738. Sacrifices
“Close the barrier!”
Clayton Skyshredder bellowed as he flew back through the small that was open up in the dome protecting Mavos Academy. Behind him, tens of thousands of Centinels— ranging from [Younger Centinels] to even [Ancient Centinels] gave chase to him.
But before they could enter the barrier, a volley of spells blasted them, keeping them back. The faculty and students of Mavos Academy alike gathered there in the hundreds, fighting to stop the infestation of Centinels from entering the campus.
Perhaps if it was their combined might alone, they would have struggled to stave off the sheer number of Centinels that were pouring towards the barrier. However, they wielded the powerful artifacts and treasures that had been given Mavos Academy during this time of need from the various great powers of the Human Lands.
Marie Schofen held up a scroll that unleashed a flurry of glinting stars that shot up and managed to bring down an [Ancient Centinel]. Valda picked up a wand which created a localized storm by the barrier, sending bolts of lightning down to slow the approach of the Centinels. Faith El held up a bow, firing an arrow that multiplied into thousands of bolts that rained down and slaughtered the swarm of Centinels by the hundreds.
And it was not just their combined effort. Beyond the barrier, two remaining flaming figures flew around, drawing the attention of most of the [Ancient Centinels]. Salvos clones. Or perhaps they were considered Sally clones. Clayton didn’t know.
He just focused on what he had set out to do. He landed right before Oriur, carrying a third and the final Sally clone and Rachel in his arms. Setting them both down to the ground, he looked back up towards the closing barrier as Oriur called out next to him.
“Rachel! Mama!”
“Do we have a healing potion? Rachel is hurt! Someone!”
Oriur called out as he looked around in a panic. But nobody heard his voice. He pursed his lips, before running off to search for a healing potion.
Meanwhile, Clayton’s gaze was locked on the barrier as it slowly recovered, rebuilding layer after layer over the hole that had temporarily been opened up. Once at least four layers were rebuilt, he knew that unless the [Ancient Centinels] worked together, it would be very difficult for the swarm to break through the barrier. And at that point, once more layers were added, Mavos Academy would be safe for certain.
Clayton almost sighed in relief, glad that this gambit to save Rachel and Sally worked out. Or at least, that was what he thought. But then he heard Rachel’s voice croaking behind him. Glancing back, he stared at the young girl as she weakly raised a hand up to the Sally clone.
“S-Sally—”
Rachel gasped, and the Sally clone tightly held onto the young girl’s hand. Clayton frowned, seeing the Sally clone offer an apologetic smile to Rachel.
“I’m sorry, Rachel.”
Sally’s voice echoed, almost unsynced with the lip movement of the Sally clone. Clayton blinked when he heard that. But then a bright light flashed from behind him. Spinning around, he squinted as a powerful explosion erupted in the far distance.
“What is that…?”
Clayton stared at a silver blast that filled the horizon. An explosion so massive, it would have completely enveloped Mavos Academy and more of the surrounding area if it had been detonated in the Central Square.
The blast shone brightly, glowing over the horizon like a second sun. Clayton stared at the blast with wide eyes as the swarm of Centinels abruptly came to a halt and looked back towards the explosion too.
For a moment, all was silence as the blast remained dwarfing the landscape like it was a silver mountain. Then a thundering boom echoed, followed by a shockwave that sent the Centinels beyond the barrier washing back
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The barrier itself rippled from the shockwave as Clayton frowned, before glancing back at the Sally clone.
“What’s happening—”
He opened his mouth to face the Sally clone. But then he paused as he watched the flaming figure suddenly vanish, turning into nothing but flakes of embers. Looking back outside the barrier, he could only look on as the other two Sally clones just dissipated into smoke.
“Just what is going on?”
Clayton asked the question. But he got no answer in return. seaʀᴄh thё NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
“I said you will have to offer your body as a vessel.”
The remains of the Archangel’s essence repeated itself as Edithe blinked a few times. She shook her head, practically snarling at him.
“I heard what you said the first time around!”
“My apologies. I was under the impression you misheard me, hence your reaction.”
The glowing sphere glinted as it spoke. Edithe just gritted her teeth.
“I reacted that way because you’re so casually asking me to give my body to you like it means nothing!”
“Not to me. To Iudex.”
The Archangel’s essence clarified, and Edithe shook her head.
“Aren’t you Iudex?”
“It depends on your definition of what makes someone who they are. I am devoid of any and all of the personality that defined Iudex as an individual. However, I still bear some of the memories which Iudex possessed, so in a sense, you are right that I am also Iudex.”
Edithe pursed her lips. This explanation barely made any sense to her. But she didn’t request any clarification. Because this wasn’t what was important to her.
The reason she had come all the way to the Spirit Plane— the reason why she had sought out the Archangel— was to save Mavos Academy. While the idea of giving herself as some sort of vessel was definitely not appealing to her, she still wanted to hear what the remnants of the Archangel’s essence had to say.
“Look, that’s besides the point. I… you’re saying that the Archangel can be brought back if I offer myself as a vessel to you?”
“That is correct.”
The glowing sphere spoke affirmatively. Edithe placed a hand on her chest.
“So what happens to me if I accept?”
And for a moment, the remnants of the Archangel’s essence paused. Before, finally, it answered simply.
“I do not know.”
Edithe could only grit her teeth as she heard its response. She pointed at the glowing sphere accusingly.
“What do you mean you don’t know? That doesn’t make any sense! You’re the one making this offer to me!”
“As I mentioned, I only have a fraction of the memories that Iudex possessed. And truth be told, I have no idea if this will even work.”
“...What?”
Edithe stared at the glowing sphere in shock. It bobbed up and down like it was nodding.
“Based on the memories I do currently possess, Iudex had quickly hypothesized the possibility of evading death through employing the use of a vessel like the Spirit Lord.”
“So I’ll just become a puppet.”
Edithe surmised with narrowed eyes, recalling the battle she had witnessed just earlier.
“I’ll pretty much be dead, while the Archangel will be piloting my body until it finds a new one.”
But the remnants of the Archangel’s essence flitted back and forth, like it was shaking its head.
“Perhaps if Iudex were still alive, that would be true. However, Iudex is dead. So the circumstances are different. That is why I do not know what will happen to you. That is why I am uncertain if this will work. But it is simply the best chance of preserving the Archangel’s life, and that is my only goal.”
“I… see…”
Edithe hesitated as she heard that. She didn’t like the idea of becoming a puppet— she didn’t want to die. There was still so much she had to do. So many people she still cared about that she hadn’t said goodbye to.
Her eyes flickered as she thought of Hadrian. Daniel. Salvos. Faith. Sophia. Cless. And the rest of the Valiant Dreamers Company.
But the fate of Mavos Academy was at stake. And—
“However, as I can tell you are concerned about your own life, I have to clarify that even if you will not be reduced to a puppet, your chances of dying during this vesselization process is nonzero.”
The remnants of the Archangel’s essence explained.
“Just like the chances of this process failing and Iudex remaining dead is nonzero.”
Edithe closed her eyes. The uncertainty of everything she was being told frustrated her. But she thought of Rachel. She thought of exactly what would happen if Mavos Academy fell— if the Centinel Matriach was allowed to roam freely and bring destruction to the Human Lnads.
And she knew she had no choice in this matter.
So Edithe Dawnrise opened her eyes and stared at the glowing sphere, making her decision.
“I will accept. But only under one condition.”
“Oh?”
And the remnants of the Archangel’s essence drew closer, curious as to what she had to say. She took in a deep breath and—
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