CH: 191 Politics and Rewards

He with some of his orcs moved in front of us.

Tusk' power, having been buffed up by the item 'Bead of Avarice', was gobsmackingly incredible especially combined with his own buffs.

But it didn't end there. As the first wave was over, the second spawned in instant flooding the whole place as if a monster dam had been broken.

Fuu-woop.

Tusk sucked in so much air that the temperature of the surroundings momentarily dropped to a bone-chilling level. And then…

Kuuuuwuuuu….

He spat out another massive pillar of flames from left to right and literally vaporised all enemies before him.

[You killed an Affinity.]

[You killed a Superior.]

….

....

[You killed a laser Wrath.]

[You killed a laser Envy.]

The messages telling me that he killed Angels and earned some experience points endlessly popped up in my view. And the Ding, Dings of the mechanical beeps didn't want to end for a while, too.

I was all smiles, though.

'I've surely hit the jackpot!!'

His Mana must've ever run dry, because he never stopped attacking even as the third wave spawned.

A single shot from Fangs managed to vaporise the majority of the attacking Angels group, but there were a few lucky ones who managed to somehow survive the fiery massacre. I simply ordered my Shadow Soldiers to go and get rid of them.

Quietly watching over four hundred of my Shadow Soldiers marching forward in perfect order, I finally felt like the 'Shadow Sovereign'.

[You killed a High Ageless.]

[You killed a laser Pride.]

The feel-good messages continued on. I didn't even lift a finger and used only my Shadow Soldiers to annihilate the monsters. The biggest contributor among them was, of course, Tusk on this layer.

'Tusk, he was the beauty….'

I looked behind him – or, more specifically, way up behind him.

I then saw the gigantified Shadow Magic Soldier, previously a High Orc Sorcerer, and the 'Bead of Avarice' that had also been enlarged to match his size.

That bead was an item capable of doubling the power of its holder's magic attack. From my perspective, it looked like that bead shored up Tusk' powers quite nicely, which would've been nerfed somewhat after becoming a Shadow Soldier. And it looked like there was some room to spare too.

'Looks like I'll have to entrust the 'Bead of Avarice' to him until a life threatening situation presents itself.'

Meanwhile, the soldiers gathered one by one in front of me after mopping up their quarries.

As it was time to head to the gates of the fourth layer of heaven. Seeing the mountains of Angels corpses piled up like that, the corners of my lips arched up considerably.

'With this many dead, I got plenty of loot cheats as a result.'

Ding, Ding, Ding….

This time, an endless stream of item acquisition messages popped up in his view.

'Well, I got everything I can from here….'

I smiled deeply as I went about acquiring all the loot, and after finishing that up, I climbed up on the back of 'Kaisel', my trusty Wyvern Shadow Beast Soldier.

I had all three keys that would be required to open up the next layer and most mobs were dead in this layer. So it was time to head out.

I ordered my troops to move out.

"Giddy up!"

Kaisel slowly began to rise up and trotted forward, and the Shadow Soldiers all followed after me in an orderly fashion.

***

'The whole army moving together looked pretty fabulous.'

I thought as I turned to look at all my 443 Shadow Soldiers acting as one unit marching together shaking the very ground as my Shadow Beast Soldiers were soaring the sky.

Still their number was insignificant if one compared to the army on the ground. That's why I am hoping to find strong flying mothers in six Labyrinths I am going to visit soon.

Just like my army on the ground that creates a huge shadow and shakes the very ground, I want my sky army to dwarf the very sky as when they are in the sky no light should be touching the ground.

This alone would create dread, desperation, and depression so great that my enemy would surrender before even they had shown their might.

But what I have now is not quite efficient enough. So that had to wait as I am still making the dream into reality.

Another thing that came into my mind after exploring all last four layers of this Dungeon and comparing them with the myths. Will I encounter The God, The Big G, Yahweh, Al-Malik, AR-RAHEEM, The All Mighty??

It was a pretty big question after all this place fully modeled after the Heaven of Three Big religions. So by all accounts he should be the Final Boss. If not then it may be Michael.

Even though I am not sure about how many layers there are in this Dungeon? they should be around 7, 9 or 10 as in most books that layers were described.

If the world permitted I would love to add the Big G into my army and even if it did not.

Just the thought of the Yahweh in my army gets my blood pumping why not it's mother fucking All Mighty.

With him in my army I won't have to care about light and holy shit and I would be easily able to achieve my dream of becoming the Angel.

Well I have to think about it later as we were already at our destination.

I thought as Kaisel came to halt so does all my soldiers as I looked in front there it was another huge gate ahead looming over the skies with three key holes in it and another weird looking huge Bayonetta mob guarding it, there are five dozens of more weird mobs and some other types of angels flying around above the path.

Just after a glance their names in dark colour started to pop in front of me.

[Spree]

[Halflings]

[Shining Justice]

[Thrones]

[Cherubim]

[Laguna]

And the gigantic boss, one of the four Auditio, appears to be a hideous amalgamation of faces and tentacles fused into a ball. Iustitia has fifteen faces in total.

The face is hidden on top of its body, beneath its halo. Iustitia has six total tentacles, three that merely protrude from its body and the other three mentioned above (acting as tongues) that are connected to the main organs that vaguely resemble hearts. Its tentacles are barbed, releasing a powerful toxin. It also has a curious glow that seems to emanate from its back. Huge sheet-like glowing crystals spike out from its sides.

[Lustitia]

It's hard to believe that these things somehow breathe with those shapes. Bayonetta developers really went wild with their designs. As it has the most unique and bold designs in games.

It's time to cheat, if they're good at fighting then frankly I'm not going to fight them fairly. I have my army, but I can't just unleash my whole army on them, and that's why I called 3 Giants, 4 Mammoths, 40 high Orcs, 8 Knights, 3 Shadow Mages, 5 Flying Creatures, 3 Ice Elf Archers, and 5 Primate Long Arm Apes, and Gorr verse 50 and a snobby plant thing.

Sounds fair to me. I'll add five more Dire Saber Tooth Tigers Babies as well, just to be sure.

Because I have no reason to fight them myself like some moron. I'll just overwhelm them with superior numbers. They're currently moving around the gate, pretending to explore the grounds.

Time to deal the first blow in my battle with the boss. The moment I spot them I send my horde charging forwards.

Lustitia responds quickly just as my army charges. It attempted to charge me with his vine gdrawn, but I'm not a warrior, it was only my pride and bloodlust making me act like one…

Yes I do love the thrill of battle, it's in my blood pumping, it gives me a sudden feeling of great excitement, gets my dopamine off the charts. The stakes alone are big things. but don't take me wrong, I only engage in battles where the odds favor my triumph, ensuring each challenge becomes a conquest.

In a way this feeling I get could be compared to the pleasure of Sex, or Conquering a beautiful woman.

This is technically a boss fight, and I was sense able enough to know, you don't fuck around in a boss fight, so I finally use a skill I've had for a while...

A blacker-than-the-night sphere coalesced within my grip, its gravitational pull insatiable. Light itself succumbed to its inescapable force, and the foolish boss, perhaps ignorant of the cosmic terror unfolding, attempted to ensnare it with its flower-like appendages. The result was swift and gruesome; the tentacles disintegrated into nothingness, the horror etched across the boss's monstrous visage.

The dark orb expanded voraciously, devouring mass after mass, a cosmic hunger that seemed insatiable until, abruptly, I dispelled the spell. The black void vanished, leaving no trace, a testament to the impossibility of blocking the Powers of the Black Hole with conventional means. A staggering 5,000 MP had been infused into the spell, enough to erase even the most formidable adversaries.

Without hesitation, I propelled myself towards the disoriented monstrosity, and upon contact, my fist met its grotesque head with a muttered incantation, "[Earthshaker Stomp]." What followed was a symphony of awe and horror as seismic vibrations coursed through the Lustitia's colossal form. The next moment, blood erupted, bones shattered, muscles turned to mush, and cracks spider-webbed across its entire body. The tremors intensified until, like an overfilled balloon, the creature burst into a grotesque display, sending a rain of viscera and gore across the vicinity.

Grinning at the grotesque spectacle, a macabre fireworks of its demise, I noted the experiment's success. "Earthshaker Stomp" didn't require a literal stomp; any physical contact with a body part triggered the devastating effects.

Utilizing a "[Water Ball]," I cleansed the coagulating blood from my person. Turning towards my army, it was evident that most battles had concluded. Gorr grappled with Shining Justice, a titaness wielding a towering golden sword, unleashing long-range energy attacks. Clad in gilded armor, she stood nearly as tall as Gorr, rendering her impervious to physical assaults. Their fierce confrontation painted a spectacle of clashing powers on the battlefield.

But even then she wasn't able to survive a constant assault from Gorr as it being a dumb boss following a basic pattern that was cracked by Gorr he was easily able to overpower her with his only magical skill which was his Wind Sword. Constant air slashes from his sword were enough for her and with his strength he was also throwing pieces of ground on her.

She doesn't rise again, but she's still alive... mostly. As next second he chopped her neck off with his huge double bladed axe.

I do hope the rest of her little crusade is this easy, her other Angels can't stand against the horde of Gigantes, who crush them with ease as I watch coldly.

The mobs of this time were talented, I can see that as they try to fight back, they're well coordinated, skilled, well equipped. They're definitely better than the 99% hunters.

It doesn't save them though.

The fire from the Shadow Mages ignites them, melting their armour and burning their flesh, the Orcs ambush them in the chaos, leaping onto their backs and stabbing into the gaps in their armour as the Shadow Beasts rush them.

It's a slaughter, one sided and brutal. All things considered today's going pretty well for me...

***

The higher-ups of the Japanese Hunter Association and the ministerial members of the Japanese government had gathered today for an urgent meeting.

As the heavy, gloomy atmosphere descended on the conference chamber, the Association President quietly opened his mouth.

"I hear that recently, the mood in South Korea is boisterous due to the entrance of their tenth and eleventh rank S Hunters, They got two Rank A hunters simultaneously ."

The high ranking officials present smirked slightly.

There were already more than twenty rank S Hunters in Japan. Yet, the Koreans were celebrating their eleventh rank S?

Well, that did make some sense considering that, after excluding the two they lost to an accident as well as to emigration, there were only eight rank S Hunters found in Korea, to begin with.

Whatever the case may be, today's meeting wasn't held to ridicule South Korea. If that were the case, then the atmosphere of this place wouldn't be this grave.

Sitting in his chair with a deep frown on his face, the 'Boei Daijin' of Japan – the Minister of Defense – testily opened his mouth.

"What does that have to do with today's meeting?"

His voice accurately conveyed how deeply troubled he was.

The island at the southern end of the Korean peninsula, Jeju Island, had been completely overrun by monsters after the Koreans failed to clear a dungeon there.

On top of that, these weren't any other regular monsters, but ant-types that boasted a rigid hierarchy system as well as an incredibly rapid reproduction rate.

If that was all, the Japanese government would simply ridicule their Korean counterpart and laugh at their misfortune, but now, the Japanese mainland was bearing the cost of that mishap as well.

Only yesterday, an ant they suspected to have flown in from Jeju Island completely wiped a small village off the Japanese map.

They could no longer ignore the fallout from that event anymore. They could no longer delay the matter of joining the raid. Most of all, their urgent priority had to be with calming down the irate Prime Minister and his orders of finding a speedy resolution to this crisis.

Which meant, the job security of several important people gathered here was hanging in the balance, yet to start such an important meeting off with some useless banter?

It was only natural that the Defense Minister would frown unhappily.

However, the Association President carried on regardless.

"People are more prone to making mistakes when they are in an agitated state."

The snow-white hair and wrinkles filling up the entirety of his face spoke of how old he was already.

"And I believe this is the best chance for us."

His declaration managed to gather the eyes of everyone present within this noisy conference chamber. Unlike just now, when he raised his voice in unhappiness, the Minister of Defense was speaking with a lot more nervousness.

"Do…. you have a good plan in mind?"

"Rather than calling it 'good', I'd say 'appropriate' is a more suitable description, instead."

Everyone present, including the Minister of Defense, as well as various ministers and Association's own upper management, all focused their attention on the Association President's words.

As if he was taking his time for precisely this moment, the President opened his mouth.

"If you insist that a piece of land is yours when you don't even have enough strength to defend it, will anyone acknowledge you as the owner?"

"….."

A bout of silence fell on the conference room.

Just what was the Association President trying to say here?

Considering the relationship between South Korea and Japan, that declaration would never be glossed over as a senile old man's ramblings if the general public got wind of that.

Not to forget, this old man was none other than the current President of the Japanese Hunter's Association.

"…So, what is it that you wish to say?"

The Minister of State cautiously asked.

The Association President scanned the men sitting to his left and right side, before confidently declaring out loudly.

"We shall get rid of the monsters in Jeju island."

Noisy, noisy….

"And then…."

The chamber had gotten noisy for a brief moment, but it was silenced immediately by the Association President's voice.

He carried on.

"….We will take Jeju island from them."

Taking Jeju Island away?

The higher-ups of the Japanese Hunter's Association remained calm as if they had heard the story from the Association President prior to the meeting. However, the same couldn't be said about the government officials.

"What on earth are you even talking about?!"

"Are you suggesting that we should wage a war with the Koreans?"

"They have been getting ready for war for the last 60 years!"

"Say something that makes sense, will you?!"

The voices of the government representatives quickly got heated up.

Right now, the proverbial flames from the ant monster incident that fell on their feet were in the process of spreading to their ankles. If they failed to present an acceptable solution to the Prime Minister and to the mass media, just who knows how many sitting here today would lose their posts?

That was why they had summoned the Association President for this meeting, so he could suggest a tangible solution, yet what was he saying now?

Jeju Island this and that?!

How could they not be incensed when the Association President was yapping on about sheer nonsense in front of these busy people?

If it weren't for the Hunters guarding the sides of the Association President Matsumoto Shigeo, the government officials would've already started their expletive-laden tirades.

'How can my expectation be on this money this wonderfully?'

Matsumoto Shigeo looked at the barrage of ugly criticism flying in his way and smirked inwardly. Their furious reactions were well within his calculations.

'Tsk, tsk.'

Matsumoto tutted lightly in his mind, before opening his mouth he'd been keeping close until then.

"Obviously, I'm not suggesting that we should wage war with the Koreans. And I'm also not suggesting that we take the land away by force, either."

"What was that?"

"Then, just what is it that you're trying to say?"

"Can't you stop beating around the bush?"

A corner of Matsumoto Shigeo's lips arched up.

"We simply make the Koreans give us the land on their own volition."

The riled up mood of the conference chamber rapidly cooled down from the cold attitude of Matsumoto Shigeo. Judging from the strength of the tone of his voice, or from his attitude when saying these words, anyone hearing him could tell that the Association President was being dead serious.

'...'

The Vice Prime Minister was famed for his ice-cold demeanour, yet he chose to break his silence precisely at that moment.

"Association President Matsumoto."

He was the closest aide to the current Prime Minister, not to mention his spokesperson on this occasion.

He was attending this meeting as the proxy of Japan's current leader, so what he said in this place carried as much weight as the Prime Minister's own words.

"What you said just now…. How will you achieve that?"

A man who could realistically be called the second most powerful figure in the Japanese government was showing his interest in Association President Matsumoto Shigeo's plan.

Was it because someone had finally paid attention?

Matsumoto Shigeo became sombre as he proceeded with his explanations.

"The Koreans currently lack the strength to deal with a minor rank S Gate. That was the situation four years ago when the ants first appeared, and it's still the same story even now. Even if they had gotten their strongest hunters by their own words"

The Vice Prime Minister nodded his head.

Jeju Island was a large island that equaled around 2% of South Korea's total land mass. They had lost that much land to the monsters, yet were utterly unable to do anything about it, so was there any further explanation necessary?

After the third subjugation effort ended in failure, the Korean government unofficially gave up on Jeju Island.

That was the unofficial story everyone accepted as of now.

"Under the current circumstances, how would they react when we make a suggestion of the Japanese rank S Hunters assisting in full support of their idea of the subjugation of the ants?"

The news of the portion of the mutated ants capable of flight should have reached Korea by now. Meaning, they should've also realised that it was only a matter of time before the Korean mainland would be attacked.

Unless the decision makers of the Korean government were mad, there was no way they would reject external help that they asked themselves in the first place.

The recent incident has made negotiations extremely challenging, given the dire circumstances and the tragic village massacre.

However….

"Even if we do lend some aid, do you believe the Koreans would hand over Jeju Island like that? Even in these circumstances"

Just as the Vice Minister alluded to just now, there were certainly a few holes in the Association President's words. From here and there, several officials began smirking openly as well. Unlike them, though, the Vice Prime Minister carried on in a calm voice, sounding neither ridiculing nor angry.

"Just as you said, Mister Association President, the ants might be taken care of if we lend aid to the Koreans."

Out of everyone present today, the person most knowledgable regarding the combined strengths of the Korean and Japanese Hunters was the Association President Matsumoto Shigeo. And he was certain of the total defeat of the ants.

There was no disagreement over that.

"However, even if that happened, what is there for us to gain?"

Even though the Japanese citizens had suffered somewhat, ultimately, the ants of Jeju Island were the Koreans' problem to solve. There was no way they would sacrifice their own Hunters to help out the Koreans.

'What a nonsensical notion that is.'

The Vice Prime Minister had always been wise to the potential benefits to be gained. And he was inwardly snorting in derision right now. If you concede on something, you were supposed to gain something back in return. That was one of the basics in politics and even the world.

If they were to lend out their Hunters, then they had to get something suitable back as compensation.

'Receiving Jeju Island would be barely on the acceptable level of compensation.'

The Vice Prime Minister showed some interest because his thoughts had aligned with that of the Association President. However, the reply he got instead sounded like an attempt at catching the floating clouds.

Naturally, the interest of the Vice Prime Minister had cooled down faster than anyone else's.

It was then, the Association President formed a mysterious smile.

"When did I say we'd be helping the Koreans?"

The Vice Prime Minister frowned deeply.

'Is he trying sophistry with me?'

Just as he was about to reprimand the Association President in a dignified way with the words of "Stop wasting our time"….

'Wait….'

The eyes of the Vice Minister widened.

The Association President said he'd 'suggest' lending an aid, but not about actually lending it.

"You, perhaps…..?"

"It is as you suspect."

The Association President willingly acknowledged it. As soon as he discovered the utterly shocked expression of the Vice Prime Minister, the Association President knew that man had arrived at the same conclusion as well.

"You're planning to….. shove the Korean Hunters inside that ant hole, aren't you?"

As expected of a seasoned politician.

'So, there was a reason why he's rumoured to be a rather 'smart' man.'

The Association President sent a satisfied smile to the Vice Prime Minister and his rather quick-witted way of thinking.

"When Korea's top Hunters enter the ant tunnel to kill the ant queen while placing their faith in our supposed 'aid', we'll simply withdraw our Hunters."

The Koreans had suffered three failures already. If that losing streak extended to fourth, who'd suspect the betrayal of the Japanese Hunters had anything to do with it? No, it was fine to be suspect. By then, everything would be finished already, anyway.

The voice of the Vice Prime Minister quaked noticeably.

"Are you… Are you planning to annihilate the top Hunters of South Korea?"

"The moment a Gate they couldn't handle opened up in Jeju Island, their fate has been sealed already."

The Association President once more voiced his own fatalistic worldview.

"No, they only managed to sustain their pathetic lives somehow, until now."

"But, that is…"

"Once their top Hunters disappear in that manner, the Koreans will definitely not feel secure anymore."

What would happen when mutated ants capable of flight begin appearing in South Korea one by one, with all of their rank S Hunters dead?

Would the Koreans continue playing dumb when that happens?

If it were one or two ants, their Guilds might be able to kill the invading monsters somehow. However, just as the statistics showed, the number of mutated ants would only increase exponentially, and eventually, the entirety of South Korea and even North Korea would be shaken up sooner or later.

'When that happens, surely they would request aid from other country's Hunters.'

However, who would be willing to help the Koreans out by then?

China or Russia, with their great number of Hunters, but also with massive land mass they needed to cover, too?

Or, the Americans, who refused to help when the rank S Gate opened up back then?

Or, the North Koreans, who might invade Seoul by bringing over their own rank S Hunters, instead? As they are ready to chew them down the moment they show a hint of weakness.

'No, it'd be only us, the Japanese.'

Because, Japan would also be in trouble when the number of mutated ants increases. The Koreans would have no choice but to cling onto Japan, and when that happened, Japan would be able to demand anything from them in return.

'Koreans might really be willing to hand over Jeju Island by then….'

It'd be exactly as the Association President had said.

Suddenly, the Vice Minister felt a chill run down his spine. To think that man was willing to drive another country's top Hunters to death then kill thousands even if it's indirectly just to make his ambition into reality….

Wouldn't a country fall to ruin because of this man if others weren't being careful?

'He's a truly terrifying man, this Association President Matsumoto Shigeo.'

The Vice Minister shuddered from the horrifying scheme of the Association President. However, that wasn't the end.

The Association President carried on.

"Jeju Island will just be the beginning."

One by one….

Whenever the Koreans needed the power of rank S Hunters, they would have no choice but to slowly come under Japan's influence. It was truly possible to swallow up South Korea without firing a single shot.

"…..And those are my thoughts."

Only after the Association President ended his lengthy explanation did the various cabinet members take their deeply held-up breaths. Those who previously dismissed the Association President as a crazy fool were now listening closely, strands of cold sweat trickling down their faces.

The Association President quietly inquired.

"What is your decision, Mr. Vice Prime Minister?"

The gazes of everyone present focused on the Vice Prime Minister.

"..."

The Vice Prime Minister swallowed his saliva.

Currently, he is speaking for the Prime Minister here. Of course, as long as the Prime Minister trusted him, the decision made in this chamber would not be overturned at a later date.

So, carefully, and even more cautiously than before….

'...'

After lengthy deliberation, the Vice Prime Minister raised his head.

"How should the government aid you in this venture?"

***

With this one more layer is done and hopefully two more layers remain. Looking around I can see a chest has appeared in front of the gate of the 5th Layer. Opening it up I find 7 more Feathers, 3 Iron Ingots, two different types of crystals and a coin.

Starting with the Feathers now I have gotten 7085 Feather it won't be long before I get all ten thousand of them.

Same with Iron Ingots now I have 4389 of them around 105 KG.

Now next I picked both Crystals and observed them. As a screen popped in front of me.

[Brachial's Blood Crystal

Rarity: S

Type: Elixir of Luck

Effect: Grants 1000% increase in luck for an hour when drunk

Effect – ?

A crystal made of refined blood of Barachiel Archangel of Luck. Imbues the drinker with a 1000% increase in luck for an hour and a 10% chance of manifesting a desired outcome.

A very Rare drop from Barachiel.

You may keep this item in your inventory.]

Nice very nice super luck potion made from the blood of Angel of Luck itself. Great after a smile I looked at the other crystal.

[Sandalphon's Desire Elixir

Rarity: S

Type: Elixir of Fulfillment

Effect: Imbues the drinker with a 95% chance of manifesting any desired outcome for 5 minutes.

Crafted from the refined blood of Sandalphon, the Archangel of wish fulfillment, this crystal elixir is a rare gem. Indulge in its power to experience a heightened probability of turning your desires into reality for the duration of 5 minutes. Imbues the drinker with 95% chance of manifesting any desired outcome for 5 minutes when drunk.

A very Rare drop from Sandalphon's.

You may keep this item in your inventory.]

Another great reward but sadly effects only last for 5 minutes. But it would have been too op if it worked for longer I guess beggars can't be choosers and I can already have many ways to abuse this.

I looked at the last reward I got.

[Summon Living Artifact] (Active)

Summon a living Artifact,

Living Artifacts which seems interesting, the one I got at the moment is Aroma Jar, apparently it causes people who breathe in its scents to feel different emotions, depending on what I want them to feel.

It was captivating, yet the allure heightened as I unearthed an even more intriguing revelation. The fusion of the two crystals obtained earlier, coupled with the enigmatic one procured from the central chest on the 4th Layer, sparked my anticipation.

Contemplating this, I reached into my inventory and produced yet another purple crystal, its presence materializing before me.

[Ariel's Triumph Crystal

Rarity: S

Type: Elixir of Goal Mastery

Effect: Empowers the consumer with a heightened 95% chance of achieving any set goal for a single goal.

Forged from the refined essence of Ariel, the Archangel of goal attainment, this crystal harnesses its power to significantly enhance the likelihood of reaching your one objective.

A truly rare drop from Archangel Ariel herself.]

I've acquired this crystal from the final layer's main treasure chest, and now, with these three extraordinary treasures, the potential for rewards surpassing my current capabilities beckons.

I've christened it the 'Archive of the Impassable,' reserving its power for moments when my aspirations require celestial intervention.

Yet, amid the spoils amassed since entering this dungeon, a lingering curiosity gnaws at me. Despite being in a realm named Angels Layer, encounters with conventional angels remain elusive.

And the only enemies I encounter are mobs from Bayonetta.

The paradox deepens as I continue to receive rewards associated with conventional angels—Michael's Robe, the Fallen Ring, the Feather of the Greatest Fallen, and now, these mystic Crystals.

The question persists: why?