Angels

Angels (天使) are the first entities depicted in the Seraph of the End series, namely visually in the book that Yu is reading to Mika on the first page of the Owari no Seraph manga. That they are real is indicated from seraph based experiments, of which the effects manifest in humans who act as their hosts. From within a human, a seraph's tremendous destructive powers can be displayed.

The beings themselves appear as cloaked entities with fire where their heads should be. Through some means they have appeared for their power to be relied on by Yu, and their wings resemble that of those seen on Mika. At least three seraphs have shown themselves to be hostile to Shikama Doji.

It transpires that in the prehistory of Earth there was a civilization of seraphs that were gathering light for a God they were familiar with. In developing the Babel project, the seraphs sought to return to paradise. There appear a different faction of seraphs who are able to use the tonal capabilities of large golden trumpets. Human appearing angels like Sika Madu were also of prominence where they had markedly different temperaments.

Appearance
Three seraphs seemingly not in a human form, in what may very well be their true appearance, were seen as having two wings each. Their facial area was obscured by or may have been a dark smoky fire like substance. Appearing again, the seraphs seem clothed in light-colored folded cloaks. The wispy fire is still present, where two glowing eye like formations are present within the neck of the cloak. Physically, seraphs are seen to have burnt blackened like hands with four fingers and a thumb, all pointed at the ends, with exceptionally thin wrists as well. A black wispy like tail that may be a part of them or the cloak is also depicted. Some seraphs have been shown to have head like structures resembling charred wood, and much more notable wisp like tails.

After being enveloped by a photon based light, it appeared that cloaked seraphs could become human-appearing. Keeping their feathered wings and only them, humanoid angels could appear child and adult like, male or female, and be of different skin tones. Their clothing while cloak-like was still fitted for their new forms.

Civilisation
During present times seraphs can recognise one another within people and are willing to interact for what are common purposes, such as destroying the world. In the past it is revealed that seraphs had established a gigantic physical civilisation on Earth during its prehistory when dinosaurs were alive. It was not uncommon for seraphs to be accompanied with eyeball like beings that they co-existed with, which were revealed to be called homunculus.

Their civilization appeared artificially created and seemed to consists of towering quartz crystal like formations. Advanced technological based features, far more developed that anything seen since in all of history, was incorporated in many capacities. For one another there was co-operation such as taking elevators together, social rules such as acquiring ice cream were in place. The seraphs that existed in this area during this time had identification systems in place within the Tower of Babel.

"Identity confirmed. Welcome to the Tower of Babel."

- An identification based system for seraphs.

Photons, apparently a specific type of light is said to be the source of seraph powers, and they worked to gather this and store it in the Tower of Babel. They were willing to accept rank based systems, where they regarded Sika Madu as King of the Earth.

"Our reservoir of photons-the source of our kind's power... Is also nearing 90% of the target volume."

- Gathering light to store in the Tower of Babel so they can return to paradise..

As for what they were working towards in the civilization on Earth, it was so that the seraphs there could return to paradise. This was the Sun where God was said to reside. There were restrictions on what seraphs were permitted to do with their light based powers.

"For so long... We angels worked tirelessly, desperately... Collecting the light we needed into the Tower of Babel. Light to return home. Light to return to God's side. Light to return to paradise. But because all light is God's power... ...We angels can't create miracles as we wish. Do anything taboo, and we will be punished."

- The angel's purpose of constructing Tower of Babel projects across satellite kingdoms.

Punishments were in store for seraphs who broke rules imposed on them. Aside from Sika Madu however it would appear that no other seraph delved into the taboos of restoring those who had perished. They also did not cure diseases so as to extend life even when many of them were suffering from a plague. Forming new life was also a taboo they did not break.

"Three taboos are graver than all the rest. Resurrection. Apothanasia. Creation."

- Where God's power is light, angels are made from it but have restrictions on what they can do.

Where they could perish, seraphs were buried and with cross-shaped markers to indicate individual ones' location with names stated. There were relatively barren hills with many such crosses scattered almost randomly about with no clear organisation. Where souls were mentioned it is unclear whether a seraph's body would be available to be physically buried.

Suicide was deemed to be a great sin, and should any seraph commit it their soul would be cursed to be forever bound to where it occurred. However where curses and eternal punishments can be circumvented, this did not seem to prevent a seraph should from being able to be called to be placed into a human.

Prehistory
As Yu and Mika delve into memories, it is revealed that seraphs not only existed in Earth's prehistory but had also formed a civilisation. They were present here before humans had even appeared in the world when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Many of them floated amongst towering buildings in the company of eyeball beings.

Around prehistorical times, some seraphs in this civilisation travelled with homunculus. Unable to see Yu and Mika who exist in the present time yet are looking back, the seraphs in this past are viewed as memories as they travelled to where they were going at the time. Where an ice cream providing service was available, seraphs were viewing the text and symbols concerning it. Seraphs are seen as Mika attempts to follow the memory of Mikaela through the city.

Appearing at the entrance to an outer wall around it, seraphs were also in the inner section around the tallest tower seen in the city. One seraph was near a dark square present on the tower, and had a beam of light connect to a halo that appeared in its head area. With access enabled, the seraph had its identity confirmed and it was welcomed to the Tower of Babel. It likely would have heard the announcement that the Babel Project was to return beings to paradise by making use of unrailed elevator technology.

Within the inner section of the Tower of Babel there were a number of seraphs in the vicinity. Where elevators were fixed in the walls, at least two seraphs and a homunculus took an elevator upwards.

The seraphs who classed Earth as the First Satellite Kingdom of the Sol System during these prehistoric times, where that was what it was to them. A huge number of seraphs were gathered around Sika Madu outside in the civilization on Earth. Stood away from a centre point, masses of seraphs were focused on Sika Madu on a platform above. They hailed a majesty.

"Majesty! Majesty! Hail the King of Earth, his Majesty Sika Madu!"

- Seraphs gathered in their civilization praise the First

Continuing their hailing, the many seraphs gathered complied with the request for quiet and listened to the announcement from Sika Madu. Observing him on the screens ahead, some appeared animated at this visage. All of them were thanked as among the satellite kingdoms, the tower they helped create was another one successfully built taller than all others. Sounds were heard as the seraphs saw various other planetary bodies appear on a screen.

Once Sika Madu displayed a photon as the source of their kind's power, and informed them that it was nearing 90% of the target volume, certain seraphs began radiating a light. Where the photon light had also cloaked Sika Madu, the seraphs affected by this display did not have their fiery heads present. Thanked for their efforts, the seraphs heard those on their Earth kingdom were that much closer to returning to the Sun where God awaited on their throne.

After the news that they would soon return to paradise, the mass of seraphs broke out into noise based exuberance to indicate their enthusiasm. On the ground the seraphs may not have heard Bael and Paimon interact with Sika Madu. A few cloaked seraphs at some location though would shortly after have the fire where their heads would be become more incandescent. At this, the human appearing angels Amon and Belial would be seen. Additionally, there was Astaroth, then Marbas, and Bathin as well. Also present was Naberius, with Raum, and Orobas too.

Later, seraphs are discussed by Sika Madu and Paimon when they raise the matter of a plague endemic to their kind. Further, it is stated that over half of the angels who follow Sika Madu may die before they can reach paradise. Their possible demise is one reason Sika Madu accesses information on forbidden areas such as creating new life, Mikaela, in order to use light to resurrect fallen angels for them to all return to paradise together.

By the time Paimon has perished after attempting to kill Mikaela, it is said by Sika Madu how over half the angels have succumbed to the plague already. That only the other half could potentially reach paradise caused Sika Madu to call into question how it could be considered paradise with others not there.

When Sika Madu speaks of his plan to God, seraphs are mentioned in the conversation where their lives are to be resurrected and extended by the light within seven keys that Mikaela holds. The plan for seraphs is for them all to return to paradise alive and well. That everyone was to be brought back was why Sika Madu had the homunculus named Yu darken the rings of light around the Tower of Babel in Space.

A trumpet indicated the presence of a seraph armed with one, who among at least seven others, had appeared before the now giant homunculus. These seraphs appeared more distinct in regards to the make-up of their heads, and with their trumpets as well. Emitting musical notes, these seraphs generated shaded rings of light of which cracks in the darkness of space formed in the centre. An attack being charged, the seraphs' light based assault blasted into the homunculus to split it apart, where the beam ploughed into Earth as well.

Where a circle of electricity was now around a shining orb of light in the centre of the rings, the seraphs communicated that a taboo has been detected, and that one has been broken, seemingly after the homunculus had been targeted. That they were dispensing punsihemtn was also mentioned.

"A taboo has been detected. A taboo has been broken. Dispensing punishment."

- Trumpet wielding seraphs appear to destroy a homunculus for darkening the rings of light in Space to resurrect others.

Lightning from the sun-like orb in space was directed to crash down and fracture the Tower of Babel, with the precision to also strike Sika Madu on the ground. A human appearing angel brought forth a meteor shower upon the seraph civilization, while evidently the seraphs armed with trumpets in Space maintained their lightning offensive against Sika Madu.

For seraphs living in the civilization on Earth, it is mentioned by Amon that human ones have been struck down by the fiery projectiles that were raining over all. For the faction of trumpet seraphs who are enacting their punishment on others, it would appear that they manipulated the lightning strike that murdered Amon in front of Sika Madu. At least three of the trumpet bearing seraphs had descended to the ground where the humanoid angel is.

After being asked by the human-appearing angel whether all the angels have been destroyed, the seraphs confirm it is done. Announcing that all are eliminated, the seraphs add that the angels' souls are bound to this planet. Instructed to focus their lightning on Sika Madu, the seraphs answer yes before complying. Feathers float done with their response, and streams of electricity fire into Sika Madu.

"It is done. All are eliminated... ...And their souls are bound to this planet."

- Trumpet using seraphs updating a six-winged angel having massacred those on Earth.

Once the humanoid angel has informed Sika Madu that he can no longer die as he is an undead now, the seraphs are invited to return to paradise. At least five seraphs ascend upwards towards the great sphere of light that they had generated and disappear from view. The fallen angels on Earth being brought back remains a goal of Sika Madu, where their fate depends on whether Mikaela can be resurrected. They are mentioned when Sika Madu is contemplating how God made angels to collect light. It is found that angels are unable to be created by Sika Madu, hence why he opts for humans instead to gather darkness.

Although deceased and buried, angel souls being placed into humans and having them breed is a matter that Sika Madu raises with Yu the homunculus. Where this is able to be done, the souls of deceased angels are brought from Hell by Sika Madu using invocations and a light-based power. Individual streams of light fly out from graves to head into the human children nearby. Upon contact, the angel souls leave a shimmering aura over the humans where their eyes are also affected. Angel souls may very well be active in their new human hosts.

Story
When Yu had made his way into the world that Mika awoke in where he was the target of a forced possession by Asuramaru, the spell tags around him burning away and feathers descending to the ground heralded the arrival of seraphs. There were three seraphs behind Yu who had become a demon, with light shining down. Two of the seraphs had their trumpets visible.

With Yu's greatest desire being to rescue Mika, the three seraph's presence may have factored in to Yu being able to overcome Asuramaru's possession attempt and then forcibly change him into his cursed gear sword form. Further, their power may have contributed to Yu being able to almost effortlessly defeat black demons Gekkouin and Kiseki-o in Mika's dream world they were in. Yu could regenerate his own dismembered arm right after it had been lost, and largely avoid the demon's Thousand Arrows of Light along with the One Thread, One Glint, and Coffins of Chaos powers.

In a later incident, as Sika Madu cries out that if Yu and demon Mika merge any further and they will notice, three seraphs enter the skies above them. Each armed with a trumpet, tonal sounds involving musical notes are emitted. Communicating in speech, the seraphs speak how the sinner is found. Repeating this line along with their musical tones, the seraphs mention that the great sinner who defied holy law to revive the cursed child had brought blight upon the entire world has been found. A long black spear, shimmering in a fiery like light is formed before a seraph's thin outstretched hand. Announcing that sinners must be executed on sight, the seraphs add they should execute the fallen angel.

Firing into Sika Madu, the seraphs' electrically charged missiles strike the First's barrier that he raises. Unresponsive to chains pulling Sika Madu away by Saitō in the physical world, the seraphs do not pursue the target they were just previously relentlessly assaulting. The seraphs idly float in the sky with their trumpets generating sounds above Yu with demon Mika as a sword.

The three seraphs remain with their trumpets blowing but do nothing else even with Mika getting his memories back, neither when Yu and Kimizuki with Yoichi speak amongst themselves. Where they discuss what they are, the seraphs do not speak to them even though they are inside Yu's heart.

While their trumpets are no longer active, two seraphs are considered by Mika as he leaves with Yu for the physical world. Three seraphs are visualized when Mika is discussing how breaking a taboo will result in divine retribution, where the seraph of the end is mentioned as a weapon that controls that. Similarly, two seraphs are envisioned when Saito is discussing what Shikama Doji is, and how resurrecting either a demon or seraph would constitute a price so large that other seraphs would likely punish the attempt.

Mentioned, they factor into Saito's decision to prevent the First from attempting to resurrect his son Mikaela, as seraphs may bring ruin to the world again.

When Yu and Mika are accessing memories of the prehistoric past and locate a seraph civilization that existed at the time, the seraphs are discussed by them when there is a question of whether they literally want to go to the Sun where paradise is said to be.

Abilities
Light is the source of a seraph's life, and also a means of exerting offensive capabilities. Light gathered can blast apart structures. Their souls existing after passing away, angel souls can be called upon and seek to enter another's bodies, namely a humans.

Long javelins can be used for ranged assaults. By themselves, Seraphs can generate long black spears, with long tapered, trilobate like arrowheads at the tip. These are enveloped with a shimmering fire like substance. Cast from the hand, the electrically imbued shafts of light they become are thrown with precision.