The Vault loomed before them, its entrance crackling with ancient energy. Gabriel's pulse quickened as he stepped inside, guided by the strange pull of the darkness. The whispers in the air grew louder, reverberating in his mind, reminding him of the power he had yet to fully understand.
"Stay alert," Merlin advised, his voice low as he followed Gabriel inside. "The Vault is not just a place of power; it is a place of great danger. The truths here will be tested."
Gabriel nodded, his senses sharpened. But just as they ventured deeper into the Vault, the ground trembled beneath their feet. A roar, distant at first but growing louder, echoed across the chamber. Gabriel turned sharply toward Merlin, his eyes narrowing.
"It's happening," Merlin muttered, his expression hardening. "Lucifer knows we're here."
The Vault, with its ancient power, had always been hidden from Lucifer's reach—until now. But Gabriel's presence had awakened something much darker, something even Lucifer could not ignore.
Suddenly, the air thickened, and time itself seemed to distort. The world around them slowed, and Gabriel felt an unfamiliar sensation in his chest, as if the very fabric of reality had been bent. He gritted his teeth, preparing for what was to come, but before he could react, the world around him shattered.
A figure appeared from the distortion—a tall, imposing being with a cloak made of shifting, dark energy. His face was masked, his eyes glowing like burning coals. The air froze as he stepped forward, the ground beneath him cracking as if time itself was splintering.
"Chronos," Merlin whispered, a deep note of warning in his voice. "The master of time, and one of Lucifer's most dangerous lieutenants."
Chronos tilted his head slightly, a malicious smile forming beneath his mask. "Ah, the boy Gabriel," he said, his voice low and echoing, like the ticking of a clock. "The one they think will save the realms. But time, young one, is not so easily controlled."
Gabriel stepped forward, his hand instinctively going to his blade. "I'm not afraid of you."
Chronos laughed, the sound a chilling whisper that seemed to reverberate in Gabriel's mind. "You should be. Time is my domain. And here, I am the master."
With a flick of his wrist, Chronos extended his hand, and the air around them shimmered. The very flow of time bent, rippling like water disturbed by a stone. Suddenly, Gabriel felt a strange pressure, as though the past and future were converging on him at once. The Vault's ancient walls seemed to stretch and collapse, and everything around him began to move in slow motion.
"You cannot outrun time," Chronos said with a smirk. "Not even with the power of an angel."
Gabriel's mind raced. He could feel the darkness inside him pushing against the pressure, trying to find a way out. The whispers grew louder, but instead of succumbing to them, he focused. He had been trained to control the power inside him, to balance the light and dark. He had faced his doubts before, and now was no different.
With a roar, Gabriel focused all of his energy, drawing on both the light of his angelic blood and the dark force that coiled inside him. The flow of time around him seemed to resist, but with a surge of power, he shattered the illusion, breaking free of Chronos's control.
Chronos staggered back, eyes wide in surprise. "Impossible," he hissed.
Gabriel charged, moving faster than the eye could follow, his blade flashing in the distorted air. Chronos raised his hand to strike, but Gabriel was already there, his sword slashing through the air with divine precision. Chronos blocked, but the force of Gabriel's blow sent him stumbling back.
"You're not the only one who can control time," Gabriel said, his voice steady despite the battle raging within him.
Chronos narrowed his eyes, but before he could react, Gabriel used the dark power within him, manipulating the flow of time just enough to slow his opponent's movements. In that instant, Gabriel struck, his blade cutting through Chronos's defenses, landing a blow that sent the master of time crashing to the ground.
Chronos, wounded but still dangerous, glared up at Gabriel, fury burning in his eyes. "You will regret this, boy. Time is never truly defeated. It will always come for you."
Gabriel stood over him, his heart pounding, but his resolve unshaken. "I've faced worse than you."
With a final, defiant gesture, Chronos disappeared into a ripple of distorted time, vanishing from the Vault as if he had never been there.
Gabriel stood still for a moment, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. The fight had been intense, but it was not over. He knew this was only the beginning. Lucifer's forces were only growing stronger, and if he was to have any chance of stopping them, he needed to understand more than just the powers within him. He needed to uncover the truth about the Vaults, and the First Immortal.
Merlin placed a hand on Gabriel's shoulder, his expression solemn. "Well done, Gabriel. But the battle is far from over. Chronos was only a pawn in a much larger game."
Gabriel nodded, determination hardening in his chest. "I'm ready for whatever comes next."
The storm had only just begun.