

If Zephon utilized his power to take the reigns of the Temple, what purpose would it serve? In the face of these terrible occurrences there arose a surge of anger and helplessness Zephon could not control.

Renegades! Blasphemers! All of them! They turned their backs on the gods and should all die in the cruelest fashion he could imagine!