The angel mark on Morin's right hand came from the Ghost Rider world.
It had been forcibly branded onto him by an angel of unknown rank.
Originally, the mark's purpose was to open the Gates of Heaven, allowing angels to break through the barrier and descend into reality.
After being modified by the system, the effect remained the same.
Only the direction changed.
Before, angels decided when to open it.
Now, Morin decided.
So far, Morin had only used it once.
He had opened it and aimed it directly at a Gate of Hell, sending the demons pouring out straight into Heaven.
He figured they'd appreciate the chance at redemption.
After all, plenty of devout believers couldn't even make it into Heaven, right?
"I am not Heaven's lapdog, nor am I under your jurisdiction, Gabriel."
Morin's voice was calm.
"And after today, you won't be an angel anymore."
"I don't think God tolerates traitors."
"I am not a traitor!"
Gabriel roared, wings flaring.
A violent gale surged outward-
And vanished the moment it crossed a certain boundary.
As if it had never existed.
"So you cooperate with Hell's demons?"
Morin pointed.
Not at Gabriel.
Beside himself.
Gabriel's pupils shrank.
He looked down.
Angela-who had been beneath him-was now standing beside Morin at some unknown moment.
Mammon's grotesque head was forcing its way out of her abdomen.
It was shoved back in by Constantine, who was muttering incantations under his breath.
It wasn't that Constantine was powerful.
Mammon simply hadn't fully crossed the boundary.
His strength couldn't manifest.
"Who are you?"
Gabriel frowned deeply.
He hadn't noticed Morin moving Angela at all.
Someone capable of that couldn't possibly be unknown.
"Let me introduce myself."
Morin smiled.
"I'm Morin Evans."
"Currently a photographer."
"Part-time Sorcerer Supreme."
"Also a Templar."
"A traffic cop."
"A mecha designer."
"In short-an ordinary human."
Morin paused.
Then decided not to continue.
Gabriel: "..."
He didn't understand half of those titles.
But the sheer magical pressure radiating from Morin told him one thing clearly.
This had nothing to do with "ordinary."
An ordinary human doesn't casually snatch someone from an Archangel.
"Before we start," Morin asked, "anything else you'd like to say?"
"Gabriel... wait."
"I heard fallen angels become Satans."
"Between you and Lucifer, who do you think is stronger?"
"Don't lump me together with that traitor!"
The name clearly struck a nerve.
"I only want to wake humanity up."
"I want them to see the consequences of their actions!"
"By releasing the Devil's son into reality?"
"By handing Earth over to demons?"
Constantine sneered, eyes full of hatred.
"Your betrayal disgusts me."
"And your lies make me sick."
"Oh, right-remember when you said I wasn't qualified to enter Heaven?"
"If angels are all like you, I wouldn't go even if I could."
"Enough!"
Gabriel rose into the air.
Blinding light burst from his eyes.
"You've all been given precious gifts."
"The Creator granted you redemption."
"Murderers."
"Rapists."
"Molesters."
"As long as they repent, God welcomes them."
"In the entire universe, no other species has that privilege."
"It's unfair."
"I am responsible for delivering the beauty of the mortal world to God."
"But I saw ugliness."
"So much ugliness."
"In suffering and fear, humans reveal their true selves."
"Noble."
"Virtuous."
"Respectful of life."
"Those people deserve God's love."
"So I will make everyone worthy."
"I will make them suffer."
"I will make them despair."
"Only those who endure will deserve salvation!"
"You're insane."
Constantine shook his head.
"Human life comes from nature, not some so-called Creator."
Morin's tone was flat.
"Beauty and ugliness coexist."
"That's what makes humans human."
"Criminals are judged by law."
"The good receive help."
"Yes, there are exceptions."
"But that's exactly why humans exist."
"Anything is possible."
"Human affairs should be handled by humans."
"No need for interference."
"Our paths differ."
"There's nothing more to say."
Morin raised his right hand slightly.
"If it's just you..."
"I don't mind grilled wings."
His hand dropped.
Instantly, all the marks Morin had secretly placed across the city during his patrols with Tony activated.
Massive magical power erupted.
The marks linked.
Assembled.
Expanded.
Ordinary people felt nothing.
But every half-angel and half-demon froze.
Their expressions changed instantly.
Compared to this power, theirs was a scoop of water in the ocean.
Before panic could spread-
The city-wide array completed.
Multicolored light flashed.
In that moment, every human vanished from the city.
Only angels.
Demons.
Constantine.
And Tony remained.
"Now."
Green light flashed in Morin's eyes.
He brushed his right hand across his left.
A slowly rotating green circle appeared on the back of his left hand.
Inside it-
Complex circuitry.
Twelve major nodes.
As it formed, a colossal version appeared above the city, rotating slowly.
"Let's... begin."
Gabriel turned deadly serious.
Before, he could still tell himself Morin relied on tricks or artifacts.
Now-
He couldn't.
As an Archangel, his perception was absolute.
The array was impressive.
But what terrified him was the green circle.
A law-level power.
Time.
Those at the peak could influence time slightly.
But this-
Had this human reached Lucifer's level?
Or even God's?
Impossible.
"Go meet Midnite for the next steps."
Morin looked at Tony and Constantine.
"The reform starts here."
"Don't worry about property damage."
He waved his hand.
A portal opened.
Tony and Constantine vanished.
Angela followed.
This fight was no longer theirs.
Then-
Wind rushed in.
Morin calmly turned his head.
BANG!
The collision shockwave obliterated the mental hospital like a missile strike.
Dust and debris shot skyward.
"Do they really not need help?"
Constantine glanced at Tony.
"They don't."
Tony shook his head firmly.
Morin had told him stories before.
If even half of them were true-
An Archangel wasn't impressive.
At the center of the destruction-
A fist was pressed against Morin's face.
The impact that caused this devastation came from that slender arm.
The one wearing terror-
Was Gabriel.
His mouth hung open.
He wondered if he'd fallen into an illusion.
He had struck Morin squarely in the face.
As an Archangel, Gabriel knew one thing-
When one side is overwhelmingly strong, the other must have a weakness.
Morin's magic was terrifying.
So his body had to be fragile.
While Morin was distracted sending others away, Gabriel exploded with power.
A sneak attack.
A full-force punch.
Morin didn't react.
No defensive spell.
Nothing.
Gabriel even felt relieved.
Then-
He hit.
And the relief froze.
Morin didn't move.
Not an inch.
The flesh on his face didn't deform.
Not even slightly.
"Too weak."
Morin smiled.
And punched back.
BANG!
A city-shaking explosion rang out.
Gabriel was blasted underground, buried dozens of meters deep.
"I may not be that guy in blue tights," Morin floated upward without visible magic, "but his lines fit pretty well right now."
"Cough-cough... you're a mage?"
Gabriel burst from the rubble, holy light blazing.
Silver armor formed over his body.
A sharp sword appeared in his hand.
"Do you misunderstand mages?"
Morin spread his hands.
"As a mage, isn't maxing physical stats normal?"
"Oh, right."
"I forgot to mention."
"I'm also a part-time fitness coach."
His voice vanished.
And reappeared beside Gabriel's ear.
Gabriel's expression changed.
He swung.
Nothing.
"A fitness coach."
Another air-shattering punch slammed Gabriel back into the ground.
Morin had already moved behind him.
"For Superman!"
"Enough, human!"
Gabriel erupted again, fury twisting his face.
"I don't think so."
Morin tilted his head.
"You're too high up."
"You need some grounding."
"If you won't stay down..."
"I'll knock you off your pedestal."
"I am the Archangel Gabriel!"
"The head of angels!"
"Guardian of Heaven's security!"
"The horn of Judgment is mine to blow!"
"I am the incarnation of Wisdom!"
He raised his sword.
"Holy Light-Smite!"
Pure light erupted.
A pillar capable of cleansing souls.
Scorching heat.
Blinding brilliance.
Morin narrowed his eyes.
He didn't let enemies charge for free.
He'd allowed this-
Only to confirm something.
The Holy Light descended.
Morin opened a portal and stepped aside.
The beam turned.
It followed.
"Foolish human!"
Gabriel sneered.
"This is Heaven's baptism!"
"All sinners will be judged!"
"You cannot escape!"
"Is that so?"
Morin raised an eyebrow.
"I wonder how it works on angels."
"And if it goes back to Heaven..."
"Will it still follow?"
"What-?"
Gabriel froze.
Morin raised his right hand.
The white wing mark glowed.
Holy power surged.
A Gate of Heaven appeared.
Half-open.
Gabriel's eyes nearly popped out.
You still dare say you're not from Heaven?!
I can't even open doors like that!
Because Morin placed it perfectly-
The light pillar surged straight into the gate.
Then-
Morin closed it.
Silence.
"Cough... seems it doesn't follow after all."
Morin coughed lightly.
"Awoo-oo-oo!"
A pig-slaughter scream echoed from beyond the gate.
"Who did this?!"
"Who splashed bathwater around?!"
"And it's a cheap knock-off brand?!"
Morin froze.
That voice...
Sounded familiar.
And-
What was with the "cheap bathwater"?