Rouge was stunned. It had felt as though electricity had zapped through them. In a blink of an eye, the had scenery blurred and refocused, changed.

Could this night get any more mysterious?
And where were they?

Ella, who also was regaining her balance from the shock of the unusual transportation, was panting hard as if she was hyperventilating.

El? Rouge thought, surprised by her friend's reaction.
You're supposed to be the expert on these things. I just got my first true glimpse into this spiritual drama that I had only imagined existed in fiction. And just about how many hours ago for crying out loud?!

However, Rouge shoved the feeling aside and focused on Ella who was doubled over, hands on her knees, trying hard to regain her breath.
Rouge held her by the shoulder, not sure exactly what to do, why they were here, or where on earth they were.
And it was still, quite strangely, windy. Like a large rent had been made in the heavens by the lightning cut. It seemed like any moment from now, they'd be ripped off the ground and blown away by the wind.

Rouge risked a glimpse around to have an idea of where they were. It was so dark except for the occasional lightning which revealed a white-washed, tall building behind them. She didn't have the chance to study it well, but she could guess it was a hall of sorts. Before them, was an infinity edge...
Then Rouge realized.
They were on a cliff! And the waters were madly turbulent, beating against the rocks.

In the distance, Rouge's eye caught the glimpse of something. She straightened and squinted to get a better view.

It was red light.

~~~

Ella knew immediately where they had landed. They were behind Burning Light Ministries auditorium. This was the location of her total liberty. This was the same cliff where she had gazed at the rising sun, the same place where Deborah and Jeremiah had hosted their wedding reception and those goons came to 'legally' cart her away into an illegal bondage.

She was stunned. Why of all places did they end up here? She had no idea what she was expected to do here!
But at the same time there was such an overarching download of information on her mind. 

Intercessors inside. Pastor Mike. Mommy Ruth. Deborah. Jeremiah. Matthew...
'Wait, Mathew? He hasn't backed off?' Ella's heart leaped at the possibility.
...And many other faithfuls you may or may not know, scattered across this island and the world who are currently on their knees spiritually, interceding for you.
The battle.
The long planned and long awaited emergence of the demon Lord Dagon.
You, the chosen vessel. Covenanted before you were born by your ancestors. You, the 100th female descendant of a philistine princess.
You, redeemed by Love Himself.
Tonight, you will fight in the Lord's name and redeem this entire land over to God.

And then, there was the startling fact that she could see into the spiritual realm.
She could still see the angels that had brought them here. Her three huge winged angelic spirits and the new curious looking one, whose name she somehow knew was Pagiel, that seemed to hover more around Rouge.

Behind her was the church, surrounded with fiery angels of light. They formed a perfect curve around and above the building and they were all facing the cliff.
Some stood on glimmering fiery chariots held with horses. All of them were thoroughly armoured and brandished a unique weapon that seemed to have been fashioned with their spirit.
In total, they looked a total of a host of hundred mighty angels ready for war.

Everywhere was frighteningly bright, which was a stark contrast to the thick darkness Ella had grown accustomed to in the prison. Her eyes hurt a bit from the glare.

It was too much. That was one of the reasons she was still currently hyperventilating.
Her heart was beating a million miles per hour; she feared it would pop out her chest.
She felt Rouge's hand stroking her shoulder to pacify her. She also felt as the girl straightened, taking in the environment. She lifted up her head and followed the girl's eye direction.

The wind blew Ella's hair, slapping it into her eyes. She used a shaking hand to it securely behind her ears.

As she looked, she saw clearly what was coming, thanks to her amplified spiritual sight which was like a ultra fine viewing capacity of electron microscope's lens.

There was a horde of black and red smoke coming towards them at full speed. She knew at once that it was a dense pack of screeching and drooling hideous demons and imps. Ella estimated a total of one hundred thousand demons in that troop.

On the top of this undulating, frenzied smoke sat Dagon.
Ella froze, eyes wider than the moon.

DAGON?! In reality that ancient demon actually existed?
She had never seen him until now. All she had ever known were Leviathan, Behemoth and Queen of the Coast. But all these mini gods were ants compared to him. They'd made mention of him in the underworld, while she was still there thinking she had power, with fear and evil anticipation. And now she knew why.

He had the most heart-curdling, shrivelled face on a gigantic, scaly body with slimy tentacles protruding from all over him. Half of him was fish—the blood-thirsty species, mind you— half was human. His mouth opened to an impossible radius, the insides glowing red. His eyes held the promise of death. And they were staring right at her.

~~~

Inside the building, a group of five people were barefooted on the altar, holding hands in a circle and praying in tongues with sweat pouring off them. As the flame of the Holy Spirit danced on them and propelled them to groan more even though they were not particularly clear on what they were praying for, the angels stood alert, preparing their trumph card.

The parcel that had been long held and kept was finally going to be opened. The one with the seal.
Meanwhile, the angels stockpiled the prayer missiles.
Manuel, Jeremiah's guardian, was having a really good time loading his bomb. Jael, Deborah's guardian, flexed her whip, filling it with more divine power.

"They're here. We don't have any time left," a scout came in to report.

The angels' gazes toughened.

"Let's gather our ranks in order," Manuel said.

"Alright," Kristel, Matthew's guardian, answered while the rest of them nodded.

Still, they were wary. The prayers and faith of the saints had to reach a certain threshold point before they could be absolutely certain of unbiased victory. But there was no more time. All the angels inside went outside and stood in perfect array at their designated position.

The leading crew, Griel, Ammiel, Haliel, Manuel, Jael, Kristel, Pagiel and the mighty angels of the church, which also doubled as the guardian of the priests, Mike and Ruth, stood in the forefront. The bulging parcel, pulsating with holy power, was before them.

The Spirit of God came heavier upon the gathering in the church.
They sang when the Spirit prompted. They blasted in tongues when it was impressed upon them. Pastor Mike raised intercessory prayers for the land, and also for Ella, who was long missing.
The women, Deborah and Ruth who had had the dreams, were more expressive and intense in their prayers. They knocked heaven's gates so hard that the hinges were creaking, about to give way.

Burdened beyond measure, Deborah cried out and laid prostrate on the floor. Loud sobs rose from deep in her chest, springing from her spirit and echoed throughout the hall while the rest carried on in intense prayers.

~~~

Rouge's eyes widened in alarm as she observed more carefully. The red light was actually lava bubbling up from the legendary dormant volcanic mountains on the other side of this bay in the distance, flowing down the rocky sides and pelting out like comets into the water. Into the sea.

And 'alarm' was just an understatement for how she felt.
The sea felt the effect of the multiple anomalies going on around it.

The storm caused unusual disturbance on the surface of the water. The lava flowing into the water was heating up the water and those parts were beginning to bubble up like boiling water. The splash of huge rocks coated with melting lava were seen in the distance. Worse? Rouge could see a tsunami forming rapidly. And it was heading towards their direction.

"Oh no!"

Scared, she looked at Ella and the lightning helped to illuminate her companion's ashen face.

"El, El? We've got to get out of here! We have to get everyone out of this island. This will swallow us whole," she screamed in panic.

Ella stood upright and looked directly at the waves, her face morphing into determination.
"No. We're staying and we're going to resist them all. For greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world!"

"But, but..." we'll surely die, Rouge wanted to say.

Ella turned and held Rouge firmly on both shoulders. "Think about it, Red. Why would the redeemer bring us out with a mighty hand out of that prison? Why did he bring us to this specific location? I'll tell you. He wants to use us. He's banking on us to yield to him as his weapons. The whole island is in danger. We need to stop this!" Ella was talking so fast and loud so that Rouge could hear her above the noise of the crashing water and wind.
Ella turned her face sideward, fighting the tears that were beginning to form. Then to herself she said quietly, And if we perish, we perish.

All Rouge could do was nod.
It made sense, but it made no sense.
They were going to die, that's for sure. All Rouge had heard of volcanos and tsunamis were in history books and in documentaries. And it wasn't always ending in a happily ever after.

"Do you believe that Jesus can stop this storm also?" Ella asked.

"Yes," Rouge whispered, though she was trembling and a few drops tears escaped. She'd never felt so vulnerable. "Yes, I believe. If he could do all I have seen him do in the last few hours, then of course I believe he can do anything. This one is too small for him to handle."

"Alright, then follow me as I follow Christ."

Ella walked closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. Rouge moved close behind her although she didn't feel very heroic at the moment.

The wave grew larger and drew closer.

The demons clustered tighter and ready to attack.

The angels were remarkably poised, pinpoint alert. Waiting for the command. Waiting for the right moment when the  shofar signalling the advance will sound.

Ella took a shaky breath in, slowly lifted up her both arms to the weeping skies and shouted with all passion. "JEEEEEEEESUUUUUUUUUS!!!"

Then in one swift moment, Ella fixed her right hand before her as if stopping something.

The waters came to a grinding halt in a heap.
Rouge was beyond surprised. This was the first time she'd see Ella showing her powers.

Wait, hold on a second! Weren't these things supposedly from the devil, powers they had possessed when they were still trapped in the darkness? Why was it still in them? Or was it all a con?
Gasp! Those crafty minions had actually lied and had in fact been using them and stealing what God had placed in them. This was an unusual ability God had placed in them to be used for his glory. 

Ella's hand began to shake as if under intense strain. If she was holding back that water with her power, then she wouldn't stay long. She mustn't give in. The water kept rising, piling higher and higher.

Rouge began to pray in tongues under her breath. She felt the sudden leading to stop one of the factors that originated this tsunami. She also raised her hand. Would it work at this distance? She shoved the fear down and raked together her little faith.

As she guided her palm and concentrated on the target mountain, the lava slowly began to take its reverse direction, as if the lava was being poured back into the crater.

Ella was still there, eyes closed, hands shaking.

"Peace," she said, "Be still." The words were so soft it was hard to grasp.

In the spiritual realm, a mighty angel rose and blew a golden shofar.
Dagon's inhumane roar was the signal for the demonic horde. In the physical, a great thunder and lightning struck, and the electric power of the whole Island was cut off.

Light and darkness clashed. A blinding rain poured in torrents.
While the angelic host slashed and sliced through the minions, the mighty leading angels targeted the so-called gods who were at the heart of this whole issue.

Griel was suctioning chunks of those irritating pieces of nothing with his whirlwind into outer darkness.
Ammiel's hammer hit its target as each peak of lightning scarred the sky.
Haliel sliced and harrowed demons.
Pagiel was swift with his arrow.
Jael was having a great time with her whip.
Kristel stayed back to ward off those who would try to attack their wards. He created a spiritual force field/hedge of fire around every of the humans in the place.

Manuel was watching the parcel, waiting for the right time to release it.

Griel stopped his whirlpool and came face to face with the Dagon.

"Old friend, long time," Dagon sneered. "This is the first time in, let's see... over two thousand years. Since that day you struck me down in my own temple!"

Griel didn't reply. He had to figure out a weak spot to hit this demon. But that was proving difficult because he seemed to be much more powerful and advanced than when he was operating through a philistine idol image.
He had been shut up for years. How did he get such strength?

"You don't seem to understand what's happening, do you, old friend? I am winning because of a covenant. Surely you know how well your Master Above respects that."

Griel kept perusing him.

"You guys actually almost succeeded in trashing our plan when you barged in rudely and took Aquifer from us. But, we were wise enough to have a plan B." He cackled.

"There's nothing you can do anymore. Just leave or this will get bloody."

When Griel didn't budge, Dagon shrugged. "Have it your way then," he growled.

With one glance at the two girls in this danger zone, Dagon snickered at their futile, babyish efforts. As if raising their hands and trying to use their special abilities would stop them.
He said the ancient enchantment, a hex of all the water gods.

Aquadaglevbehioo...

In one swift moment of weakness and fear that had opened up in Rouge's struggling spirit, Dagon found the perfect spot to strike.
With one of his tentacles, he hit her, force-field and all.

She felt it painfully like a rock hitting her behind. Because she was so close to the edge, she lost balance.

Hair flying, Rouge fell back first, slowly, with a shrill scream and plunged into the waters below.

**********

Author's note: Ooooohhh!!!😩😩😩

We finally got to the climax that I had been dreaming of for so so long.🥺🥺🥺 You guys, this is the pivotal moment of this story.  I had visualized this final battle scene so many times in my head.😝
Now I see one of the limitations of words😪. I must say that what you read in this chapter is just a pitiful attempt to pen down what I had be inspired with. Please pardon that. I hope your imaginations and the Holy Spirit helped you to fill in the gaps😇. I hoped that this chapter was enjoyable and built the tension in the air.🌝

In fact, it's so intense🤧 that I splitted the entire final battle scene into two parts, the next one will be uploaded very soon so watch out for it. 🤓

So, what do you think? Is Rouge going to be the heroine who dies😥. I mean, that fall is fatal. If she doesn't know how to swim, which might not even be helpful against a turbulent water, or if she hits her head against a rock, she'll die💀 for sure. Dagon is heartless. 💔

Or will Mercy speak for Rouge?
I mean, good always triumphs over evil.
Or will it? 🤷

I'm not going to spill the beans yet🤐. Find out in the next chapter.😉

Remember that the adversary never tires. So keep up your guard. Don't give room to fear or doubt.
Put on your weapon and stay close to God. Through Christ, we are more than conquerors.

Please pray for these brave warriors of COF.🙏⚔️🗡️🛡️

See ya soon, my lovelies.😁
PeculiarPraise 💖.