The air crackled with tension as Arlo's [Observe] flickered to life, overlaying Gabriel's towering form with faint, flickering stats. The HUD blinked, its usual crisp details obscured by a wall of question marks.
Gabriel Hornblower
Race: Archangel
Level: (Blocked)
HP: (Blocked)
MP: (Blocked)
Stats: (Blocked)
Skills: (Blocked)
Status: (Blocked)
Description: One of the Seven Archangels and brother of Michael. Sent by God to kill the Savior.
Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous (Death)
Most of the details obscured by a wall of question marks, just like with Michael.
"Of course," Arlo muttered under his breath.
"Figures they'd both be broken characters, the only difference is that Gabriel can use his full power." He clenched his jaw, adrenaline burning through his veins.
The sheer pressure radiating from Gabriel made every nerve in Arlo's body scream in protest. His mind raced, strategies unraveling as quickly as they formed. One thing was certain: he wasn't about to use [Spirit Vision] on this monstrosity. Peering into Gabriel's ether body would be like staring into the sun with a magnifying glass—his brain would liquefy before he could even blink.
Nope. Not today.
Since subtlety was off the table, Arlo reached down to his side.
"Link," he commanded, his voice low but firm, "use Rock Throw!"
A radiant glow pulsed from Link's collar, casting brief shadows across the battlefield. Small chunks of earth and rock levitated as though drawn by unseen strings. The stones hovered for a split second, then shot forward like bullets aimed at Gabriel's exposed back. Several shards glanced off his armored wings, but one solidly struck the lower part of his spine.
Gabriel's head snapped around. His eyes burned with righteous fury as they locked onto Arlo.
Oh, FUCK, Arlo thought, an overwhelming wave of fear threatening to crush him. His heart pounded like a drumroll before an execution, but his face remained as calm as glass, betraying nothing.
The perks of being a Clown—he could maintain his facial expression to never show his true feeling.So this is how I die, huh? Crushed by an archangel for pelting him with pebbles. Perfect.
Before the full weight of Gabriel's rage could descend, Michael leapt onto his lieutenant's back. His blade gleamed with divine light as he drove it toward Gabriel's neck.
"Go!" Michael shouted without looking at Arlo. "Now!"
The single word shattered Arlo's trance. His feet moved before his mind caught up.
"Link, back!" he yelled, dashing toward the diner's rear exit with his Pokémon bounding beside him.
In a flash, they reached the back office, where scattered supplies and overturned chairs told the story of a frantic retreat. Outside, engines roared. Jeep and Charlie were in the police cruiser, while Kyle, Sandra, Howard, and Audrey piled into the other vehicles.
Kyle's voice cut through the chaos: "Move, Arlo! Get in!"
"No time," Arlo barked, waving them away. "Drive! GO! GO! GO!"
He didn't wait to see if they complied. The possessed swarmed toward him like a tide of nightmares, eyes glowing with hellish light. His danger intuition screamed in warning—too many to fight, no time to hesitate.
Reaching into his coat, Arlo pulled a small charm from a hidden pocket—a delicate trinket etched with runes. He clenched it tightly. "[Slumber Charm]," he yelled in the Hermes Language. "Crimson."
A pulse of black light radiated from the silver plate he threw at the possessed. The glow expanded outward, a sphere of darkness washing over them. One by one, they staggered, eyes dimming as if their strings had been cut. Some fell immediately, crumpling like marionettes; others swayed before succumbing. Silence. Not dead—just temporarily suspended in an enchanted sleep.
Arlo exhaled sharply, his chest heaving. "Thank every RPG I've ever played for status effect items."
The lull was brief. More possessed advanced from the shadows, their snarls growing louder. Without missing a beat, Arlo hurled a second charm into their midst.
"Crimson,"he intoned again, watching the charm burst in midair. Another wave of black light cascaded over the creatures, their movements faltering before they collapsed.
Arlo sprinted to his motorcycle, heart hammering in his chest. He vaulted onto the seat while Link perched in front of the bike, kicked it into gear, and roared away from the diner. Wind ripped at his face, and the ground blurred beneath him. His eyes stayed locked on the rearview mirror.
The diner stood defiant for a heartbeat longer. Then...
BOOOOOM!!!!!!!
A blinding flash consumed it. Fire erupted skyward, a massive cloud of flames and debris mushrooming into the night. Arlo watched, the flames reflecting in his eyes, the roar of destruction ringing in his ears. The explosion painted the sky with shades of orange and black, an inferno that consumed the very air around it.
"Holy Shit!,"he muttered, his voice lost to the wind. "Bob chose to blow it up."
The shockwave hit a moment later, shaking the ground beneath his tires. He gritted his teeth, gripping the handlebars as his bike skidded but held steady. For a fleeting moment, he marveled at the terrifying beauty of it—the raw, unrestrained power.
Then he faced forward. The road stretched ahead, dark and uncertain. His hands tightened on the grips, his resolve hardening.
"One battle down,"he whispered to himself, "and a whole war left to fight."
=================================================
Arlo throttled the bike forward, the engine roaring as dust billowed around him. His eyes remained fixed ahead, but his mind raced—Gabriel was already airborne, hunting the police cruiser like a hawk zeroing in on prey. Two vehicles sped between him and the cruiser, their silhouettes barely discernible in the darkness, but it was the faint gleam of metal wings slicing through the night sky that held his attention.
"Come on," he muttered, teeth gritted. His heart thudded like a war drum as he twisted the throttle further.
The cruiser swerved violently as Gabriel descended, the archangel's mace a blur of destructive force. Sparks erupted as the weapon grazed the roof, denting it inward. Arlo leaned low over his bike, one hand steady on the handlebars, the other drawing his Pit Viper pistol. He fired.
BANG! BANG!
The rounds streaked toward Gabriel, glancing harmlessly off his armor. Frustration twisted Arlo's lips into a grimace.
"Figures," he growled. "This guy's like a boss with invulnerability."
"Link! Rock Throw!"he commanded.
Link barked, a shimmer of energy building around his collar. A massive rock materialized, spinning with force before hurling through the air. It smashed into Gabriel's side, the impact sending the archangel off-balance. His wings faltered just enough to send him careening away from the cruiser.
The reprieve was brief. The cruiser, having lost its balance, skidded off the road. Tires screamed as it crashed into a jagged rock formation. Metal crunched and glass shattered.
"No!" Arlo's chest tightened. He leaned hard, swerving toward the wreckage. Dust and smoke filled the air as the bike screeched to a stop. Without waiting, he kicked the stand and sprinted to the car.
Charlie's silhouette emerged first, crawling from the broken door, the baby bundled tightly in her arms.
"Arlo!" she gasped for breath.
He reached her side, yanking the door further open. Inside, Jeep groaned, pinned against the steering wheel.
Arlo grabbed his collar, muscles straining as he pulled. "Come on, you stubborn—"
With a final heave, Jeep slid free. He stumbled but stayed upright, supported by Arlo's shoulder.
"We're good!"Jeep rasped.
Charlie clutched the baby close, her knuckles white. Arlo's gaze darted between them, his mind calculating. The second car skidded to a halt, its passengers spilling out. Audrey, Kyle, Howard, and Sandra raced toward them.
"Are you okay?"Audrey's voice cracked with fear.
"We're alive," Jeep muttered. He looked at Arlo, eyes wide. "Thanks, man."
"Don't thank me yet,"Arlo snapped. "Get moving!"
Kyle and Audrey helped Charlie into the second car. Jeep limped toward Arlo's bike. They exchanged a brief nod before Arlo mounted the motorcycle again.
As they sped down the road, Arlo risked one glance back. The diner loomed in the distance, a dark shape against the horizon. The possessed swarmed its walls like ants on sugar. And then...
BOOOOMMM!
The explosion tore through the night. Fire erupted in a violent blossom, its glow swallowing the diner whole. The shockwave rippled outward, a force of nature that rocked the very ground.
Arlo's breath caught. His heart pounded as he watched the inferno consume everything. The flames rose higher, dancing wildly against the backdrop of endless desert.
=================================================
The sky above Arlo stretched vast and cold, a pre-dawn tapestry of stars twinkling like shards of broken glass. He felt the irony sting—beauty in the heavens while death loomed on the ground. He throttled alongside the car, the roar of his bike harmonizing with the engine's hum. Jeep clung to his waist, his breath sharp against the wind.
Then Gabriel descended.
Metallic wings sliced the air with a shriek like grinding steel. He landed in the road ahead, dust and gravel scattering in a violent halo around him. His shadow stretched long and menacing.
"Give me the child,"Gabriel demanded, his voice cold and implacable. "And you and the others may live."
The bike skidded to a halt. Arlo's heartbeat quickened, but his smile remained, a sharp mask of defiance.
"Well, I love an optimist," he quipped, eyes never leaving the angel. He flicked the Pit Viper from his holster and passed a small device to Jeep
Arlo then subtly opened his BrainLink and dumped all of his status points into LUCK.
[Stats Info]
Strength: 15
Dexterity: 20
Intelligence: 27
Charisma: 12
Luck: 20 (+10)
Endurance: 15
Wisdom: 32
Remaining Status Point: 0
Hopefully this can increase my chances to survive, he thought.
"When I give you the signal, hit this detonator,"Arlo whispered, his tone devoid of humor now.
Jeep swallowed hard. "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack," Arlo said. "We don't get second chances."
Kyle tightened his grip on his MP5. "You're not doing this alone, man."
Arlo's gaze met Kyle's for a fleeting moment, gratitude flickering before resolve took over.
"I'll handle him. If you fight, we're all dead. Keep them safe."His eyes dropped to Link. "This is it, buddy. Stay sharp."
Link growled low in reply, his fur bristling with energy.
Arlo stepped forward, his stance relaxed, gun loose in his grip. "No."
Gabriel's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something dark behind his stoic facade.
"So brave. So pointless." His lips curled into a grim smile. "You should have worried about saving yourself."
He lunged.
Arlo's danger intuition screamed. Time slowed. He twisted, dodging just as Gabriel's razor-edged wings slashed where his head had been. Dust and sparks erupted as metal gouged the ground.
Damn, he's fast! Arlo thought, heart racing. His Sequence 8 enhancements burned in his veins, sharpening every sense to the brink of overload. He fired the Pit Viper.
BANG! BANG!
The rounds fired with deafening cracks, each one perfectly aimed. His targeting reticle blinked in his HUD, calculating probabilities in real-time. But Gabriel's wings, gleaming like forged steel and shifting with fluid, mechanical grace, snapped closed like a shield. Sparks flew as the bullets ricocheted harmlessly, deflecting with sharp metallic clangs.
His HUD registered the impact in flashing, mocking red:
[-0 HP]
Arlo swore under his breath, eyes darting to Gabriel's unreadable expression. No, the bastard wasn't just defending. He was enjoying this. A predator toying with his prey.
A glint of motion warned Arlo a split second before Gabriel lashed out again. His wings unfurled with lethal speed, each razor edge a guillotine of divine wrath. Arlo spun, ducking low to avoid the brunt of the attack, but not low enough. A sharp edge grazed his side—the searing kiss of supernatural steel.
Pain blossomed like wildfire.
[HP: 122/145]
Another strike, this one nicking his shoulder as he jumped back—not fast enough.
[HP: 117/145]
The third strike sliced just above his knee. His enhanced reflexes saved him from a crippling blow, but it was like dancing with a blender set to "demolish."
[HP: 112/145]
Arlo gritted his teeth, sweat beading down his brow as he pushed through the pain. Each hit was shaving his health down, relentless and unforgiving. His Pit Viper might as well have been a toy gun against an armored tank.
Think! he commanded himself, brain firing on all cylinders. This isn't about trading blows. You can't outpower him. But you can outlast, outwit, outmaneuver.
Gabriel's wings flexed again, preparing for the next strike. Arlo's danger intuition pulsed—Incoming.
Arlo's heart hammered as Gabriel's wings folded back, the sharp edges poised to strike with precision that could dissect a tank. Every nerve screamed, but Arlo's spirituality flowed instinctively to the Seraphim Bracelet on his left wrist.
Arlo saw in his HUD that his MP decreased drastically.
[MP: 100/220]
The golden runes engraved along the bracelet blazed to life, flooding his arm with radiant heat as the shield materialized—a luminous disc of golden light, inscribed with ancient sigils, expanded outward just in time.
CLANG!
Gabriel's mace smashed against the shield, a thunderous impact that echoed like a gong. Sparks of divine energy and molten gold flared from the collision. The shockwave surged through Arlo's arm, nearly dislocating his shoulder. He gritted his teeth, the force driving him back a full step, his shoes skidding against the ground.
The HUD flared red.
[Seraphim Shield Integrity: 62%]
Gabriel's gaze sharpened. He studied the glowing artifact with disdain, the light of the shield reflecting in his cold eyes.
"A magical Artifact,"he sneered, voice like grinding iron. "A feeble defense against divine power."
Yeah, and divine wrath sucks, Arlo thought bitterly, shifting his stance.
"Feeble or not,"Arlo shot back with a grin that didn't reach his eyes, "it's the only thing keeping my skull from being pancake batter."
Gabriel's wings twitched, and his next attack came without warning—a devastating follow-through. The mace rebounded off the shield, slamming down again, relentless and merciless.
CLANG!
[Seraphim Shield Integrity: 40%]
The golden disc trembled, cracks spider-webbing across its surface. Every pulse of divine power chipped away at its durability. Arlo felt the burn of the bracelet's energy reserves draining fast, the cooldown timer flashing ominously in his peripheral vision.
It won't hold much longer.
Gabriel twisted the mace, the edges grinding into the shield with the weight of inevitable destruction. "End this farce, human. No shield forged by mortal hands can stop me forever."
Arlo adjusted his grip, every muscle screaming.
"Forever?"he echoed with a smirk, his left arm trembling. "No. Just long enough to annoy you."
Arlo then used his Seraphim Bracelet's effect to block Gabriel's mace, a golden circular shield appearing on his left arm, successfully absorbing the blow. The shield shimmered with divine energy, its runes glowing brighter as it absorbed the impact. But the strain was evident—the cracks deepened, and the light flickered ominously.
Gabriel sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You have a magical artifact, but it is not enough to stop my attack."
Arlo knew the shield wouldn't last much longer before it shattered and needed time to recharge.
=================================================
His HP ticked down steadily, red flashing warnings across his vision. This isn't sustainable.
Then the shield broke like glass, shattering into golden shards that dissolved into the air.
[Seraphim Shield Integrity: 0%]
The shield softened the blow, but Gabriel's fist still collided with Arlo's jaw like a sledgehammer.
[Damage Taken: -60 HP]
[HP: 52/145]
The world spun. Arlo hit the ground hard, breathless, stars exploding behind his eyes. His grip loosened on the gun.
"Foolish," Gabriel sneered, raising his wing to strike again.
Before the blow could land, a blur of fur and fangs barreled into Gabriel's side.
Link tackled him, growling fiercely. The angel stumbled back, wings flaring to catch his balance.
"You protect them," Gabriel said, peering down at the loyal Pokémon. "Even knowing what they've done to this world."
Link's growl deepened.
"Very well,"Gabriel said coldly. "You'll die with your master."
"Link! Double Team!" Arlo's voice rang out.
In an instant, the battlefield swarmed with illusions. Gabriel's wing cleaved through a phantom, dissipating it in a shimmer of light. The real Link darted among his copies, flanking the archangel.
Arlo commanded, "Use RockThrow!"
A barrage of stones pelted Gabriel from every direction, shards clattering against his wings. Some broke through, striking his lower back. He staggered but didn't fall.
Arlo seized the opening. He pulled a low-level health potion and low-level mana potion from his inventory.
[Status Effect: +100 HP and +100 MP]
[HP: 145/145]
[MP: 200/220]
"Get up!" he roared at himself, springing to his feet. Even though his HP is restored the Pain radiated through every muscle, but he pushed it down. Adrenaline was his armor now.
Link yelped as a powerful kick sent him sprawling.
"No!" Arlo sprinted toward Gabriel, vaulting onto his back. He felt the metallic wings shift beneath him, sharp as swords. With one hand clinging to the angel's collar, he pulled a slumber charm from his pocket.
"Crimson," he hissed in hermes language.
The charm flared, A pulse of dark energy flared as the slumber charm's black light enveloped Gabriel's face, his eyes flickering with momentary weariness. His grip on the massive mace slackened, but the effect barely scratched the surface of his divine endurance. Arlo knew he didn't have much time.
"Good enough," he muttered, reaching into his inventory and pulling out Jason's machete, a wicked blade stained with dark history. His fingers tightened on the hilt. With a grunt, he slashed.
The blade bit deep into Gabriel's arm, slicing through in between armor just enough to draw blood. He followed through with a brutal sweep to Gabriel's leg, causing the archangel to stagger. He then follow thorough his machete but Gabriel too the machete with his hand and crushed it like brittle concrete then the archangel snarled in fury, releasing a shockwave that sent Arlo sprawling backward.
[Damage Taken: -50 HP]
[HP: 95/145]
"Enough!" Gabriel's voice thundered, shaking the ground. His wings unfurled, shadows rippling around him. "This ends here. Hand over the child, or die!"
Arlo pushed to his feet, his legs trembling, but his smile—crafted by his Clown's Bodily Control—remained infuriatingly calm. Blood dripped from his split lip. "How about you go to hell?"
Gabriel's eyes blazed. "I have been merciful enough to you human, now die" He launched forward, his mace raised high.
Arlo's danger intuition flared like a fire alarm in his mind. His body moved before he could think—pre-dodging to the left. The mace came down with a deafening CRASH, shattering the asphalt. But Gabriel was relentless. His metallic wing lashed out, and Arlo notice that his seraphim bracelet is recharged.
He immediately activated the effect of the Seraphim Bracelet, the braceley absorb the spirituality sent by Arlo.
[MP: 80/220]
A golden disc appeared to block the metallic wings attack in a neck of time. But the force still send him sprawling onto his back.
[Seraphim Shield Integrity: 53%]
Jeep, Kyle, and Audrey shouted in horror, guns firing wildly. Sparks flew as bullets glanced off Gabriel's armor and wings. While Gabriel is distracted Arlo took out in his inventory again the low health potionput it in his mouth.
[Status Effect: +100 HP]
[HP: 145/145]
Arlo coughed, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. He pressed trembling hands against the ground, forcing himself upright. His chest heaved with effort, but his eyes never lost their sharp defiance.
"Stay down," Gabriel growled, his boot pressing into Arlo's chest, pinning him in place.
Arlo wheezed, but he met Gabriel's gaze without flinching. "FUCK, No."
Gabriel tilted his head. "Why do you resist what cannot be changed?"
"Because," Arlo hissed, his voice ragged but fierce, "I want to live."
His muscles bunched as he grabbed Gabriel's leg, gripping it as if his very existence depended on it. "And I'm not done." The archangel scowled and slammed his mace into Arlo's back.
[Critical Hit! Damage Taken: -95 HP]
[HP: 50/145]
Pain exploded through Arlo's body, but his grip didn't falter. He clenched his teeth, holding on with a death grip.
"Jeep! Kyle! Audrey! NOW!" he roared.The gunfire intensified. Gabriel grunted, struggling to dodge as bullets peppered his wings. Arlo held fast, his knuckles white as Gabriel thrashed.
Gabriel wrenched free, fury etched across his face—but it was too late.
"Link!" Arlo shouted.
The loyal Pokémon, battered but determined, summoned every last ounce of energy. A massive Rock Throw surged forward, a boulder larger than anything it had conjured before. It struck Gabriel square in the chest, driving him back
"Perfect timing, buddy." Arlo pulled five blocks of C-4 from his inventory, his fingers a blur. He lobbed them straight at Gabriel, who batted one aside—just as Arlo yelled, "Jeep! HIT IT!"
Jeep's thumb slammed down.The explosion rocked the landscape. Fire and debris consumed Gabriel in a violent inferno, the flames roaring like a living beast.
Arlo use his seraphim bracelet the shield help on before the shield shattered like a glass.
[Seraphim Shield Integrity: 0%]
Arlo kneel to one knee, gasping due to the impact.
His HUD blared at him
[Damage Taken: -20 HP]
[HP: 30/145]
[Warning: Critical Low Health Points]
He took a Low Health Potion in his inventory, the vial trembling in his bloodied hand. He drained it in one gulp.
[Status Effect: +100 HP]
[HP: 110/145]
Relief flooded his veins. His breath steadied. He rose, surveying the battlefield. Smoke and fire swirled where Gabriel had stood.
He knelt beside Link, scooping him into his arms. "You did it, champ. You were incredible."
Link wagged his tail weakly, his eyes half-lidded. Arlo tapped the Luxury Ball on his belt. "Time to rest."
The Pokémon vanished in a flash of light.
Arlo exhaled, turning toward the others. His heart still hammered, but his resolve burned brighter than ever.
****************************************************************************
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