Chapter 60: Change(7)

The angels remembered the war that began 700 years ago.

Humanity, gripped by despair, the continent consumed by darkness. The three Goddesses, the four Divine Beasts, and the first ten Angels, now known as the Archangels, united to fight the encroaching darkness. They were the beacon of hope for humanity.

Azazel’s barriers repelled the shadows, Raziel’s magic struck like lightning, Cassiel’s laws stripped the demons of their power, Gabriel foresaw the future, and Metatron’s reinterpretation of the ancient pact magic, now known as “Contracts,” fostered cooperation and prevented humanity from fracturing.

Without them, the war that ended 500 years ago would have had a different outcome. The Archangels took pride in their power.

They were the cornerstones of salvation, worthy to guide humanity under the Goddesses’ laws.

But that pride was now—

“Shall we… stop this now?”

—shattered before the silver-haired girl, Avalli.

Azazel’s barrier, its creator unconscious from a single blow, flickered and died. If Avalli hadn’t instantly claimed ownership of it, the resulting backlash would have devastated their surroundings.

Raziel, once so confident, now trembled, his attack faltering. The ancient magic that could annihilate even Greater Demons had simply… vanished before Avalli.

Cassiel’s dominion, the law of balance that equalized his and his opponent’s power, had briefly weakened her. But Avalli’s understanding of magic power was fundamentally different, and the moment she grasped the nature of his power, a concentrated blast of energy pierced Cassiel’s chest.

Two angels down, one paralyzed by fear. So far, it was going as Avalli had expected. Those three, weaker than even Sylvain, weren’t even worth considering as opponents. They were no more threatening than the Demon of Mist she had absorbed in the dungeon.

Gabriel and Metatron were different.

Gabriel, seer of the future, easily dodged Avalli’s magic.
Metatron countered by weaving layers of ‘restrictions’, binding both herself and Avalli.

Avalli realized she couldn’t simply overpower them with brute force, so she decided to utilize some of the ‘traits’ she had been neglecting.

There were two types of traits in Sword and Magic.

Passive traits like ‘Blessed Body’ and ‘Mana Infused Body’, which simply amplified stats and provided bonuses—
And active traits, usable skills.

[Trait: Multicast]
[The next skill used has a chance to be cast N additional times.]
[50% chance for 2 additional casts, 30% for 3, 20% for 4.]
[Cooldown: 10 minutes]

[Trait: Hourglass]
[Resets all cooldowns.]
[The cooldown of Hourglass cannot be reduced.]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]

[Trait: Causality Inversion]
[Transfers all status effects applied to you to the target.]
[Cooldown: 30 minutes]

Avalli used Multicast, creating a barrage of magic, a storm of spells that even Gabriel, with his ability to see the future, couldn’t dodge.

Simultaneously, she used Causality Inversion, transferring Metatron’s ‘restrictions’ to Gabriel, crippling his mobility. Even if he could see the future, he couldn’t evade a targeted skill.

Metatron, sensing the restrictions lifting from Avalli, reapplied them, a desperate attempt to contain her.

‘No, Metatron—!’

Gabriel foresaw the consequences and tried to warn her, but it was too late. Avalli was once again bound by countless restrictions, creating the perfect opportunity to use Hourglass.

The restrictions on Avalli were transferred to Metatron, and while the two Archangels reeled, Avalli unleashed another Multicast, a torrent of magic.

Gabriel, desperately trying to find a way out, saw the future—

‘…It’s no use.’

—and there was none.

Gabriel, struck by the magic, plummeted to the ground. Metatron, more resilient, barely managed to withstand the onslaught, but the situation was hopeless.

“…What… are you?”

Her face was still impassive, but her voice trembled. What was this girl, Avalli? A mere emissary of Sylvain, yet she was overwhelming five Archangels.

“What am I?”

She could explain, but the thought of having to explain computers, games, and the Sword and Magic series was… daunting.

So, whether it was a villager from Asha or an Archangel serving the Goddesses, she remained consistently silent on that topic.

“You don’t need to know.”

Avalli said, walking towards Metatron, past the fallen angels, past Raziel, who had surrendered, and stopping before the violet-haired girl.

“Ready to talk now?”

She offered again.

And Metatron couldn’t refuse. She knew, instinctively, that there wouldn’t be another chance.

She nodded silently, defeated, and Avalli, satisfied, crossed her arms.

It was finally time to talk.

****

“…Released? Just like that?”

Kyle, gaunt and pale after days of imprisonment, asked incredulously. The guard, equally confused, just shrugged.

“Orders from above. That’s all I know.”, “Sir Valderick, perhaps—?”, “Doubtful. He’s been trying to get you released, but they refused.”

The guard opened the cell door and handed Kyle his belongings.

‘…What’s going on?’

Kyle followed the guard out of the dungeon, confused. Emerging into the sunlight, he noticed a strange tension in the air. And waiting for him was—

“Insight Knight Kyle?”

—a man in the white robes of an Inquisitor.

“…So it’s not over. More questions? My answer will be the same—”
“That’s not why I’m here.”

The Inquisitor’s voice was… strange.

“…Someone wants to see you. Follow me.”

Kyle nodded. He was too weak to resist, and defying anyone in the Holy Kingdom was futile. He followed the Inquisitor through the city, from the depths of the dungeon to the upper levels—

“The temple? Someone wants to see me here?”, “…Don’t ask. This is… confusing.”

The Inquisitor’s reply was curt, irritable. He led Kyle to a side entrance, then paused. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke, his voice strained,

“You claim to have seen a Saintess in Asha Village.”
“I did.”
“…You believe a divine miracle has been bestowed upon that girl.”
“As an Insight Knight, that was my assessment. There could be no other explanation.”

Kyle’s voice was filled with conviction, but the Inquisitor just shook his head, as if unable to comprehend his words.

“Enter.”

He said coldly.

Kyle made the sign of the cross and stepped inside. The sun had already set, so the temple should be dimly lit by candles, but—

“…Huh?”

—it was bathed in a brilliant light. The source: multiple pairs of magnificent, glowing wings.

Archangels. Beings of immense power, rarely seen by even high-ranking paladins, were lined up within the temple.

Five Archangels stood on either side, and at the center, sitting on one of the three Goddesses’ thrones, usually vacant, was—

“Long time no see, mister.”

—a silver-haired girl with familiar green eyes.