Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode
Chapter 368: Burden In Heart

Chapter 368: Burden In Heart

Gabriel, in his domain, was currently staring at hundreds of his warriors, whom he had just restrained with magical seals.

The seals took the form of chains. He, along with his scholars and strongest mages, had worked as quickly as possible to create them.

However, despite all their efforts, they couldn’t contain all the warriors who had already been corrupted.

In the center of his ruined domain, his gaze heavy as he looked upon the countless warriors he had once led with pride.

Now, they were either sealed in shimmering chains of magic or lying lifeless at his feet.

The seals held only a fraction of them—those he had managed to contain in time. The rest... they had already died.

And it was by his own hands.

The weight of it pressed down on his chest and feels so suffocating.

He had fought alongside these warriors for centuries, had seen them rise in strength and loyalty, had trusted them with his domain. And now, he was the one who had to cut them down in pieces.

Gabriel wiped his tears for the tenth time, but they kept coming, blurring his vision. His hands trembled, his grip tightening around his sword that slick with the blood of his own people.

How many more? How much more would he have to endure?

A deep, shuddering breath left him. He couldn’t afford to grieve. Not now.

There was still too much to do.

Forcing himself to stand tall, Gabriel steadied his emotions, pushing his sorrow into the back of his mind. He had to keep moving forward.

Because if he fell now, there would be no one left to stop this madness.

Gabriel’s eyes widened as Uriel came into view, descending rapidly from the sky.

He hadn’t expected her to leave her domain so soon. Had she truly solved the crisis there already?

Uriel landed with a heavy step, her body covered in wounds and streaked with soot. Even from a distance, Gabriel could feel the lingering heat radiating from her—a clear sign that she had pushed her flames to their highest intensity. He knew what that meant.

His throat tightened.

Did she mean that when she said she was done... she had killed all of her corrupted warriors?

No. That couldn’t be right.

Gabriel wanted to ask, but before he could, Uriel stepped closer. Her face was grim, her expression shadowed with something he couldn’t quite place.

"There was a traitor among my followers," she said without hesitation. "And there was this man... saying that our end will come."

Gabriel frowned, confusion settling deep in his chest.

His frown deepened. "What do you mean?"

Uriel exhaled sharply, frustration evident in her voice.

"A man appeared. I don’t know who he is, but he spoke as if he knew everything. He said that a true god will come... and that we will perish."

Gabriel struggled to process her words. A true god? What did that even mean?

"Come inside," he finally said after a sigh. "We need to talk properly."

Uriel gave a short nod and followed him.

As they entered the building, her eyes scanned the domain. Corrupted warriors were restrained in glowing magical chains, their bodies writhing as they struggled against their bindings.

Their faces were twisted, their minds lost—just like her own warriors had been.

But Gabriel hadn’t killed them.

Uriel clenched her jaw, a sick feeling settling in her chest. "Then what does that make me?"

She had slaughtered every last one of her warriors without hesitation after they turned and tried to kill hee. Had she been too weak to contain them? Or too monstrous to even try?

Her hands curled into fists.

This was because of that man. And because of the traitor who had allowed this to happen.

She swore, in that moment, that she would make them pay.

Gabriel led Uriel through the grand halls of his building, his steps slow and heavy.

The weight of everything—his fallen warriors, the corruption spreading among their ranks, and now this cryptic warning—pressed down on him like an iron shroud.

Inside one of his chambers, he gestured to a plush couch. "Sit, Uriel."

Uriel hesitated for a moment before lowering herself onto the soft cushions. She barely noticed the comfort, her body still aching from battle, her mind clouded with grief and anger.

Gabriel sat across from her, rubbing his temples. "Tell me everything. Who was this man? From what realm is he? Where did he come from?"

Uriel shook her head. "I don’t know. He appeared out of nowhere. His presence was unnatural. As if he didn’t belong in this realms if higher beings."

Gabriel frowned. "And he just spoke of our destruction? Did he give any proof?"

"None," Uriel admitted. "Only his words. But the way he spoke... it was as if he had already seen it happen."

Gabriel exhaled sharply, leaning back. "So what do we do now?"

Uriel fell silent, thinking. There was only one path forward.

"We need to unite," she finally said. "The Archangels cannot remain divided anymore. If this corruption is spreading, if there is truly a force that can bring our end, we have to stand together."

Gabriel studied her, his expression grim. "You want to call an alliance? Do you think the others will agree?"

"They must," Uriel said firmly. "We don’t have a choice anymore."

Gabriel sighed. "Then we should start moving immediately. We don’t have time to waste."

Uriel nodded. For the first time in a long while, she felt a sliver of purpose.

But then, Uriel’s eyes darkened as a memory surfaced—one she hadn’t fully processed in the chaos of battle.

"Gabriel... that man. He wasn’t just something like a prophet of doom. He had power, real power."

Gabriel’s gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"

"He wielded both Angelic and Demonic energy," Uriel said, her voice laced with disbelief and frustration. "It wasn’t just an illusion or stolen magic. It was as if both forces truly coexisted within him. That’s why he could fight me on equal ground."

Gabriel stiffened. "Equal ground?"

He sat up straighter, his expression shifting from concern to alarm. "Are you telling me this man — whoever he is — was able to match you in combat?"

Uriel clenched her fists. "Yes. I thought at first he was just another threat to be eliminated, but the way he fought... it was unnatural. He moved with the precision of an Angel but struck with the sheer force of a Demon. It shouldn’t be possible."

Gabriel exhaled sharply.

"It isn’t possible." His voice held an edge of defiance, as if rejecting the very notion. "No being can hold both Angelic and Demonic power without being torn apart. The same thing will happened for Celestial power."

"And yet, he exists," Uriel said coldly. "That’s what worries me the most."

Gabriel was silent for a long moment. The thought of an unknown entity wielding such power sent a chill through him.

If this man truly could command both forces, then everything they knew about the balance of power was at risk.

"We need answers," Gabriel finally said, his voice heavy. "Before it’s too late. I agree with you, lets meet with the other Archangels."

Without wasting another moment, Gabriel and Uriel stepped out of the chamber. They pushed past the heavy doors and into the open courtyard.

Their wings unfurled and they prepared to take flight.

But before they could ascend, a voice called out.

"My lord, you cannot leave us now!"

Gabriel turned, his gaze falling on one of his remaining followers—one of the few warriors who had not succumbed to corruption.

His armor was battered, his face pale with exhaustion and fear. Behind him, other followers stood, their expressions filled with uncertainty.

Gabriel’s chest tightened.

"We don’t know when this will happen again," the warrior continued, desperation thick in his voice. "If you leave now, what will become of us? We need your guidance, my lord."

Uriel scowled. "You dare to stop us?" Her voice cracked with irritation. "Do you not understand? We are wasting time! Every moment we stand here is another moment lost."

The warrior flinched under her intensity, but he did not back down.

Gabriel’s frown deepened. "Uriel, that’s enough."

She turned to him, her frustration barely restrained. "We cannot afford delays, Gabriel!"

"And yet, my people are right to be afraid," he countered. "As their ruler, I cannot simply abandon."

Uriel gritted her teeth. She didn’t want to hear this. She didn’t want another delay.

"If we don’t leave now, what if something worse happens?" she shot back.

"And what if my absence leads to even greater disaster?" Gabriel’s eyes bore into hers. "Do you not worry about your own followers, Uriel?"

Uriel stiffened.

Gabriel had spoken the words she had been trying to ignore.

Did she worry about them?

Of course, she did. But she had already lost them. All of them.

The images flashed in her mind—her warriors, the ones she had trained, fought beside, trusted—falling before her own blade. There had been no other choice.

Had there?

She forced the thought away, her fingers curling into fists.

Gabriel exhaled, looking at his followers again. Their eyes held trust, but also fear.

This was his burden to bear.

After a long pause, he said, "I will not abandon them. I will simply contact them by telepathy."

"They will not listen!" Uriel said.

"That’s the best I can do right now."

Uriel sighed in annoyance. But Gabriel won’t change his decision.

"Fine. Do what you want."

After that, Uriel fly into the sky.

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