Chapter 286
The 10th Battalion Commander of the Destruction Demon Army, Ice Giantess Melohinne snorted at the report her subordinate gave her.
[Tebeta was stolen? Tebeta was a world that had never been exposed before, what method could be used for someone to go there? Did some leader act himself? Then our Lord must have acted as well!]
[It is not that.]
The subordinate spoke with a trembling voice.
[Yu IlHan of Earth – He has started to act.]
[......Did he actually become the Fifth or something?]
Melohinne's voice that replied to her subordinate was slightly trembling as well. The birth of the Fifth God. If this was true, even she couldn't take this lightly.
[I do not know about that, but the ones protecting Tebeta were instantly slaughtered and the world was stolen. When the reinforcements arrived, they had already left and they could take it back with ease, but as you felt before, the power of the faction had been consumed!]
[Tch.]
It shouldn't be just her that was shocked as she felt an entire world being ripped away from them. Because of the temporary loss of the powers as a faction as a whole, they were even driven back by the enemies for a short duration. Although the world was regained now, but the stolen powers would not return so soon.......
[The ones who can enter unexposed worlds are the leaders of each faction at best! That's the biggest proof that he's become a God! Dammit, I'm embarrassed to think that I tried to bring him to our faction!]
Shouted Melohinne as she raised her head. What she saw was a group of monsters that composed the Destruction Demon Army filling the air and the group of fallen angels that fought against them.
Yes, the Destruction Demon Army was currently at war with the fallen angels in their world. Of course, this world was one they already had information on before. Unless the leader of the Destruction Demon Army stepped up himself, there was no way they could invade worlds where the fallen angels had meticulously hidden themselves in.
[Perhaps our lord may act quicker than we expect to....... Yu IlHan, I will definitely kill you!]
She clicked her tongue and kicked off the ground. At that moment, the magic around her momentarily froze, and threw her into the air. Wherever she went, all the mana in her vicinity was frozen.
[Disgusting crows! I'll color you all in white!]
A giantess's roar made the world cry. The one that responded to her was the Sentry of this world, 7th Wing of Brilliant Light, Felaère.
[Pitiful monster, o, reckless invader. This Felaère will bestow judgement upon you.]
[Hah, just try!]
A giantess and a fallen angel clashed in midair. The fist of the giantess that seemed to freeze the world itself was softly received by three pairs of black wings. Felaère's mana gathered on the tip of the wings, compressed to the limit, and was shot out!
[Petty tricks!]
However, the giantess just received the spear like strike head on and charged onwards. What she prided in the most was her sturdy body! Even if it broke in mid battle, she could regenerate it indefinitely. The strength of the Destruction demon army came from their reckless attitudes and intense life force!
[Try blocking this with those proud crow feathers!]
[As you wish, you damned chunk of i......ce?]
Felaère momentarily stopped just as when he tried to cast a grand magic to counter against Melohinne's attack. The moment he tried to array the magic, the mana that comprised his body had suddenly disappeared and the magic was interrupted.
Of course, Melohinne wasn't so foolish to miss that opportunity. The fist that contained all her frost powers struck out towards Felaère without hesitation, freezing and breaking off half of Felaère's wings just like that!
[Kihi, you might be better off learning magic from scratch!]
[Kuuuuugh, how can this be! How? How did my mana...]
Felaère, who had lost half of his wings due to a critical mistake, stumbled backwards. Of course, Melohinne knew why he was weakened. It just happened to her own side just now!
[Looks like that kid is trying to make all the factions his enemy. Keke, so fun. He's such an interesting guy!]
[Kid...... don't tell me it's?]
Felaère finally realized what was up and tried to retreat, but Melohinne didn't let him do so. She would besmirch the name of the Destruction Demon Army if she lost this opportunity to kill a big shot from an enemy faction!
[This war will become so interesting thanks to him! Looks like I'll need to reply in kind!]
[No way, that lower existence really!? No, the fifth faction really appeared......? But the lord has!]
[Don't say stupid things, Felaère! If you don't focus on me in front of you right now, then your neck will snap the next moment!]
Roared Melohinne. Felaère bit his lips and emitted mana again to confront her. However, countless questions were floating inside his head right now.
'Why did the Lord order us to just observe such a violent guy? We need to rip him apart this immediate moment!'
It was about the order from the Supreme being of the faction that applied to all Battalion Commanders in the Army of Brilliant Light.
Well, it was no wonder that he took interest in a new transcender. However, there should be a problem with leaving him alone while he was wrecking havoc on their worlds!
'But the most annoying fact is that.......'
Felaère gritted his teeth as he dodged Melohinne's cold fists. That guy, Yu IlHan, just.......
[Where the hell is he!]
[He disappeared already!? And he's still a lower existence!?]
[Ee, eeeek. The one who's under the protection of the Heaven's Army dared to do this!]
[My god, this world has become a complete mess!]
The members of all four factions that were fighting finally realized what Yu IlHan was doing after he stole a single higher world from all of them.
He knew very well what the higher existences were up to, and was recklessly using this complex situation to......
[He's lowering the forces of each faction at the same time!? A mere lower existence did! That's no longer in the realm of humansssss!]
In the second world belonging to the Heaven's Army, the group met a strong opponent. Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders while facing the roaring 7th class Archangel, Lemiel.
"Did anyone make rules that lower existences can't go against higher ones? Give them to me, let's play by the rules then."
[......]
"Usually the one that bring up rules is the bad guy......."
"Well, Yu IlHan's a bad guy, isn't he?"
[You girls!]
Lemiel, who became speechless at Yu IlHan's reply found Liera and Erta whispering to each other and shouted. The sparks around him showed his rage without hiding it.
[Why are you girls standing on that side! How can you, who have worked for the Heaven's Army for countless years, point your weapons at us angels!]
"I also think it's unfortunate. And I would prefer not to do it either."
Replied Liera honestly. However, her following words were very firm.
"But if I want to be by IlHan's side, I knew that I would have to fight the angels someday."
[How!]
"It's natural since Heaven's Army will......"
"Will not allow the existence of the 'Fifth'."
Erta was the one who finished it off. She was same in the regard that she had a bitter smile.
[Fifth? Fifth......?]
Lemiel snorted after hearing those world.
[I know that he is capable. But the Fifth? Did you think that the realm of transcendence is so easy? Okay then. Is that why you girls are sucking up to him because you believe he can become that?]
[From what I see, he's already in reach of it. Lemiel, you're as arrogant as ever.]
[Yes! We do not acknowledge any God other than the sole Lord! That is the path of heresy, and it's a path not allowed to any being!]
Roared Lemiel in rage. The mana that filled this higher world was sucked into him and turned into lighting. That scene was very fear-striking and terrifying.
[Oh my, that looks dangerous. It looks like he'll draw in all the powers of this world. That musclehead.]
Helièna felt that it was her turn and stepped forward but Yu IlHan grabbed her shoulder and made her stop. When she looked back with confused eyes, Yu IlHan spoke with a smile.
"Do you think I came here while not knowing he was here?"
[Darling, did you?]
Noticing what he was thinking, Helièna made a dumbfounded expression. Yu IlHan nodded his head, gesturing that there was no need for her to speak anymore.
"Yes. I'm going to fight against a 7th class archangel."
[Darling.......]
No matter how much the Destruction Demon Army loved destruction and suffering, they would not do what Yu IlHan was about to do now, and he, was doing it so nonchalantly. He was going against a 7th class being frontally while being a lower existence!
"I am lacking records of the Heaven's Army. Well, I avoided clashing with them now in consideration of Erta and Liera, so that's no wonder...... but I do not want to delay it any longer."
Fight because he needed records? He came here looking for a 7th class being for just that?
Helièna giggled after realizing that Yu IlHan was being honest. She was at her happiest moment right now. The man she grabbed was the best alright!
[Darling...... you might be better off joining the Destruction Demon Army too. Fufu, so cool. I'm falling for you all over again.]
"Don't you dare hit on my lover again!"
Liera rampaged around in rage but Helièna only snorted. Yu IlHan stepped forward, while looking back at his companions that were laid back even though he was going to fight against a 7th class being.
But it wasn't him alone that went to fight.
"Mir. I think I'll need your help."
[I was waiting for that, dad!]
[Do you think a human could overstep the realm of supremacy just because he's with a dragon!]
"Well, we'll see about that!"
Yu IlHan replied with a sharp voice, and hopped onto Yumir, who had changed into dragon form. Yumir, sharing consciousness with him, charged forward fearlessly and faced Lemiel that was emitting thunder and lightning from his entire body.
"Fuu......."
[Fuu......."
With the strongest enemy they've faced yet in front of them, the two synced their breaths. This was the moment when the two synchronized the deepest yet. The Soul of Fire that covered Yu IlHan's skin, and the Body of the Human Dragon that covered that – the two that formed Flamesoul Dragon Body breathed with Yu IlHan and raised his league rapidly.
"Well, let's fight."
The dragon of fire that awakened deep within Yu IlHan's body and soul roared against the enemy.
[You......?]
Lemiel's expression changed after he felt a fragment of Yu IlHan's power. The Lemiel that always looked down on him in arrogance had stiffened up thinking 'what if'.
[How can you hide so much power within that body? How can a lower existence......?]
"Well, you can find out from now on."
Yu IlHan smirked and picked up his spear. It was a spear made purely of flames. Seeing the mouth of the dragon at the end, Lemiel widened his eyes. Perhaps, perhaps he has already.......
[I cannot accept this!]
"Fight me, Archangel!"
The battle between two monsters commenced.
Chapter 287
Having gathered most of the mana that filled the world, Lemiel turned it into a streak of lightning and threw it.
Not only was it extremely fast, making it difficult for Yu IlHan to dodge, in the case he did, it would devastate his companions in the Flying fortress as well. This was an attack that forced Yu IlHan to decide, and the judgement was really lightning quick. He made Yumir rise upwards to just dodge it!
[Foolish, with this your companions are......what!?]
Immediately after that, a protective barrier appeared on top of the Flying fortress to block the lightning. The defensive power of the barrier, covered by Kelatuke's metallic armor, was not so weak to be broken by an ordinary attack from the 7th class. In fact, it even absorbed the mana inside it and recovered its durability as well.
[Just what is.......]
Seeing a human-made barrier blocking his lightning, Lemiel was dumbfounded for a moment. It didn't take that long for him to realize that Yu IlHan and Yumir's presences had disappeared.
[What......?]
He lost track of a lower existence right in front of his eyes! It wasn't that they were in concealment from the beginning, rather, he had just lost the presence of an enemy that he was so enraged at?
Lemiel couldn't accept this situation, but he wasn't a 7th class Archangel for nothing, and the moment he realized that he might be attacked by his enemies, he imbued lightning into his wings to completely protect his body. His movements were rapid, just as expected of a 7th class Archangel.
Immediately after that, Yu IlHan's attack assaulted him.
[Critical Hit!]
An attack containing an overwhelming amount of mana landed on his wings. However, as if having waited for that moment, Lemiel shot out lightning to wrap it while unfolding his three pairs of wings.
[This is the punishment for your arrogance!]
The physical force and mana in the trajectory, as well as the sharpness was returned in its entirety. Actually, it even contained high-density lightning from Lemiel as well.
Receiving the enemy's attacks perfectly, and returning it with one's own power on top of it. This was none other than the highest-tier battle skill that only the extreme minority with meticulous technique could use, Counter!
[Die, mortal! Fall! Fall while filled with your swollen desire!]
If Yu IlHan was hit by that, even he would not be able to escape a fatal strike no matter how high his defense was. The strike containing lightning had that great of a power.
However, the perfectly timed counter did not bring about any response. Did he die with just a single strike? Lemiel raised his head on confusion, and
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Critical.......]
At that moment, greyish white blood scattered as his left arm and wings were chopped off. The next moment, the cut off body disappeared into thin air, and prevented Lemiel from attaching it back.
[Wh, this.....!?]
Rather than the pain of losing 30% of his body, he was more panicked about the fact that the Counter skill had failed, even though it had never failed until now. He hurriedly emitted mana to balance his body and looked for Yu IlHan's figure.
"Hi."
[You!?]
He was right in front of Lemiel.
[The skill, Spear of Untraceable Trajectory, has become level 99.]
[You have fulfilled one additional criterion of the acquisition conditions of the active skill, Counter. The skill, Counter, can be acquired after you fulfill one more condition.]
The text that appeared on Yu IlHan's retina implied two things. That there wasn't long left until he mastered an advanced skill, and that it wasn't long until he acquired the horrifyingly strong skill, Counter, that the Archangel used just now.
Honestly, Yu IlHan thought that he had become as strong as he could until now, but it seemed like he still had his ways to go. He reflected back on his arrogance.
"So that's counter? Thanks for showing me. I won't be able to show it to you right away, but I'll try my best to learn it in the future!"
[You......!?]
As he replied with a smile, Yu IlHan's hands were gripping onto a flaming spear that was roaring with its mouth open. Since the attack was so sudden, and he did not have any opportunity to activate Counter, Lemiel was hit on the neck by the spear.
[Critical Hit!]
[The skill, Great Cosmos-severing Spear, has become level 89.]
[Kuhaak!]
Greyish white blood scattered in the air once again. Yu IlHan's two eyes glistened, and Lemiel held onto his head as he unfolded the remaining half of his wings to cover his front. The lightning flashing in blue looked threatening, but was much less intimidating than before.
[How did you do that! Were you a magic warrior!?]
"Is there a need to classify fields? It's because your thought process is from the 90s that you are whining like a puny villain from the 90s!"
"IlHan made Lemiel the villain!"
"But since he said it, he actually looks like he's whining!"
[You girlllllls!]
Yu IlHan's first attack naturally was from the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory. The shocking aspect about this spear technique was that he could produce a trajectory that was logically and physically impossible from where he was standing.
However, that skill had ended up growing in a shocking direction as he had experienced magic that distorted space and time continuously, and got used to such a flow and pattern.
The specialty of this technique was that he could strike out simultaneously into several different directions, and this time, he had realized the strike he had shot from a different direction first, and only after the Counter skill by Lemiel activated did he realize and redirected the ten other strikes to deal critical hits.
This was a technique that could only be done when he read the movements of the enemy, but it was also a skill that transcended the boundaries of space and time. It was no wonder his enemy considered this magic. It had the principles of magic contained in it after all!
[You, don't tell me you have the power to manipulate time!]
"Fufu, I wonder about that."
Of course, he was just barely able to mix his slight enlightenments he got from experience the time deceleration magic on Earth with his spear, but nothing bad would come out of his enemy shrinking back in fear about that so he just showed his laid-back attitude. If there was a boasting competition, perhaps he'd take first place in the universe, maybe? Of course, that was under the condition that they were able to find him.
[Dad is amazing!]
"Mir's movements have become agile as well. I think you can fly faster."
[I became able to fly a lot faster since I trained to move faster on Earth!]
Although this was unintentional, the time deceleration magic had given a lot of help in making Yu IlHan and the others stronger. Enduring the time deceleration magic and training within the effects, allowed not only Yu IlHan but Yumir to bring out more his powers, and the father and son could fight against a 7th class Archangel without being driven back!
[Fast? Yes, you are fast. Why don't you keep moving fast like that!]
Lemiel desperately changed all his mana into lightning the moment he felt a sense of crisis that he may actually lose against a lower existence. No matter how weakened he was, the lightning he shot out had enough power to break through the armor with a direct hit.
[Why don't you dodge this! And this too! This is the punishment from the envoy of God!]
"Mir, can you do it?"
[Yeah, I can do it.]
Yu IlHan faced the lightning pouring from the sides and called Yumir with a calm voice. Yumir also replied to him with a similar tone of voice.
The two were right now in deep sync with each other, and shared not only their consciousness, but their mana as well while they were sharpening their senses. And naturally, Yumir's movements dodging the lightning became agile.
[How!? You two...... how!]
Even though the two were connected as a dragon and his rider, this was supposed to be impossible. It was only possible because Yu IlHan had noticed and raised his dragon powers in the Cradle of Miracles.
To add, it was also because they heightened their senses beyond their limits since this was the first time they fought against such a strong enemy.
"Fuu, so refreshing."
[Yeah, it's really refreshing.]
The energy of dragons and fire in his heart started thumping the moment he entered battle, and was now completely connected to Yumir.
This was true resonance. The resonance he could only feel in the Cradle of Miracles until now. Such a resonance was currently happening between Yu IlHan and Yumir with the Flamesoul Dragon Body as the medium.
The resonance increased steadily, fusing and amplifying the two's energy. Even the mana in this higher world, which were supposed to obey Lemiel, could not win against the overwhelmingly powerful suction force and was drawn in, becoming the energy of dragons and flames from its original form as the energy of Heaven. Naturally, Lemiel's lightning became weaker and weaker.
[You, damned......!]
"Hm, so this was the right path."
[It's hot, dad. The hot energy...... is becoming bigger!]
Yumir's innate attribute inclined towards wind. On the other hand, the energy Yu IlHan was most skilled at manipulating was fire. Fortunately, the two had great affinity, and Yumir amplified and wrapped his body with the flames that Yu IlHan had made and created a stronger power. On the outside, the two looked like one giant fireball.
"I think we can do it."
[Yeah, I think we can do it.]
Now, there was no need for Yu IlHan to transmit his thoughts to Yumir. The two shared their thoughts. The process of transmitting their intentions were skipped, and Yumir moved according to how Yu IlHan wished to. His movements became faster.
What Yu IlHan was trying to do now, was none other than the skill, Counter, that Lemiel just showed him.
[Do not take lightly, the power and authority of...... Heaven!]
And the time finally arrived.
Lemiel had reached his limits as he watched the father and son dodging the lightning nimbly, and emitted more mana than he could control by raising his hand.
The lightning from his hand rose to the skies, and the next moment, the entire sky colored in blue. He had colored the entire world with his power in order to prevent the power of the world being stolen by Yu IlHan.
[Open your eyes and watch, this is the will of Heaven!]
"Heaven? Are you sure?"
Yu IlHan made a cold smile and asked back.
"I don't think your blood is pure white. I think it's a grey that tries to look white."
[......Are you looking down on me!]
His voice trembled. However, Yu IlHan already had the assurance. He had licked the angel's blood and absorbed the records. Changing one's own records in preparation to go over to the Army of Brilliant Light at any time. In other words, a traitor.
And he was definitely a 'traitor'. Perhaps the one he was facing was a prominent figure of the traitor faction that acted against him and his angels.
"No way. There's no way Lemiel is a traitor. He's an honest Archangel that had served God from the past."
Liera, who was preparing for battle within the fortress, shook her head in shock when she heard Yu IlHan. Erta also asked Yu IlHan with a cold voice.
"Yu IlHan, were you a person that tried to justify your actions?"
"No, it wasn't like I tried to kill that guy because he was a traitor."
"......indeed, it wasn't like that."
Erta's cold gaze headed to Lemiel this time.
"So you were really a traitor, Lemiel."
[I, am not...... a traitor! I am the will of Heaven!]
A rain of lightning indiscriminately struck everything. A trembling in mana could be seen as if it reflected his state of mind. This was very suitable for what Yu IlHan was trying to do.
"Should we start, Mir?"
[Yeah, dad.]
The resonance between the two deepened. The dragon's wings that were covered in fire amplified by wind, enlarged as if to swallow the entire skies.
The lightning that fell down on the world started being colored in red.
Chapter 288
[This is.......]
As someone who possessing the Counter skill, Lemiel immediately realized what was happening.
The rain of lightning that contained immense mana were gathering to one place and were changing into a red flame.
In the center of that was one human and one dragon. To be exact, Yu IlHan was utilizing even Yumir's mana to redirect all that mana.
Overwhelming the opponent with the surge of mana, Changing the ruling structure of the mana by seeping into the gaps, changing the properties by scattering the mana array, and finally emitting an overwhelming amount of physical and magical force would allow him to resonate with all the mana in his surroundings and change their flow.
[You have acquired the active skill, Counter.]
[The skill, Dimensional Ruler, has become level 67.]
This was counter. The supreme skill that reversed cause and effect.
[Such a being...... cannot exist!]
"Well, I don't know about that."
The moment Yu IlHan quietly muttered that, a red rain of fire poured towards Lemiel, who was once the controller of the rain.
[You dare...... with just this much!]
He clenched his teeth and unfolded the remaining half of his wings. This was because using Counter against an attack that was already Countered was a realm still far beyond his reach. This could be said to be his critical mistake for using such a grand magic.
[Critical Hit!]
A shield of bluish-white lightning that came from the three wings clashed against the rain of flames and resulted in a massive boom. It felt like the entire world was shaking due to the clash of enormous quantities of mana.
"No way. When did IlHan get so strong......?"
"His mana rose in general, but I feel like the resonance with Mir drew out the true power of dragons and both of them became stronger. But even so......."
[Amazing. I'm amazed that such an insane mana control can bring about such a change. Is the mana darling senses different to the mana I'm looking at......?]
Even the ones watching could not move due to shock. Just from the blast the barrier surrounding the two fortresses cracked. Mystic poured mana into the barrier to reinforce it and screamed.
[Master, you madmaaaaaaaaaan!]
However, Yu IlHan's Counter hadn't even begun yet. Counter referred to a technique that ruled the entirety of power that the opponent had used. This meant only one thing in this situation.
[The skies are......!]
"My word..."
The skies were colored in red. Streaks of blue lightning changed into red flames, and the ruling rights of this world was temporarily forcibly transferred to Yu IlHan from Heaven. The grand magic that utilized the power of the world was Countered in its entirety.
[The skill, Dimensional ruler, has become level 70. The time to adapt to a dimension decreases, and you can draw out and rule more of the mana in the world you have taken.]
[Kuuuuoooooooooooooh!]
"Kugh, huk, uuugh."
Yumir roared loudly. Yu IlHan also groaned due to the violent flow of mana that assaulted him but still had his side open and raised the spear in his hand.
"Echjar, cooperate! Help me out Eternal Flame."
[I comply with the Lord's orders.]
[Yes!]
Echjar, who had completely submitted to him both physically and mentally, as well as Eternal Flame that acted more friendly towards him than any other subordinate. The full support from the two souls had enhanced Yu IlHan and Yumir's mana control to the limits.
Yu IlHan applied God Force into his trembling arms and bit his lips. Although he didn't like spirituality that much, the only thing he had remaining now was his guts.
"Uooooooooooh!"
In the end, all the flames started to gather towards the tip of his spear.
[The skill, Dimensional Ruler, has become level 71.]
"Wao......."
"So beautiful. It's the first time I see such a beautiful flow of mana......."
"IlHan......!"
It was a spectacular scene where it seemed like the world itself bowed in respect for Yu IlHan. The blast of mana had all disappeared as well. Power submitted to him, and was all gathering towards one spot without a single particle remaining.
[Foolish, human......!]
"Hmph."
Lemiel uttered vicious words that sounded like they were from the depths of hell. Although he was aware of the energy of fire that gathered towards Yu IlHan's spear, there was no way for him to dodge it or block it. In his current state, defending against the rain of fire was all he could do.
[Kugh, dammit...... fuck, I lost to a mere human! Dammit, I'll remember this!]
In the end, he clenched his teeth and unfolded his wings. He instantly shook off the rain of fire, and activated another kind of magic even while undertaking some hits. It was a magic that allowed him to leap through dimensions!
[It's your victory. I'll take your head next time!]
"No you don't."
The moment he was about to lose the 7th class angel just like that, Yu IlHan's Dimensional ruler skill activated, preventing new forces from entering, but most importantly, it also prevented Lemiel from escaping.
Calling for reinforcements and aiming for another opportunity was only allowed to the protagonist! He couldn't allow a mere extra like him any more screen time!
[The skill, Dimensional Ruler, has become level 73.]
[You!? How can a mere mortal possess a fragment of the power to rule dimensions!]
Realizing that his escape attempt had failed before he begun, Lemiel shouted in panic. Yu IlHan's lips curved into a corner.
"Hey, you put down your guard."
[What!?]
If he only trusted in the Dimensional ruler skill, he wouldn't have even started this. The moment he showed the biggest opening Yu IlHan literally called out hell unto this world with the flames. This was the biggest Falling Down he had used yet!]
[Kugh!]
Just where was there to run? The entire world was his enemy! Chains made of flames and souls came from his surroundings and restrained him. They restrained each of the feathers and even bound his sole arm and neck.
Him being 7th class didn't matter at all right now. An odd-winged angel that wasn't even backed up by a higher world no longer had the power to overwhelm Yu IlHan.
[A lower existence! A mere lower existence! I will kill you, I WILL KILL YOU!]
The color of his eyes changed to a deep crimson. They were full of viciousness that didn't seem to originate from an angel.
The atmosphere changed. And the energy he emitted changed as well. The record skill sensed that and notified Yu IlHan.
[You, cannot, I...... I, the Lord has!]
"Who's this 'Lord' you're talking about?"
Asked Yu IlHan. He tempered the flames that gathered on his spear and created the sharpest blade, and told the angel as though he was a professor that knew the answer, asking his students a trivial question-
"Well, go ahead and answer."
[Fu, Ahahahahahahahah! So laughable, yes, laughable! Yes, I'll answer you!]
He also felt that and burst out laughing. The words that came out of his mouth next were words that Yu IlHan had anticipated already.
[The Great Traitor, the Final God! The one that will cover the Heavens and the one that rules Hell! Lord Satan!]
The moment he admitted that he followed the traitor, his white wings started to turn black. This was one of the rarest moments in history when an archangel corrupted himself on his own will.
[Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!]
All the mana he possessed reversed and went berserk. The chains that bound him broke momentarily, and the place where his wings were ripped off emitted black foggy energy and started being regenerated. Black blood scattered in the air to create numerous magic formations, while the flames and souls that made up the Falling Down domain burned upon contact with them!
[The skill, Record, has become level 88.]
"He really was a traitor!?"
"Although I did believe in Yu IlHan, to think such a thing was really happening...... Just what is happening within Heaven's Army?"
"Ah, isn't it bad when you have to acquire the records of an angel but he fell to a fallen angel~!?"
While Liera and Erta were serious, Na YuNa worried about something slightly different! However, Yu IlHan shook his head and denied her words.
"In fact, it's better. I could record the moment he changed to being a fallen angel, so now I can even inversely change the records of fallen angels into that of angels. You could say that it's a Buy One Get One Free item for multiple products."
"Wao!"
[Such a thing is possible!?]
That was Yu IlHan's simple analogy!
[I will kill youuuuuuuuuuuuu! With all my power as the 11th Wing of Brilliant Light!]
He gave up on receiving the support of the world and fell to being a fallen angel as compensation for recovering his body. The 11th Wing of Brilliant Light. His mana went berserk and pushed back the mana of Falling Down. The chains that tried to bind him were immediately colored in black and burst out. The reason he could use more powers than he could before was probably because he was under the awakening process. This would only be a temporary thing!
[He's trying to kill you even if it costs his life! Eeek, at this rate.......]
"No, it's over. That's his final struggle."
Everyone was trembling, but only Yu IlHan was quite calm. He poised with his completed flaming spear and aimed for the shoulder blades of the fallen angel that was slowly changing black.
[Kuaaaaaaaa! Yu IlHaaaaaaaaaaaan!]
"Here."
Yu IlHan threw his spear. With the master level Absolute Accuracy, the spear shot forward in a straight line and pierced its target without any delay. It was an effective strike that disallowed the black mana from interfering in time.
"I'll kill you now."
[Kahk!]
[Critical Hit!]
When the impaled Lemiel twisted his body, the black colored blood scattered in the air. And his very last remnants of mana were concentrated into them.
[I curse.......]
"Curse?"
[You to death!]
When the blood made a small circle, the black lightning that shot out from it flew straight towards Yu IlHan and struck him. A vicious curseful aura covered Yu IlHan. It even made him think that Lemiel allowed himself to fall on purpose, all for the sake of this attack.
[Ke, Khahahahahahaha! Come with me, to the infernal depths of hell! Kugh!]
And that was his last. His head drooped downwards with a bright smirk; he didn't have the slightest worry that Yu IlHan would not die from his curse.
[You have earned experience.]
[You have earned the records of Lv 548 Lemiel.]
[The skill, Record, has become level 89.]
[The skill, Dimensional ruler, has become level 77.]
Yu IlHan dusted off his armor. The black lightning that lingered on his armor after it struck his armor were all crumbled into bits by the flames after resisting against it in vain. He made a bitter smile.
"He was a truly good extra until the very end. He didn't throw any baits and left like a douchebag."
[To think he was insulted like that even after death, such a pitiful extra.]
"IlHan!"
"Yu IlHan!?"
Liera and Erta, who felt the power of the final curse, called out for Yu IlHan in shock. However, Yu IlHan's expression as he returned to them was too normal.
"Yes, it's all over now."
"......What about the curse?"
"I won against even Echjar's curse; there's no way I would get killed by such a half-assed curse."
"......."
Yu IlHan collected Lemiel's corpse without thinking much about it, and organized the world that was messed up due to the battle by sucking in some of the mana. His companions didn't know how to react to Yu IlHan, who treated the curse that took all the remaining life force from a 7th class as 'half-assed', and decided to not say anything at all.
"Anyway, it seems like things have gotten annoying."
Skimming through the records he had acquired from Lemiel, Yu IlHan scratched his head. He did think that Heaven's Army was not in a normal state anymore from the moment he found out that Lemiel was a traitor, but he didn't know it would be this bad. The more he comprehended Lemiel's records, the more he sighed about it.
"It seems like everything is happening according to my growth. Let me just catch whoever's behind this and I'll..."
[What is it, darling?]
"Well, it is a mess already but I feel like there would be even more of a mess in the future."
"More than it is now? Why?"
Liera asked her question. Yu IlHan made a bitter smile and shortly replied.
"It seems like God ran away from Heaven."
Chapter 289
"......Huh?"
Liera was taken aback. Yu IlHan shrugged his shoulders and repeated his words.
"I said it seems like God ran away from home."
"From where?"
"From Heaven."
"To where?"
"I don't know, since Ramiel didn't know anything either."
Liera seemed to be in thought for a moment. Erta looked like she saw this coming, and Helièna only made a faint smile.
"From when?"
And Liera asked. This was probably the most important question. Yu IlHan felt that what should have come had finally come and replied with a strange expression.
"A little before the Army of Brilliant Light formed."
"That's eons ago!"
Liera ended up screaming.
"That's before I was even born! And probably before humanity even appeared on Earth!"
"It looks like God is God after all, since he predicted what Heaven's Army will do all the way back then. No, perhaps it's a rigged match between those higher ups, but that's even more amazing."
"I didn't want to see you amazed by something like that! Uaaaaaa, I feel like I became an idiot, a huge idiot! *cries*."
"There, there. I know you must be feeling sad."
Liera ended up letting out streams of tears while in Yu IlHan's arms. Yu IlHan understood her well. Rather than just that, he could almost understand the defectors from the Heaven's Army.
"Fuu."
Erta looked at Liera with a jealous gaze but still sighed.
"Is it because of the absence of God that there were so many traitors within the Heaven's Army? Thinking about how the Army of Brilliant Light may have seized control of the central parts of the Heaven's Army is horrifying......."
[But it was definitely the Heaven's Army that asked the mage lady and darling to create a gate that connected to the main headquarters of the Army of Brilliant Light. If the Army of Brilliant Light had indeed seized the central parts of Heaven, they wouldn't have used such a self-destructive method like that.]
"Perhaps the Heaven's Army had long since split into two sides, just that us lower ranked angels never noticed it. If so, just what kind of foolish things were we doing until now......."
[Fufu.]
Erta's sighs deepened. However, Helièna's expression instead became brighter.
[Isn't it interesting? Thanks to the fact that the gate to the Netherworld opened that day, the Army of Brilliant Light received attack from all other factions. Heaven's Army would have gained some room to breathe....... If you look at it another way, Heaven's Army was saved thanks to darling.]
"...... That makes me feel uneasy."
That was as if Yu IlHan had been playing on top of God's palms all this time. And this was about a God that had deserted his place too! However, Helièna giggled and rejected his opinion.
[Don't you already know, darling? The ruler of the Heaven's Army is not omniscient nor omnipotent. If so, there would be no need for him to create an army and command the angels. And no traitors would have been possible, nor would there be a rise to any other factions. So don't worry about it too much. Perhaps someone may have prophesied your birth and growth, no one can know exactly what path you're walking. That is solely up to you. Right?]
"...... Yes. That should be the case."
Helièna's words were probably correct. Her firm words made Yu IlHan relieved. Really, Yu IlHan rather reluctantly appreciated her consoling him with the words that he really needed.
Yu IlHan became scared the more his emotions towards her changed for the better. Succubus Queen was great alright, achieving something against him that had the max level Unshakable Heart.
As if understanding what he was thinking, Liera asked him with a slightly worried gaze."
"...... So IlHan, what are you going to do from now on?"
"Well, I'll need to think about it."
Yu IlHan creased his forehead. However, from the moment he killed Ramiel and absorbed his records, what he had to do next was pretty much set in stone.
"I'll need to hold off attacking the Heaven's Army for a while. It seems like I need to solve this matter about the Army of Brilliant Light first."
Hearing Yu IlHan say he'll 'resolve' the matter concerning an entire faction, Liera ended up bursting into laughter.
"IlHan, you play big."
"From the point Heaven's Army and the Army of Brilliant Light are trying to use me as a tool, I find these two very spiteful, but at this rate, the Heaven's Army may be swallowed by the Army of Brilliant Light. And that, is not a good thing."
Yu IlHan's eyes sank deep. The hair that extended out from his helmet grew longer and emitted heat. His hair was now covered in fire, affected by his emotions. This was proof that he was slowly escaping the realm of physics.
"If I attack the Heaven's Army now, then I'll only be doing a favour for the fallen angels. Even though they're the most dangerous of the bunch......."
[Then are we going to focus on attacking the Army of Brilliant Light now?]
"No, to be exact, I need to weed out the traitors in the Heaven's Army first. The Army of Brilliant Light will come next."
[Darling, are you.......]
Helièna read the confidence in his words and asked him while narrowing her eyes.
[......able to discern the traitors of Heaven now? Before they become open about it?]
"That's it."
[...... So cool.]
Unlike Helièna who just exclaimed, Liera and Erta shouted out in shock.
"How? Just how!?"
"How is that possible!?"
"I think the leaders of each faction will be able to differentiate them, but that's none of my business, and anyway, since it's possible for me, I can only say that I can do it."
Replied Yu IlHan as he finished dealing with this world. Still on Yumir's back, the two synced their breathing as they arranged the mana of this world. The group thought that these two had changed from before and just quietly watched.
And in fact, he was indeed different from before.
'I feel like I can see ahead a little now.'
After the fight with Ramiel, he felt that there really wasn't long until he reached the realm of higher existences now. According to his predictions, he would be able to ascend into a higher existence that can command a faction once he mastered the Dimensional ruler skill and the Record skill.
"Though, nothing fits me worse than an 'organization'......."
"Don't you think you've come a little too far for that, son?"
"......Yes, I also think so."
He replied to his mother with a bitter smile, and scanned through his forces on the two fortresses. Then, he nodded his head in satisfaction and gave a glance to Kang MiRae.
"Miss MiRae. I have something to ask of you."
"Ah."
Having predicted what he was going to say, Kang MiRae made a fed up expression.
"You'll say you want to split teams again right! You're being too harsh!"
"I'm sorry. But both the Flying fortress and the Guardian fortress are unnecessary in tracking and killing traitors. So, Miss MiRae, please go around other higher worlds belonging to the Destruction Demon Army, the Garden of Sunset, and the Army of Brilliant Light. I'll send you the coordinates now. I'll give you a route so that you can progress continuously without any obstructions."
"You're being too harsh. You're the one who always does the dangerous things......"
Kang MiRae's eyes were filled with worry. Yu IlHan let go of Liera who was still in his arms, then arrived in front of Kang MiRae after sliding through the air.
"Please. I can't slack on this matter."
"Ugh."
He told her in a serious tone while grabbing her hand. Facing Yu IlHan's eyes that glowed in red due to thick mana, Kang MiRae could not say anything. How could she refuse? This man was really evil and sneaky!
"...... Okay. But I'll be angry if you get injured."
"You don't need to worry about me. I won't get hurt anymore."
"Really...... Kyaak."
Yu IlHan transmitted the records to her while replying playfully with his true heart. Transmitting records to others so naturally was also a part of the grown Record skill's power. Kang MiRae was surprised at the newly etched records in her mind, but still accepted all of them while clenching her teeth.
"......Fuu."
"Is it done?"
"Yes. My head aches a little but...... it's done now."
These records couldn't be received by just anyone. She could probably accept them since she already wielded dimensional magic. Of course, the God-ranked circlet on her head should have played a large role as well.
"Good, thank you."
Yu IlHan once again grabbed her hand before letting go and stepped back. He decided to pretend to not see Kang MiRae's disappointed expression, and spoke to Helièna that was staring at him.
"Helièna. Please protect them."
[...... Oh?]
Helièna reacted sensitively. Her eyes were smiling.
[You're leaving me? With these kids?]
"You can't do anything since you're bound to my Rule skill anyway."
[But weren't you unsettled until now?]
Hearing Helièna's sharp remark, Yu IlHan was silent for a moment before he revealed the true reason.
"...... I need someone to protect them just in case."
[Fufu.]
"Hmph."
He didn't like Helièna that much since she acted as if she knew everything about him. Her warm eyes didn't sit well with him either. He stuck out his tongue at her and turned around, but he was annoyed since she looked like she even found that joyful.
"Liera, Mir. Let's go."
"That's how it should be!"
[Got it, dad!]
Liera was one that he could trust his life with, and Yumir was his partner that should become the answer to his path to a higher existence. From now, these two were enough. Any more than this would only affect his concealment, but to Liera, the fact that she was chosen was the most important.
"Bleh. Bleeeeeeeeeh."
"I swear I'll..."
"In Lady Leytna's name, I hope she gets hemorrhoids."
"Grow up already. You're being embarrassing."
"Ouch."
Yu IlHan smacked Liera on the forehead as she was teasing the others, and hopped back onto Yumir's back again.
"Then see you later."
"Contact us frequently!"
"Got it, mom."
He lightly waved his hands towards the others and activated the Warp skill without any regrets. He traced the tracks of the traitors that were recorded in Ramiel's records.
[The skill, Warp, has become level 66.]
"Wirepa...... this is quite a big world, you know, IlHan?"
"So you know about it."
"Yeah. I also stayed here a lot. This world is also considerably important since it's gone through the 6th Great Cataclysm as well....... Don't tell me you?"
"Correct. There's a traitor here."
Yu IlHan created a flaming spear on his hand and threw it without hesitation. The spear that was flung so hard that it left his field of view, disappeared completely after leaving behind its achievement on Yu IlHan's retina.
[You have earned experience.]
[You have earned the record of Lv 366 Mita.]
"Good. One down."
Liera was shocked at his mutters.
"You killed him? Just with a simple throw?"
"What do you mean simple. It was my full power attack with Absolute Accuracy."
"I really can't accept this!"
Soon the other side of the world became noisy. That was probably not just because an angel had died, but also because that angel was a 'traitor'. Liera sweated cold sweat, but traitors were to be killed on sight even when she was an angel so she had less objections now when Yu IlHan killed angels.
"Are we going to the next world now?"
"No."
Yu IlHan cooly replied and threw his spear once again. It impaled and incinerated the heart of a traitor without fail, and Liera was frozen on the spot.
"...... There are that many traitors?"
"Just watch for a moment, Liera."
Replied Yu IlHan as he created three more spears.
"I'll show you that the Heaven's Army is in dire straits, much more so than you think."
The three spears thrown from his hand killed yet another three traitors. At that point, all the angels residing in Wirepa had realized that an unknown entity was punishing the traitors.
[Uh!?]
[Just, what is.......]
[My God.]
The traitors trembled, but they couldn't do anything since they knew that they would be attacked by angels as soon as they did something strange. Yu IlHan didn't miss a single one and killed all of them. Murky grey blood scattered in the sky.
[Traitors...... there are so many traitors.]
[Just who? Just who is enacting punishment!]
[Is it the four Great Archangels......?]
[Don't move from now on! Anyone that moves is a traitor!]
The many branching roots of the Army of Brilliant Light started being pulled out one by one.
Chapter 290
[If it's really one of the Archangels, there would be no need for them to hide, would they?]
[But even if they do not, do we need to stop them? The ones that are dying are only the traitors.]
[How are you so sure that the ones dying are only traitors? If they have a magic that alters records at the moment of death.......]
[That does not even make sense. If such a powerful being is our enemy, we cannot do anything about them either.]
[So we simply accept death like this?]
[If you are not a traitor, you need not fear death! I am not a traitor, and hence not afraid!]
A quarrel broke out between the traitors and the angels existing in the higher world. This was quite an interesting scene for Yu IlHan since he knew all the traitors.
"Why are there so many traitors......?"
"I want to believe that there are fewer traitors among the 6th class high angels, but I'm not so sure about that either."
Just as Yu IlHan replied to Liera's words of despair with just a shrug of his shoulders, one angel finally made a big move.
[So it will be all clear once I die. Look. I am not a traitor! If I die due to a surprise attack, the one that is doing the slaughter right now is an enemy of Heaven!]
White blood scattered in the air. That was proof that he was not a tainted angel! The other angels who watched him all started to harm themselves. White blood scattered here and there. This was worse than a third-rate comedy. Liera's expression brightened.
"That's good. The ones that show their blood should not be enemies......."
"Nah, they're all lying."
It was normal for traitor's blood to turn grey. However, if that was the case, wouldn't all traitors have been found already? For example, if one got injured during a mission or something. The Army of Brilliant Light and the traitors were no fools. They could all cast magic that disguised their records.
"How dare these guys to try and fool me."
[Look at me. I'm also not a...... Kugh!]
The head of a traitor that proudly showed off his white blood suddenly exploded, and grey blood scattered. Causing all the angels in that world to freeze.
[Are the angels...... really being targeted? And their records mutate the moment they die?]
[That doesn't even make sense, but just now.......]
Suspicious spread among the angels. Well, the non-traitors would never imagine that they were using magic that hid their records, so it was no wonder that they panicked. However, Liera's expression wasn't so good to look at.
"IlHan, at this rate......."
"Yeah. I know so don't worry about it."
Yu IlHan made a smile and created a total of eight spears this time – four in each hand – and threw them using the Absolute Accuracy skill. The heads of eight traitors all burst at once. Of course, these were also those that proved their innocence by cutting their wrists.
[R, retreat! This is the scheme of the Army of Brilliant Light that is trying to attack us of the Heaven's Army!]
[Report, has a report been made to the Archangel!?]
[Find the enemy. We need to find and take him down!]
The atmosphere changed into one advantageous for the traitors. This was what the traitors intended for, and also what Liera was worried about. However, Yu IlHan still had the same smile.
"Let's see you try."
He activated one skill. Immediately after that, the invisible connection that connected between worlds were snapped. The angels also realized that, albeit a little late.
[.......Uh!?]
[I cannot leave. The world is closed!]
[The skill, Dimensional ruler, has become level 78.]
[How can this be! Did a transcender really descend upon this world!]
[Foolish, there are no transcenders other than God! We cannot accept this!]
The angels all fell into a panic. Of course, the traitors were in a worse state, and Yu IlHan raised his kill count as he killed them one by one. Liera was flabbergasted at the scene.
"My god...... IlHan, you. How can you kill so many in such a short time.......?"
"Please stand on guard with your spear Liera. I can't prevent the entrance of a 7th class yet."
[I don't think there's any yet, dad!]
The more the Dimensional Ruler skill and his Record skill grew, the more he could do in the world he was visiting, while the time required to use his skill decreased. Now that Yu IlHan had killed many traitors in this higher world, Wirepa, he could now prevent 6th class angels from leaving or exiting through their power.
[The skill, Dimensional ruler, has become level 79.]
"Hm, practice makes perfect alright."
[Khaaaaaaaaaaak!]
[I, I am! NOT A TRAI....... Kugh!]
The ones that cried out in innocence all started dying. Their corpses were all stored into Yu IlHan's inventory. The angels could no longer do anything. They could neither run away, nor find Yu IlHan to fight him, nor could they report to their higher ups, nor could they pick out the traitors by themselves! Absolutely nothing!
[Th, then are we all going to die like this?]
[If, if that's the case.]
[I'd rather!]
Some of the angels started to show bad vibes, and they gave up and started to gather to one place. Of course, the angels watching immediately realized what this implied.
[Don't tell me you guys really are!]
[However, I now know the truth. I no longer have a reason to be loyal to Heaven!]
[We should have moved faster...... I will give up on being an angel now!]
[Oh Great Lord of Black Wings. Please color our wings with truth! Kugh!]
"Don't you dare."
Just as the traitors tried to show their real forms and tried to become a fallen angel, Yu IlHan's overlaid five trajectories of the Great Cosmos-severing Spear which he stacked using the Spear of Untraceable Trajectory and swiped across the place to bisect all the traitors at once.
[The skill, Great Cosmos-severing Spear, has become level 93.]
There was no way he would allow words to be wasted on 5th class mob angels falling to a fallen angel! This was Yu IlHan's faith.
[The traitors were all.......]
[This overwhelming power must belong to a 7th class. I'm sure of it!]
[But with this, the traitors, kugh.]
However, a few more traitors that were mixed around with the angels all spurted out thick grey blood from their necks and fell down. These guys were bad guys that tried to stay with the angels while others were revealing themselves to be traitors, so he killed them more painfully with two spears.
[Critical Hit!]
[Khak, how......!]
[I, cannot die, here.......]
"If you want to fool me, dye your wings red next time, not black!"
"I don't even get this joke, IlHan!"
The moment Yu IlHan stopped throwing his spears was the moment all traitors had died. 40% of the residing angels in the higher world Wirepa, had died, and the surviving ones also had to shiver in fear.
However, when there were no longer any spears, they could regain their calm.
[It has stopped. That was a horrifying assault.......]
[Are the ones that died really traitors? What if non-traitors were mixed among them? ...... Oooh, how horrifying is this?]
[A spear of fire. Perhaps it was his doing?]
[Don't tell me...... Lord Michael?]
The angels erased the blood of traitors that were scattered around the world with their magic and exchanged conversations with trembling voices. Hearing them, Yu IlHan tilted his head and asked Liera.
"Is this Michael the same Michael I know of?"
"Yeah. The Archangel of fire, and the representative of God, he's the official 2nd-in-command of the Heaven's Army. He is in a completely different league with the other Archangels of 7th class, and can even fight against the ruler of the Army of Brilliant Light. So we can say that he's almost 8th class."
Fighting an 8th class with a 7th class body. Although to Yu IlHan, who could fight 7th classes while being a 4th class, he thought 'so what?', considering that 8th class was near divinity, it wasn't quite like that either. Liera was worried that Yu IlHan may be thinking of something outrageous and grabbed his hand to speak.
"Even IlHan, you won't be able to win against him now. So if you see him, you have to run immediately. Okay? Even if you are the creator of miracles, impossible things are impossible for now. Just not yet. Okay?"
"Don't worry about that, Liera."
Yu IlHan may find him first, but there was no way the other would find him. Yu IlHan grabbed Liera's hand back and stroked Yumir's back with the other.
"Thanks for being on the watch, Mir. Let's go to the next world now."
[Yeah!]
The more traitors Yu IlHan slays, the more information he would acquire about the worlds where traitors resided in. As long as the Record skill and the Warp skill were with him, the traitors scheming inside the Heaven's Army had no path of running away. Right now, Yu IlHan was like a spider dancing on a path of threads.
[The skill, Warp, has become level 69.]
"Oh, there aren't that many here."
"Really?"
"Yeah, there's only 138 out of 397 angels."
"......."
[You have earned experience.]
[You have.......]
[Khaaaaaaak!]
[L, Lord Satan!]
[Satan!? You, you are a traitor?!]
"You're one too!"
[You have earned experience.]
Time passed, and it passed mercilessly. Yu IlHan wiped out traitors in over twenty higher worlds under the jurisdiction of the Heaven's Army.
Of course, over 80% of the traitors were 5th class, but quite a considerable number of them were 6th class as well. Yu IlHan still lacked enough power to kill them with a single spear throw, so he sometimes had no choice but to show himself and fight.
[You, were a lower existence?]
"So what? Falling Down!"
[The skill, Falling Down, has become level 68.]
[My god. These flames are!]
"If you are done being shocked then come at me!"
[Kuoooooooooh!]
Clad in the Flamesoul Dragon Body, Yu IlHan's figure that fought on Yumir's back was completely like that of a dragon knight, and nobody thought of the human Yu IlHan of before while facing him. Of course, some realized after seeing Liera behind him, but nothing would change either way.
More time had passed. This was around the 68th world the three were visiting, and this time, the world was vaster than any higher world they had been to until now, and its name, was 'Feira'.
[The skill, Warp, has become level 84.]
Liera shouted in shock after realizing which world she was in.
"Feira......! This is a world that's just before its 7th Great Cataclysm! IlHan, this, this, this place is!"
"Yes, this place is a huge jackpot. There are over a thousand traitors here! Wow, there's even a 7th class one too!"
"Are you going to fight? Are you reall- Kyaaaaaak!"
[You have earned experience.]
[You have earned experience.]
[You have.......]
[Just what is!?]
[Mm!?]
At that time, something big happened. Just as Yu IlHan was slaughtering the traitors in order to provoke the 7th class traitor, another 7th class Archangel had suddenly entered the world.
[...... Is this place in the same chaos?]
[L, Lord Raphael!?]
One of the four Great Archangels of the Heaven's Army – Raphael of Healing – he had finally encountered this angel.