Chapter 25 – The Fallen Seraph
The sanctuary shook violently.
Massive cracks raced across the marble floor as crimson energy erupted from the abyss beneath the temple.
The colossal Fallen Seraph slowly spread its six broken wings.
Each movement sent shockwaves through the sanctuary.
The golden chains wrapped around its body shattered one after another.
CRACK!
CRACK!
CRACK!
The last chain snapped.
The creature raised its head.
Six crimson eyes slowly opened.
Its gaze settled upon Azrael and Seraphina.
"...At last."
"I have found you."
The System immediately responded.
Dungeon Boss
Astaroth
Race: Fallen Seraph
Rank: Legendary Boss
Level: 35
Status:
Seal Released
Danger Level:
★★★★★
Marcus swallowed.
"...Legendary?"
"I don’t think we’re supposed to fight that."
Ryan nodded frantically.
"I completely agree."
Astaroth ignored everyone else.
Its attention remained fixed on the twins.
"You carry their blood."
Its voice echoed through the sanctuary like rolling thunder.
"You even resemble them."
Azrael frowned.
"Our parents?"
The Fallen Seraph smiled.
"I served beneath your fa—"
Before the sentence could finish...
Reality distorted.
Golden runes spread across the sanctuary.
The System activated.
Origin Law Activated
Protected Information Detected.
Universal Concealment Executing.
Marcus frowned.
"...Did anyone else hear static?"
Sophia rubbed her ears.
"I couldn’t hear anything."
Elena narrowed her eyes.
"It felt like someone interrupted him."
Only Azrael and Seraphina had heard the first few words before the Origin Law forcibly erased the rest.
Even Astaroth looked surprised.
"...The Origin Laws still function?"
"So even I cannot reveal everything."
He laughed bitterly.
"Your parents truly thought of everything."
Azrael tightened his grip on his sword.
"Who are they?"
Astaroth slowly shook his head.
"I cannot answer."
"Not because I refuse..."
"But because the Law itself denies me."
Golden symbols wrapped around his throat.
The moment he attempted to speak further—
The symbols glowed brightly.
His voice disappeared.
"..."
He couldn’t even make a sound.
A few seconds later...
The symbols faded.
His voice returned.
"...Remarkable."
"The Origin Law has become even stronger."
Lyra stepped beside the twins.
"It is impossible."
"Even gods cannot violate an Origin Law."
"The only way to learn the truth..."
"...is to become worthy of it."
The twins nodded silently.
For now...
They would have to grow stronger.
Astaroth suddenly sighed.
"Very well."
"If I cannot tell you..."
"...I’ll simply test whether you deserve to know."
He spread all six crimson wings.
An overwhelming aura exploded throughout the sanctuary.
The marble floor collapsed beneath everyone’s feet.
Several guild members struggled to remain standing.
Ryan dropped to one knee.
"I..."
"I can’t breathe..."
Marcus gritted his teeth.
"My body..."
"...won’t move."
Even Elena was forced backward several steps.
"So this..."
"...is a Level Thirty-Five monster."
The System immediately reacted.
Status Effect
Seraphic Suppression
All targets below Level 20:
Movement Speed -60%
Attack Power -40%
Fear Resistance Test Initiated.
Guild members began trembling uncontrollably.
Some had never faced such overwhelming pressure.
Then...
A warm light spread throughout the sanctuary.
Seraphina’s halo shone brilliantly.
"Genesis Bloom."
Golden flowers blossomed beneath everyone’s feet.
The oppressive pressure weakened.
Status Cleansed
Fear Resistance Increased.
Ryan took a deep breath.
"I can move again."
Marcus laughed.
"Our healer is broken."
Seraphina smiled.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Astaroth watched quietly.
"...Genesis."
"So gentle."
"So familiar."
His expression became strangely nostalgic.
Without warning—
He disappeared.
"Where did he—"
BOOM!
Azrael barely raised his sword in time.
Astaroth’s fist crashed into the black blade.
The impact launched Azrael through three stone pillars.
Dust filled the sanctuary.
"Aza!"
Seraphina cried out.
Before she could reach him—
Astaroth was already standing before her.
He looked directly into her eyes.
"...You fight exactly like your mother."
Those words reached only the twins.
To everyone else...
They heard something entirely different.
Marcus blinked.
"What did he say?"
Elena frowned.
"I heard..."
"’You fight well.’"
Ryan scratched his head.
"I thought he complimented her magic."
Each person heard a different sentence.
The Origin Law had once again concealed the truth.
Astaroth looked amused.
"The Law still protects you."
"Interesting."
Seraphina raised her staff.
"I don’t care who you knew."
"If you’re threatening my brother..."
"...I’ll stop you."
Golden vines erupted from the floor.
They wrapped around Astaroth’s legs.
For a brief moment...
The giant actually stopped moving.
Elena seized the opportunity.
"Thunder Flash!"
Blue lightning exploded across Astaroth’s chest.
The attack left a shallow cut.
The wound immediately began healing.
Azrael emerged from the rubble.
Wiping blood from his mouth.
"Physical attacks aren’t enough."
Lyra nodded.
"He’s sustained by Abyssal Corruption."
"You must purify it."
Azrael remembered Raphael’s lesson.
Oblivion does not destroy life.
It destroys corruption.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Dark energy gathered around his sword.
Unlike before...
The darkness remained perfectly stable.
No violent explosions.
No uncontrollable aura.
Only silence.
The System reacted.
Skill Evolution
Oblivion Severance
↓
Oblivion Judgment
Rank:
Epic
Effect:
Greatly increases damage against corrupted enemies.
Ignores regeneration.
Azrael opened his eyes.
The darkness surrounding him had changed.
It no longer felt sinister.
It felt...
Absolute.
Even Astaroth’s smile disappeared.
"...Impossible."
"You’ve already begun understanding it."
Azrael vanished.
For a split second...
Even Astaroth lost sight of him.
Then—
A single black line appeared across the Fallen Seraph’s chest.
Silence.
The wound didn’t bleed.
Instead...
Crimson corruption poured out like black smoke.
Astaroth staggered backward.
For the first time...
He had been injured.
His regeneration failed completely.
He looked down in disbelief.
"My corruption..."
"...was erased."
The System announced to the entire expedition.
First Successful Purification
Abyssal Corruption Removed.
Bonus Rewards Granted.
Golden light descended upon every guild member.
They all gained experience.
Marcus burst into laughter.
"We level up even when Azrael does the work!"
Elena rolled her eyes.
"Don’t get used to it."
Astaroth slowly looked back at Azrael.
Then...
To everyone’s surprise...
He smiled.
Not with hatred.
But with pride.
"Excellent."
"Perhaps..."
"...there is still hope."
Azrael frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Astaroth ignored the question.
Instead, he slowly raised one hand toward the ceiling.
The sanctuary began trembling once more.
Ancient runes covering the walls lit up.
The giant doors behind the boss slowly started opening.
Beyond them...
Lay another chamber.
At its center floated an enormous crystal wrapped in chains of light.
Inside the crystal...
A magnificent silver sword rested peacefully.
Its blade seemed to contain an entire galaxy.
Lyra’s expression immediately changed.
"No..."
"The Vault of Legacies..."
"It awakened."
Astaroth lowered his hand.
"The true trial..."
"...begins now."
The System echoed through the sanctuary.
Hidden Dungeon Route Unlocked
Vault of Legacies
Requirement Achieved:
Purify the Fallen Seraph.
Special Reward Available.
At the same time, far beyond the First Heaven, inside a realm where even Archangels feared to tread, an ancient being slowly opened its eyes.
It looked toward the countless universes before settling on one insignificant blue planet.
A faint smile appeared on its face.
"So..."
"The first Aetherion has finally begun to awaken."
Across the endless cosmos, bells that had remained silent since the First Origin War rang once.
The sound traveled through Heaven...
Through the Abyss...
Through forgotten worlds...
Announcing that a race believed to be extinct had taken its first step toward returning to existence.