Chapter 154: Commission and Declaration of War

“Miss Vilyric! Stop being willful! Really… Zzz… There’s no time left!”

While suppressing Xi Fu Lin, who was desperately trying to break free from the seal, Vilyric was both astonished by the extent of her power and pleased as she gazed at the hazy shadow of the Archangel.

“You’re right; I am indeed a willful person. Not only am I willful, but I’m also double-standard and cold. I wouldn’t care less if strangers died, but if there’s someone I’d want to survive, I would take any risk just to try.”

“I can’t betray the comrades who fight bravely for our side, even if it’s her desire. I can’t allow a friend who has been walking with me to sacrifice herself for a so-called greater good.”

A golden light gathered in her palm, forming a long and sacred white staff alongside the confident smile of the girl.

“Because I will crush all my enemies.”

“Zzz… Zzz… You really are… incredible… Zzz…”

The Archangel’s remaining shadow could hold on no longer. With a sound of shattering, it disintegrated along with the Pseudo-God’s realm into a sky full of white light, but from her unclear lip movements before disappearing, Vilyric sensed a hint of a smile and Minerva’s final wish.

【Then, Lady Xi Fu… I entrust you.】

“So which Xi Fu are you talking about…”

No more voices answered her, and just as the Archangel’s sacred figure faded away, the emerald-shaped crystal shattered with the barrier surrounding the Temple of Sky!

“Bam!”

The transparent wall reflecting the night sky was breached, and a woman in tattered priest robes, covered in wounds, tumbled in from outside.

“Tira!!”

The Wing Emperor Aistini was shocked, taking a hit from the Half-Dragon Losa as she flung her spear, sending him crashing into the transparent palace wall, creating a cloud of dust.

The punch from the Half-Dragon wasn’t easy to take, and even the high-ranking Wing Emperor spat out blood under her armor, but Aistini paid no mind. Instead, she rushed to assist the fallen High Priestess, her face filled with anxiety as she fed her a small vial of potion.

“Tira! Are you okay?”

“Cough cough… I’m fine, but the God Core… I’m sorry, sister, I lost.”

The potion took effect quickly; after drinking it, Tira’s numerous minor wounds healed into fair skin, aside from a few large gashes surrounded by gray mist.

Yet both Aistini and the High Priestess Tira looked despondent and unwilling, after all, even Tira, who had protections, lost in direct combat, and that angelic shadow that shattered so quickly…

“Oh dear, what a pity ~ If only you could unleash the full power of the Divine Spark, the outcome might have been uncertain; however, you are merely a mortal. How can you endure the full force of divine authority, little girl? You can’t stop me this time ~”

Gray ribbons and skirts fluttered wildly in the air as a familiar girl with turquoise hair and gray gemstone-like eyes gently descended from the opening that Tira had created, looking down at the High Priestess and Aistini, who was protecting her with a spear, while holding a gleaming turquoise crystal that looked like a smaller version of the one that had just been shattered in the central hall.

This must be the one-third fragment of the Earth Mother Goddess’ Divine Spark stored within the High Priestess. It was indeed just as expected; it had been taken.

Xi Fu merely glanced at the two Winged People before becoming entranced by the emerald jewel in her hand, her face flushed.

“Ah ~ Such a familiar power, this exhilarating feeling, you can’t wait to merge with this body, can you? I know ~ I’ve known for over a thousand years, and today, I shall return to my position as the Supreme God!”

“Rejoice, mortals! You should feel fortunate to witness this momentous scene!”

“Star Spear!!”

All that answered her was a fully powered strike thrown by Aistini.

“Foolish ~”

The Withering Goddess didn’t even look at her and merely extended her hand, forcefully grasping the sixth-tier magic, with countless gray waves surging forth to instantly swallow the spear.

“I thought you had some skill, and I was considering taking you under my wing, but… since you’re so unappreciative, hurry up and die, descendant of a traitor.”

Xi Fu smiled derisively, the gray mists that devoured the Star Spear swelled with the wind, transforming into the same sharp and resilient spears dyed dark gray, charging straight toward the helpless Wing Emperor!

Aistini gritted her teeth and knocked her immobile sister aside, positioning her spear in front but showing no fear.

“Come! Even if we die, Whitefeathers have nothing to fear!”

“Sister! No!!!”

In the midst of Tira’s desperate and piercing scream, there came a barely noticeable yet utterly helpless sigh.

“Hey, hey… what kind of play are you two putting on? Do I seem that insignificant?”

A golden light barrier arose, positioning itself in front of the sisters Aistira just before the multitude of gray spears reached their target.

“Boom boom boom boom boom!!!!”

The explosive clash sounded like a torrential downpour, and despite the bombardment, the suddenly risen curtain of light stood its ground. Even if there were minor cracks appearing from the dense impacts, they would instantly mend in the next moment.

This… is a head-on clash?

Even the Withering Goddess, who believed she had everything under control, narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, easily finding the source of the attack by following the flow of energy.

“Oh? It’s you… interesting, you’re back from miles away in the North to the Sky City so quickly; what a blunder, do you have some spatial divine technique?”

Leaving the stunned Kunier behind, the Priestess, accompanied by her pet, arrived beside the Wing Emperor sisters, casually gripping her staff with a sly smile and hands on her hips.

“Heh heh, it’s okay for you to play dirty, but you don’t allow others to counter, right? Not thinking of this, you aren’t all that great.”

Vilyric wasn’t at all surprised that Xi Fu recognized her. That ability called the Pseudo-God’s realm didn’t precisely claim it was only a recording, but saying that no information could possibly return… now that was suspicious.

“Hmph…”

The divine being floating in the air pouted but didn’t speak; instead, the High Priestess named Tira widened her eyes and stared at the black-haired girl beside her, clearly unable to hide her astonishment.

“Little Vilyric? Oh my! How did you get up here without my guiding you? You’re so amazing!”

   

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