Rising To Grace

"Are...are you sure this is the right way?" Esther asked as she looked around cautiously.

"Y-Yeah...I agree, big brother...this isn't the right way." A shy woman trembled.

The older man didn't say anything. He just kept walking. The sounds of nature were silent. Not even a chirp. Esther began to understand and began praying. Her prayers were immediately answered as a loud roar was heard, stopping everyone in their tracks. Esther grabbed her friend and warped away quickly.

"What the heck was that?!" The shy woman asked.

"A miracle. We can't let that man take us. Come on, I can sense my boyfriend nearby." Esther said.

...

...

...

All three of us heard that insanely loud roar and stopped in our tracks as well. Aria grabbed the handle of her sword. Addis looked around then closed his eyes. I noticed my markings shine then looked back then calmed down seeing Esther.

"You can't be scaring me like that. We nearly got ready to jump you." I said and smiled.

Esther smiled at me and hurried toward me. She hugged and kissed me. "I missed you~"

I chuckled softly and held her waists. "I missed you too..~"

[Esther's Trust Increased.]

"Who's that?" Aria asked.

I looked back at Aria then smiled. "This is my girlfriend, Esther. Esther, this is Aria..~"

"Girlfriend?" Aria asked and crossed her arms.

"What's wrong with that?" Esther asked.

"Nothing in particular, just I didn't think he would choose someone so pure." Aria said.

I chuckled and shook my head. I looked over at the woman that Esther brought. She looked back over at me and blushed a bit.

[Alert: New Darling Nearby.]

[Name: Xenia Azazel]

[Age: 20]

[Birthday: October 11th]

[Occupation: Medic Class Angel]

[Hobbies: Restoring her bond with Heaven, Spending time with Esther, Seeking Salvation]

[Price: $4500]

Xenia was as beautiful as Esther and had beautiful skin, silver hair, and shimmering red eyes. Her figure was a beautiful hourglass shape, and her attire was that of a nun. Her black wings gave it away that she was a Fallen Angel.

"Who's this?" I asked.

"That's Xenia... she's my best friend and I wanna help save her from her brother. Usually the Azazel Clan members are all usually chill but overtime he's been acting more aggressive and mean toward us." Esther explained.

"And that loud roar?" I asked.

"I caused it to get away from him. The Roar of the Heaven's Lion." Esther smiled proudly.

I smiled at Esther then looked at Xenia. "Alright, you two can join us while we go to East Spring. We're playing Conquerors uniting the outskirts of Royal Greens."

Esther smiled as I walked off. She held Xenia's hand, pulling her with us. "You can trust him."

"Okay..." Xenia nodded.

_______________________

"They got away..? How did you let this happen?" Lotus asked as he pet his plant monster.

"It was a roar, Lotus. We can't find them though. None of our scouters can track them either." A fallen angel said.

Lotus scoffed and stood up. "It's just the Azazel Clan, how hard could it be to track one of Omega's weakest Line of Angels.."

Lotus closed his eyes and began to try and find Xenia and Esther. He quickly opened his eyes once he found them and a wide grin stretched across his face. "I don't need any back up, other than you Xali."

Lotus and Xali quickly left their hideout then flew toward Xenia and Esther. Lotus laughed as he flew high speeds toward them then appeared in front of me in a matter of seconds.

"Watch out!" Addis said then pushed me out the way of a large thorn being shot at me.

Xali appeared in front of Addis and kneed his stomach, launching him away. Xali landed on the ground then fixed his scarf. Xenia backed away and held onto Aria's arm. Xali looked back and spread his black wings.

"Only weaklings resort to such sneak attacks like that." Addis said as he walked forward.

I looked at Lotus then my eyes shined. "You were the guy that was going to corrupt Hannah. We meet again.."

Lotus chuckled and summoned his new Scythe. "After you broke my Sacred Lotus, it gave me an idea and because of you, I've expanded my potential."

I watched as he split his scythe into a sword and a lance. The sword had a slightly curved blade that was pink and had black edges. The lance's blade followed the same scheme. I looked at Lotus and braced myself.

"The Graceful Lotus is here, all she needs is a test partner. Shall we make a little wager as well? If I win, I take those two beautiful Angels there. If you win, I'll leave you alone." Lotus said in a smug way.

[Save Xenia?]

[Yes - $4500]

[No - Struggle]

I dashed toward Lotus and summoned Sacred Lotus in my hands then clashed with Lotus. He chuckled and laughed as he pushed me back then a swarm of black cherry blossom petals blew me away. Lotus dashed toward me and jumped up then slashed down at me. I dodged the slash then ran off away from the others.

"Running I see...That won't help you!" Lotus laughed then summoned Large Rose Buds and they transformed into humanoid plant monsters. "Rose Reapers...Go."

The Rose Reapers rushed after me and I sensed them. I looked back and grunted softly. I evaded their attacks by using the trees to propel me forward and slip away from the Rose Reapers. I reached an open area with a lake and grunted. I looked back and noticed the Rose Reapers and Lotus approach me.

"Hmph! If you think I'm going down this easily, think again." I said and summoned two Holy Lances then dashed toward them.

The Rose Reapers let how pained cried as I struck them down with the Holy Lances. Lotus grunted and his demonic aura surrounded his body. He dashed toward me and clashed with me. I pushed him back and swiftly thrusted my lance toward him. Lotus grunted as he noticed he couldn't react fast enough. He let out a pained groan as he was struck with the lance and felt two delayed strikes hit him afterwards.

'It wasn't enough...I need to move faster...!'

I swiped my second lance, managing to stagger Lotus then struck Lotus at speeds that surprised me. Five delayed thrusts struck his body then he fell to his knees.

'He moved so fast, where did he learn such speeds..?' Lotus thought to himself.

I held my lance toward Lotus and it shined brightly. "This is it, Lotus..."

Lotus chuckled softly and his black wings emerged from his back. "Is it..?"

Lotus blew me away with his dark energy then appeared in front of me, kneeing my stomach. I groaned and coughed a bit of blood as the attack felt like his knee pushed through my entire body. He followed his attack with a high reaching kick, knocking me upwards.

"This is it for you, Black Lotus!" He bellowed and a whirlwind of black cherry blossom petals blew me away.

I grunted loudly as I crashed into the lake. I began to sink into the water. I knew I needed my own Element to clash with Lotus. I needed to become one with nature.

Lotus noticed I haven't come out of the water yet then smirked. "I'll give you five minutes...Claudio. I know you aren't dead..."

'Angel of the Seas, Goddess of the Seas...Grant me your Halos...Your power. Allow me to unite with your Nature and defeat Lotus..'

Dearie heard a giggle then noticed a deep sea halo appear above my head. "He's praying..?"

I opened my eyes and they shined brightly then I propelled myself out the water in my Angel Mode then the Deep Sea Halo shined brightly over my head.

"A halo?! When did he...acquired this power?!" Lotus asked in shock.

Esther and Xenia grunted as they felt my energy. Aria's eyes widened. They looked back over toward my direction then saw an explosion.

Lotus groaned as he crashed through multiple trees then gathered himself and flew backwards. He launched large black needles trailing green energy at me, controlling their movement. Dearie flew around me quickly and created a water barrier around me then I launched a Holy Water Lance at Lotus.

'What the hell is this power?!' Lotus thought as he dodged my lance.

I landed on the ground and my silver aura surged powerfully. "Let's not be afraid now, Lotus...after all I'm only getting started!"

Lotus deflected my Holy Water Blasts with his scythe then rushed forward toward me then slashed down at me, hitting the Live Decoy. He grunted and groaned when I pressed a Light Blast against his back then it exploded.

Lotus flew out of the smoke and noticed me giving him the chase down. "What is he..? How is this specific System Wielder so damn strong?!"

"Dearie let's go!" I called out.

Dearie watched as I rapidly fired Light Blasts then began to control each Light Blast and aimed all of them toward Lotus. She launched the Light Blasts at Lotus. Lotus looked up and grunted then began to dodge each of the Light Blasts. He groaned as a few hit, knocking him to the ground.

I landed on the ground then grunted as my Halo shattered. I fell onto one knee and panted. "Maintaining that power is difficult..."

"Angelic Form is a hard concept to master on the first go. You did manage to connect to the Angel of the Sea." Dearie said.

I smiled at Dearie then stood up with a serious expression as I looked at Lotus. He grunted and coughed as he stood up. He looked at me and his wings disappeared. He stepped back and his hands trembled.

"Have I made you tremble, Lotus?" I asked as I walked forward.

"Who are you? How do you have so much power..? You're just a System Wielder!" Lotus said.

I looked at Dearie and she looked at me then we smirked. I looked at Lotus and my eyes began to shine a bit. "I am more than a System Wielder and Dearie is more than a system."

"Yeah!" Dearie said and crossed her arms.

I held my thumbs down and smirked. "Now, it's time to kill you.."

I rushed toward him then sensed danger then dodged Xali's attack. I landed on the ground and slid backwards from the force of Xali's attack. Addis appeared beside me and grabbed my arm.

"Yeah...He's an Azazel Clan Angel alright. He has no noticable weaknesses as he is an Omega Angel." Addis said.

"Next time, you two won't have the upper hand. You just caught us off guard, that's all!" Lotus said then warped away.

Xali warped away as well.

"Claudio!~" Esther called out as she hurried over toward me, hugging me.

Xenia and Aria hurried over toward us as well. They watched as Esther showed a lot of affection toward me. They did feel some hint of jealousy.

"You and Addis saved us...~" Esther said.

"It was all Claudio. If he hadn't gotten Lotus so low on stamina, Xali would've never escaped me." Addis said and smiled.

I chuckled and rubbed under my nose. "Well...what can I say?"

[Esther's Trust Increased.]

[Xenia's Trust Increased.]

Esther kissed my cheek and hurried over to Xenia. "I'm gonna go find Yuki so she can give us some protection from the Fallen Angels."

"Be safe." I said.

Esther smiled at me and flew off with Xenia. Aria watched them fly off and crossed her arms. "Hmph! She does that shit on purpose I know it."

"Nothing wrong with showing love. It makes Claudio stronger, maybe you should let him show you his skills, maybe that'll lighten you up." Addis chuckled as he walked off.

Aria blushed and grunted softly. She looked at me then quickly walked off. "Not happening!"

I chuckled and walked ahead. "What's wrong? You don't think I'm good at what I do?"

"As if!" Aria said. "You've only saved ONE Darling!"

"That darling happens to be an Agent! I don't know why you're so stuck up, but I like them hard to get..~" I chuckled.

"Whatever." Aria said and walked forward.

___________________________

"So you said he acquired a Halo?" Suxen asked.

"Somehow, someway...he had a halo! It wasn't even his, it was the Deep Sea Halo!" Lotus reported.

"He's connecting to the Angels and Goddesses of Nature. Interesting...seems like Addis is teaching him how to actually be a hero." Suxen chuckled.

"Should we send Darling: Alice to handle Claudio?" Xali asked.

"No need plus she won't attack Claudio nor Addis. She trusts them a lot and even calls Claudio, 'My love'. She won't ever attack him unless he actually does something worth killing for. For now, we leave them be, but I do need those two Angels. Esther is directly connected to Seraph City and Xenia is also as Jabril's cousin.." Suxen said.

"Right." Xali said.

"They better hope all this is worth it, as much as she hates it, Alice knows she's going to have to kill Claudio as Dearie would be at her strongest." Suxen said and looked out the window.