Although the fox hadn’t freeloaded on the Lords’ efforts, she would have never reached so far without them. Basically offering her powerful illusions onto a platter and later assisting her in defeating the Guardian.

Now she stood at the pinnacle of the outer district of the Light Kingdom.

She was at full strength while the Lords were clearly exhausted.

Did she see them as potential threats that could hinder her later?

Would she strike while they were weak?

Such questions resonated in the minds of the Lords, as they dropped into battle stances.

"Stay behind me, Master." Angel declared, standing before Michael, fully intent on protecting him.

However, the fox did not strike.

Her back arched, raising her head high in superiority. She snorted and bolted toward the locked gates.

Letting out a fearsome howl, her will imposed itself on the structure, and a second later, the entrance opened wide for anyone to pass.

Whether out of gratitude or lack of interest, the fox did not seem willing to eliminate the Lords just yet. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

In a flash, she passed to the other side, leaving the Lords on their own.

Heaving sighs of relief, they relaxed. The battle had pushed them to the brink and had even caused casualties.

Considering that Theodore had been a Supreme Lord, his loss was going to impact humanity severely.

While the majority took a moment to catch their breath, Nicole raced toward Michael.

She herself was not sure why she felt so concerned about his condition, yet the uneasy feeling in her soul refused to settle until she confirmed that he was alive and well with her own two eyes.

"Michael—"

Her voice halted mid-sentence upon noticing an unfamiliar silhouette.

Due to the chaos of the battle, this was the first time Nicole took a proper glimpse at Angel.

Unfamiliar with the physical form of the soul weapon, Nicole was rightfully alarmed, even more so given how close Angel stood to Michael.

Could she be an illusion perchance?

Noticing the slight frown Nicole carried, Michael put two and two together.

"This is Heaven’s Judgment... or rather, she was. Now she is Angel." He explained, still yet to fully grasp the change himself.

Baffled, Nicole blinked slowly, staring at the deity in awe.

Devil was one thing, but for Michael’s second soul weapon to also evolve into a physical form was outstanding.

While Nicole was still dazed, Angel slowly approached.

"Thank you." She bowed, further stunning Nicole. "If it weren’t for you, Master wouldn’t have reverted from his Demonic Form."

Angel had been meaning to express her gratitude for a while. Now that she had been bestowed the chance, she wasn’t going to turn it down.

"..."

Nicole smiled faintly. While Devil was arrogant and pretentious, Angel was the complete polar opposite, much more reminiscent of how Michael tended to act.

"Don’t act like you didn’t save him either." Nicole giggled. After all, Angel had saved her dear Master as well.

Glad that the two were getting along nicely, Michael glanced toward the plasma sea.

"So... this must be the Titan’s blood." He murmured.

Devil’s evolution to the Mythic Rank had been triggered by being submerged in Titan’s blood. It was only right to assume that the plasma sea carried similar qualities.

It was only a hypothesis on his behalf, but Michael was inclined to guess that sooner or later a new Guardian would be born from the depths of the plasma sea, aiming to test any illusion in the future that would want to pass the gates after they locked once more.

A proof of how dangerous MSAP-8 was in particular. Should the light-born creatures ever find their way to Earth, the majority of the human population would surely fall, unable to retaliate.

"Better make haste."

Although his team were tasked with merely slowing one of the Iskra Titans while those above them dealt with the rest, he did not feel comfortable leaving everything in their hands.

Turning back, his gaze landed on Theodore’s mutilated body. With the death of the Supreme Lord, the position of the Heavenly Pact was sure to be shaken in the near future.

Claire and Bryce, being ex-members of the faction, would not take the news well. Michael would have to be tactful when breaking it to them.

Fortunately, the other Lords were battered but alive. Any more losses would only hinder their ability to stand against MSAP-8 when the time came.

Not willing to linger any longer, the Lords headed toward the open gates, lest they close right in front of their noses.

Persephone seemed subtly relieved that Michael was alive and well, but noticing Angel that close to him, she chose to pursue him at a later date.

In actuality, the atmosphere had grown silent, with the realization that they were not at the top of the food chain weighing on the Lords’ minds.

Only two distinct voices boomed across the valley, speaking rather loudly.

"Well, well, well. I’ll be damned! The hopeless romantic finally got a proper physical form!" Devil remarked with a devilish laugh. "Quite a beauty on top of that!... Sadly, you are quite tall for my taste, honey. You don’t strike my fancy."

Angel’s graceful appearance remained undeterred as she shot Devil a cold glare.

"A foul mouth you have, disgraceful fiend. Could it be, perhaps, that you feel threatened by my presence? Fear that Michael would abandon you in favor of me?"

Her lips curved into a daring smirk. "What happened to your confident nature? Was it a facade, just like everybody suspected?"

Devil clicked his tongue, not used to the once mere shotgun speaking to him on equal terms.

"Ranked up once and let it get to your head, eh?" Devil scoffed. "Quite the Angel you are. Oh... be well to remember I am still one Rank beyond you and possess qualities you lack. Fitting, don’t you think? Any kind of romance is still far from your grasp."

Angel tilted her head to the side in amusement.

"Oh? Do you make the mistake of judging me by your evolving metrics?" She let out a laugh.

"I assure you that I naturally possess perfectly functioning reproductive organs from the very beginning, without needing to endlessly pester my Master for my own selfish indulgences. The universe works in strange ways, but in this instance, it appears quite fair, if you ask me..."

She paused briefly, letting the silence settle between them.

"So, respectfully... Mind. Your. Business."

Rightfully, Devil was utterly outraged.

"What?!" He roared. "I went through all that trouble to become Supreme to attain shapeshifting and have yet to find the time to form a proper lower limb, while from the very beginning this pretentious bitch gets to have a—"

Devil and Angel were soul weapons and, by extension, a part of Michael. He had been trying not to play favorites... However, it was more than clear who had initiated the argument.

Enacting justice, Michael shrunk Devil to his mascot form and settled him on his shoulder, cutting off his vulgar rampage.

"Not again! You have got to be kidding me!" Devil cursed, his voice too high-pitched to be taken seriously.

Angel hid her smile with a hand, still slightly insecure about her own appearance.

She was content with finally getting the last word over Devil, and that was enough for her.

Noticing her uncertainty, Michael gently grasped her hand and lowered it.

"You are beautiful. Don’t ever feel ashamed of your own appearance." Although his words sounded like an order, his reassuring tone was anything but.

The compliment took Angel by surprise. Unwilling to let Michael see her flustered expression, she acted on instinct.

"Actually, this isn’t the only form I have gained..."

Her body dispersed into particles, which gathered around Michael’s body, hardening a moment later.

[Angel]

[Armor Form]

[Rank: Mythic]

• Defense: 5,000