Sacred Gear Shadow Light

Meanwhile, Heaven

The grand halls of the Sixth Heaven, resplendent yet somber, carried a gravity that reflected the burden of the times. This realm, the domain closest to the Seventh Heaven and the empty Throne, was a place of sacred deliberation and divine order. Its luminous expanse shimmered with ethereal gold and soft silver hues, but today, the light felt muted, as though even the heavens themselves grieved their Father's absence.

The archangels gathered in a great circular chamber, their radiant forms casting elongated shadows against the polished marble floors. Around them, crystalline pillars rose to the domed ceiling, their surfaces etched with shifting runes that pulsed faintly in rhythm with the ebb and flow of angelic energies. At the chamber's center stood the Eternal Flame of Covenant, a flickering, sacred fire symbolic of the bond between their Father and His creations. Its light was steady, but it lacked the warmth it once radiated in His presence.

Gabriel, seated nearest the flame, folded her hands neatly on the table before her. Her silver eyes, often so serene and filled with compassion, held a quiet determination that belied the storm of emotions within. Opposite her sat Michael, his towering form exuding stoic strength, though the slight furrow in his brow betrayed his inner frustrations. Raphael and Uriel completed the council, their expressions marked by the tension that had settled like a weight upon all of Heaven.

A lieutenant angel, his six wings trembling faintly under the pressure of delivering such grave news, stood before them. His voice, steady but tinged with unease, echoed through the chamber as he concluded his report.

"…and the fluctuations from the Dimensional Gap continue to escalate. The energy signatures are unlike anything we have encountered in eons. We have identified two presences—one unmistakably tied to the apocalyptic power of Great Red and the other to… Him." He hesitated, the reverence in his tone unmistakable. "Naruto Uzumaki, the bearer of our Father's light."

The room was silent for a moment, the names hanging in the air like unspoken prayers. Yet, the report wasn't finished. The lieutenant shifted uneasily. "But there is a third presence. Its nature is entirely foreign. Neither divine nor infernal, it is something… unclassified. Its force is so vast and alien that our sensors cannot even define its scope."

Gabriel's silver eyes narrowed slightly, her fingers tightening against the smooth surface of the table. "An unknown force… connected to the Gap?"

Michael's jaw clenched. "We can recognize the power of Great Red—that dragon's essence is seared into reality itself. And Naruto's presence… of course we would feel it. Father's light still binds us all, even in its fractured state. But something beyond them? Something unrecognizable?"

Raphael's serene voice broke the tension, though it carried a thread of unease. "If we cannot classify it, we cannot predict it. And if we cannot predict it, we cannot plan for it. This third presence could be a greater threat than either of the others."

Uriel's sharp gaze flickered between the others. "And yet, we do nothing. Every moment we hesitate allows this force—whatever it is—to grow unchecked. Meanwhile, our believers cry out for salvation from a fear we are powerless to quell."

The mention of their believers brought an even heavier silence to the chamber. The angels were acutely aware of their diminishing influence. The energy rippling from the Dimensional Gap had spread panic throughout the human world, and their limited ability to intervene had only deepened the growing cracks in faith.

Gabriel's soft voice cut through the silence. "It is not just fear of the Gap that plagues our people. The desecration of churches, the rise of corruption within the Church itself, and the encroachments of other pantheons have all undermined the strength of their belief. Without our Father's guidance, we are scattered. And so are they."

Uriel's tone turned sharp. "Their faith wanes because we have given them no reason to hold on to it. While other pantheons act, claiming more ground, we have been paralyzed by inaction."

Raphael sighed, his usual tranquility tinged with frustration. "The faithful once believed we would protect them. Now, they see churches desecrated and prayers unanswered. They begin to look elsewhere for hope."

Michael leaned forward, his emerald eyes fierce. "And those who do not look elsewhere fall prey to despair. Do not mistake this for a human problem alone. The strength of their faith sustains us. And without it, we fade."

The lieutenant stepped back, leaving the archangels to deliberate. The energy in the room grew heavy, laden with the weight of millennia of responsibility.

Michael was the first to break the silence. "We all know why this is happening. Naruto Uzumaki is the key to balance, whether he chooses it or not. His light is the spark of our Father's essence, and the world gravitates to it—even unknowingly. The factions have begun to notice, and they will not wait to see what he becomes."

Uriel's gaze was unyielding. "If this disturbance draws more attention to him, the factions will act. We cannot afford to stand by and hope for the best. If someone turns him against us—or worse, twists his power—our Father's light will be lost forever."

Gabriel spoke, her voice firm but laced with an undercurrent of emotion. "Naruto is not a weapon to be wielded or a pawn to be moved. He carries the burden of balance with humility, not seeking to dominate, only to keep the peace. When I met him, I saw his heart. He is compassionate, responsible, and steadfast. He does not want the world to fight over him, and he does not wish to claim dominion. That alone speaks to his worthiness."

Her gaze swept across the table, her silver eyes softening. "He has already given us peace by withholding the truth of our Father's death. He has carried this secret so the world would not descend into chaos. Can we not honor his selflessness by offering him our aid?"

Raphael nodded reluctantly. "Gabriel is right. Naruto has shown wisdom far beyond his years, but even he cannot bear this alone. If we do not step in now, others will. The question is not whether we act, but how."

Michael's fist struck the table lightly, punctuating his words. "We approach him. Carefully. Respectfully. Not as overseers, but as allies."

Uriel's sharp voice followed. "And we must be prepared for his refusal. If he declines our aid, we must trust that he will uphold balance in his way. But we cannot allow him to feel abandoned."

Gabriel's expression softened, her voice carrying a quiet reverence. "He is not our Father, but he carries His light. We owe it to him—and to our Father's memory—to support him without binding him to us."

Michael's gaze swept across the room, his tone commanding. "Then it is decided. We will make contact. Show him that we stand beside him, not above him."

The council murmured in agreement, though the weight of their choice hung heavy over them. No one moved, their gazes lingering on the Eternal Flame of Covenant that burned steadily at the heart of the chamber. The divine flame soothed them, its gentle warmth a reminder of their Father's presence—a symbol of unity and purpose that transcended their doubts. For a moment, the burdens they carried felt lighter, as if the flame itself shared in their collective struggle.

"Father," Gabriel whispered, her voice trembling. "If this is your will, guide us. For the days grow darker, and our time is running out."

The flame flickered gently, as though answering her plea.

It began as a faint tremor, imperceptible at first, like a subtle shift in the fabric of existence. Then came the pulse—a rhythmic thrum that resonated through the ether. It wasn't a sound but something deeper, something primal, felt not in the air but in their very essence. The angels froze, their celestial forms rigid, as the pulse brushed against their beings, slow and deliberate, like a heartbeat.

Gabriel's hand pressed against her chest instinctively. Her silver eyes widened as the rhythm deepened, each beat stronger than the last, stirring something ancient and unnameable within her. Across the table, Michael stiffened, his emerald eyes narrowing as his fingers curled into a fist. Raphael and Uriel exchanged sharp glances, their expressions mirroring the same question, one they dared not speak aloud.

The second pulse came, louder, resonating with such force that it sent a faint tremor through the golden floor beneath them. The crystalline walls flickered with a strange light, as though awakening from a slumber that predated time itself. A weight filled the chamber, pressing against them like the gravity of countless stars. It was immense, unrelenting, yet not hostile—a presence that simply was - is, eternal and undeniable.

"What… what is this?" Raphael's voice broke the silence, his tone trembling with awe.

Gabriel's breath hitched as another pulse reverberated through her, stronger than the last. It was more than a sensation; it was a recognition. Something within her, something bound to the very light of her being, stirred in response. Her lips parted, but no words came.

Before anyone could answer, a sound rang out—a low, resonant chime that carried the weight of eternity. It came from above, impossibly vast yet achingly familiar. The Bell of the Seventh Heaven, silent since the dawn of creation, tolled once more.

Gabriel's hand flew to her mouth, her luminous form faltering as the realization struck her. "No… no, it can't be…" Her voice, so often a beacon of calm, broke into a whisper, trembling with disbelief.

The bell chimed again, louder this time, its deep resonance cutting through every corner of the Heavens like a blade of light. It wasn't just sound—it was authority, a proclamation that transcended words. The golden gates of the Seventh Heaven, long sealed in solemn silence, began to shimmer faintly, their surface flickering with a light that had been absent for millennia.

The archangels' hearts stilled, the magnitude of the moment overtaking them. They felt it now—the pulse that had rippled through the heavens was not random. It was a heartbeat, steady and unyielding, a rhythm they had not heard since the Creator's departure. The truth struck them like a thunderclap: this was His heartbeat.

Gabriel fell to her knees first. Her wings folded tightly against her back, her hands clasped together in fervent prayer as tears of light streamed from her silver eyes. "It's Him," she whispered, her voice trembling. "It's really Him…"

Michael followed, his once-unshakable stance breaking as he knelt in submission, his emerald eyes clouded with emotion. The Commander of Heaven's Armies, who had stood defiant before legions of darkness, now trembled beneath the weight of divine presence. "Father," he breathed, his voice raw. "You're returning…"

Raphael and Uriel knelt as well, their radiant forms dimming as the overwhelming truth consumed them. Their voices joined the growing hum of prayer that filled the chamber, their words trembling with reverence.

"Grant us strength, Father," Raphael murmured, his head bowed low. "Let us be worthy to stand before You once more…"

Even the angels of the lower spheres faltered. Cherubim and Seraphim, their six wings trembling, turned their gazes upward. The lesser angels tending to the gardens and fields of the lower heavens froze in confusion, their glowing forms dimming as they instinctively knelt, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment.

In the Sixth Heaven, the pulse and the bell synchronized, the rhythm of the divine heartbeat beating louder than their own. It filled every corner of their beings, louder and stronger until it was all-encompassing. The gates of the Seventh Heaven flickered again, and for the first time in eons, the faintest sliver of golden light seeped through, cascading downward like the first ray of dawn after an eternal night.

Gabriel's trembling voice rose above the hum of prayer, breaking with emotion as she whispered, "Father… we have waited so long… Please, return to us. We need You…"

The bell's toll reached its crescendo, its deafening chime shaking the very foundations of Heaven. The light spilling through the gates grew brighter, and the presence of the Creator stirred with unmistakable power. It wasn't a full return—no, the gates remained closed—but the truth was clear. He was awakening.

The archangels could do nothing but bow lower, their celestial forms trembling as their prayers rose in harmony, tears of light streaming from their eyes.

"Guide us, Father," Michael said, his voice raw and unguarded. "We are lost without You…"

Gabriel lifted her tear-streaked face, her hands still clasped tightly in prayer. The golden light from the Seventh Heaven reflected in her silver eyes, and though her voice was barely a whisper, it carried the weight of every angel's hope.

"Prepare us, Father," she said softly. "For the world will tremble when You awaken."

And Cut!

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