All the creatures knelt before me as if I were a divine being. My body was enveloped in a radiant golden light. Unconsciously, my feet no longer touched the ground, but floated in the air, much like Gabriel. The sacred sword, forged directly by the power of the Almighty, now rested in my grasp.
"Congratulations, you are the chosen one deemed worthy to wield the Sword of Blerit," Gabriel proclaimed loudly. "By becoming its master, you have transformed into a being of higher standing than all mortal creatures. But do not assume that you can wield its power easily."
"Oh Gabriel, the divine messenger. Teach me how to master this sword."
"The weapon you hold is far more complex than you can comprehend; you will need knowledge. The Sword of Blerit possesses limitless power thanks to the hands that created it. Now, as the initial stage of your training, you must purify your soul first."
"I will obey and listen."
"Follow me."
Together, we soared through the skies above lush grasslands. As part of this celestial realm, my body no longer required the burdensome act of running upon the earth like mere mortals. My speed and strength felt immeasurable. I was confident I could accomplish anything.
Our destination was a solitary island amidst a storm-lashed sea. Torrential rain and raging winds wreaked havoc upon the land, uprooting forests and shattering structures. Lightning and thunder alternated in striking the darkened skies. All of this invoked terror in anyone daring to set foot on this accursed island.
Upon our arrival, I found no living creature in sight. Not a single beast, insect, or creeping thing could be found. Gabriel urged me to touch the ground without flying. As soon as my feet made contact, an icy chill enveloped me. A profound sorrow and despair seeped directly into my heart.
Our purpose was to stand at the very center of the island where the eye of the storm resided. There, we seated ourselves, striving to remain unperturbed by the fury of nature surrounding us.
Gabriel then said, "your body now reflects the form of the sword, almost entirely composed of light. It is called Elysium's light form. Were it not for my restraint, you would transform into pure energy, losing your corporeal form. Hence, mastering the Sword of Blerit can be perilous; not just anyone can wield it. It requires strength to control such power."
"I understand. Tell me what I must do."
"I want you to be calm. Release the sword from your grasp and sit in peace with me here, in this chaos and fury of nature. Emotions are the weakness of mortal beings. You are no longer one of them. The Sword of Blerit was never meant to be wielded by mere humans. Cast aside all attachments to what you possess. Banish your emotions; let go of all lingering grudges within your heart, become empty. Stand at point zero."
"Wait, you mean I must forget my vengeance against those who killed my wife and abducted my son?"
"Precisely. Do you understand how terrifying the Sword of Blerit would be in your hands if you returned to earth with your grudges intact? You could annihilate the very world itself."
"But why did you bestow upon me this divine sword, if vengeance has always been my heart's desire?"
Gabriel's gaze pierced through the veil of my doubt."I never bestowed that sword upon you. For eons, I have awaited the arrival of one worthy enough to draw the Sword of Blerit from its sacred slumber. The Almighty has never revealed to me who would be chosen. Each soul that ascends to this realm is cleansed of sin, shedding the burdens of the mortal world. Yet, those who carry the weight of vengeance, anger, and suffering into this sacred realm are presented with a trial: the act of drawing the Sword of Blerit."
"If they fail, I possess the divine power to cast them back into the depths of hell. Many have been deceived and met their doom, while others choose not to risk the challenge. But you, never did I fathom you could wield it. The tempest of negativity within you ran deeper than I anticipated, leading me to believe you would fail. Yet, it appears the Almighty has woven a different fate for you."
I began to doubt my own purpose and asked, "Can I extinguish the flames of vengeance that burn within my soul?"
Gabriel sigh, and then said, "You may question yourself as much as you like, Rhinggamana. But trust this: the path of the Creator is an inevitable truth. There is a reason you were able to draw the Blade of Blerit from its place. You must realize your current position; vengeance is a game for mortals. You have transcended to a celestial being chosen by God for a higher purpose. As a creature of the divine, your journey in life to come holds far greater significance for the balance of the universe."
"But I cannot let go of the loss of my wife and son," I said with despair.
"That is why I have brought you here, to learn the art of letting go. Not everyone can forgive. It requires a strong heart to do so, and as the master of the Sword of Blerit, you are required to possess not only physical strength but also strength of heart."
"Fine, I will try."
"Good. Now, I want you to close your eyes and recall the most painful memories you have endured. The death of your father, the death of your mother, the death of your younger sister, and the death of your wife. Imagine as if those events are happening right before your eyes once more."
In obedience to Gabriel's command, I was compelled to unearth memories I wished to forget. These events were long ago, yet still fresh in my mind.
My mother had been a gambler, ensnared by loan sharks. One day, she was diagnosed with cancer. We had no money for treatment, especially since she had squandered it all on gambling and repaying debts.
In despair, my father attempted to rob a bank alone to pay for her medical care. He was captured by the police and imprisoned for a long time. During his absence, my mother's condition worsened. The cancer spread uncontrollably, leaving her bald. To make matters worse, a loan shark arrived to demand repayment just as my mother lay between life and death.
Unable to repay her debts, the loan shark murdered my mother in her bed. I witnessed it all unfold before my eyes. As if that was not enough, he kidnapped my younger sister as payment for the debts my mother had incurred. There was nothing I could do.
No one blamed me because of that incident, but I did.
Years later, my father was finally released from prison. What awaited him at home was not a warm welcome, but death and despair. Ultimately, he chose to take his own life, unable to bear the weight of reality. I was left all alone.
Wandering from city to city, I drifted aimlessly in solitude.
Reliving all these memories reopened wounds in my heart. Tears flowed endlessly.
"You must learn to forgive all that has transpired." Gabriel said, "Instead of lamenting what you've lost, why not be grateful that you have survived? You are never alone, Rhinggamana. The truth is, God has always watched over you from afar."
Yes, I knew it. If it weren't for His omnipotence, I would not have survived this long alone. Therefore, I chose to be grateful and let go of all that had occurred. My heart must forgive. There was nothing more I could do regarding the past.
"Good, I can see your heart beginning to open now," Gabriel said.
The raging storm in the sky gradually subsided as my wounded heart began to heal. Now only gentle raindrops fell from the thick, dark clouds, with rays of light trying to pierce through.
"Now, continue to focus on your thoughts. Cleanse your heart of all impurities. You must be reborn as a holy being."
I shifted to recalling the joyful moments in my life. How I got my first job as a cashier. How I met the most wonderful woman I have ever encountered, Uliana. I fell in love with her at first sight.
We spent beautiful moments together and were blessed with a son named Marky. On his seventh birthday, all my happiness was shattered by those bastards. The fiends who suddenly attacked destroyed all the joy I had known.
And Uliana, she died right before my eyes.
Damn it! If only I had the strength to prevent her death. If only I had the power to save my son, I would not be left in this misery!
Must I forgive those scoundrels? No!
For God's sake, I will punish them. Their deeds have crossed the line; someone must put an end to their tyranny. Someone must teach them a lesson!
"Rhinggamana!" Gabriel shouted in anger, "You are once again consumed by vengeance and hatred!"
Unknowingly, the storm that had previously subsided surged back. The heart that had begun to cleanse itself was once more engulfed by misery. It seemed this storm was no ordinary tempest, but a manifestation of my inner heart.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel, but the memory of my wife's death is too painful to revisit."
"You disappointed me, Rhinggamana."
"I'm doing my best. But seeing the one small fragment of happiness I had in life snatched away by those bastards, I can't accept that so easily. I find myself questioning why they would do such things. Who are these people, really?"
Gabriel revealed images of the invaders who killed me right in front of my eyes. It felt as if I were gazing through a four-dimensional window into my past life.
"Do you remember who the first human was created?" Gabriel asked.
"Do you mean Adam?"
"Exactly. The Almighty Father created him from light, but in his creation, there was one being that was also birthed, a being from the realm of darkness."
"Are these invaders the ones born from it?" I inquired.
"No, these four men are the last remnants of Adam, who inherited a hundred percent of his power. They are known as the Four Great Kings, leaders of the galaxy. These Four Great Kings are locked in an eternal battle against beings birthed from the darkness of the Abyss, the Reptilian. The ultimate goal of the Reptilians is to consume the offspring of those who inherited Adam's strength. They believe that by consuming the bodies of Adam's descendants, they can ascend to a higher state of existence. The power of these beings cannot be compared to that of the Four Great Kings. They are far too formidable."
"Impossible! The man in the green robe who abducted my son possessed immense power. Just from his voice, I could tell how strong he was," I remarked.
Gabriel continued, "The power of those four pales in comparison to the creatures from the depths of the Abyss. They once formed a coalition of all beings across galaxies to combat the Reptilian race. The war between the offspring of light and the offspring of darkness has raged longer than time itself."
"Has anyone won this war?" I asked.
"No. The war continues to this day. The powers of both sides are balanced. That is why the Four Great Kings are attempting to forge a new weapon by seeking rare species from each planet. And your son appears to be one of the chosen ones."
"So that's why they kidnapped Marky," I began to grasp the purpose of the invaders.
"Now you understand why the invaders killed your wife and abducted your son. It is because they are terrorized by a far greater power. Such is life; you feel your problems are the most significant, as if God is unjust. Yet others face challenges far beyond your own. That is why I urge you to rid yourself of all grudges and negative feelings in your heart. Pain, suffering, and sorrow are merely illusions. If you look at the broader picture, you will realize that these feelings are not real. What you deem right and wrong holds no true meaning. It all depends on individual perspectives."
"I understand. Thank you for your enlightenment, Gabriel. I will strive to cast away all my emotions. I will return to point zero."
Now I have realized that desperate actions arise when confronting seemingly hopeless situations. The Four Great Kings were undoubtedly facing such despair. Therefore, in their eyes, the deaths of my wife and the abduction of my son were but a mere price to pay. That was why the man in the green robe once told me that Marky was chosen for their purpose of creating a world of paradise.
"Gabriel, I have decided to forgive and release all emotions that bind me. No more vengeance, no more hatred, no more sorrow. I feel nothing now."
The raging storm upon the island then vanished in an instant. The sky cleared of clouds, and golden rays of sunlight bathed me like a sacred light, cleansing me of my sins.