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Chapter 106: Genos Angelus
Right then, a Blazing Axe Mitachurl shattered the wind wall Little Ica had desperately conjured. Its massive axe, wreathed in pitch-black flames, cleaved down toward Aiden with devastating momentum.
Aiden's body instinctively twisted to the side. He swung his blade upward in a desperate parry.
Clang!
A deafening crash echoed as sparks scattered. The Fire Spirit Sword in his hands wailed under the impact. An overwhelming force transmitted through the blade, sending Aiden flying backward like a kite with a snapped string. He slammed heavily into the distant rock wall with a sickening thud.
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, but he gritted his teeth. His body slid down the jagged stone, dropping to one knee as he plunged his longsword into the ground to steady himself.
"...The sound that echoes through the heavens is meant for my sins..."
His voice was hoarse and trembling from the agonizing pain, yet the chant never stopped. Not for a single syllable. He lacked the skill to condense his chants. Activating an Extended Chant magic was agonizingly slow, and on a battlefield where every split-second mattered, each moment felt like an eternity.
Despite the omniscient perspective granted by the Mental Network, facing the siege of a massive horde of Level 3 monsters meant that even Aiden—temporarily boosted to Level 3—inevitably began taking hits. More gashes opened across his body, dyeing his white clothes crimson.
Just then, a gentle breeze swept past.
The wind carried specks of emerald healing light, falling over him like gentle spring rain. The lacerations across his back knit together at a visible rate, while his drained stamina and mental energy were steadily replenished.
A much brighter verdant glow wrapped around his body. It was the effect of Hyacine's magic and skills, providing him with continuous protection and recovery.
"...The horns of the gods, the harps of the spirits, the melody of light, is the very brand of sin..."
Supported by Tifa, Robin, and Hyacine, and fueled by Aiden's iron will, the agonizingly long incantation finally reached its final verse.
"...Oh, my fate, loved by the artificial heaven and earth—shatter to ash! I hate you so! The price is here, hold the proof of sin and destroy all things! Wail, Holy Belfry!"
"Genos Angelus!"
The chant was complete.
The moment the final syllable dropped, all sound within the entire cavern vanished. An incredibly complex magic circle, massive enough to shroud the entire cavern roof, abruptly unfurled in the sky.
Immediately after, a breathtakingly colossal belfry, constructed of ethereal light and sound, slowly descended from the center of the magic circle. It was the Ethereal Bell of Sound.
The instant the magic activated, Tifa and Robin—already warned via telepathy—retreated backward with everything they had, distancing themselves from the eye of the storm centered on Aiden.
Aiden looked up, his eyes bloodshot. He used every last ounce of his remaining strength to ruthlessly confine the magic's devastating power forward, ensuring the blast radius wouldn't catch his companions behind him.
Driven by his absolute will, the holy bell suspended in the heavens violently tolled.
DOONG!
It was an ancient, ponderous chime that seemed to echo from the very depths of the soul. Following it, a terrifying wave of pure white sound—visible to the naked eye—exploded outward like a dragon's breath.
The air fractured inch by inch wherever the soundwave passed, emitting an overwhelmed wail. The earth trembled madly, and the hard bedrock was plowed open layer by layer. That invisible shockwave obliterated everything in its path.
Whether it was the lowest level Hilichurls, the thick-skinned Blazing Axe Mitachurls, or the Abyss Mages with their elemental shields, there was no difference before this absolute power.
The ferocity and cruelty on their faces froze forever. Before they could even utter a single scream of agony, they abruptly detonated from the inside out under the terrifying sonic impact, bursting into clouds of blood mist.
The entire Domain Instance shuddered violently under the world-breaking strike. Countless fissures spiderwebbed across the vaulted ceiling, looking as if the space would collapse at any second.
When the dust settled, not a single enemy stood before him.
That single strike had drained the vast majority of Aiden's mana. With a mere thought, he deactivated his [Everlasting Flames], and the fiery aura burning across his body was instantly extinguished.
Unable to hold himself up any longer, his body went limp, dropping heavily to his knees. He leaned heavily on his sword planted in the earth, barely managing to keep himself from collapsing completely as he gasped for air.
In the wake of the horrifying sonic blast, the world fell into absolute silence.
The soft, resilient blue glow of the Ley Line Monolith became the sole source of light remaining on the battlefield. Under its illumination, one could see the hideous trenches gouged deeply into the earth, but other than that, there wasn't a single trace of a monster.
They had all vanished, thoroughly erased by that apocalyptic bell toll.
Domain cleared.
A blue-purple spatial vortex slowly materialized in the center of the cavern. Beside it, a gorgeous treasure chest shimmering with brilliant light coalesced into existence.
Under Hyacine's healing magic, a bit of color returned to Aiden's deathly pale face. Propping himself up with his sword, he stood and walked straight toward the chest to claim the final reward of their adventure.
The moment he popped the lid open, a blinding golden light burst forth, making everyone instinctively squint.
As the glow faded, four Artifacts and a thick book lay quietly at the bottom of the chest.
Two 5-star Artifacts: The [Witch's Flower of Blaze] and the [Witch's Ever-Burning Plume] from the [Crimson Witch of Flames] set.
Two 4-star Artifacts: The [Guardian's Flower] and the [Guardian's Sigil] from the [Defender's Will] set.
And a thick [Adventurer's Experience] book.
Aiden didn't hesitate, immediately equipping the two faintly glowing 5-star Artifacts onto himself. The two-piece set effect boosted Pyro damage, which would undoubtedly make his attack power in the [Everlasting Flames] state even more terrifying.
As for the [Defender's Will] set, its effect was to increase defense—something far more suited for a vanguard. But the Focalors Familia didn't have a vanguard in the traditional sense. After pondering for a moment, Aiden handed them over to Robin.
"It might not be the most perfect fit, but a stat boost is always a good thing."
Robin accepted them with a smile. She understood this was the optimal allocation of their party's resources.
As for the [Berserker's Rose] and [Adventurer's Tail Feather] that Aiden swapped out, those were passed down to Hyacine.
Finally, there was the [Adventurer's Experience].
Aiden tucked it away in his inventory without using it on the spot. For them, whether they sold the book for desperately needed funds or saved it for future companions who might join, it was far more cost-effective than burning it right now.
Exiting the Domain Instance, Aiden glanced at the portal—which still held two remaining challenge attempts—shook his head, and turned back with his exhausted but triumphant companions.
The Great Feat achieved from clearing this Domain was already more than enough for Robin to level up.
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