"Axel... Axel..." A voice called out to Axel until he opened his eyes. Upon experiencing Ilios' passing, Axel's mind had faded to white until he was awakened by a man's voice.

Axel blinked slowly as he sat up. He was in a bed of flowers that blanketed the side of the mountain on which he was sitting. Next to Axel was the man who had spoken his name upon his awakening.

"Where am I?" Axel inquired as he gazed down on the cloud-covered valley below.

"You are with me," was the man's response as he continued to kneel beside the hangel.

"With you...?" Turning to the man, Axel's eyes widened when he saw the stranger's face. It was a face he knew well; but it was also...not. Just like with Ilios, the man shared Axel's features. He had blonde hair and silver eyes and was a more mature version of Ilios. However, his expressions and the glint in his eye differed from those of Axel and Ilios.

"I am Dorahn, our soul's first incarnation," the man explained when he saw Axel's reaction. The power and strength that radiated from Dorahn were incredible. Axel was awed by the high angel's presence. The hangel could immediately tell Dorahn was the most powerful of the seven incarnations, with himself being the weakest.

"I pulled you to the section of our soul that holds my essence," Dorahn began as he shifted into a seated position and moved his gaze down to the cloudy valley.

Axel's brows furrowed when he heard Dorahn's words. "Why?" Although he knew something had to have gone wrong to cause Dorahn to suck Axel's consciousness into his essence, Axel still wanted to know what exactly was happening to his body. Was he still keeping Angel's Landing from shattering? Was his soul breaking from the strain?

Instead of immediately answering Axel's question, Dorahn continued explaining the function of their soul. "The essence of each incarnation is stored within our soul, so we have always been with you, Axel...although you did not know it. The essence of each incarnation remains with our soul through each life, so they are never lost."

"However...the essence of Ilios is fading."

That hit Axel like a ton of bricks. The hangel's head snapped to the high angel as he asked, "What do you mean Ilios is fading?"

"Why do you think you are here, Axel?" Dorahn answered the hangel's question with an inquiry. "Why are you here when our soul is in Angel's Landing?"

Axel's breath hitched in his throat when he heard Dorahn's words.

"Each time a past incarnation's essence is lost, their memories, emotions, and strengths leave the confinements of the soul. To preserve their essence, the living incarnation must absorb them before they are lost forever." Dorahn stood to his feet as he added, "So Axel, Why do you think you were experiencing Ilios' memories?"

Axel gritted his teeth as he sprung to his feet. Everything fit too perfectly as Axel began to realize what was happening. Since Axel's soul was in Angel's Landing, Ilios had the ability to temporarily emerge from the soul and be conscious. It was Ilios who was holding together Angel's Landing. He was enduring the pain and torment of being ripped apart over and over again to protect Axel.

While Ilios could not leave Angel's Landing, he could do what he could as long as their soul was still in the realm. As Ilios continued to keep Angel's Landing from shattering, his essence was slowly waning. Therefore, his memories were escaping into Axel while Ilios faded.

"I need to get back to Angel's Landing. How do I get out of here?"

Dorahn's gaze softened as he saw the determined expression on Axel's face. He wanted to save Ilios. "Are you certain you can keep Angel's Landing from tearing?" Dorahn looked at Axel seriously as he awaited the hangel's response.

"It doesn't matter." Axel clenched his fists as he proclaimed, "I am not losing any part of my soul. I'll save Ilios no matter the cost. I will not let him fade away."

Dorahn closed his eyes as a small smile came to his lips. He was pleased with the hangel's reply. "Very well. I shall send you back to Angel's Landing. Prepare yourself...Axel."

⇼⇼⇼⇼⇼

Fly, Rae! Orion ordered through his and the colonel's mind link. I'll handle the portal. Go to Axel. He needs you now more than ever. Do not let his soul slip away.

The moment Orion zoomed into the underground section beneath the destroyed Transport Tower, Rae spread his wings and began flying as quickly as he could to the source of the cry that resounded throughout Dexys. The souls from Angel's Landing were quickly thinning out the sea of demons that had begun to swarm the city, so Kilo and Castyr could protect Axel's body while Orion left to help his demon mate battle their centuries-old enemy.

Kilo and Castyr were hastily clearing the space around Axel's body when Rae arrived at the scene. Though demons constantly tried to break through the angel and his star, Kilo and Castyr managed to keep them from nearing Axel's body where it was floating twenty feet in the air. Castyr fought on the ground while Kilo had taken to the skies to protect the hangel from the demons who sought to kill him mid-air.

Rae sent Genyr flying around the hangel's body and eliminated a great number of demons who were flying toward Axel. Once a large area had been cleared, Rae recalled Genyr and flew to the hangel's side. Hovering beside Axel, Rae's heart broke when he saw the hangel's body responding to the pain his soul was currently enduring.

An explosion sounded from the underground system where Hades' machine was located, and it was not long until Orion linked Unit R to inform them of the portal's destruction. The flow of demons had been halted. Thus, the souls from Angel's Landing could make quick work of the demons left in the city. However, no matter how quickly the souls fought, Rae knew it would not be fast enough. Axel was at his limit.

Large, golden fissures broke open in Axel's skin. His body was beginning to tear apart from the power of Angel's Landing as it threatened to shatter into the universe.

Castyr's head snapped to the hangel's floating body, his eyes widening when he saw the fissures. Upon realizing that Axel was the reincarnation of his mentor five centuries ago, the star's connection to the hangel greatly intensified. He had watched Ilios die for him before; he would be damned if he let it happen again.

Before he had fallen, Castyr would have easily released a burst of light to wipe out the demons of Hades. But, now that he had been tainted by darkness from sucking in all of Vitrius' demon energy to stop Hades from overcoming the Heavens five hundred years prior, Castyr could not release his tainted light now for fear of destroying the demon soldiers in the EDF who were fighting to free their home.

So, he did the only other thing he could. Calling out to Rae, Castyr had the colonel lift him in the air and bring him to Axel's side. Although he was still a young star and had yet to fully develop his ability of soul-seeing, Castyr knew it was his best shot at helping Axel. And at that moment, it was all or nothing.

Placing his hand on Axel's chest, Castyr closed his eyes and activated what soul sight he had. Drawing upon his strength and what light remained within him, Castyr channeled his all to gazing into Axel's soul. Aware he had no time to waste, Castyr did not stop drawing upon his ability until everything went white. But, his mind was white for no more than a second.

In the next moment, Castyr was standing on a large, golden shard. The edges of the shard were incredibly sharp, and it was merely one that floated amongst thousands. Each shard glowed and pulsed as violent vibrations shook the plane that served as the horizon of Angel's Landing.

Castyr drew his breath in shock. He had succeeded in gazing into Axel's soul, and his consciousness had been pulled into Angel's Landing where he found himself standing at the edge of the shattering realm. Before him was a large shard on which were two male figures.

"Axel..." Voicing the hangel's name, Castyr took off toward the two silhouettes. The shards that had broken off from the horizon of Angel's Landing floated into a great abyss that showed between the wide cracks. One slip up, and Castyr knew he would be lost in the abyss. He could not afford to mess up when he was so close to helping Axel.

Being an entity with no wings, Castyr had to be careful as he leaped from shard to shard. Until, at last, he reached the shard with the two males. Castyr stopped short of the hangel when he saw the man in front of Axel. "Ilios..." The star's heart pounded in his chest when he saw the form of his mentor who had died by Vitrius' blade five centuries ago.

Both Axel and Ilios were kneeling on the shard with tears streaming down their faces. Axel had his forehead pressed against Ilios', and his arms clung onto his past self with all he had. Much like what was happening to Axel's physical body, golden fissures ran through both males' skin, indicating they were on the verge of shattering into millions of shards.

Hearing his name be called, Ilios painfully turned to look at the star who stood before him. Tears swelled in Castyr's eyes as he gazed down at his mentor. Ilios released a sharp breath when he saw the star he had cared for as a child, brother, and friend.

"Castyr..." Fresh tears rolled from Ilios' eyes as he looked upon the star's saddened face and darkened eyes. Oh, my star. I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you. I'm so sorry you lost your glow. Memories of Castyr's bright smile that was no more flashed through Ilios' form — that was created from his essence — and he doubled over in guilt. He had failed to protect that which was precious to him. He failed to protect Castyr's smile.

Rushing to his mentor, Castyr flung his arms around Ilios and held him tightly.

Axel released a breath of relief when he saw the star embracing the white-winged angel. Clutching his heart, Axel closed his eyes as pain assaulted his body, and he took on most of the stress from Angel's Landing. All the while Axel and Ilios had been fighting together to keep Angel's Landing from tearing, a strong vortex was circulating through the realm, gathering up the smaller shards and dispersing them into the abyss.

The wind from the vortex intensified as Axel took Ilios' load and allowed the angel to reunite with the star. Before long, it became hard to hear within the shattering realm, so Axel barely heard Castyr's voice as he called out to him. "Axel!" But, when he heard it, Axel turned his head to the star as Castyr informed him, "The portal is gone! You need to recall the souls now!"

Upon hearing the star's words, Axel sighed with relief. It was about to be over. Although Axel could sense it would take the remainder of his strength to recall the souls and re-seal Angel's Landing, he did not hesitate in searching his soul for the incantation.

Sadness mixed with the pain that filled Axel's being. He knew deep down that recalling the souls would suck out the remainder of what strength and energy he had left. But, this way Ilios would remain within his soul, and if Axel died in the process, he would just remain in Angel's Landing until their soul's next incarnation was born.

While he hated the idea of leaving Rae alone once again, Axel would stop at nothing to save the soul of the one he loved. For if Axel failed to recall the souls, and Angel's Landing was destroyed, if tragedy were to befall Rae, his soul would be lost in the universe and would never be reincarnated. Rae would be lost forever.

So, even if it meant he was to die in this life, Axel was determined to protect the future of Rae's soul. Therefore, Axel was content with his decision. However, before he was able to deliver the incantation that would call the souls back to Angel's Landing, Ilios began chanting it.

"By the power vested within my soul, I command thee who has served as my sword, shield, and spear and valiantly defeated my foe, return to me and rest. Restore peace to your soul and repose yourself knowing you have done well."

"Ilios!" Axel called out in warning as he held onto his soul's sixth incarnation. Tears swelled in Axel's eyes as shards of Ilios' form began to shatter and fly into the wind. "No, no, no, I don't want to lose you. Please, no!"

Ilios' face grimaced with pain as the recall began taking what remained of his essence. Thousands of the glowing souls began returning to Angel's Landing as Axel pulled Ilios into his arms. Ilios held so much love for the world and the universe. He was pure and kind at heart. He was valiant. Axel hated losing Ilios since he held so much love for Rae, and he shared so many memories and smiles with the colonel that were so, so precious.

A tear rolled down Castyr's cheek as he watched his mentor fade away. The golden fissures glowed even brighter as his form cracked and chipped away. Ilios did not have much time left, so he gave the star a small smile in goodbye before turning to Axel and saying, "Fear not. Remember Dorahn's words."

Raising his hand, Ilios was barely able to cup Axel's cheek before he completely faded into the universe. Ilios' essence was now a cloud of golden dust that powdered Angel's Landing as the realm was successfully sealed once the souls had been recalled. Axel felt empty as he stared up at the billions of golden dust particles.

He had done what he had set out to do, what he had promised to do. But, why did he always fail to protect those he held dear? First, it was Jay, who died right before his eyes. Then, his father. And Seraphine, Nivii, Iris... And now Ilios.

"Why... Why, Why?!!" Axel let out a cry as he mourned for those he had failed to protect. He had come all this way. He had saved Dexys. But he had lost so many.

The hangel fell silent after releasing that one cry. His silver eyes were hollow as he gazed at nothing. The shards from Angel's Landing returned to their original positions as the realm healed itself. But, the hole in Axel's soul was unrepairable.

He had lost a part of himself he was sure he could never get back. Until he remembered Ilios' last words. Axel furrowed his brows as he recalled what his sixth incarnation had told him. What did he mean? Remember Dorahn's words... What words?

It was not until the golden cloud that had remained above Axel began to swirl into a mini vortex that Axel remembered what High Angel Dorahn had said."Each time a past incarnation's essence is lost, its memories, emotions, and strengths leave the confinements of the soul. To preserve their essence, the living incarnation must absorb them before they are lost forever."

Axel's head snapped up when the vortex raced for him. He understood what Ilios and Dorahn meant. While Ilios' essence had left the confinements of Axel's soul if Axel was able to absorb what was left, he would fuse with Ilios' essence, and the two would become one. Ilios would cease to exist, but he would be absorbed into Axel's incarnation, and the hangel would gain Ilios' memories.

When he realized this, Axel quickly said, "By the power vested within my soul, reclaim what was lost. Become whole again."

The vortex that had held Ilios' essence that had survived the recall flew into Axel's body in reaction to the hangel's incantation. Axel's neck craned back as he absorbed Ilios' essence, and with it came the angel's memories, emotions, desires, and regrets. Axel's eyes flashed golden as he and Ilios were fused and became one.

Axel's heart pounded in his chest as a plethora of emotions swelled through him. He remembered every second he had spent with Rae in his past life, and he recalled every smile Castyr had given him before Ilios' passing. Ilios had endured much, but Axel could handle it all as he had endured just as much.

The hangel was incapacitated for several moments as he processed the sea of memories and emotions. It took Axel what felt like an eternity to go through everything. And, while he was sucked into the torrent of memories, Castyr stood watch over him the whole time.

"Axel... Axel... Come back to me. Please." It was not until Rae's voice reached the hangel that Axel realized he was no longer in Angel's Landing. He had been drawn into the depths of his mind where he resided until he and Ilios were completely fused.

Castyr, who had withdrawn from Axel's soul when the hangel left Angel's Landing to resolve the fusion, woke in his guardian's arms. Kilo smiled down on the star softly, as he helped Castyr sit up and look around. Bodies of numerous demons lay strewn across the ground, but the city was saved.

Orion, Aklys, and Darath were nowhere to be found, and the souls Axel had called forth from Angel's Landing had protected the remaining forces of the EDF, HDD, Neptune, and Jupiter while clearing out the city. Castyr leaned back against his angel as he saw Axel stir in Rae's arms.

The hangel released a small moan as he slowly regained consciousness, and Rae released a shaky breath of relief when he saw Axel's silver orbs. The colonel's blue eyes were wet with tears as he pulled Axel into his chest. "Thank you...for coming back to me."

Axel smiled up at the colonel as he gently cupped the angel's cheek. Bringing his face next to the colonel's Axel gazed into the angel's cool, blue eyes ardently as he finally said what he had been longing to tell his colonel. "I love you, Rae."

Leaning in, Axel placed his lips against Rae's and kissed him sweetly. Rae's hand flowed to the back of the hangel's head as he deepened the kiss. The hangel and his colonel expressed their love for each other through the kiss a moment longer before Axel pulled away and set his forehead against Rae's. What he said next was from both Axel and Ilios. It was something both had been meaning to tell Rae, and Axel now knew why his soul had been drawn to Rae so strongly.

Throughout all his seven lives, his one love was Rae. Even though their past incarnations were not always in existence during the same centuries, Axel's soul never fell for another. So, when he said, "It has always been and will always be you," he meant it.

Rae's blue eyes morphed into a half-moon as he smiled up at the hangel. The colonel then pulled the hangel into his chest when he saw Axel's eyes droop. The hangel had expended a serious amount of energy and was extremely exhausted, so Rae was not surprised when Axel fell into his arms half-asleep. But, Axel made sure to tell Rae one last thing before slipping into a deep sleep. What Axel said caused Rae to smile softly and kiss the top of Axel's head as he stood to his feet and carried his love out of the war-torn city.

"Thank you for finding me...just like you said you would."

The End
Thanks for Reading <3
Written by WeiDao 維道

Swipe for Announcement
———>>