C976
Raphael's severed head moved on its own. Her distorted blue eyes turned towards Raon.
"You..."
Raphael's eyes burned like lava. They reflected both surprise and bewilderment.
—I told you, didn't I? A simple dove cannot understand the will of a phoenix.
Raon smiled, ignoring the chilling killing intent emanating from Raphael.
'There's no need to hide my power from the angels, even if I could do it to others.'
Derus Robert was the one who summoned Raphael. It was clear as day that he must have informed her about Raon, so there was no need to hide Wrath's authority.
"That's why it's a shame."
It would have been better if this were her real body. This Raphael seemed to be fine despite having her head cut off because she was just an avatar. If it had been her real body, even if he couldn't kill her, he could have dealt a significant blow. It was disappointing that he couldn't achieve that.
"How dare a mere human!!"
Raphael let out a scream that seemed to tear her throat apart. Her killing intent towards Raon spread throughout the capital of Balkar. As malice erupted from Raphael, a faint light began to return to the eyes of the people who had been entranced by her.
"Eh...?"
"That, that's an angel?"
"It's like all their nature has changed."
"It's not an angel, but a demon..."
The people who had been offering devout prayers swallowed dryly as they watched the transformed Raphael.
"What?"
Olga bit her lip until it bled, looking more surprised than anyone else as she watched Raphael.
"I was told to leave you alone, but it seems right to crush an insolent insect."
The scale-adorned staff that Raphael held flashed with a golden glint, releasing immense divine power. The light that erupted was so bright that it was difficult to keep your eyes open. The light that rose from the tip of the staff reached the sky and fell like a golden lightning bolt.
"Ugh..."
The speed of the falling thunder was much faster than expected. When Raon was about to bend his knees to dodge it somehow, someone stepped forward.
"How dare you..."
It was Glenn. He, who hadn't moved even when thousands, no, tens of thousands of people were affected, uncrossed his arms and raised his hand the moment Raon was in danger.
"Who do you think you're messing with?"
Glenn summoned a red beam with only the tip of his finger, without even drawing his Heavenly Tremor sword. The crimson beam, poured with his immense wrath, shattered the golden beam that Raphael had summoned.
Glenn's Heavenly Thunder Arts not only erased Raphael's beam but also incinerated whatever remained of her physical form.
"You, you are..."
Raphael let out a gasp, as if she couldn't believe it.
"The only human who dares to look at the sky."
As she bit her lip while looking at Glenn, Raon moved the tip of his finger. The wooden ring sword, which had been fired along with the Void Slash, fell with the same energy of the Heavenly Thunder Arts as Glenn's. Raphael's head, pierced by the wooden ring sword, began to crumble into black ashes.
"You..."
"It's because we endure countless pains, grow weary of the cold and heat, and sometimes can't sleep because of nightmares that we are truly human."
Raon raised his chin as he watched Raphael disperse into black ashes.
"...So that's what it means to be human. What beautiful words."
Raphael, as if realizing she was already finished, no longer showed anger like before and lowered her only remaining eye slightly.
"However, the time you've been given is running out. If you desire salvation, wait for me... in the celestial realm."
Her last words spread throughout the Kingdom of Balkar, imbued with the same warm tenderness as when she first descended. With a final sigh, Raphael's remaining right eye scattered into dust, and her avatar disappeared completely.
"Whew..."
Raon bit his lip as he slowly looked at the darkening sky.
'Did she realize she couldn't win now and instead tried to enchant the people?'
Even when he and Glenn were erasing her avatar, she was still trying to fulfill her purpose for coming here. She was a woman of great caliber, truly deserving of the rank of Archangel.
—Didn't I tell you?! They're the worst when it comes to being insidious!
Wrath gritted his teeth as he watched Raphael, seemingly irritated.
-Still, it's lucky you decisively took her down. If you hadn't moved, all the humans here would have fallen into her arms!
He patted himself on the shoulder as if to say "well done." He normally didn't praise anyone, but when it came to matters related to angels, it seemed he couldn't hold back.
"Is this correct?"
"To think that we've taken down an Ar-Archangel..."
"Are we killing angels now too? Well, after all, he is the Emperor of the Sword..."
Raphael's enchantment seemed to be divided based on human martial prowess; the strong had already regained their senses and were shaking their heads as they looked at Raon.
"If we kill an angel, doesn't that make us de-demons...?"
"Well, her personality is already demonic. Maybe we should have expected this."
Dorian and Kerin also regained their senses and laughed at each other.
"That's right. Our Palace Master is closer to being a demon than an angel."
Burren nodded with a faint smile.
"Forget angels or demons, he's just crazy. How did he even come up with cutting that thing up?"
Martha let out a sigh, still unable to believe what had happened.
"Today was truly amazing."
Runaan simply gave a thumbs up, indicating how impressive it was.
"Whew, why do I feel so tired?"
"I know. Was she really an angel?"
"I'm not sure. When the Light Wind Palace Master killed her, she seemed more like a demon..."
The faction leaders who followed the Five Kings also seemed to have awakened from Raphael's enchantment, swallowing dryly as they chatted among themselves.
—Raon! Well done!
Ogram praised him, slapping him on the shoulder with his large hand.
-How did you pierce that barrier?
He nodded, amazed.
"It seemed like there was something special contained in the sword strike."
King Lecross also approached with wide eyes, looking surprised.
—Our boy can't be understood by common sense!
Chamber waved his hand, telling them not to ask those questions and just accept them.
"Our boy?"
Glenn frowned as he looked at Chamber.
"That's a statement I can't accept!"
He stared intently at Chamber and raised his voice, something rare for him.
-No, why are you getting angry...?
The camera took a step back, nervous.
"..."
Larian was looking at the sky with bright eyes, lost in thought.
"Mmm..."
Raon turned his gaze from the Five Kings to the neutral faction leaders who had not yet chosen their path. They still seemed dazed, not fully free from Raphael's spell.
"This isn't good."
Thanks to Raphael revealing her true nature halfway through, her enchantment didn't have its full effect, but it wasn't completely without influence either.
"If martial artists are affected like this, the common citizens of Balkar must be even worse."
He had thought that through the Five Kings Conference, they could easily borrow the strength of the remaining neutral forces, but it seemed Derus wasn't going to sit idly by either.
"She said the time given to us is running out, didn't she?"
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the darkened sky after Raphael's disappearance.
«Then we have to move faster».
-Yes. Rip off all those bastard angels' wings!
Wrath nodded, approving the thought.
'Then, about that...'
Raon nudged Wrath and tilted his head.
'Don't you have something like a Demon King's song?'
* * *
In a dark space where warm particles of light scattered, a red line appeared on Raphael's neck, followed by blood so red it seemed almost sacred.
"Ha..."
She wiped the blood with her finger, letting out a hollow laugh, as if she couldn't believe it.
"The wound inflicted on my avatar was transferred to my real body?"
Raphael looked at the blood on her fingertips with trembling eyes, unable to believe it.
—Didn't I tell you?
The person who was reclining on the black sofa raised his head. Derus Robert. He pursed his lips, and his face was slightly pale.
"Raon Zieghart is a more special being than Angels or Demons."
Derus took off his black leather gloves. Sticky blood oozed from a wound he had on the back of his hand.
"This wound, which not even you, the Archangel of Healing, could cure, was also left by him."
Derus's eyes narrowed, seeming excited by the pain of the wound.
"Why do you tell me not to kill that human? If he has those abilities, wouldn't it be better to finish him off quickly?"
Raphael narrowed her eyes.
"Because there are many ways we can use him."
"In what way can we use him?"
She tilted her head, as if asking what he meant.
"Raon will be a great asset in our final war."
Derus slightly moved the tip of his finger, stating that she would understand when they reached the end.
"..."
Raphael crossed her arms, and her expression showed disapproval.
—Enough about Raon. How did it go? Are the insects following you?
Derus shrugged, as if asking how his mission in Balkar had gone.
"Thanks to that human you told me not to kill interfering, I couldn't fully achieve it."
Raphael slowly shook her head.
"But my voice and my divine power have left their mark on the minds and bodies of humans. It may not be at the level you expected, but it will have a significant impact."
She nodded, stating that many people would now doubt their fellow humans.
"As expected..."
Derus softly clapped, saying he had believed in her.
"It was a good decision to summon you next."
He smiled and said it was worth the effort to summon her.
"In terms of overall strength, we're still at a disadvantage. The Five Kings won't leave their injuries unattended for long."
Derus frowned and said that the current balance would be broken the moment the Five Kings leaders recovered.
"That's why your role is important. I expect you to continue attracting the insects to our side."
"...Human."
Raphael gave Derus a piercing look. A frosty aura rose from her blue eyes.
"Mind your words. I am not your subordinate. I am only..."
—Are our paths the same? I understand well, Archangel.
Derus gave Raphael a slight bow and told her he understood well. He slowly rose from the sofa and approached the door.
Rest for a while and erase that wound too.
Derus waved his hand slightly and disappeared from the dark room.
"Raon Zieghart..."
Raphael bit her lip as she held her neck, which was still bleeding.
* * *
The next day, Raon entered the grand conference hall of Balkar again, protecting Glenn. Initially, the festival should have continued, but due to Raphael's sudden appearance, only the Five Kings leaders held an emergency meeting.
“What kind of Archangel keeps descending like that!”
Ogram slammed his fist on the round table in frustration.
"Since Archangels are at the highest level even among transcendents, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Derus's side has gained two of the Five Kings."
King Lecross let out a long sigh, indicating that the situation wasn't good.
"No, it's not that."
Chamber shook his head as he opened a candy wrapper.
"Actually, it might not be the second. They might be hiding other Archangels."
He put the candy in his mouth and said it wasn't good to think in absolutes.
"Hmm, you're right..."
King Lecross lowered his eyebrows, admitting his mistake.
“It wasn't the time to have a festival, even if it seemed good.”
Xanthos frowned and said that the situation had changed in just one day.
"Yes. We shouldn't have been happy about killing the Black Tower Master. We should have moved faster."
Camera also sighed, seemingly regretful.
"It's unbelievable that it wasn't even her real body, but an avatar."
She gritted her teeth, wondering where that damned ability came from.
"We have to consider the war situation as unfavorable now."
King Lecross bit his lip and said that the apostle side seemed to be stronger.
"Still, if we regain our strength, we should be able to win."
Ogram clenched his fist and said that if he, Lecross, and Chamber returned to their original state, they could win the war.
"It's true. But..."
Chamber narrowed his eyes as he looked at the corner of the round table.
"Why is one of the ones who isn't injured so quiet? She was also quiet yesterday."
Chamber looked at Larian, who was wearing a robe and muttering incomprehensible words to herself.
"...Aren't you excited?"
Larian slowly raised her head. Her eyes, which normally reflected shyness and annoyance, now reflected an indecipherable calculation.
"They are angels. And not just any angels, but legendary archangels. Their avatar and protection abilities are amazing on their own, but what else could they be hiding?"
Larian twisted her lips, her cheeks flushed with excitement, as if she felt incredibly curious.
"I want to dissect that pure white body. Cut it up bit by bit with a scalpel and extract the divine power. They are even rarer than demons, after all."
She uttered chilling words one after another, to the point where it was hard to tell what her original personality was.
"There you have it. The true nature of that magician who dwells in the corner..."
Camera shook her head in disapproval.
-Hey, at least you should recover quickly.
She gestured slightly towards King Lecross.
"Yes, it won't take me long."
King Lecross nodded and said that he had almost completely expelled the aura of death without trying too hard.
"How are the people who saw Raphael?"
Glenn turned his gaze towards Xanthos.
"All the Grand Master level individuals have recovered for now."
Xanthos nodded, stating that all the Grand Masters had been freed from Raphael's enchantment.
"However, those below that level still seem to have Raphael's words etched in their minds. It doesn't seem to be a simple enchantment spell."
He shook his head and said that the weaker the martial prowess, the stronger the effect of the spell seemed to be.
"We have to resolve that first."
Glenn frowned and said that there was no point in gathering there if they couldn't erase the impression left by Raphael.
"That's true."
Camera bit her lip and said that they couldn't expel the people from the capital before erasing that influence.
"We're already struggling just to find the Four Demons, and now we're going to waste time on this."
She shook her head, disgusted with the situation.
"There's a way to quickly free people from Raphael's enchantment."
Raon stood in front of the round table and said that was a quick method too.
"And there's also a way to find the Four Demons. It's not perfect, of course."
"Are you saying there's a way to erase Raphael's influence?"
"And to find those bastards too?"
"Is that true?"
The Five Kings leaders opened their eyes simultaneously.
"Yes. First..."
Raon looked at the Five Kings leaders around the table with a fierce gaze.
"Let's start by disturbing the lizard's nest."
-
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