Chapter 630: The End of the Conflict
"Boom—"
In an instant, those intertwined dark red and silvery-white flames pierced through a series of barriers, surging straight toward Barachiel at the center of the fortress.
"Ah—" At this moment, the proud Lord of the Silver Heaven wore a look of shock and fury, twin beams of piercing light shooting from His eyes. For the first time, He let out a wretched scream of agony.
Barachiel was no longer perfect. The six massive wings behind Him were scorched in an instant, turning to ashes. His chest was burned and torn by the flames, revealing a transparent orb flickering within.
The orb's base color was the black night sky, covered in endless stars, with a silver ocean, exquisite temples, and magnificent holy mountains—like a miniature universe. That was Barachiel's heaven essence.
He no longer looked like a living being, but more like some kind of construct. Everything inside Him was a product of heaven's power, a marvelously perfect creation of order.
And now, the chaotic flames were brutally ravaging His body, tearing apart His internal order. The tongues of fire rampaged, burning everything into utter chaos.
With His burning arm, Barachiel reached out the silver longsword and let out a deafening roar: "I'll make you pay! Judgement!"
He swung the longsword with all His might. The giant celestial sword in the sky followed, infused with the immense law of heaven, its tip aimed straight at the rapidly ascending red dragon.
If that Sword of Heaven struck, the red dragon's end would be no better than Barachiel's now.
But for Cassius now, pure defense was meaningless—attack was the best defense.
As long as he killed the source of all heaven power, this so-called final judgment would dry up and disappear, like water without a source.
"Boom—"
Cassius also roared. He suddenly beat his wings, the blazing flames swirling around him as he ascended the immortal fortress.
The red dragon hooked his claws into a gap in the fortress wall, veins bulging on his arms, then violently tore it wider before folding his wings and squeezing through!
"Die!"
Cassius roared, turning into a scarlet afterimage wreathed in flames, barreling toward Barachiel in the heart of the fortress.
"Villain, you're the one who should die!" Barachiel swung his sword with all his might, fierce blades of light and thunderbolts crashing down.
The silver horn also blew, its stirring sacred anthem and the majestic, distant Genesis Words, accompanied by all manner of psychic and soul attacks.
But Cassius wasn't afraid. His scales suddenly turned golden, gleaming—[Gilded Scales] triggered. Then, mysterious runes lit up across his body—[Scalebound Dragon] activated.
With [Meta-Magic: Quickened Spell], multiple spell shields and star-like fragments swirled around the red dragon.
"Roar—"
In the briefest moment, Cassius's layers of defenses were smashed by Barachiel's relentless assault, leaving his body covered in wounds.
But the red dragon still charged forward, through the storm of attacks, unstoppable, pouncing on Barachiel.
"Got you."
Cassius grinned, showing rows of white teeth in a savage, terrifying smile, seizing Barachiel's burning body in his claws.
Now Barachiel was wreathed in flame, his once perfect face burned and disfigured, completely unrecognizable.
For a being born perfect, a symbol of order, even a single flaw could drive them mad. Now, Barachiel had become something utterly different.
If not for his soul's essence of order, he would have lost his mind long ago.
Now he howled skyward like a demon burning in hell, thrashing and struggling in a desperate attempt to break free from the red dragon's grip.
"Sinner! I'll kill you!" Barachiel swung his nearly broken arm, stabbing his sword at the red dragon's eyes, throat, heart—every vital spot.
Deep wounds appeared on Cassius, his scales split and dragon blood flowing.
But the red dragon didn't care, staring greedily at Barachiel, opening his jaws, a terrifying light brewing in his throat.
"Boom—"
The air exploded. A terrifying pillar of fire blasted into Barachiel's chest, hammering into that exquisite orb containing the heaven essence.
[Breath of Plunder]
In an instant, half of Barachiel's body was incinerated by dragonfire, with only the heaven essence still resisting.
Above Cassius, the celestial sword in the sky was about to fall, but suddenly lost control, dissolving into countless motes of light.
The dark red chaotic flame shattered and destroyed the power of order in the heaven essence, while the silvery-white restoring flame reorganized those deconstructed forces, converting them into Cassius's own "heaven power."
At this moment, the fire streaming from the red dragon's mouth was like a massive syringe, constantly siphoning power from the heaven essence and making it his own.
"Hahahaha, is this the essence of heaven? It's exquisite!" Cassius devoured Barachiel's essence with wild joy on his hideous dragon face.
Gotta snatch as much as possible while he can—Cassius thought to himself.
"No, no—you dare to plunder heaven's essence? You'll pay for this—" Barachiel, left with only half a body, spoke in terror, voice weak.
But Cassius showed no mercy, using his chaotic flame to destroy what was left of Barachiel's body, leaving his soul cowering inside the heaven essence.
By the rules of the material plane, Barachiel was dead; the original He should have shed the corpse, and his soul and dominion would return to Mount Celestia, to become one among the angels again.
But this red dragon was so greedy—he actually intended to plunder the dominion of Mount Celestia!
That place was the land of light, the ideal of purest good, the very gathering of order, kindness, compassion, and mercy in the universe! Even demons shunned it, yet this red dragon dared to seize it?
In Barachiel's eyes, this was not merely an evil act—he was the very enemy of order! A being as blasphemous as any god-slayer!
But as a soul, He could only watch helplessly as the terrifying red dragon devoured his essence, utterly powerless.
"No—"
Barachiel's soul trembled, letting out a soul-rending scream. The Genesis Words in his body activated again, and his shattered body erupted with a dazzling light.
[Miracle of Heaven]
This was a spell to call upon a deity or great being, beseeching them to display a miracle.
Instantly, boundless light enveloped the sky, and an immense, distant voice echoed overhead: "Enough—you have taken more than enough—"
Cassius looked up, as if expecting this, staring at the heavens without ceasing his plunder, still absorbing the essence of heaven.
"Of course—it comes to this. The true master of heaven…" Cassius sounded a bit regretful.
A golden vortex of energy gradually appeared above him; just witnessing it, Cassius felt that unmistakable presence of pure justice and righteousness impossible to find on the mortal plane.
The energy coalesced, and a figure hundreds of meters tall appeared in the sky—a being with pure golden skin and dazzling white wings shining with a platinum metallic luster.
Wreathed in searing radiance, this being wore a kindly, gentle expression, never showing anger, even to supposed enemies.
"Zaphkiel," Cassius uttered the last few words softly.
He was the only surviving founding member of the Seven Virtues, master of the topmost layer of the Seven Heavens—Radiant Kronias.
Staring up at Zaphkiel's avatar, even Cassius felt his body burning, as if some power was trying to purify him.
It's said he is the purest incarnation of the force of Good, that only the kindest creatures—or the most powerful evil—can stand before him without being annihilated by the divine energy he radiates.
[Zaphkiel]
Challenge Rating: ???
"Worthy of being the Lord of the Seven Heavens, whose radiance bathes the whole mountain, a being legendary enough to rival the gods."
Cassius, feeling that aura of justice and righteousness, couldn't help but sigh in admiration—but he showed no fear.
In this war, even Celestia had brought great destruction to the material plane. Cassius was a native here—his losses were internal affairs. But Barachiel? He was not.
In this matter, Celestia was in the wrong, even somewhat violating the rules of the material plane.
Barachiel was only a latecomer, retaining some humanity; as an incarnation of pure lawful good, Zaphkiel probably would not break the rules to intervene.
"Zaphkiel, this evil dragon is plundering heaven's essence!" Barachiel's soul cried out in desperation.
But Cassius shouted righteously, "This is my land! You of Celestia have invaded the material plane—shouldn't you pay a price for it?"
"Enough."
Zaphkiel's face was solemn, exuding authority without anger, gazing coldly at the red dragon below: "All conflict ends here."
A giant golden hand descended from the heavens, snatching away the already half-consumed heaven essence and Barachiel's soul, then disappeared into the sky, leaving not a sound behind.
Cassius just watched in regret, not trying to stop it—he knew he was not yet a match for a being of Zaphkiel's level.
"A bit of a shame, but this battle's gains were already more than enough."
The red dragon felt the Amanata godforce and heaven essence surging in his body. Looking at his status screen, which kept refreshing with new information, he showed a very satisfied smile.
[You killed [Wing of Fadlan - Walter Graham (Challenge Rating: 24)], gained 65000xp]
[Killed [Lord of the Messengers - Barachiel (Challenge Rating: 31)], gained 185000xp]
[You killed a lord of heaven, gained the legendary achievement: [Saint-Slayer]]
The red dragon beat his wings, whipping up a hurricane, dispersing the mixed clouds from the battle and letting sunlight once again shine down on the earth.
"North Ethel is now truly mine—this will become the starting point for the Ember Empire's conquest of the Fadlan continent!" Cassius gazed down at the battered earth, opened his huge jaws, and let out a far-reaching roar.
"Roar—"
On the ground, the allied officers and soldiers gazed up at the sky, tense and anxious.
The rolling clouds above sometimes glowed with dark red fire, sometimes with pure white holy light, with constant deafening explosions, making it impossible to tell who was winning.
At last, the light broke through the sky, piercing the clouds, and the noise of battle seemed to cease at once.
"God, is the battle finally over?"
"Who won?"
"I just felt a pure, righteous aura—that must have been Lord Barachiel releasing it."
"Then that means the great lord from heaven was victorious? The red dragon lost?"
"Amanata, please protect us, let that evil dragon be utterly destroyed and never invade again..."
"God, please grant us a miracle..."
Allied officers and soldiers all argued, chattering about the outcome, until they all prayed for their ally—the noble, righteous angel from heaven—to win.
After all, they had already witnessed the fall of the Godborn Duke Walter, the defeat of ancient gold dragon Titus—their last hope was all placed on their most noble, powerful ally.
If even Lord Barachiel couldn't stop the Ember Emperor, what reason did they have to keep fighting?
You could say—the result of this battle would decide their future: victory or defeat, survival or death, all hidden above the clouds.
But the Ember Legion was supremely confident. They played stirring music and sang the "Cassius Anthem," never doubting the red dragon would win.
"Long live His Majesty Cassius!"
"The great red dragon—eternal and invincible!"
"Victory! Victory!"
After all, as long as the Ember Emperor appeared, victory was near—this was the experience the Empire's people had learned over the years.
Finally, a violent gale swept the sky, blowing across everyone, letting all below taste the scorching, sulfurous air.
Smelling that familiar scent, the allied officers and soldiers felt their hearts race, a dreadful premonition rising inside.
In that wind, the clouds above were swept away, sunlight shining down once more.
"Roar—"
A drawn-out dragon roar echoed, shocking everyone present.
Under countless upward gazes, the red dragon spread his sky-covering wings, boldly displaying his colossal body, those crimson scales shining in the sun.
The Ember Legion's cheers grew wilder, like a tidal wave, and the stirring "Cassius Anthem" rang across the battlefield.
"Gods above..."
In the allied lines, the soldiers stared at the red dragon as if at the god of destruction come to end the world, terror and despair in all their eyes.
White feathers floated down onto their heads—they knew the angel had been killed by the evil dragon.
"Just like he did in the North, the Emperor once again ascends the stage of the Faianso continent with unyielding, invincible might.
The drama planned by the Emperor was grand enough—he roared, raged, tore open the Godborn's chest, broke the gold dragon's wings, even took the life of a lord of heaven.
From this day forth, the old order of the Faianso continent is forever sundered."
——"Faianso Continent: From Ruin to Rebirth"Ander Wolson