Location: Mamoru's Apartment
Mamoru folded the last of his shirts and carefully placed it inside his duffel bag. He wasn't bringing much—just the essentials for the upcoming excavation trip.
Behind him, Kurai sprawled across his bed, dramatically kicking her legs in the air like a spoiled child.
"It's not faaaaaiiir!" she whined, burying her face into a pillow. "I was just reunited with my big brother, and now you're taking him away from me!"
Mamoru sighed, barely sparing her a glance as he zipped up his bag.
"Unlike you and your brother, I have a job," he said dryly. "Some of us have to make a living, you know. Someone's gotta pay the bills around here."
Kurai lifted her head, pouting. "It's not my fault your mortal economy is garbage."
Mamoru's eye twitched.
"But either way," she continued smugly, flipping onto her back, "I'm coming with you."
Mamoru froze mid-pack.
"…What?!" He turned to her. "No, you're not! I can't bring a kid along on a dangerous excavation!"
Kurai huffed, crossing her arms. "If you don't let me come, I'll burn down this entire apartment complex."
Mamoru narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't dare."
A slow, wicked grin spread across her lips.
"Wouldn't I?"
Before he could react, Kurai summoned her scythe and, with a single swing, cleaved straight through his brand-new Plasma HDTV.
The screen cracked. Sparks flew. The once-pristine television flickered before going completely dark.
Mamoru let out a strangled scream, dropping to his knees in front of his fallen appliance.
"WHYYYY?!" he wailed, cradling the broken screen like a fallen comrade.
Kurai smirked triumphantly, resting her scythe on her shoulder. "Hmph. I knew you'd see things my way."
Mamoru clenched his fists, shaking with barely restrained rage.
"Fine," he growled. "You can come."
Location: Excavation Site, Saudi Arabia – Two Days Later
The air inside the cave was cool and damp, heavy with the scent of ancient dust. Mamoru and Kurai trekked deeper into the cavern, their lanterns casting eerie shadows against the walls.
But as they ventured further, the walls changed. Natural rock formations gave way to intricate carvings etched into the stone—figures of celestial beings clashing in battle, runes glowing faintly beneath the dust of time.
Mamoru's breath hitched.
"Incredible…" He ran his hand over the engravings, eyes gleaming with scholarly excitement. "This must be thousands of years old!"
Then—
Hikaru's voice echoed in his mind.
"Mamoru, don't!"
Too late.
The moment his palm pressed against the design, a golden glow erupted from the wall. The carvings pulsed with unknown energy, spreading across the surface like wildfire.
Kurai's eyes widened in alarm.
"Oh, now this is more like it," she grinned, gripping her scythe tightly.
A violent gust of wind howled through the chamber, swirling around them. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Then—
A vortex of golden light tore open, swallowing them whole.
Location: A Golden Road in the Middle of a Desert
Mamoru groaned, pushing himself up from the ground, his head throbbing.
Beneath him, an endless gold-plated road stretched through an endless desert. The sky overhead was a deep orange, casting an almost ethereal glow across the dunes.
Kurai stood nearby, arms crossed, her foot tapping impatiently.
"Where the hell are we?" Mamoru muttered.
Kurai glared at him. "This is all your fault! You just had to touch the damn wall, didn't you? If you weren't my brother's vessel, I'd gut you where you stand."
Mamoru grumbled under his breath.
Then—Hikaru's voice resonated within him.
"Mamoru, this place isn't safe. Let me take over."
Mamoru hesitated for only a second before nodding.
"Alright."
As Hikaru's presence overtook Mamoru's body, Kurai's frustration melted into pure joy.
"Big brother, it's been three days since I saw you! I had to deal with that pathetic vessel of yours," she whined.
Mamoru raged internally.
Hikaru chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
"I missed you too, my adorable little Ku-chan."
Kurai's face turned red. "D-Don't call me that!"
Hikaru smirked but quickly turned serious.
"We still need to figure out where we are."
They proceeded cautiously down the golden road.
Then—
A sharp voice rang out from the dunes.
"Intruders!"
A group of armored soldiers emerged, their curved blades gleaming in the sunlight.
"You dare trespass into the Kingdom of Khamaswadi uninvited?! You will be brought before the King and Queen!"
Kurai grinned darkly, summoning her scythe.
"Just say the word, big brother, and I'll slaughter every last one of them."
Hikaru held up a hand.
"No, Ku-chan. We must proceed peacefully. Put away your scythe."
Kurai hesitated. "But, big brother—!"
"Kurai. Put. The. Scythe. Away."
For the first time, Hikaru's voice carried a sharp edge.
Kurai's eyes widened. He had never spoken to her like that before.
Slowly, she dismissed her weapon, her expression sulky. "…Yes, sir."
The soldiers shackled them and led them into the kingdom.
Location: Throne Room of the Khamaswadi King
The grand throne room was adorned with shimmering silks, golden pillars, and an air of untouchable power. At the far end, seated atop a magnificent throne, was the King—his golden eyes piercing, his expression unreadable.
"State your business," he commanded.
Hikaru knelt, placing a hand over his chest in respect.
"Oh mighty King, this body before you is my vessel, Mamoru. I am the angel Hikaru, and this is my sister, Kurai. It is an honor to stand before you. May I ask where we are?"
The King stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"This is the Kingdom of Khamaswadi, the strongest of the Jinn kingdoms."
Hikaru turned slightly, whispering to Kurai, "The Jinn would make powerful allies in our fight against Heaven. We should recruit them."
Kurai grinned. "I like the way you think."
Hikaru turned back to the King.
"Your grace, we humbly ask for your aid. Our battle is against an enemy far greater than us."
The King let out a booming laugh.
"The Jinn do not favor the weak. If you are too weak to fight your own battles, then we will have no part in them."
Before Hikaru could respond—
The throne room doors burst open.
A panicked guard stumbled inside.
"My lord! The kingdom—it's under siege!"
The Queen's gaze snapped toward Hikaru and Kurai, her eyes ablaze with suspicion.
"Treacherous snakes! This was your plan all along, wasn't it?! You claim to seek peace, but when we deny you, you bring war to our doorstep!"
Kurai snarled.
"You stupid bitch! Why the hell would we attack your pathetic kingdom?! Our fight is against Heaven!"
The King slammed his fist onto the armrest.
"You think you can defy God?"
Hikaru exhaled. "Your grace, let us prove our sincerity. Allow us to fight alongside you."
The King studied them carefully. Then, a slow smirk crossed his lips.
"Very well. Prove yourselves."
Outside the Palace – The Battle Begins
Kurai smirked.
"Let's make this interesting. Whoever kills the most angels wins."
Hikaru sighed. "I find this morbid, but if I think of it like a game, maybe it'll dull the pain."
Above them, the sky burned as angels descended upon the kingdom.
And far within the palace—
A lone figure stirred.
Prince Suimin Fawdaa, heir to the Jinn throne, slumbered peacefully.
Unaware of the chaos awaiting him.