In some civilizations, Baalv was known as the God of Anesthesia. He was a Mara who put all kinds of creatures to sleep and implanted them into his own body.
Sleep reduced living beings to the level of inanimate objects.
Creatures captured by Baalv became nothing more than tools, forced to live as part of the monster's body for eternity.
-Life Art progress: 90%.
Baalv, weighing over 100 tons, clumsily chased after Shirone. A beast's forelegs sprouted from his shoulders and slammed into the ground.
The Great World War reverberated.
"Kiki! How do you like that? The power of 260 lions. Soon, you'll become part of my body too."
-Life Art progress: 91%.
As the progress surpassed 90%, the voice announced each percentage point. Shirone's heart sank at the realization that only 9% remained.
"…Shirone! Shirone!"
Canis's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Where's your head at? If you've got a plan, do it now. You didn't come here unprepared, did you?"
If Shirone had come here just because his magic had improved a bit, Canis was ready to cast Dark Worm on himself.
He'd rather die than become part of the Sleep Demon and suffer eternally.
Hearing Canis's words, Shirone recalled the magic circle Ikael had given him.
But even if he could create a halo, he couldn't use it as instantly as an angel.
"There's one thing…."
"Then do it! Why are you hesitating?"
Twenty crab legs sprouted from Baalv's lower body.
As the rapidly moving legs pushed forward with the weight of 100 tons, Shirone and Canis leaped to the side simultaneously.
Baalv, having jumped 10 meters, crushed the spot where they had been standing.
The Great World War shook, and iron dust fell from the ceiling.
"I need time. Can you buy me some?"
Canis sighed. Was that all?
But how long could he hold off an Arch Mara like Baalv, even with his full focus?
"10 seconds. I can't last longer than that."
"Just one minute. Please."
As Shirone left his spot, Baalv swung an octopus tentacle. Canis leaped like a flying squirrel as the slimy appendage smashed the ground.
"Kihihihi! Running away is your specialty, isn't it? Well, it's the only advantage the weak have."
"Hmph! You're slow and arrogant."
Canis focused and began counting the time. The difference in power was immense, but if he focused solely on evasion, it wasn't entirely impossible. Just because a mosquito can't defeat a human doesn't mean it can't evade for a minute, right?
Rian gripped his greatsword and stood up.
"I… have to go."
They couldn't rest forever. Shirone was preparing something, so they had to buy time with Canis.
At that moment, Peope looked outside and shouted.
Peope: "Th-that!"
Rian turned around and saw Ymir, the King of Giants, charging toward them with eyes burning in rage. It was clear he was targeting Shirone, who had humiliated him.
Dragging his broken body, Rian tackled Ymir with all his might, causing the giant to stagger to the side. Rian rolled on the ground, grabbed his greatsword, and blocked the path to Shirone.
'What's going on? Why?'
He had thrown himself into the fight without hesitation, but he hadn't expected Ymir to be pushed back. It felt like Ymir's strength had weakened compared to before.
Ymir brushed off his knees and stood up.
Ymir: "Third time now. But this won't be as fun as before."
Rian: "I am Shirone's sword. You won't get past me until I'm dead."
Thanks to Peope's telepathy, they could now understand each other. But Ymir only frowned in disappointment.
Ymir: "You're wrong. Strength doesn't exist to protect something. The essence of power is destruction. If you can't understand that, you'll never stop me."
Ymir moved like the wind. His raw strength had diminished, but his agility seemed to have increased.
A barrage of blows rained down on Rian's body. Rian, already broken beyond repair, couldn't even counterattack.
But he was satisfied. As long as he was alive, Ymir wouldn't be able to reach Shirone.
'Hold on. Just a little longer, and I can die in peace.'
Ymir's eyes began to glow red. No matter how much he pounded Rian, the boy wouldn't fall. Even after destroying everything in sight, Rian stood as if there was still something left.
Tess: "Rian! Rian! Stop it, you idiot!"
Tess shouted, her face drenched in tears.
Tess: "Please, stop hitting him! He's going to die!"
Ymir's attacks didn't stop. This wasn't the usual frenzy of battle—it was something far more insane.
The clash of life against life resonated through their very skin.
This was fun. This human was truly entertaining.
Ymir: "Magnificent! Destroying you is my purpose!"
Rian's body made a tearing sound as it shook.
Tess closed her eyes. But she could still see it. She could feel Rian dying through all her senses.
She screamed at Kariel through her tears.
Tess: "Fine! I'll give birth! I'll give birth to as many Nephilim as you want, so please, stop!"
Kariel remained unmoved.
Kariel: "Giving birth to Nephilim is expected. And Ymir isn't under my control."
Life Extraction Progress: 96%.
Ymir stopped his attacks and caught his breath. This was shocking. What was this human made of?
He was dead. No, he should be dead.
There was no sign of life in the way he stood, unable to even raise his guard.
Yet, he still held his greatsword.
How? Ymir had crushed all the muscles in Rian's right arm. It was impossible to hold iron with just the strength of ligaments.
'No, he's just a corpse. He's frozen in place.'
Though victory was certain, it didn't feel like a win.
Ymir: "I'll finish you now!"
Ymir gritted his teeth. He widened his stance and raised his fist, ready to deliver the final blow.
At that moment, Rian's greatsword surged upward. Slowly. When Ymir expanded his field of vision, he realized that only Rian was moving in the entire battlefield.
'Tch! This again?'
Having experienced countless wars, Ymir called this the "seesaw of time." When the world's speed suddenly surged, the recipient perceived time as slowing down.
As one side sped up, the other slowed.
In other words, as Ymir's time slowed, Rian's arm moved faster.
'Damn it!'
Ymir realized why the boy in front of him could still move despite his shattered body.
His spirit hadn't been destroyed. That unbroken spirit was directly moving his body.
This was a technique that completely transcended the biological mechanism of the mind commanding the body.
It was a divine technique only the highest-ranking giants could perform.
Since Schema was originally a giant's art, this divine technique resembled something from the human world.
In Schema, swordsmen who strengthened their brains controlled their bodies through mental locks.
But when pushed beyond limits, the mind and body became one, moving as the mind willed.
In the human world, this phenomenon was called "Divine Transcendence."
'Heh. I wish you'd done this from the start.'
Ymir twisted his body, aiming to dodge Rian's greatsword as it pointed toward the ceiling.
The moment he thought he had leaned enough to evade, the speed of time abruptly returned to normal.
Rian's greatsword disappeared from his vision. At the same time, Ymir's severed right arm spun in the air.
Ymir's face twisted in bitterness. The faster Rian moved, the slower time flowed. Yet, failing to dodge completely meant it was impossible from the start.
Crrrrack!
The moment the greatsword hit the ground, Rian's right arm exploded. Torn muscles dangled, and bones were fully exposed.
His body couldn't withstand the speed of Divine Transcendence.
Life Extraction Progress: 97%.
The Life Extraction was nearing its end. And the lives of the humans were also fading. Canis, struck by Baalv's tentacles, was sent flying dozens of meters and slammed into a wall.
He didn't get up.
Kariel: "Baalv, finish it."
Baalv: "Yes, Lord Kariel!"
After defeating Canis, Baalv charged at Shirone. The promised one minute had already passed. But Shirone still showed no signs of change.
Tess: "Shirone! It's dangerous!"
Shirone couldn't hear anything. In the process of pushing the Immortal Function to its limit, his nerves were no longer involved.
Baalv: "Kuhahaha! I'll pin you to my ugliest spot!"
A scorpion-like tail emerged from Baalv's back. A black droplet hung from its tip.
It was a powerful sleep toxin that could even knock out a dragon with a single sting.
At that moment, Shirone's eyes snapped open. Boom! A two-meter-wide circle appeared, and Baalv's attack was deflected by a shockwave.
Kariel, watching this, looked puzzled.
'No way… It can't be.'
Humans couldn't wield the power of angels. It was beyond human comprehension.
But why this unease? What was this unsettling feeling gnawing at her?
Kariel: "Baalv! We're out of time!"
Baalv: "Kieeeeeee!"
Following Kariel's command, Baalv screamed and launched a physical attack. His grotesque face was filled with terror.
Shirone's halo spun at the speed of light, a red dot forming at its center. Then, the first magic circle began summoning countless concepts.
An angel's magic circle.
The Infinite Judicial Halo.
Kariel couldn't hide her shock as she saw countless magic circles blooming like lotuses from the halo.
It really was a Halo.
It was impossible for a human to awaken this on their own. Someone must have taught him.
Who? What insane angel in this heaven would teach a human the Halo?
While Kariel was still reeling from the shock, Peope flew to the women.
Peope: "Hurry! Hurry!"
Amy: "Got it! Just wait a bit!"
Applying a spiral force, she twisted the shackles.
Thanks to Canis, who had already cut through more than half of them, Peope could easily destroy the restraints with her abilities.
Meanwhile, Kariel couldn't take her eyes off the Halo.
What was happening before her eyes was more serious than the Nephilim.
The betrayal of an angel was a major event that shook the foundation of heaven.
She had to know. Who had taught him?
And she had to eliminate that existence.
Baalv used every mechanism to crush Shirone. But his attacks stopped just before reaching him, as if blocked by an invisible barrier.
Baalv: "Kieek! Kieek!"
He gave it his all, but it was futile. Just as a child couldn't kill its parent, the authority of a higher being, recorded in the laws, prevented him from even approaching.
As multicolored lights embedded themselves into the Halo, countless magic circles formed and interlocked like gears.
When the information density exceeded 80%, the concepts rapidly transformed, and the rotation speed increased.
The halo's rotation speed surpassed imagination, as if it alone could unravel the world.
Baalv's face turned pale as he realized the concept contained within the magic circle. His legs gave out, and he fell to the ground.
He had encountered what Maras feared most.
Baalv: "Hieek! Ata…! Ata…!"
Baalv used every movable mechanism to crawl toward Kariel. But he was so out of it that none of his limbs could push him forward properly.
Having given up on survival, Baalv turned and shouted.
Baalv: "Lord Kariel! Get out of here! It's the Super Magic Amplification Circle, Ataraxia!"
Kariel knew. But she didn't move. Her mind was filled with so many thoughts that time itself seemed to stop.
Ataraxia.
The strongest judicial magic in heaven, which had subdued countless angels. It was Ikael's patented technique, capable of making any Mara scream.
And this power had been given to a human?
No way.
It was more plausible that her eyes were playing tricks, making Ikael appear as a boy standing there.
'Ikael, have you truly… gone mad?'
No, she hadn't.
She was genuinely trying to prevent war. She had even abandoned the honor of being the strongest angel, choosing to stand with humanity.
Information Transfer Rate: 98%.
Kariel's body trembled. Only 2% remained. But Ataraxia was waiting.
She saw Shirone's gaze fixed on her. Could a human really wield this?
It might be an illusion. The Life Extraction had to continue. But if this situation was real…
She would be annihilated.
Kariel: "Ikaeeeeel!"
As Kariel roared in fury, Shirone's Photon Cannon fired.