Chương 85: Chapter 83: Judgment of Heaven

The cathedral exploded. Chunks of black marble rained from the ceiling as a golden spear pierced through the darkness like a falling star. Divine light flooded the Shadow Sanctuary, forcing the black flames to retreat. Every possessed citizen outside screamed simultaneously. The sound echoed across Noctis. Then... Silence. A lone figure stood in the center of the shattered cathedral. Towering over two meters tall. Six radiant wings spread behind his back.

His armor shimmered with celestial runes, each one glowing like a miniature sun. A long white cape flowed behind him despite the absence of wind. In his right hand rested a spear forged from condensed starlight. His presence alone forced the darkness back. The Guardian's voice trembled.

"... Archon Michael." Cassian frowned.

"So that's one of Heaven's strongest warriors."

"No." The Guardian slowly shook his head.

"He's not just strong."

"He's one of the Seven Heavenly Generals." Michael's golden eyes remained fixed on Kael.

"I've searched for you for five thousand years." Kael casually rested his black sword across his shoulder.

"You've become slower." Michael ignored the taunt.

"By the command of Queen Seraphina..."

"You are guilty of treason against Heaven."

"You are guilty of corrupting the Dharma."

"You are guilty of awakening the Black Sanctuaries." Golden light intensified around the spear.

"And today..."

"Your existence ends." Kael laughed. A genuine laugh.

"You still believe Heaven writes the laws." He slowly raised his sword. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"I intend to rewrite them." Without warning— Both vanished. The collision shook the entire city. BOOOOOOM!! The shockwave shattered every stained-glass window within the cathedral. Outside, hundreds of soldiers were thrown off their feet. Inside... Only flashes of gold and black remained visible. Michael's spear pierced the air thousands of times. Each strike carried enough force to erase mountains. Kael answered every attack with effortless precision. Neither gained an advantage. Cassian stared in disbelief.

"I can't even see them." Siena nodded.

"They're beyond Saint Rank." The Guardian corrected them quietly.

"They've stepped into the realm of Sovereigns." Michael suddenly appeared above Kael.

"Celestial Astra Art..." His wings expanded. Thousands of golden feathers filled the cathedral.

"... Heavenfall." Every feather transformed into a spear of light. The attack descended like divine judgment. Kael looked upward. Unimpressed. He raised one hand.

"Black Astra Art..." Darkness spread beneath his feet.

"... Eternal Eclipse." The floor became a sea of black shadows. Every golden spear disappeared into the darkness. Not blocked. Consumed. The entire cathedral dimmed. Even Michael's divine aura weakened. The Archon frowned.

"So you've perfected it." Kael smiled.

"You taught me." Rayan's eyes widened.

"Taught him?" The Guardian nodded grimly.

"Kael..."

"... was once Heaven's greatest ally." Another truth. Another lie history had buried. Michael descended once more, landing several meters from Kael.

"This is your final warning."

"Release the Shadow Sanctuary."

"Surrender." Kael slowly looked around the cathedral. At the broken murals. The shattered statues. The black chains crawling through the floor. Then he sighed.

"I truly miss the old days." Michael tightened his grip on his spear.

"The old days died with Arkan." Kael's smile disappeared.

"No."

"They died..."

"... when Heaven betrayed him." The atmosphere instantly froze. Rayan's breathing stopped. The Guardian looked away. Michael remained silent. Kael slowly turned toward Rayan.

"You've wondered why Arkan disappeared."

"You've wondered why no one speaks of his final battle." He pointed his sword toward Michael.

"Ask him." Michael's expression hardened.

"I owe him no explanation." Kael laughed bitterly.

"Of course not."

"You buried the truth."

"You erased every witness."

"You even erased his name from Heaven." Rayan stepped forward.

"What happened to Arkan?" No one answered. The silence itself became the answer. Suddenly... The crystal around Rayan's neck erupted with golden light. A voice echoed through the cathedral. Not Valen. Not the Guardian. Arkan.

"Do not seek revenge..." Everyone froze. The crystal projected a memory. A wounded Arkan stood before Queen Seraphina. His legendary armor was broken. Blood covered his face. Yet... He smiled. The Queen reached toward him. Her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I'm sorry..." Those two words stunned everyone. Arkan gently shook his head.

"This was never your fault." The memory flickered violently. Someone... Was deliberately trying to suppress it. Before the vision disappeared completely... One final image remained. Arkan extending his hand toward Seraphina. Not in hatred. In forgiveness. Then... Darkness. The memory ended. Kael clenched his fists.

"Even now..."

"He protects the woman who abandoned humanity." Michael lowered his spear slightly.

"Enough." His voice had lost its earlier certainty. Kael noticed.

"You remember now." The Archon's silence confirmed it. The Shadow Sanctuary suddenly began shaking violently. Cracks spread across every wall. The black chains buried beneath the cathedral glowed crimson. The Guardian's face turned pale.

"No..."

"It's waking up." Rayan looked at him.

"What is?" The old spirit pointed beneath the cathedral.

"There isn't one sanctuary here."

"There are two." A deafening roar erupted from below. The cathedral floor collapsed. An endless abyss opened beneath everyone's feet. From its depths... A single gigantic golden eye slowly opened. Unlike the First Child of Origin... This eye radiated neither hatred nor malice. Only unbearable sadness. The Guardian whispered a forgotten title.

"... The First Guardian." Kael smiled.

"Now..."

"The real story begins." To Be Continue....