The sky, which once burned bright with light, has now turned pitch dark.

  Everywhere there was blood and screams of agony and tyranny, which none could escape. These Harbingers have destroyed everything.

  "How did it come to this?” I shouted.

  “I have to stop them, no matter what the cost is!!" I thought to myself, as I created a colossal wolf of light and ash, it roared as we marched towards those Harbingers. With my eyes locked onto one of the Harbingers, I gripped my sword, and our blades clashed, sending chills through this shattered heaven. Everywhere there was chaos and the sound of weapons clashing, magic tore the sky apart, and legions clashed for their masters. I was injured and tired of fighting their legion all alone, and was easily overpowered. Every sentinel was supposed to be fighting, or… so I believed.

  I fought until my body trembled and the earth beneath me bled. In a fit of desperation, I tried to retreat and signalled the Sentinels to prepare for the end of evil, but we got surrounded by the enemy. Only two of us stood our ground. Me… and Sentinel of Death and Rebirth.

  "How is this possible?” The others were Untouched…Unexhausted “Did they not fight?”

  I sensed something was wrong. Why can't I use my abilities? I am the Sentinel of Creation and Swords, the greatest amongst the Sentinels and the Harbingers. I cannot just lose my will to fight like this; if we fall here, there will be no end to the tyranny and suffering in this world, which we managed to make so peaceful.

  "We can't lose”, I shouted.

  “No… we won't lose,"

  It doesn't matter if this is where my life comes to an end or suffering for eternity.

  The price I am ready to pay is to burn my very soul away. This is the cost of my failure.

  I started preparing the greatest artefact, Echoes of Ruin, the only Transcendent God-Grade artefact that appeared the moment we were created. This artefact alone has the powers equivalent to us, the Harbingers and Sentinels, but while I do this, I would become more vulnerable, not to mention my current state.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "Sentinel of Death and Rebirth”, I said, forcing myself to stand ”This is my final request—both as your leader… and your friend.” “Please protect me while I do this."

  "What are you even trying to do?” she asked “Don't tell me you're plan—"

  "I'm doing what must be done."

  After realising the situation, others began to move. Even the Sentinels were thirsty for my blood. An unbearable pain pierced through my back. I was struck, not by Harbingers but by the Sentinels whom I cherished so much. For the first time in a while, Sentinel of Death and Rebirth was having a hard time. Fighting so many celestial beings at once… she really is incredible.

  With the final spell nearing completion, their intent to kill grew to the point where it was nearly suffocating.

  Suddenly, the blinding white light engulfed the whole realm; my spell was complete.

  "Thank you", I whispered, “For staying with me till the end.”

  And as the light consumed all, I fell into silence.

  ------

  The Sentinel of Creation and Swords, the Leader of Sentinels and the greatest celestial had chosen eternal silence and suffering for himself to seal both Sentinels and Harbingers, the ones whom he trusted; they were the ones who stabbed his back.

  ------

  "This child left behind quite a story.” A voice echoed, "How interesting, I never expected it to come this far".

  Drifting within my sea of consciousness, after getting sealed in the echoes, I thought to myself.

  "It hurts." Staring in disbelief. “Why did they betray me?” I wanted revenge, yet even that thought felt revolting, because they were the ones I had considered my everything.

  Suddenly, something, no… someone, entered my consciousness and pulled me out of the seal.

  I was in an endless sea, with nothing except me. But this soon changed when the sea started to change; it turned crimson, corpses lay everywhere, then the corpses shifted- becoming the bodies of my companions with a silhouette similar to mine, standing on their bodies with a sword drenched in their blood. The scene changed every second; they were horrifying, pleasant, happy, sad and disgusting.

  I was terrified when suddenly I felt a pressure unlike anything I had ever known.

  A mysterious figure stood before me. The figure shifted endlessly — angel, beast, star, shadow — until its form broke language itself. My mind screamed, yet my heart felt at peace. Suddenly, it stopped shifting forms; its form couldn't be described. It felt Omnipotent, but at the same time powerless and as if it knew nothing but everything. Tears rolled down, all emotions flowed into me together as if I met the source of all emotions: happiness, sorrow, agony, anger, revenge, and redemption…

  It was salvation itself! I was trembling,

  "Who… who are you?" I asked,

  The figure replied, "The one who answered your suffering, I am…"