Chapter 19 – The City Hall Trial
Morning arrived with an unusual calm.
Sunlight filtered through the shattered windows of Elysia City Hall, illuminating the temporary headquarters of Dawn Guild.
The building was alive with activity.
Some members were preparing breakfast.
Others were training with newly acquired weapons.
A few engineers had already begun reinforcing the entrances using overturned vehicles and metal barricades.
Only one day had passed since the guild was established.
Yet everyone seemed to have found a purpose.
Azrael stood on the rooftop overlooking the city.
"So many monsters..."
He could see them wandering through the streets in every direction.
Earth still belonged to the Abyss.
They had merely reclaimed one building.
Seraphina stepped onto the rooftop carrying two cups of coffee.
"You’ve been up since sunrise."
"I couldn’t sleep."
She handed him a cup.
"You’ve been thinking again."
He smiled.
"You know me too well."
"You are my brother."
They stood side by side, quietly watching the city awaken.
For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then—
Ding!
The System appeared before every member of Dawn simultaneously.
Guild Announcement
Congratulations on establishing your first Guild Headquarters.
The Headquarters Recognition Trial will begin in 10 Minutes.
Failure will result in the destruction of your Guild Core.
Success will permanently claim this territory.
The entire building fell silent.
Marcus nearly dropped his breakfast.
"A trial?"
Elena immediately opened the Guild interface.
"So that’s why the headquarters felt incomplete."
Seraphina frowned.
"What happens if we fail?"
The System answered.
Failure Penalty
Guild Headquarters Destroyed.
Guild Founder Rewards Revoked.
Guild Members Lose 10% Experience.
Marcus whistled.
"They really don’t go easy on us."
Azrael looked around the building.
"Then we’ll pass."
Guild Hall – Strategy Meeting
All twenty-four guild members gathered inside the council chamber.
A holographic map of City Hall floated above the table.
Four red arrows appeared around the building.
Elena pointed at them.
"Looks like they’ll attack from all directions."
Marcus cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
"I’ve been wanting another fight."
Sophia rolled her eyes.
"That’s because you’re crazy."
A few people laughed.
The tension eased slightly.
Azrael stepped forward.
"Listen."
"We don’t need to defeat every monster."
"We only need to protect the Guild Core."
Everyone looked toward the center of the room.
A crystal pillar about two meters tall had appeared overnight.
Golden energy pulsed inside it.
Guild Core
Current Durability:
100%
Azrael continued.
"Marcus."
"You’ll lead the western defense."
Marcus nodded.
"Leave it to me."
"Sophia and Ryan."
"You two take the eastern entrance."
"Understood."
"Claire."
"Coordinate the civilians."
"Already on it."
Azrael turned toward Elena.
"You and I will handle whichever side is under the most pressure."
She smiled confidently.
"Sounds fun."
Finally...
He looked at Seraphina.
She already knew what he was going to say.
"You’ll stay near the Guild Core."
She sighed.
"I knew it."
"You’ll be the backbone of our defense."
"I know."
She smiled.
"And I won’t let anyone touch it."
Trial Begins
The ten-minute countdown reached zero.
The sky darkened.
A crimson portal opened above each side of City Hall.
The ground trembled violently.
Guild Trial
Wave One
Enemies:
300 Abyssal Spawn
Begin.
The portals exploded open.
Hundreds of monsters poured into the streets.
Unlike the creatures they had fought before...
These moved with discipline.
Almost like soldiers.
Marcus swung his hammer.
"For Dawn!"
The guild members charged.
The battle erupted instantly.
Western Gate
Marcus smashed three Spawn aside with one swing.
Ryan launched arrows from the rooftop.
Sophia’s twin daggers flashed like silver lightning.
The monsters fell one after another.
Yet...
More kept coming.
"There are too many!"
Sophia shouted.
Marcus laughed.
"That’s what makes it exciting!"
Southern Gate
Elena dashed through the streets.
Blue lightning surrounded her katana.
Every slash cut down multiple enemies.
Her movements had become noticeably faster after reaching Level 6.
She smiled.
"I’m starting to enjoy this."
Azrael appeared beside her using Shadow Step.
His black sword carved through a charging monster.
Dark energy consumed the creature instantly.
Oblivion Severance Mastery
0%
→ 3%
"So skills level up too."
Azrael grinned.
"Even better."
The twins had been right.
The Celestial Evolution System wasn’t just about gaining levels.
Every ability could evolve through repeated use.
Guild Hall
Seraphina stood before the Guild Core.
Golden flowers bloomed around the crystal.
She gently placed her hand on it.
The System responded.
Genesis Authority Detected
Would you like to synchronize with the Guild Core?
"Yes."
Golden light flowed from her hands into the crystal.
The Guild Core expanded.
Roots of pure light spread beneath the entire building.
Every injured guild member suddenly felt warm energy enter their bodies.
Guild Buff Enhanced
Healing Increased.
Defense Increased.
Mana Recovery Increased.
Claire stared in amazement.
"The entire headquarters..."
"...is healing us."
Seraphina smiled.
"If this is our home..."
"...I’ll protect every corner of it."
Wave One Complete
The last Spawn collapsed.
Cheers echoed throughout City Hall.
Marcus laughed loudly.
"That was easy!"
The System answered immediately.
Wave One Cleared.
Preparing Wave Two.
The smiles disappeared.
A second portal opened.
This one...
Was much larger.
Wave Two
Enemies:
120 Elite Crimson Legionnaires
5 Crimson Captains
Marcus gulped.
"...I spoke too soon."
The first Captain emerged.
Unlike ordinary Legionnaires, it wore black armor instead of crimson.
Its sword burned with dark flames.
Then another emerged.
And another.
Five Captains slowly walked toward City Hall.
The pressure they released was enough to make weaker guild members tremble.
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"They’re all stronger than the Devourer’s guards."
Azrael nodded.
"We’ll split them up."
Just then—
A blinding pillar of golden light descended into the center of the battlefield.
Everyone froze.
Standing within the light...
Was the silver-haired angel they had seen before.
Raphael.
His six white wings folded neatly behind him as he looked at the approaching Captains.
He sighed.
"I suppose..."
"...a little guidance won’t violate the Laws."
Azrael’s eyes widened.
"Raphael?"
The Archangel smiled.
"Do not misunderstand."
"I cannot fight your battles."
He raised one finger.
A tiny sphere of light floated toward Azrael.
"This..."
"...is merely a lesson."
The sphere entered Azrael’s forehead.
Instantly, countless images flashed through his mind.
He saw angels fighting demons.
Worlds colliding.
Universes collapsing.
And one lesson repeated over and over.
Power without control is meaningless.
The vision vanished.
Raphael smiled faintly.
"Your Authority is not simply meant to destroy."
"It is meant to erase corruption while preserving balance."
He looked at Seraphina.
"And Genesis is not merely the power to create."
"It is the power to nurture life until it surpasses itself."
His body began fading.
"The rest..."
"...you must discover on your own."
Before disappearing completely, Raphael looked toward the heavens.
His expression grew serious.
"They’re coming sooner than expected."
The light vanished.
Silence followed.
Azrael slowly tightened his grip on his sword.
He could still feel the knowledge Raphael had shared.
For the first time...
He wasn’t just using Oblivion.
He was beginning to understand it.
Across the battlefield, the five Crimson Captains simultaneously raised their swords.
The System issued another warning.
Emergency Notice
The Guild Trial has mutated.
A hidden commander has entered the battlefield.
Threat Level Increased.
High above the clouds, unseen by everyone below, a colossal crimson portal slowly began to tear open the sky.
Something on the other side...
Was trying to force its way into Earth.
The real battle for Dawn Guild had only just begun.