⚠️ WarningThe following content may touch on sensitive themes 🕊️It includes mythological and historical elements hard to find 📜None of what is written is real. Reader discretion is advised 🙏The author seeks no morbidity—only to tell a fictional story 🎭
✍️ Author's NoteGuys, I've been quite busy lately ⏳I must admit that reader's fatigue is catching up to me 😮💨I didn't think I'd reach this point, but here we are 💭I have a hunch—maybe I should draw and make a Webtoon 🎨Perhaps adapt Pólemos Tôn Agíon as a manga one day 🌌
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A sound rose in the distance,as if an entire mountain had collapsed,
echoing through the earth, across every continent,through every crack of the world.
The ground trembled slightly,and far away a wail ascended—the wind screamed in pain,as though the veil of the spiritual world were tearing apart.
An echo among the deserts grew strongeras the winds cried louderabove the collapse of an invisible structure:the Pit of Zhuang had fallen.
Far away, the Well of Judgment openedin the heart of one of its towers—a new wound bleeding into the earth.
Everything happened at once.
While Galton remained in Brazil with Helena,Kamei-san and Jack were crossing the roadstoward the border between Vermont and Massachusetts.
Both, separated by oceans and skies,raised their eyes to the horizonwith the same foreboding feeling.
The air grew denser.The earth bore the pain of its caverns.
No one understood what was happening,nor what silent, ancient forcehad begun to move within the unseen.
At that sound—like a great collapse—Kamei-san lifted his gaze into the distance.
In his mind, almost shouting, he thought in terror:"What was that?"
"Why do I feel this?""Why am I shivering?""It's like my soul is weakening...""What's happening...?""Is it... the East?"
His lips barely moved, murmuring:"It's the East..."
Jack, confused and tense, asked:"What's going on, Kamei-san?"
On the other side of the world,Galton felt the same chill.
That invisible weight ran through his body,like a blow to the soul.
He looked up at the sky, puzzled, and whispered:"It's the East... but in which direction?North? West?"
He fell silent, trying to grasp an idea, a fact."The Vault of Shen... or Zhuang's?" he muttered."It can't be."
"Those vaults have sustained the balance of thespiritual world for almost two thousand years."
"It's impossible for them to collapse..."
"Or maybe they fell because of today's instability..."
His thoughts drifted off into the crackling fire,until Helena's voice brought him back:
"Galton, I've cut the branches... what should I do now?"
Helena looked at him, afraid and uncertain."What's wrong, Galton?"
He pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze."Girl... we'll have to speed things up."
"Speed what up? Why?" she asked, confused.
He took a deep breath. His hands trembled,but he tried to remain calm.
"No... we mustn't move yet.But we'll accelerate your training."
"Why are you so nervous?" Helena insisted.
Galton looked up. His face had gone pale."You wouldn't understand."
"What do you mean, understand what?"
A brief silence fell, dense and heavy,like mist dragging itself across the ground.
Finally, he spoke in a low voice:"I believe one of the Eastern Vaults has fallen."
Helena frowned."A vault? What does that even mean?"
Galton wiped his forehead, sweating."If one of those vaults collapses...the balance of the spiritual world fractures."
"Someone—or something—has touchedwhat was meant to remain sealed."
His breathing grew uneven.He stared at the horizon,his eyes filled with fear and resignation.
"This will bring terrible consequences.Not now... but soon."
Helena took a step toward him, worried."What are those vaults, Galton?"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent,dawn barely broke over Vermont.
It was almost six in the morning.The sky was wrapped in a bluish gloom.
In Brazil, the sun had already risen high.Seven was dying to make way for eight.
Jack walked beside Kamei-sanalong the cold, damp path.
"What's happening, Kamei-san?" he asked, uneasy.
The mist brushed against their ankles.Kamei-san stopped. He looked toward the horizon,eyes narrowed, listening to something unseen.
"We don't have much time, Jack," he said at last."Now I understand why the angelsneeded me to intervene."
He paused. His breath was visible in the frozen air."Something has broken in the spiritual world.Something enormous."
Jack frowned."What's going on? What do you mean?"
Kamei-san closed his eyes,pained by the truth.
"A vault has fallen."
He opened his eyes again, fixedon the line of the East.
"I can't find any other explanation.I feel an emptiness... an absence."
"The Vault of Zhuang... or Xing's.Maybe even Yang's."
"Any of those three has fallen."
Jack felt a chill crawl down his spine."And what does that mean?"
Kamei-san looked at him seriously."If a vault collapses, Jack, it doesn't just affect spirits...it affects men as well."
"The last time something like that happened...heaven and earth went to war."
On the other side of the world,dawn slipped through the damp leaves of Brazil.
Helena stood frozen, eyes wide in shock."A war? What do you mean... a war?" she asked.
Galton stayed silent for a few seconds.Then he spoke gravely:"Yes, girl. The last time a vault fellwas the Vault of Setith,in ancient Çatalhöyük."
"When that happened,the war between the Nephilims and the Watchers began.A battle to decide who would rule humanity."
He paused. His voice sounded more weary than stern."I didn't live through that age,but I've seen enough centuries to understand what it means."
"When a vault falls, it isn't just a structure...it's a law of heaven.Its fall means the balance of the earth is compromised."
"Someone—or something—has disturbedthe divine equilibrium."
"And if that has happened... then yes, girl—it's war."
"A war between angels and demons.""Or humans and demons.""Angels and humans.""Or all of them together..."
He looked toward the East, frowning."But why now?And why in the East?" he murmured to himself.
"What the hell is happening over there?"
The silence broke when he turned toward her."Helena, do you have the log ready?"
"Yes..." she answered, slightly confused.
"Good. It's time to teach you what Divine Force truly is.And let me warn you, girl: I'll be very harsh with you."
Helena swallowed hard."What did he mean by that?"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world,Kamei-san was speaking with Jack.
"You know, Jack? I can't believe I'm saying this...but I think it's time I explain the Divine Force to you."
"If you understand the concept,you'll be able to help me better on this journey."
Jack looked at him, confused."What are you talking about?"
Kamei-san fell silent for a few seconds,his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"I'll be honest with you.The real reason you were kept confined in the forest..."
"...was because Galton tried to replicatewhat he once did with Zaziel,but in a much harsher way."
Jack frowned."Replicate what?"
"I don't know for sure," Kamei-san replied."I never knew the kind of training he used with Zaziel.But Galton believed the Divine Forcecould be awakened under the highest level of stress."
"So what he tried with you, technically,was to see if the Saint of Fire could manifest his powerwhen pushed to the very limit of human endurance."
Kamei-san paused."Obviously, it didn't work," he said, lowering his gaze."And that was predictable.I warned him several times. He didn't listen."
"You didn't achieve the same result as Zaziel."
Jack took a deep breath,trying to process every word.
"Then... does that mean I'm a failure?"
Kamei-san looked at him silently.His raised brow and expression said more than words.
"No, Jack. You're not a failure.You're a victim.You should never have been forcedto bear that kind of burden."
"We should have given it to you when you were a thinking young man...not a child."
He paused. His eyes trembled between guilt and memory.
"And in a way," he continued, "I've already told you this before...but I want to apologize, Jack. I couldn't defend you. Or rather,I didn't want to. I was afraid to face him. I was afraid to die."
"Ironic, isn't it?" —he gave a bitter smile— "An immortal afraidof death."
The wind slipped through the leaves, as if keeping silent.
In the cold air, the footsteps of Jack —the Saint of Fire—approached slowly. He placed a hand on Kamei-san's shoulder.
"You don't need to apologize," he said calmly."I already told you I forgave you. There's no debt between us.I won't deny it hurt... but I don't want to think about that now.What matters is that everyone is safe. Traveling with you is proofthat I hold no grudge. The only one to blame was that man...and he's gone."
"So relax, Kamei-san. I don't hate you."
Kamei-san took a deep breath. He almost broke down,but held back his tears.
"All right," he finally said, pulling himself together."If that's what you think of me... I'll accept it.But listen, Jack, there's something you need to understand."
Jack tensed. Kamei-san's voice changed —lower, deeper.
"Come with me. I'll explain what the Divine Force truly is.If you manage to grasp it, you won't just help—maybe we'll reachhome sooner than you think."
The air grew denser.
"The Divine Force," Kamei-san went on, "is the power of angels.It allows one to hold the intangible and turn it into matter...or dissolve matter until it becomes spirit.It's a gift that was never meant for humans.That's why it's transmitted through the orbs."
Jack listened carefully.
"We are different, Jack.Maybe the closest thing to a 'superhuman.'
We have the strength of an elephant, the agility of a feline...and the lightness of a feather.
When we're granted the Order of Creation, we receive three gifts:The first, immortality; the second, creation;and the third, the gifts of the spirit."
Kamei-san paused, lowering his tone.
"Fusing those three is what some call the saint's connection.But no one has ever mastered the third.Not even Galton.
Because three isn't just a number... it's a concept.A balance. And that balance is still lost."
Jack nodded slowly, trying to understand.
"The Divine Force," Kamei-san continued,"is the harmony between spirit, soul, and body.Only when all three align does the power manifest.Sometimes in simple ways—like lifting an impossible weight;other times, in grand acts—like shaping reality itself."
Meanwhile, in Brazil, Galton was explaining the same thingto Helena. She kept doing squats with a log on her shoulder,drenched in sweat.
"Helena," said Galton, "the Divine Force is sustainedthrough stress... but I'm starting to understandhow it really works.
I realized it with Jack, and also with the Saint of Windand the Saint of Lightning."
He paused, staring at the embers burning on the ground.
"Every saint I've met has been different.And I think I finally understand why God chose them.
Adelaida, the Saint of Wind, could move the airjust by breathing. She was free, changing, unpredictable...like the wind itself.
The Saint of Lightning, on the other hand,was pure focus—his entire energyconcentrated in a single point.
'And you, Helena...' he looked at her calmly,'you are Light.'
Helena stopped, panting.
"The Light needs purpose," said Galton."If you find yours, you'll awaken the Divine Force."
And so, separated by thousands of kilometers,Kamei-san and Galton spoke the same words:
"The Divine Force is the union of spirit, soul, and body.Only in harmony does true creation manifest."
The wind blew in opposite directions.Yet on both sides of the world, the echo was the same.
Galton looked toward the horizon. His voice grew deeper.
"Helena, I'm not a good person.It's hard for me to feel remorsedespite everything I've done.
When you live too long, you learn that sometimesdoing evil to achieve good... is necessary.Only then are the foundations builtfor generations to follow God's ideals."
"I don't know what you think of me.I can't empathize with you.That's why I'm telling you to forget.Forget everything. It'll be better for you,and you'll carry your immortalitywithout as much pain."
"Focus on developing the Divine Force.That way, you can help me protect the Saint of Icewhile I search for the Saint of Metal and Earth."
"Helena... you are the Saint of Light.And for the first time in a long time,I'm going to believe in a true saint.I'm going to trust you—that you are the Light."
But before he could continue,Helena interrupted him with a scream.
A sharp, broken cry—a desperate plea that crossed the mountainsand reached even the distant bellsof the forgotten churches in the jungle.
Helena screamed, saying,"Galton, please, help me!I'm sorry, I didn't hear what you said last!"
"A filha da puta! Help me!The ants are crawling up my back and my armpits!I think they're behind my neck!"
Galton only said,"You just need water, girl."
In that instant, he saw her balanceteetering on the edge of collapse.
Helena was standing near the top of the hill.With a light touch of his finger,he pushed her chest gently.
The log fell before she did.And then, Helena rolled.
Like a pendulum out of control,her body spun and slid down the slope.
"Fucking hell... bastard... damn it..."she murmured as she tumbled.
She hit a tree along the wayand finally fell into the river,soaked and knocked out cold.
Galton watched her,a faint smirk curling on his lips.
"I've lived for so long...but I think this is the first timea saint has ever made me laugh."
"Alright," he continued."I'll heal your wounds...though I've no idea how."
Meanwhile, Kamei-san and Jackwere arriving at a border town near Massachusetts.
Kamei-san said to Jack,"Listen, Jack. We'll spend the night with a friend.He's the one who'll trade my gold for money,and then we'll figure out how to travel. Sound good?"
Jack replied,"You don't even have to ask me.I don't know a thing about anything."
Both laughed, and Kamei-san answered,"Alright, kid. Then I'll show you what the world is likeand give you a few small lessonson how society works."
When Jack entered the town,he couldn't help but feel amazedby all the people walking around.
There were so many—each dressed differently.Some wore suits, others jeans,and some dressed more casually.
Groups of young women in floral dresses chatted together,and there was a hum of constant communication everywhere.
There was so much to take in,but it was only a public center—something normal to anyone else.Yet for Jack, it was completely new.
Maybe it was even the entrance to another confined world,like the one he'd known before.
With a faint smile, he said to Kamei-san,"Kamei-san, tell me something.Do more confined worlds exist?Because this... this feels like one."
Kamei-san looked at him with a raised eyebrow and said,"What's that supposed to mean?"
"The world you're showing me... it feels like a completelynew place, something different from mine."
At first, Kamei-san didn't understand. He just said,"Keep walking, don't worry about it."
But after a moment's thought, he realized what Jack meant."This kid really doesn't know a thing. I completely forgot thisis his first time outside his world. I'm amazed he's not scared."
"In fact, he's so fascinated he keeps staring at the soda signs."
"I'm not sure if bringing him was a good idea or not... but itcalms me to have him by my side."
Kamei-san looked toward the horizon and thought,"God, what's happening?"
"I just hope it was my imagination."
"Because if one of the Eastern Vaults has fallen, that meansall of humanity could be in danger."
"Or maybe... there's a chance of another cosmic war."