Chapter 20 – Wings of Dawn
The crimson portal hanging high above Elysia pulsed like a beating heart.
A pressure unlike anything the guild had ever experienced descended upon the battlefield.
Every monster below suddenly stopped moving.
Even the five Crimson Captains lowered their heads toward the portal.
They weren’t afraid.
They were... welcoming someone.
The System immediately reacted.
Warning!
A Higher Abyssal Entity is attempting to descend.
Current World Restriction:
SUCCESSFUL DESCENT: DENIED
Reason:
Earth has not reached the required Evolution Stage.
Descent Method:
Projection Avatar.
Threat Level:
High
The portal stopped expanding.
Instead, a single crimson beam shot toward the ground.
It landed behind the five Crimson Captains.
The surrounding air distorted.
Slowly...
A humanoid figure emerged.
He stood over two meters tall, clad in dark crimson armor adorned with black spikes. Unlike the monsters, his movements were calm and graceful.
Two crimson wings folded neatly behind his back.
His face looked almost human, except for the glowing crimson markings beneath his eyes.
He smiled.
"So..."
"This insignificant world has produced Halo Bearers."
The System identified him.
Abyssal Projection
Name: Malachar
Title: Seventh Abyss General
Projection Strength: 3%
Estimated Level: ???
Elena instinctively stepped in front of several guild members.
"What the hell is that?"
Azrael gripped his sword.
"It isn’t the real body."
"But it’s still dangerous."
Malachar looked at the twins as though observing rare animals.
"Interesting."
"So young..."
"And already Halo Bearers."
His gaze lingered on Seraphina.
"The scent of Genesis."
Then shifted to Azrael.
"And Oblivion."
He chuckled.
"I’ve searched countless worlds..."
"And finally found you."
Seraphina frowned.
"Who are you?"
Malachar placed a hand over his chest in a mock bow.
"Malachar."
"General of the Seventh Abyss."
"You may call me..."
"...your future executioner."
Marcus whispered,
"I officially don’t like this guy."
Several guild members nodded vigorously.
Malachar laughed.
"I wasn’t asking."
He snapped his fingers.
The five Crimson Captains roared simultaneously.
Dark crimson flames erupted around their armor.
Mutation!
Crimson Captain
↓
Abyss Captain
Level Increased.
The monsters charged.
"So much for talking!"
Elena shouted.
The battlefield erupted once more.
Western Courtyard
Marcus swung his hammer into the first Abyss Captain.
Instead of staggering...
The Captain caught the weapon with one hand.
"What?!"
The monster punched Marcus square in the chest.
BOOM!
He crashed through two stone walls before finally stopping.
"Marcus!"
Ryan fired a volley of arrows.
The Captain casually deflected every single one.
Sophia rushed in from behind.
Her daggers struck the Captain’s neck.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
The blades failed to pierce its armor.
"It’s too tough!"
Main Entrance
Elena faced two Captains at once.
Lightning danced around her katana.
She slashed dozens of times within seconds.
Several shallow cuts appeared.
But they regenerated almost instantly.
"Tch."
"They’re regenerating faster."
Azrael appeared beside her.
"They’re drawing power from Malachar."
"So we cut off the source."
Elena smirked.
"I was hoping you’d say that."
Guild Core Chamber
Seraphina suddenly sensed something.
She looked at the Guild Core.
The crystal had begun absorbing faint strands of crimson energy drifting through the air.
The System immediately alerted her.
Warning
Guild Core Corruption
Current Corruption:
3%
Her eyes widened.
"They’re trying to corrupt the Guild Core!"
She immediately placed both hands on the crystal.
"Genesis Authority!"
Golden light exploded throughout City Hall.
Flowers bloomed across the walls.
The crimson corruption halted.
Then slowly began receding.
Guild Core Purified
Corruption:
3%
↓
0%
Outside...
Malachar smiled.
"As expected."
"The girl inherited her mother’s talent."
Seraphina froze.
"...Mother?"
Malachar realized he had spoken aloud.
He simply smiled.
"So..."
"You don’t know."
Azrael’s eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?"
Malachar laughed.
"Ask your precious System."
"It knows."
"It always knew."
Before Azrael could question him further, the System displayed an unusual message.
Information Restricted.
Authorization Level Insufficient.
Azrael clenched his fists.
"Damn it..."
Malachar spread his arms.
"Grow stronger."
"Reach the higher worlds."
"Perhaps then..."
"...you’ll finally learn why you were abandoned."
Seraphina’s expression darkened.
"Our parents didn’t abandon us."
Malachar tilted his head.
"Didn’t they?"
"Then where are they?"
Silence.
His words struck deeper than any weapon.
For a brief moment...
Doubt entered the twins’ hearts.
Then Azrael looked at his sister.
She met his eyes.
Without speaking...
Both smiled.
Seraphina turned back toward Malachar.
"My parents..."
"...raised us for eighteen years."
"They taught us kindness."
"They taught us to protect others."
"They’re our family."
Azrael nodded.
"And whoever gave birth to us..."
"I’m sure they had a reason."
"So your words won’t change anything."
For the first time...
Malachar’s smile faded.
"You truly believe that?"
"I do."
High above the First Heaven...
Auriel watched everything through the Celestial Mirror.
When she heard those words...
She covered her mouth as tears streamed down her face.
"They..."
"They don’t hate me..."
Raphael smiled gently.
"I told you."
"The children you entrusted to humanity..."
"Were raised well."
Auriel whispered softly,
"Thank you..."
"David..."
"Emily..."
"Thank you for loving them when I couldn’t."
Back on Earth...
Malachar sighed.
"How disappointing."
"I had hoped to break your spirits."
Azrael slowly raised his sword.
"Your mistake..."
"...was talking too much."
Black energy began gathering around the blade.
Unlike before...
The darkness was calm.
Controlled.
The lesson Raphael had shown him echoed in his mind.
Oblivion exists to erase corruption.
Not life.
Not hope.
Only corruption.
The System suddenly reacted.
Skill Mastery Achieved!
Oblivion Severance
3%
↓
25%
New Effect Unlocked:
Corruption Break
Deals increased damage to Abyssal entities.
At the same time...
Seraphina’s halo shone brilliantly.
Genesis Authority Resonance
New Skill Learned!
Garden of Life
Creates a sanctuary that continuously heals allies, weakens corruption, and restores Guild Structures.
Golden flowers spread across the battlefield.
Every guild member felt renewed strength.
Marcus climbed out of the rubble laughing.
"I knew I wasn’t done yet!"
Elena wiped blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Now that’s more like it."
Azrael looked toward every member of Dawn.
No one had run away.
No one had abandoned their comrades.
They stood together.
Like a family.
He smiled.
"For Dawn!"
"For Dawn!"
The guild’s unified roar echoed through City Hall.
Even Malachar paused for a moment.
"...Interesting."
"So this..."
"...is humanity."
The sky suddenly rumbled.
The Celestial Evolution System descended once again.
Hidden Condition Fulfilled
Guild Unity: Confirmed
Courage: Confirmed
Faith: Confirmed
Special Evolution Available.
Guild Evolution
Dawn Guild
↓
Wings of Dawn
Accept?
Azrael looked around at his companions.
Then at Seraphina.
She nodded.
Together...
The twins pressed Accept.
Golden light erupted from the Guild Core.
Radiant wings of light spread over the entire City Hall, forming a magnificent barrier visible across Elysia.
Every guild member received the same notification.
Congratulations!
You are now members of the first Evolving Guild on Earth.
Guild Rank:
Bronze
Special Passive:
Wings of Dawn
While fighting beside guild members:
All Stats +10%
Fear Resistance +25%
Experience Gain +15%
Guild Skills unlocked through unity.
Malachar slowly looked up at the radiant barrier.
For the first time since arriving...
He frowned.
"So..."
"The System has acknowledged you."
His projection began flickering.
"The World Laws..."
"...are rejecting me."
He looked directly at the twins.
"We will meet again."
"The next time..."
"...it won’t be a projection."
His body dissolved into crimson smoke.
The remaining Abyss Captains screamed as their connection was severed.
Their strength rapidly declined.
Azrael smiled.
"Now."
"They’re just monsters."
He pointed his sword toward the battlefield.
"Everyone!"
"Finish the Guild Trial!"
With renewed determination, the members of Dawn charged forward as one, while above them the radiant wings protecting City Hall continued to shine.
Somewhere far beyond Earth, both Heaven and the Abyss watched silently.
For the first time in countless ages...
A newly awakened world had begun to attract the attention of the entire cosmos.
And this was only the beginning of the twins’ journey.