Ray's eyes burned with a desperate flame as he took a bold step forward.
"Then tell me—where are my friends!?" he shouted, voice hoarse with emotion.
The robed man before him—one of the high priests of the Demon Cult—turned, his eyes gleaming with derision. "How dare a mere vessel raise his voice at me?" the priest sneered, his tone laced with malice.
Angel, who stood beside Ray, narrowed her eyes. Her tone dropped, cold and threatening. "Answer him. Or I will ensure your soul is tortured for eternity."
The priest scoffed, letting out a reluctant sigh. "Tch. Fine. Since your little 'god' insists. I sold them—to the slave auctions. After all, you turned out to be the perfect vessel. Does that answer your question?"
Ray's breath caught in his throat. "You sold them? To a slave auction!? Where—where is it!?"
"Where else?" the priest replied with a mocking smile. "The Charlotte Slave Auction."
Ray clenched his fists, his heart pounding. "I have to go. Now! Before they're moved again!"
"Ray, wait," Angel said firmly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's already night. The roads will be crawling with beasts. You can set out at first light."
"But—" he began, but Angel cut him off.
"I know you want to save them. I know they mean everything to you," she said, her gaze softening slightly. "But I won't have you running into your death. I won't let you become a corpse for a cause you could win with a little patience. Do you understand?"
Ray lowered his head, his voice heavy with guilt. "Yes, Angel-sama…"
Angel's eyes turned cold again as she turned back to the priest. "And you," she said icily. "Don't think I'll let you walk away unpunished."
She raised her hand. "Emerald."
"No—wai—!" the priest tried to speak, but in a flash, his form was sealed within a crystalline emerald prison, his screams muffled as the crystal shimmered with divine energy.
> [I sealed the Demon Cult priest inside an emerald crystal for all eternity.]
---
The Next Morning
The first rays of sunlight bathed the land as Ray strapped his sword to his waist.
"You ready?" Angel asked.
Ray nodded. "Yes!"
Angel handed him a sheathed blade, the silver hilt marked with celestial runes. "Take this. Keep it on you at all times. You'll need it."
"Thank you, Angel-sama," Ray said, bowing deeply.
He hesitated, then turned back. "Angel-sama?"
"Yes? Do you need something else?"
Ray looked up at her, eyes earnest. "If I were to pray to you… would you hear me?"
Angel smiled gently. "Of course I would. What kind of god ignores their worshipper's prayers?"
"Then… please watch over me in my journey." Ray smiled, his courage reignited.
"I will," Angel replied softly.
> [Ray departed at sunrise, heading toward Charlotte. His resolve burned brighter than ever.]
Angel watched him disappear into the horizon, then turned her gaze to the sky.
> [My goal in this world was simple: to become an official god. And for that, I needed worshippers—an entire village, at the very least. Luckily, I already had one in mind.]
Augustus Village. It bordered the demonic forest and was plagued by beasts. Perfect.
"Right. Let's pay Augustus a visit."
---
Augustus Village
"Damn it… Just a few more beasts," the village chief grunted, sweat pouring down his brow. "If only the baron hadn't abandoned us…"
He looked to the skies and dropped to his knees.
"If there is a god out there… please… answer our prayers. Grant us your protection."
Angel smirked as she hovered high above the village.
> [This is the perfect opportunity for my divine debut.]
She raised her voice, divine energy bursting from her body.
"Lowly beasts dare to threaten my people? I, Angel—the almighty god—shall shield this village from harm!"
Her radiant form shimmered in the sky, long flowing garments of silver and white, her presence overwhelming.
"Look! Up there!"
"He called himself Angel!"
> [With a single pulse of my divine aura, I let them feel my power.]
The ground trembled.
"This aura… there's no doubt—he's a god!" the village chief gasped, eyes wide.
"O mighty god! Please! Protect our humble village!"
A terrible roar split the skies.
> [A wyvern. Just my luck.]
"A wyvern!? We're doomed!"
"Everyone stay calm! The god is with us!" the chief shouted.
Angel floated higher. "Swear yourselves to me. Offer your eternal faith, and I shall grant my protection."
"We shall worship Lord Angel-sama forever!" the villagers cried in unison.
> [The wyvern opened its jaws, fireball charging. A perfect opportunity.]
"Eternal: Death Pentagram!" Angel roared.
A massive sigil spread from beneath her, encasing the sky. A dark spear appeared in her hand. Without flinching, she drove it into her chest.
> [System Skill: Eternal: Death Pentagram activated.
A powerful sigil stuns enemies, the user pierces themselves with a divine spear, siphoning health from all targets within the mark.]
The wyvern's flames died mid-air. Its eyes rolled back as it fell, lifeless.
"I… I didn't even feel pain. Impressive."
"The wyvern has fallen! All hail our god!"
> [A feast followed. They sacrificed their finest meat, chanted my name. Just as planned.]
---
Luminos Kingdom
A royal messenger burst into the throne room.
"What did you say!?" King Alexander bellowed. "A wyvern appeared!?"
"Please, my king, remain calm," Sir Ethan, his trusted knight, urged.
"Calm!? A dragonkin threatened one of our villages! Even a small wyvern can level cities!"
"My king, the threat has already been dealt with."
"…By whom?"
"A god, sire. A divine being descended upon the village and struck it down."
The king slumped in his throne, pressing a hand to his forehead. "A wyvern and a god? You're going to give me a heart attack."
"Shall we investigate?"
"No. Send tributes. We can't afford to ignore a divine entity who may one day become an ally—or an enemy."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I shall dispatch envoys at dawn."
---
Augustus Village – Following Morning
The villagers, now devoted, knelt in the fields and offered daily prayers.
> [They prayed at night and at dawn. Their faith was growing stronger by the hour.]
> [Meanwhile, I was constructing my divine sanctuary—a floating mansion made of emerald and gold.]
In the skies above, a vast citadel sparkled, nestled among clouds.
Angel raised her arm.
"Come forth, my generals of war!"
One by one, powerful figures appeared, their forms wrapped in divine light.
"I, Bankai Akuma, appear before my lord."
"I, Dio Senko, stand ready."
"Raion Akuma, at your command."
"Satori Akuma, summoned as willed."
"Jiso Seishin, prepared to act."
…One by one, nearly forty celestial beings bowed before Angel—each representing power, wisdom, speed, or destruction.
Among them stood warriors of ancient clans—Akuma, Senko, Rengoku. Celestials like Deva and Forged. Names that echoed with legendary might.
And finally—
"Shindai Rengoku, strongest of the celestials… greets his almighty."
> [At last, my court had gathered. With worshippers below and my army in the sky, the era of Angel—the god of divine retribution—had truly begun.]