Divine Renegade: An Unholy Burden

By Dr. h

Book 1 of the Divine Renegade series:
Aetheros, an angelic assassin, has been assigned a mission from the current leader of the angels, King Gabrill, to go into the Mortal Realm to stop the resurrection of the two evil entities that plagued the cosmos in the past, God and Satan.

Accompanying Aetheros on his mission is a rookie, named Cuppia, for reasons unknown and Aetheros is not pleased about the idea of taking this young girl on such a dangerous mission despite the king's protests.

Regardless, the mission itself is simple enough: Stop God and Satan from reawakening and wreaking havoc over reality... However as the mission progressed, the two angels ran into more trouble than they hoped for.

Now angered by the outcome of the mission, Aetheros decides to take matters into his hands by tying up the loose ends that have infested the Mythical Realm. Luckily for the angel, he has some friends that are capable enough to help him achieve that goal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. h
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005999001

Dr. h

I'm just some novice writer making a crappy novel series.

Book preview

Chapter Zero: Holy Summoning

In the midst of an evening within the angel world known as Elysium, numerous angel trainee soldiers were heading to their homes as they left the grand castle where the king of the angels resided. The young teenagers were chatting away joyously, carefree and having a great time as they returned to their houses. Although the world is perpetually under medieval stasis, the inhabitants are able to get by in life using magic and hard labor.

Meanwhile, on top of a castle turret lies a young male angel sunbathing in the evening light with his gray scales shimmering a bright silvery color. His angelic wings shined a brilliant white, much like his slit pupils. As he dozed off, he dreamt about his twenty-two years of existence contemplating his life choices and routinely being deployed on missions either in the vast Mortal Realm or the more condensed Mythical Realm that were assigned to him by the Angel King.

There you are, Aetheros, said a green skinned angel woman that looked like a goddess with crimson hair appearing before him. Can you please not sleep on top of the castle of our deceased God? We don’t want our fellow angels to think of you as some sort of heathen.

Mikaela, you and I both know that God was a piece of shit and Gabrill is hardly any better than he was, said Aetheros as he woke up.

Archangel Mikaela. Address me as Archangel Mikaela when you’re in Elysium, said the angel woman as she unfurled her cape, showing her missing right arm. You must also address our leader as King Gabrill. As she moved, her hair that was covering the right side of her face exposed the scar over her missing right eye that she uses an eyepatch to obscure. However, you’re not wrong about them… Mikaela muttered under her breath.

Alright then. Judging by the fact that you’re here must mean that King Gabrill is ready to talk to me.

That is correct. King Gabrill is ready to speak with you about your next assignment.

Archangel Mikaela noticed that the usual perpetual frown on Aetheros turned into a small smirk.

That’s all I needed to hear, said Aetheros as he sat up. I’ll be on my way.

Hold on! Archangel Mikaela interrupted Aetheros as he was getting up. King Gabrill does not like you rushing into the castle at lightspeed or teleporting into his throne room like you usually do. He fears that you might end up assassinating him.

Aetheros rolled his horned head and sighed, He’s such a coward sometimes.

I understand that you’re eager to satiate your thirst for bloodshed, but please remain civil for everyone’s sake. I will be escorting you to King Gabrill. Archangel Mikaela turns around as she adjusts her hair so they’re not tangled in the petals of her purple flowers where her ears would be. Before we go into the castle, tuck your tail in your pants and put your cloak back on.

Aetheros complies as he puts his white cloak back on over his chainmail armor and tucked in his tail. As the gray angel was finished properly dressing himself, Archangel Mikaela grabbed the young man’s scaly yellow hand.

You don’t have to hold my hand like I’m a child, Aetheros groaned.

I know, but you will always be a child to me, Aetheros, Archangel Mikaela teasingly said to the younger angel as she chuckled.

The two descended from the turret to the front of the castle so that the duo may properly enter like civilized angels. Although there were still a few teenage angel trainee soldiers left in the castle chatting, all of the adult angel soldiers were dismissed earlier for the day as it was just the few trainees and the castle workers remaining. The teens watched with curiosity seeing the two adult angels holding hands as they couldn't help but whisper to each other.

Is that Archangel Mikaela and the mercenary Aetheros?

Are they h-h-h-holding hands?!

Everyone knows that hand holding is one of the most lewdest activities.

Archangel Mikaela is so hot, even with her battle scars.

I’ll say. It’s a shame that Aetheros always has his hood up so we can’t see his face clearly.

God I want Archangel Mikaela to hold my hand!

Aetheros groaned at the incessant chatter that the teens are gossiping about as he endured what seemed to be hundreds of stairs. Eventually the two make it to King Gabrill’s throne room as Archangel Mikaela pulls one of the doors open with her remaining arm, her left.

After you, Aetheros, Archangel Mikaela said.

The throne room had an air of uneasiness that bothered Aetheros. Perhaps it was the utter lack of symmetry the room had with the decorations haphazardly placed on the walls. Maybe it was the fact that a couple of pillars were missing or that the glass stained windows had nauseating colors. Or maybe it had something to do with King Gabrill’s imposing figure staring Aetheros down in the distance.

Welcome back Archangel Mikaela and greetings, Aetheros... King Gabrill said as he didn’t look and sound too enthusiastic about seeing Aetheros.

King Gabrill has a somewhat buff physique with the attire like that of a typical king: a crown and a red robe while sitting comfy in his red velvet chair. His crown covered most of his yellow hair while his scraggly white feathers poked through his robe.

Sitting beside King Gabrill in a smaller chair is his fifteen year old daughter, Princess Unari. She definitely takes after her father in the looks department, but looked only about as threatening as a little kitty. Standing on King Gabrill’s left at ease is an unfamiliar dark pink angel trainee girl with red hair tied in a bun… But then again, anyone that isn’t Archangel Mikaela, Princess Unari, King Gabrill, and a very few others are unfamiliar faces in Elysium as far as Aetheros was concerned.

Hello, King Gabrill... Aetheros sounded just as enthusiastic to see the king. Usually it’s just me, you and Mik-

Archangel Mikaela pinches Aetheros’s cheek.

I mean, why is your daughter and whoever this girl is here? Aetheros hurriedly finishes his question.

Princess Unari is here because- King Gabrill was cut off by his terribly loud and shrill voiced daughter.

I am here because I want to see how daddy handles things around you, Princess Unari said in a haughty manner. This lady’s name right here is Cuppia. She graduated from her trainee duties AND she’ll be your apprentice so she can be a full fledged angel soldier trained by one of our best.

H-hello Aetheros, said Cuppia. It’s true that I will be your apprentice. I was told by King Gabrill that my skills would be properly honed if I trained under you.

Aetheros’s slitted pupils began to shine a bit brighter.

Um, King... Gabrill? said the gray angel with the slightest amount of irritation in his voice.

What is it?

Why, with all due respect, the fuck do I need a rookie accompanying me?! Aetheros’s level-headedness was rapidly deteriorating. If this next mission that you assign me is another false alarm like the previous ones, I will quit working with the angels! The increasing anger in Aetheros caused his slitted eyes to reflexively flare bright like solar flares. During the last mission when you told me to neutralize a cult of Satanists on some backwater planet in the Mortal Realm, you neglected to mention that they had children among them. Not only that but there was nothing that raised red flags about them trying to actually resurrect Satan.

Aetheros, I deeply apologize for the inconvenience. One of our rookie scouts overestimated the situation and assumed that they were a serious enough threat to ask for your help. Although King Gabrill sounded apologetic, he lacked compassion for the angel. What did you do with the children, if I may ask?

After I murdered their kin, the kids thought that I was their savior because well… You and Archangel Mikaela both know. Rather than simply killing them, I chose to wipe their memories of that event and their families as I dropped them off to an orphanage. Assuming that I didn’t end up blinding them with my eyes and if that orphanage isn’t shady, I’d say that they’re doing fine… Maybe. However, the real crime here is that I never got paid for wasting my time on that mission!

Princess Unari and Cuppia were both stunned in silence at how loud and angry Aetheros can get as they could only stare at King Gabrill in hopes that he could calm down the raging assassin. Meanwhile, Archangel Mikaela just shook her head as she knew Aetheros all too well.

Once again Aetheros, I do apologize for that incident. This time I have intel from our reliable scout, Neon. He was the same one that gave you the mission in the Fae Kingdom where you had to neutralize the king and queen there.

Aetheros’s eyes dimmed back to normal as he looked away.

He also was the same scout that had you go to Zapura and wipe out their military… Unfortunately, that mission indirectly led to Elysium getting attacked along with my wife and Unari’s fiancé getting murdered, King Gabrill said melancholily.

Please don’t make me go back to planet Zapura again, Aetheros said worryingly.

Don’t worry. You don’t have to go back to that planet and deal with that purple abomination again, King Gabrill reassured Aetheros as the young lad sighed in relief. Your mission is to go to planet Aurum and wipe out the criminal organization called the AZOTH Clan. Originally they’re a group that practiced illegal alchemy magic to create gold and did a bunch of other criminal activities. Now they’ve found some remains of both God and Satan as they are bragging about how they are going to resurrect the two and bend them to their whim.

Archangel Mikaela gasped. You’re planning on sending Cuppia, our fresh graduate, with Aetheros on such a dangerous mission? She’s still a trainee at heart! At least have me accompany them. If both God and Satan are revived again, it will just be like what happened twenty-five years ago, but worse now that the Goëftian superweapon and their progenitor are awake!

Relax, Archangel Mikaela, Aetheros reassured her. Cuppia can just sit on the sidelines while I annihilate the whole clan. Afterwards, I’ll train her.

Do whatever you have to do, Aetheros, King Gabrill said to the young man. Just don’t teach her any of your questionable behavior like… eating people. I know that you can not help it because of your sacred bloodline, but please for the love of God don’t pass off your bad habits to our superb graduate, King Gabrill winces at the thought of Aetheros committing atrocities that regular angels wouldn’t dream of doing.

Cuppia’s face was starting to get pale. On second thought, I’d rather be trained by Archangel Mikaela instead.

What’s the matter? said Aetheros. You’re half the reason I got so worked up because you wanted me to train you. Now you’re backing out? Thank you for reconsidering your decision.

Cuppia, King Gabrill said. You must go with Aetheros. We’re all counting on you to do your job.

Unari looked at the frightened girl. Listen Cuppia, I’m right behind you. If you ever get into trouble, I got your back. Daddy and I are counting on you to complete your mission, my friend. Unari’s words of encouragement seemed to have cheered up Cuppia slightly as her face was no longer pale… although now she couldn’t stop shaking.

Go to Aetheros, Cuppia, King Gabrill said as he cleared his throat. You two need to get ready to travel to Aurum. King Gabrill then looked at Aetheros. Aetheros, would you like to listen to what I’m about to say?

This is going exactly where I think, isn’t it? replied Aetheros in a very unamused tone.

I understand that it can be hard to suppress your more… uh, fiendish tendencies but do understand that we are angels. Mythos and the mortals hate our guts after all that we and those cacod- I mean demons, did to them.

Good on you for stopping yourself short from calling demons ‘cacodaemons’, you racist jackass, replied Aetheros in a deadpan tone.

Archangel Mikaela covered the angel’s foul mouth while Cuppia resumed figuratively pissing herself and Princess Unari blurts out, OH! MY! GOD! Angels are not supposed to be swearing! Are you going to take that from him daddy?!

King Gabrill could only shake his head begrudgingly as he shared some words of wisdom to the oppressed angel, Listen Aetheros, you and Archangel Mikaela are our best angelic soldiers. It would be a shame for us all if you deserted us like your father did. I know that you have a good relationship with some of the demons. You’re even wearing that cloak, which is made by demons. All I ask of you is that you behave more like an angel like Archangel Mikaela and me, please?

My impulsiveness aside, I do know how to behave ‘like an angel’, Aetheros said as his mouth was free from Archangel Mikaela’s hand. The problem is, while Archangel Mikaela cares for me like a mother, I know that deep down you hate my very being for simply existing, Aetheros said angrily.

King Gabrill gave a small chuckle. I see where you’re getting at dear boy. You, Archangel Mikaela, and I know that you would be executed if God was still alive due to your very existence being a sin. Not to mention that the hierarchy is a mess thanks to your… certain people killing everyone above Archangel status. I’m permanently stuck as an Archangel and yet I ended up being the one to claim the throne because-

You were literally the only one that didn’t engage them during combat in the war twenty-five years ago because you avoided being on the frontlines while God was slain by a couple of mortals, Aetheros replied. And while you may have deceived everyone and have the audacity to call me a freak of nature, Archangel Mikaela and I both know about your family’s secret. If you continue to antagonize me, I won’t hesitate to leak that info to the public. All I have to do is visit the cemetery and-

GET OUT OF MY ROOM! ALL OF YOU! King Gabrill shouted as he’s never been this pissed in all his life.

Yeah whatever, Aetheros said, not giving a damn that he hurt the king’s feelings. Come on, Cuppia. This will be your only mission with me.

C-coming! Cuppia ran after the gray angel as the two left the room.

B-but daddy! said Princess Unari.

YOU TOO UNARI! GET THE FUCK OUT!

Princess Unari soon runs out of the throne room, ready to burst into tears. Just as Archangel Mikaela was about to leave as well…

Mikaela, you stay, said the king. I think those brats are now out of earshot. I swear, that basilisk, cockatrice, snake, whatever he is, he’s getting on my last nerve. I just don’t know what to do if the public found out about my family’s history. I can’t let my daughter know either.

Archangel Mikaela looked at the distraught king in contempt. I’m not exactly thrilled with what your family is hiding. And I’m pretty sure that Aetheros is quitting after he does that mission so him leaking that is probably inevitable.

King Gabrill got increasingly worried. Don’t you want him dead just as much as I do? Remember, he’s the son of the one you loved.

Archangel Mikaela was disgusted at the king’s statement. How dare you ask me that question!

I was afraid you’d say that, King Gabrill said as he lowered his head. It seems I have no choice but to entrust your soldiers to General Ichor.

Wait!

You can keep your Archangel title, but you will not be a part of our army any longer. Now please, leave my room.

Archangel Mikaela clenched her hand in tranquil fury and told the king, Very well Gabrill. Once Aetheros realizes what you are doing, he will kill you. Mikaela then walked out of the room in frustration.

Hmph, I don’t need her. With General Ichor at my side and my best scout, Neon, to give me all the information that I need, the Angel Army will be unstoppable!

Chapter One: The Dimensional Zone

Do you have everything that you need? Aetheros asked Cuppia as she was leaving her house.

Yes sir. The only thing I’ll be needing is my magical bow and arrows, replied Cuppia as she twirled her red bow around as her quiver contained arrows with heart shaped heads.

Aetheros shrugged. Sure, bring your weapon. Even though I’ll be doing pretty much all of the work anyway. Let’s go, Aetheros said as he walked away from Cuppia’s house.

Goodbye mom and dad, says Cuppia as she runs after Aetheros and waved to her parents watching her from the window.

I’ve never been outside of Elysium before. I’m so excited! The young pink angel was beaming in anticipation. Where exactly are we walking to if we’re going to the Mortal Realm?

We’re going to the Dimensional Zone, said Aetheros. It’s a facility in the rift of spacetime that intersects with both the Mortal Realm and the Mythical Realm. It also separates our world, the demon world, and the world where the other mythical species live in.

Oh, are you talking about that blue swirly portal thing on the outskirts of the city?

Correct. That portal is the entrance to the Dimensional Zone. There are a few more portals located in Elysium and this city, Arcadia, just so happens to have one.

Ah, now I understand, Cuppia said as she doesn’t really understand but she’s pretending she does anyway.

As the two kept walking toward the outskirts of the city, Cuppia was getting bored as she decided to ask Aetheros something, If it’s OK with you, I would like to ask you some questions so I can confirm some of the rumors that my peers were spreading about you. Oh and also based on what I noticed in the throne room earlier.

That depends.

Oh, um… Cuppia tried to think up a question that Aetheros might be able to answer. Is it true that you really do eat mortals?

Yes. Next question.

Uhh… What is your rank among the angels? You seem to be on par with Archangel Mikaela yet you’re never referred to by any official title.

I am more or less an unofficial Archangel. I can’t get a proper promotion to Archangel since God, the only being that can ‘officially’ promote us, is dead.

But wait! When King Gabrill mentioned that you were a sin of some sort, what exactly did he mean by… Cuppia cut her question short when she noticed the neutral expression on Aetheros subtly changed to a scowl. On second thought, forget I said that.

No. Besides, we’re already here.

Cuppia was looking at Aetheros the entire time that she didn’t notice the giant portal ahead of her. When she saw the portal, she ran up to it in awe. Wooooow! It’s prettier up close. I can also feel cold air coming out of it.

Heeeeey Aetheros! a male voice from up above said as the two were ready to walk through the portal. A young pitch black angel with blue wings wearing a uniform with a logo that said D.Z. descended before them.

Oh, it’s you Neon... Aetheros said, not thrilled to see him.

Don’t be like that! We’re pals, aren’t we not? Neon said as he got close to the gray angel.

We’re not pals and don’t stand so close to me! Aetheros gritted his teeth as he showed his fangs. Cuppia and I are a little busy here.

Ah ho! I’m terribly sorry. I didn’t realize you were taking on that mission now.

Mr. Neon, what are you doing here? asked Cuppia.

"Isn’t