Chapter 1216
"Huup."
Raon exhaled a short, sharp breath as his gaze fixed upon the summit of the Tower of Babel, where a radiant, exploding light surged forth.
"An incredible level of divine energy."
A cold shiver raced down his spine, triggered by the overwhelming holy power pouring from the fractured firmament. It was clear that the entity descending from the heavens was indeed an Archangel.
"What do you make of this?"
Raon gave a subtle nudge to Wrath, the one person in existence who understood the nature of Archangels better than anyone.
-It is exactly as you suspected!
Wrath let out a low growl, his voice sounding like the grinding of bone.
-The creature lurking up there is one of those loathsome, winged vermin!
He scowled deeply, noting that based on the sheer volume of holy energy, there was no doubt an Archangel was making an entrance.
"Can you identify which one?"
Raon turned to Wrath, as he was not yet capable of distinguishing specific Archangels solely by the frequency of their divine power.
-Hmm...
Wrath rubbed his chin with his small, rounded hand.
-Given that obnoxious, gaudy light show, it appears to be Raphael.
"Raphael? The Archangel associated with healing?"
-That cursed woman! She puts on an act of being sophisticated, but she is actually a maniacal bitch obsessed with vanity!
He snorted in derision, remarking that only Raphael would resort to such tasteless and dramatic theatrics.
"Raphael..."
Raon’s eyes narrowed as he monitored the heavens, where the luminosity and holy pressure continued to intensify.
"If it truly is Raphael descending, this might be our finest opening."
Raphael was a specialist in restoration. If he could eliminate the opposition's primary healer—one capable of not only closing mortal gashes but even pulling the dead back from the brink—it would be the most significant victory possible within the borders of Heaven.
-Raphael’s talents aren't restricted to just mending flesh.
Wrath clicked his tongue in a brief moment of irritation.
-That wretched woman can also employ sorcery to bolster the strength of other Angels. As you mentioned, if we can slay her on this spot, it would be an ideal outcome.
He gave a firm nod, agreeing that if Raphael appeared, they must seize her by any means necessary.
"Exactly."
Raon bit his lip, his eyes shifting toward the deceptively kind, smiling visage of Derus Robert.
"But why is this supposed great Archangel taking her time?"
-She is likely throwing a tantrum.
Wrath wrinkled his nose as he watched the sky, which was now pulsing with prismatic, rainbow-colored light.
-Raphael is a woman who considers herself exceptionally exalted. The mere notion of having to speak with or work alongside humans—whom she views as nothing more than insects—is undoubtedly making her stall out of pure spite!
He let out a small giggle, claiming he could practically see the look of disgust on Raphael’s face.
"For a divine being, her temperament is certainly..."
Raon was on the verge of a cynical laugh at Wrath’s description when—Thuuuuuung! The vibrations rattling the sky grew so violent that the Tower of Babel, which pierced the clouds toward the Divine land, shuddered as if it might collapse.
Just as the structure began to lean dangerously to the right, a surge of divine power more potent than any before erupted, seemingly freezing the flow of time itself.
The tilting monument halted mid-air, and the heavens burst into a golden glow that looked like a captured dawn. From the center of that magnificent radiance, a delicate form began to take shape.
Though she stood taller than the average man, her silhouette possessed the elegant, flowing curves of a woman. On her back, eight wings as white as untainted snow unfurled, broad enough to shadow the firmament.
Her entire being shimmered softly, wrapped in a translucent mist that gave her an ethereal quality, far removed from the physical world.
"Gasp!"
"Ahhh!"
"Is that..."
Confronted by an Archangel who seemed to be the living definition of "majesty," the spectators on the ground could only stare, their mouths agape and voices lost. Yet, it wasn't just her aura or her figure that stunned them.
Her pale skin was visible beneath golden tresses that draped over her shoulders, and her blue eyes shone with the brilliance of inset gemstones. Faced with this zenith of beauty that went beyond human limits, the inhabitants of Heaven shook with a fervor as if they were meeting a god.
"Ugh..."
Raon began to sweat and allowed his knees to tremble, putting on a show of being overwhelmed by the Archangel's presence to maintain his cover as Zilfen.
"Just as you predicted."
Inside, however, he remained perfectly composed, his analytical mind dissecting every detail of the descending celestial.
"It is Raphael."
Wrath had been correct; the figure coming down from above was indeed Raphael, the Archangel of protection and restoration. Having seen her manifestation once before, he was able to stay focused.
-Seeing that repulsive face makes my anger boil!
Wrath shook his tiny, clenched fist.
-I won't be satisfied until that woman's face is pulverized!
He swung his arm through the air, expressing a deep desire to strike Raphael immediately.
"Don't be concerned."
Raon gave a subtle wave of his hand, a thin smile playing on his lips.
"I won't just hit her face; I'm going to take her head."
He had traveled through the Land of Clouds to reach this place and had spent a significant amount of time undercover. To ensure that effort wasn't wasted, he had to kill Raphael right here.
"I have to watch her closely, though."
Raphael had a history of deploying Clones to bait enemies. He needed to be more wary of her slipping away via a decoy than he was of any direct strike she might launch.
"Hyaaaah!"
"An Archangel! You can tell just by looking!"
"How can such a creature even exist..."
"I... I can't catch my breath! She is on a completely different level!"
"It isn't just about her looks! She is a being that defies all logic!"
"Oh, Heavens!"
Those who had assumed Archangels were merely enhanced humans were devastated by Raphael’s supernatural presence. They dropped to their knees, pressing their palms together in frantic prayer.
"Huuuuu..."
"I... I have to construct a tower as well!"
"Yes! I can't hold back! I'm going to build one no matter what!"
"I need to make this my primary goal, not just watch others!"
"I would do anything just to be near that person!"
The residents of Heaven were overcome with a desperate resolve to erect towers, willing to trade their very lives for the chance, as if their spirits had been ensnared by Raphael’s beauty.
"Hmm!"
Derus Robert observed the mounting hunger of the crowd through their passionate cries and let his lips curl into a smirk. This was exactly the outcome he had intended.
"Huuuuu!"
Raon kept a close watch on Derus’s reactions while mimicking the volatile emotions a human would naturally experience when confronted by such a being. Tuuuk!
Raphael’s toes finally touched the soil, her body emitting an even more dazzling golden light. While Archangels were naturally luminous, she was clearly manipulating her divine power to enhance the spectacle.
"So, it is you."
Raphael stepped toward Raon, her smile as warm and inviting as a summer sun.
"I am Raphael, the Archangel of protection and healing. The Creator has heard your humble plea and has sent me to grant that wish."
She bowed her head slightly, claiming she had received a direct mandate from God to descend to this realm.
"Ra... Raphael?"
"Woooooo!"
"It’s the truth! The tower of Heaven was real!"
"To think I would live to witness an Archangel..."
"I could die right now with no regrets!"
"No! Why die? We have to stay alive so our own wishes can come true!"
The crowd was whipped into a frenzy by Raphael’s words, their voices a chaotic mix of screams and cheers.
"I... I..."
Raon slumped his shoulders as if buckling under the weight of her presence, then forced his bloodied lips to move.
"Please... make me a Transcendent! Grant me the strength to punish the humans who looked down on me!"
He reverted to the persona of a man consumed by greed, letting the resentment and ambition he had bottled up spill out.
"But of course."
Raphael’s smile took on a chillingly artificial quality.
"I have come to this place for the sole purpose of granting your request."
She nodded gracefully, offering him a hollow reassurance.
"However, I require a brief moment to prepare for the transformation."
Raphael held up a single, snowy-white finger.
"Wait for just one hour. Once that time has passed, you shall be reborn as a Transcendent."
She peered at Raon with shimmering eyes, silently asking if he possessed the patience.
"O-one hour?"
Raon blinked, repeating the timeframe back to her.
"Can it truly be done so quickly?"
Even with the Angels' influence over this land, he had assumed it would take at least half a day to fake the process of elevating an Expert-level human to the rank of Transcendent.
"That is correct."
Raphael kept her finger raised, asserting that sixty minutes were more than enough. It seemed this territory called Heaven possessed more latent power than he had previously estimated.
"Y-yes, certainly!"
Raon nodded his head with feigned enthusiasm.
"If it’s only an hour, I can wait as long as it takes!"
He folded his arms, signaling his compliance.
"Then, let us begin."
Raphael sank to her knees, clasping her hands as if in deep prayer to the Almighty, and shut her eyes. At that solemn sight, the crowd held their collective breath, unable to look away. Both Raon and Derus Robert wore smiles—though they were fueled by very different motives—as they waited for the Archangel to open her eyes.
[Does it truly require a full hour?]
Derus Robert transmitted a mental message to Raphael, a slight crease appearing on his forehead.
[No, I could conclude this much faster. All the necessary elements are in place.]
Raphael gave a small tilt of her head, indicating she could bestow power upon the man known as Zilfen at any moment.
[A bit of theater? I suppose that’s fine.]
Derus immediately grasped Raphael’s logic for extending the time and let out a soft chuckle.
[As you noted, the volume of desire flowing into Heaven through that man has already doubled. Providing a dramatic show to squeeze even more from these cattle will be beneficial. You have a keen understanding of the process.]
Raphael nodded, agreeing that as an Archangel, it was only right to maximize the extraction of human greed through a performance.
[Well, you would know better than most. Your own acting has been nearly as convincing as mine.]
She alluded to Derus’s history during the era of the Six Kings and Five Demons, her lips curving into a smirk.
[Yes. Those were the days.]
Derus Robert spoke of that era—which had only concluded a few years prior—as if it were a distant childhood memory, his eyes slowly blinking shut and then opening again.
[But this human is certainly an outlier. To harbor such potent desires.]
Raphael let out a faint, dry laugh as she sensed the greed radiating from Raon’s spirit.
[As you suggested, he might be a useful tool for the coming war. I shall take charge of him.]
She gestured with her fingers, indicating she would personally manipulate Raon.
[Do as you wish. However, you must first ensure he appears to reach the level of Transcendence.]
Derus Robert lowered his brows, reminding her that the priority was to show everyone in Heaven that such a feat was possible.
[Naturally.]
Raphael gave a steady nod.
[That is precisely why I deigned to step foot in this wretched place.]
"Hahhh..."
Raphael opened her deep blue eyes and let out a long, slow breath.
"The work is finished."
She gathered a pool of brilliant light within her palms and stood up.
"Th-that is..."
Raon’s lips shook and his face turned pale, acting as though he was terrified by the massive energy Raphael held.
"This is the strength you craved."
Raphael’s mouth twisted into a sneering grin.
"Once this holy power takes root in your frame, you will become a Transcendent capable of altering the world."
She lifted her chin, telling him he must submit to the magnificent force that was daunting even to witness.
"Are you afraid? If you are, you may turn back now."
She narrowed her eyes, offering a final, mocking chance to retreat.
'This is a trial.'
Raon felt a surge of contempt as he stared back at her.
'She’s gauging whether I’ll actually be a profitable servant for them.'
Raphael clearly didn't trust Derus’s assessment blindly and was testing his resolve personally.
"Af-afraid? How can you say that now! I would gladly die if it meant I could consume that power!"
Raon shook his head wildly, allowing saliva to foam at the corners of his mouth, perfectly mimicking Zilfen’s typical display of unhinged greed.
"I thought as much."
Raphael nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response.
"Then let us proceed without further delay."
She stepped toward Raon, the brilliant light clutched in her arms. As the energy grew more intense, her form, which had been blurred by mist, finally solidified into clear, distinct lines.
'Now!'
Raon felt Raphael’s actual consciousness fully anchor within her physical vessel and flexed his fingers. In a heartbeat, the Ten Rings began to hum, and a light far more piercing than her divine glow erupted from the edge of his hand. It was a blade designed to sever both the spirit and the flesh. The technique that could cleave hearts and gods alike ignited within his soul.
As the tip of the radiant blade manifested, Raphael’s head tumbled toward the earth, still wearing a fresh, unsuspecting smile. Thuk.
