883 Lenny's Only Choice
"Bravo, Master's chosen," Uriel the Angel proclaimed, his voice resonating with a solemn weight as he unveiled the truth.
"You've uncovered what we in the celestial realms refer to as 'the snare,' yet you mortals name it FATE." With those words, Uriel descended to his knees, a spectacle of divinity bowing before mortality.
Lenny watched, spellbound, as the angel's essence began to unravel, the ethereal threads of fate causing his soul to erode.
Without a hint of his previous indifference, Lenny declared, "You're dying." His voice bore no hostility, only a grave acknowledgement of Uriel's fate.
Uriel responded with a weak laugh, "My destiny was sealed ages ago. The royal lineage of Asmodeus has left its mark on me. Imprisoned within the confines of Judas for an eternity, I've expended too much. I've condensed what little strength I had left so that..."
"To impart your wisdom to me," Lenny interjected, understanding Uriel's unspoken intention. Uriel confirmed with a nod. "Though you are favored by the Master, remember, there are others ready to take your place should the opportunity arise. And face them you will, willingly or not." Uriel's words were punctuated by a cough, spattering celestial blue blood.
"Who are they?" Lenny inquired, stepping closer.
"The fallen," Uriel disclosed with a hint of pride.
"After the Great Flood that eradicated many of their Nephilim and Jinn offspring, they sought refuge but found themselves ensnared in purgatory instead."
"Ensnared?" echoed Lenny, intrigued.
A smile played on Uriel's lips. "Yes, by my own doing. Yet, it was all part of the Master's grand design, surprisingly aligning with thr plan of the One Above All. Purgatory offers a chance for redemption, but the price is steep, and those fools are now ensnared."
Lenny began to piece together the tales he'd heard about Uriel, understanding the universal disdain directed toward the angel. The reasons behind the angels' loathing became clear to him.
As Uriel's strength waned, the illusionary realm they occupied dissipated, revealing the true landscape of Judas. Minnie, Coco, and Morgana were suddenly visible.
Minnie rushed forward, but Lenny halted her with a gesture. She complied immediately.
For Lenny and Uriel, months had passed in their secluded plane, yet in Judas, only minutes had elapsed. Such was the nature of these hidden realms.
"Why would I venture there?" Lenny questioned, skeptical of the value of purgatory, a place synonymous with imprisonment.
Uriel, now barely holding onto the material world, smiled as he drew forth a light from his vanishing form. His hand shimmered with a golden radiance, runes dancing across his skin like minuscule, glowing insects, "Because there lies the Codex..."
Minnie's accusation hung heavily in the air, her words striking at Lenny with the force of a gavel, "Master Lenny, heed not his siren song. He weaves lies as a spider spins its web. His only desire is for you to fall into his snare. Forget this fanciful Codex; it's naught but a legend. Your true path lies in claiming your birthright as the Morningstar's heir. From the depths of hell, rise to challenge and overthrow the royal usurpers. Is this not the craving of your heart?"
Lenny's resolve wavered momentarily, Minnie's plea echoing the counsel of the Sisters of Fate. They had vehemently cautioned against any contact with Uriel's flesh, a directive Lenny had scrupulously followed through every confrontation, ensuring not once did their skin meet.
Yet, the path to the Codex demanded a breach of this very warning.
Moranda, breaking the tense silence, voiced his allegiance to Minnie's perspective. "Master's chosen, I align with the witch's counsel. My tenure in captivity with this angel has laid bare his duplicity. Even a serpent has holier tongue than this one.
Instead, you should Join me, and together, we can marshal the legions of Hell. Our combined might can rectify the Morningstar's downfall."
Conflicted, Lenny's brow furrowed in skepticism. "Both of you address me as the Master's beloved, yet your words sprak against each other. Moranda, on what grounds should your words weigh heavier than his?"
Mohanda's expression darkened, "True, Uriel does. Yet, you remain unaware of his ultimate treachery. It was he who divulged the Master's weak point to the royal families and the lesser gods. Were it not for his impending demise, I'd deliver his justice personally."
Moranda had spoken with so much vigor that lenny could indeed see the truth in the devil's eyes.
"You guessed by making an attempt on my life. You are really a dangerous man."
Minnie backed up continuously. It was obvious that she was about to flee. But lenny did not move.
"Oh, it works fine!" Minnie's answered. "It has already stopped my heart a couple of times already. But unfortunately, I have seen and discovered secrets of the world, and such a seal can no longer hold my life. I only let it stay there because it served as an assurance for your trust to remain."
The moment she said this, she suddenly teleported in an attempt to escape. However lenny suddenly released his incredibly oppressive aura and she appeared a distance away.
"But my power is too great for you to run in time." Lenny spoke up as he waved his hand and she was pulled towards him by an invisible force.
Lenny grabbed her by the neck.
She struggled, "You cannot kill me Lenny Tales. I am blessed by Fate. Besides, my only intention is for you to walk in the path that fate deems worthy of you."
"Worthy of me?" Lenny felt insulted by those words.
Lenny frowned tightly as he observed her closely in his eyes, he could see the threads of fate that were connected to her body.
He turned to Uriel. The angel had a smile on his face.
Lenny could see reason as to why Uriel had taught him the things that he did.
After all, Lenny could see the strong threads of fate connected to Minnie'sbody.
This servant of his did not live by chains of mortals but by the will of fate itself.
The threads continually sent life force into her body.
Now, he understood why Minnie was called the one chosen by fate.
It all made sense to him.
If these threads gave her life, then he would cut them.
Lenny raised his hand and energy from his soul wrapped around a blade in his hand.
With a swift precise motion, he cut through the strings that gave her life.
Instantly, Minnie's face froze.
And then she Instantly turned into dust.
"F*UK Fate!" Lenny spat at her.
Everyone looked at him with surprise on their faces.
However, Lenny turned to Uriel with the same sword he had just used to cut Minnie down. "Don't think that I choose to trust you."
Uriel however, smiled, "but you do. There is no middle ground in this master's beloved. You have chosen to break from the will of the fates. This is the only choice you have..."