Volume 2 — Chapter 22
The Breaking Point
The sky burned with war.
Lightning, divine flames, demonic shadows, and radiant beams clashed violently across the sealed battlefield. The barrier created by the gods glowed like a massive dome around the entire war zone, trapping every warrior and every explosion within it.
At the center of that destruction—
Seraphine fought alone.
Her wings of sharpened light spread wide behind her like a storm of blades. Hundreds of radiant feathers floated in the air, each one humming with lethal energy.
Before her stood eight beings who could command armies.
Gods.
Devils.
Each one powerful enough to destroy cities.
And yet—
They were struggling.
A massive explosion ripped through the battlefield.
BOOM!
One of the devils crashed into the ground, sliding across the broken earth after being struck by the Abyssal Devourer.
His armor cracked from the impact.
Black flames erupted around him as he forced himself back to his feet.
"…What kind of monster is she?" he muttered.
Across the battlefield, Seraphine hovered in the air.
Her breathing had grown heavier.
Blood ran slowly down her arm where one of the gods had managed to strike her earlier.
But her eyes remained cold.
Focused.
The Abyssal Devourer pulsed in her hand.
Dark energy and radiant energy twisted around the blade like two opposing storms.
The weapon was adapting.
Learning.
Even Nexus seemed surprised.
[Energy compatibility increasing.]
[Temporary wielder synchronization: 37%]
Seraphine didn't care.
She looked at the eight enemies surrounding her.
"…Still standing."
One of the gods narrowed his eyes.
"Arrogant."
He raised his hand.
A massive sphere of golden lightning formed above him.
At the same time two devils moved from the sides, their bodies wrapped in demonic flames.
They attacked together.
The lightning sphere crashed down from above.
The devils struck from both sides.
Seraphine moved instantly.
Her wings exploded outward.
Hundreds of feathers launched into the sky, intercepting the lightning sphere.
The impact created a blinding explosion.
BOOM!
The sky flashed white.
At the same moment—
Seraphine twisted her body midair.
The Abyssal Devourer swung in a perfect arc.
CLANG!
One devil's claw strike was blocked.
The second devil managed to strike her shoulder.
Blood splashed through the air.
But Seraphine didn't retreat.
Instead—
She stepped forward.
Her eyes burned with rage.
The blade moved again.
SHRRRK!
Dark energy erupted from the weapon as it tore through the second devil's chest.
His eyes widened in shock.
The weapon didn't just cut him.
It devoured the energy surrounding him.
Black cracks spread across his body.
Then—
He collapsed.
Dead.
The battlefield froze for a moment.
One of the gods spoke quietly.
"…She killed him."
The remaining devil growled.
"You're next."
He rushed forward with terrifying speed.
But the leader of the gods suddenly raised his hand.
"Stop."
The devil halted.
The leader looked down at Seraphine carefully.
"…You are strong."
His voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Stronger than we expected."
Seraphine said nothing.
The god continued.
"But you cannot win."
He slowly lifted his hand.
The sky above the battlefield split apart.
Massive pillars of divine light began forming above the barrier.
Seraphine looked upward.
Her expression darkened.
"…An execution spell."
The god nodded calmly.
"This battlefield will be erased."
"Along with you."
The pillars began descending slowly.
Their energy was terrifying.
Even the devils looked slightly uncomfortable near them.
Seraphine tightened her grip on the weapon.
Her wings expanded again.
Energy surged through her body violently.
But her movements had slowed slightly.
The battle had taken its toll.
Her wounds were accumulating.
And the enemies still outnumbered her.
The leader of the gods spoke one last time.
"You fought well."
"But this ends now."
The pillars of divine light began falling.
Seraphine prepared to move.
Even if it meant dying—
She would fight until the end.
But suddenly—
Something strange happened.
A dark ripple moved across the battlefield.
At first it was faint.
Almost unnoticeable.
But then—
The ground beneath the battlefield trembled.
Seraphine's eyes widened slightly.
She felt it.
Void energy.
The gods felt it too.
One of them frowned.
"…What is that?"
Another devil turned toward the center of the battlefield.
"…Wait."
Their eyes moved toward the same direction.
Toward the place where Icarus's body still lay.
The cracked ground around him had begun turning black.
Void energy was leaking outward like dark mist.
Slowly.
Steadily.
The leader of the gods narrowed his eyes.
"…Impossible."
The divine pillars continued falling toward the battlefield.
But something beneath them was changing.
Seraphine slowly turned her head.
Her gaze locked onto the place where Icarus had fallen.
For the first time since the battle began—
Hope appeared in her eyes.
Because the darkness surrounding Icarus was growing stronger.
And from within that darkness—
Something was waking up.