166 Gratitude (2/2)

”I will return to my abode, the damage accumulated in my body due to the last battle is extensive, I will need to spend some years healing.”

Zatiel looks at the river of lava that contains the bodies of his clan and that was used to break their souls until the image was engraved on his mind.

He and Ezequiel mounted over the Undying Leviathan that had Sophia on his belly, and fly away.

......

It took several days for the Undying Leviathan to reach the mountain range. Zatiel energy pool was weakened due to the use of Blood Essence Combustion and he could not use all of his power.

Sophia had awakened during the travel and was now sitting along Zatiel and Ezequiel on the creature's head.

All the Neo-Demons and Sunlight Champions were waiting for him. Their number was more than a third less than the one who entered this world.

Zatiel used his Animus abilities and focus on their emotions.

He could feel the anger they had against the Angelic Paragon that massacred their people and the sadness due to the loss of their companions.

But what draws his attention was the immense desire for power that was growing in their hearts. Instead of giving up on revenge due to the immense difference in strength, they were all aiming to reach the level where they should not feel so impotent anymore.

All of the people Zatiel brought to this war were first-generation, the first of their people to become Sunlight Champion and Neo-Demons, the ones that have experienced how cruel the world can truly be.

Some of them were starting to forget that, due to the years of safety and comfort, but seeing their friend and loved ones died has awakened them.

Zatiel signals Dante to come near him and as he does, he saw in the eyes of the boy that he had changed.

During all of the previous battles, Dante did not have a single casualty but now almost a third of the army was lost. The cruelty of war was forging his character.

”How many of our people have died?”

”One hundred Sunlight Champions and fifty Rank 1 Neo-Demons were on the battlefield, along with the Rank 3 Magus, Rax, Kilo, the three Brain Golems and me. Before the Duke acted, during the entire battle against the Heavenly race we lost three Neo-Demons and ten Sunlight Champions, most of the casualties were due to self-destructive attacks from some members of the Heavenly race.”

Dante stops for a moment, and as he remembers the sharp contrast of their dead after Oliver's attacks, hate fills his heart.

”After the Duke used his spell against our people, the total number of deads reached seventeen Neo-Demons and fifty-two Sunlight Champions. The fifty Sunlight Champions that were constructing the tower underground were unharmed, due to the tower defensive mechanism resisting the attacks on the surface.”

After hearing Dante´s words, Zatiel closes his eyes and sighs.

”How easy things were back then.”

Dante, Ezequiel, and Sophia hear his word, but they did not understand what he was talking about.

When Zatiel was the Incarnation of Death and Destruction, he could send billions of his subordinates to sure death and feel nothing, but now he had lost less than one hundred of his people and all sorts of emotions were affecting him.

Zatiel opens his eyes and absolute calmness could be felt in them as he raises his voice, letting all of his clan hear his words.

”Rembert what just happen and never forget. Power is everything, without it, your life is just an illusion that can be erased at any second.”

Different reactions appeared to his words, but they all the Sunlight Champions and Neo-Demons were showing a great will on their eyes.

Zatiel noded as he saw this and spoke to Ezequiel and Sophia.

”Go to the chamber and start to heal your injuries, we need to temper our bodies or else we run the risk of leaving flaws that could affect us in the future. I will go after taking care of something.”

Zatiel eyes focus in one room of the tower, where Zitra was resting.