Chapter 630: The End of Discord
“Boom—”
In an instant, the dark red and silver interwoven flames pierced through a series of defenses, surging directly toward Barachiel at the heart of the Fortress.
“Ah—” The Lord of Silver Heaven, Arrogance incarnate, flinched in shock and fury. His eyes flashed with two terrifying beams of light, and for the first time, he let out a piercing, agonized wail.
Barachiel was no longer flawless. The six massive wings behind him were instantly charred, crumbling into ash. His chest was seared open, revealing a translucent sphere pulsing within—its surface a deep, star-strewn night sky, dotted with silver oceans, intricate temples, and towering sacred mountains. It resembled a miniature cosmos—his Heaven’s Essence.
He was no longer a living being, but a construct, a perfectly ordered creation forged by celestial might. Yet now, the chaotic flames ravaged his form, tearing open the sacred order within, devouring everything with their scorching tongues, reducing all to ruinous chaos.
With a roar, Barachiel raised his burning arm, drawing forth a gleaming longsword. “You will pay for this! Judgment!”
He swung the blade, and high above, a colossal star-shaped greatsword descended with the weight of Heaven’s Law. Its tip aimed directly at the rapidly ascending Red Dragon. If struck, the Red Dragon would suffer no better fate than Barachiel himself.
But for Kai Xiusu, mere defense was useless. Attack was the only true defense.
Destroy the source of Heaven’s power, and this so-called Final Judgment would vanish like water without roots.
“Boom—” Kai Xiusu roared in return, spreading his wings. The blazing fire wrapped around him surged upward, engulfing The Immortal Bastion.
The Red Dragon clamped its claws into the fissure in the wall, veins bulging across its arms. With a sudden, violent pull, it tore the stone apart, widening the hole. Then, folding its wings tightly, it plunged through.
“Die!” Kai Xiusu bellowed, transforming into a crimson afterimage trailing fire. His aura surged forward, devouring the air as he charged toward the center of the fortress.
“Villain,” Barachiel cried, unleashing every ounce of power, “you are the one who should be damned!”
He swung his longsword with furious might, sending wave after wave of razor-sharp light blades through the air. Thunderbolts exploded in every direction. The silver horn blared, unleashing a soaring hymn, ancient and sacred words echoing across the heavens—spiritual assaults, mental onslaughts, all converging upon Kai Xiusu.
But Kai Xiusu showed no fear. His scales flared gold, glowing brilliantly—Gilded Scales activated.
Then, intricate carvings across his body flared to life, covering his form like living armor. Carved Skin Dragon activated.
Under the effect of Metamagic: Instant Casting, layers of spell shields erupted around the Red Dragon, and star-like fragments swirled around him like a halo.
“Roar—”
In a split second, Barachiel’s relentless offense shattered every defense. Kai Xiusu’s body was torn open, riddled with wounds. But the Red Dragon pressed on, riding through the storm of attacks, its aura unblockable, surging forward until it stood before Barachiel.
“You’re mine,” Kai Xiusu grinned, revealing rows of sharp, white teeth in a terrifying, grotesque smile. His claw seized the burning form of Barachiel.
Now, Barachiel was wreathed in flames. His once-perfect face was ruined—charred, twisted, almost monstrous. For a being born of perfection, a symbol of order, even the slightest flaw was enough to drive them mad. And now, Barachiel was no longer himself.
If not for the essence of order within his spiritual soul, he would have already lost reason.
He howled like a demon from Hell, twisting and writhing, desperately trying to escape the grip of the Red Dragon.
“Sinner! I will kill you!” Barachiel screamed, swinging his longsword with arms near breaking, each blow aimed at the Red Dragon’s eyes, throat, heart—vital points.
Deep wounds tore across Kai Xiusu’s body. Scales were ripped open, blood gushing like a river.
Yet the Red Dragon paid no mind. His gaze remained fixed, greedy, devouring. His throat opened wide, deep within, a terrifying light began to coalesce.
“Boom—”
The air exploded.
A monstrous column of flame shot forth, striking Barachiel’s chest. The impact slammed into the delicate sphere—the Essence of Heaven.
Plunder Breath
Instantly, half of Barachiel’s body was consumed by dragonfire, reduced to ash. Only the Essence remained, still fighting.
Above, the Heaven’s Greatsword, descending, suddenly lost control. It shattered into countless luminous particles, vanishing into the sky.
The dark red chaos flames shattered the order within the Essence, while the silver-white reconstructive fire—born of divine law—reformed the broken strength, transforming it into power that now belonged solely to Kai Xiusu.
The flame column from the Red Dragon’s maw now resembled a thick syringe, greedily siphoning the Essence’s power, converting it into fuel for himself.
“Hahaha… So this is the Primordial Source of Heaven? Truly exquisite!” Kai Xiusu’s face twisted in ecstasy as he devoured the sacred essence. His monstrous visage lit up with rapture.
Now’s the time to take as much as possible. Who knows if I’ll ever get another chance? he thought.
“No… you dare plunder Heaven’s Primordial Source? You will pay the price!” Barachiel, reduced to a single half-remnant, screamed in panic, his voice weak and broken.
But Kai Xiusu showed no mercy. He unleashed the chaos flames, obliterating the rest of Barachiel’s physical form. His spiritual soul was forced to retreat, trapped within the Essence.
From the standpoint of the Material Realm, Barachiel was already dead. His soul should have left the corpse, returning to Heaven’s Mountain, his authority and essence merging back into the celestial order. He would be reborn among the countless angels.
But this Red Dragon was greedy beyond measure. He sought not just power—but to plunder the very authority of Heaven’s Mountain itself.
That realm was the Land of Radiance, the embodiment of perfect goodness, the union of body and spirit where order, justice, and compassion reigned supreme. Even demons fled from it. And yet, this Red Dragon dared to seize it?
To Barachiel, this was no mere villain. This was an abomination—an enemy of order itself. A being worthy of the name Divine Abomination.
Yet as a spiritual soul, he could only watch helplessly as the monstrous Red Dragon consumed his Primordial Source.
“No—!” Barachiel’s soul trembled, screaming in agony. The Primordial Holy Words flared once more within him, and his remaining form burst into blinding light.
Heavenly Miracle Spell
A summoning spell—calling upon a deity or some great being, demanding a miracle.
The sky erupted in light. From above, a vast, distant voice rang out:
“Stop. You have taken enough.”
Kai Xiusu had expected this. He looked up, unflinching, and continued his plunder, transforming Heaven’s primordial power into his own.
“So it comes, as I knew it would. True Controller of the True Heaven,” Kai Xiusu murmured, his tone tinged with regret.
A regiment of golden energy swirled above him, slowly forming. Merely sensing its presence, Kai Xiusu felt the overwhelming aura of justice and fairness—something utterly beyond mortal comprehension.
The vortex coalesced into a phantom image, towering hundreds of meters high in the sky. The figure had pure golden skin, radiant glory, and wings of white-gold, shimmering with metallic luster. Heat radiated from its form, yet its expression remained gentle, kind—calm, even toward its supposed enemy.
“Zafkiel,” Kai Xiusu whispered, the name heavy with reverence.
He was the sole survivor among the founding members of the Celestial Seven Flames Council, and the guardian of the highest heaven—Radiant Heaven Croynias.
Even Kai Xiusu felt the heat of the being’s presence, as if a divine force sought to purify him.
Legend said Zafkiel was the embodiment of the purest force of goodness. Only the most virtuous beings, or the most powerful evils, could stand before him without being consumed by his divine energy.
Zafkiel
Challenge Rating: ????
“Truly, Lord of the Seven Heavens… the one who illuminates the entire Heaven’s Peak, a being who rivals the Deity itself,” Kai Xiusu murmured, overwhelmed by the aura of justice and fairness. Yet he felt no fear.
In this war, Heaven’s Mountain had caused significant damage to the Material Realm. Kai Xiusu was a native of that realm. The destruction was his people’s internal affair.
But Barachiel was not. He was a latecomer, still tainted by humanity. And as the Avatar of pure lawful good, Zafkiel would likely not intervene—bound by the very rules he upheld.
“Zafkiel! This evil dragon is plundering Heaven’s Primordial Source!” Barachiel’s soul cried out, desperate.
Kai Xiusu roared back, unapologetic: “This is my territory. Your people invaded the Material Realm. Shouldn’t they pay a price?”
“Enough,” Zafkiel said, his face solemn, his presence commanding yet calm. He stared down at the Red Dragon, his voice echoing with finality: “All disputes end here.”
A massive golden hand descended from the sky, seizing the Essence of Heaven—now drained and nearly empty—along with Barachiel’s spiritual soul. Then, without a sound, it vanished into the heavens.
Kai Xiusu watched, regretful but silent. He did not interfere. Not yet. He was far from a match for an existence like Zafkiel.
“Though regrettable… the spoils of this battle are more than enough,” the Red Dragon mused, feeling the surge of Amannata Divine Power and Heaven’s Essence coursing through him. He glanced at his Character Sheet, where new information refreshed continuously. A satisfied smile spread across his face.
- [You have slain Wings of Fadalan – Walter Graham (Challenge Rating: 24). Gained 65,000 experience points.]
- [You have slain Lord of the Messenger – Barachiel (Challenge Rating: 31). Gained 185,000 experience points.]
- [You have slain a Heavenly Sovereign. Achieved Legendary Armor Class Achievement: Saint Slayer.]
The Red Dragon flared its wings, creating a powerful hurricane that swept away the storm clouds. Sunlight broke through once more, bathing the earth in golden light.
“Northern Aether… is now fully mine. This will be the starting point of the Empire of Ashen Conquest on the Fadalan Continent,” Kai Xiusu declared, surveying the scarred and wounded land. He opened his bloody maw wide, unleashing a long, echoing roar.
“Roar—”
On the ground, the Allied Forces stood frozen, staring upward. The swirling clouds above alternated between dark red flame and pure white holy light. Explosions thundered in the sky, impossible to interpret.
Then, the light pierced through. The battlefield fell silent.
“Gods… has the battle finally ended?”
“Who won?”
“I felt a presence… pure, just. That must be Barachiel’s aura.”
“So… the heavenly emissary has triumphed? The Red Dragon is defeated?”
“Amanata, protect us! Our last hope—this evil dragon must be eradicated, forever banished!”
“Gods, please send a miracle!”
Officers and soldiers whispered, their voices trembling. They prayed as one, their faith resting on the celestial angel—representing justice and righteousness—who now stood as their final hope.
They had already witnessed the fall of Divine Noble Duke Walter, the defeat of the Ancient Gold Dragon Titus. Their last hope had been embodied in this most powerful, noble ally.
If even Barachiel could not stop the Emperor of the Ashen Flame… what hope did they have left?
This battle’s outcome would decide their future—victory or failure, survival or death. All hung beneath the heavy veil of clouds.
Yet the Ember Army stood firm in confidence. They played energetic music, singing the Hymn to Kai Xiusu, utterly certain of victory.
“Long live Emperor Kai Xiusu!”
“Great Red Dragon, eternal immortality! Invincible in battle!”
“Victory! Victory!”
After all—this was the Emperor of the Ashen Flame. His presence alone signaled the end of war. This was the hard-earned wisdom of generations.
Finally, a violent gust tore through the sky, sweeping across the earth. Everyone felt the heat, the sharp scent of sulfur.
The Allied Forces’ officers and soldiers’ hearts pounded. A terrible premonition crept over them.
The wind swept the clouds away. Sunlight poured once more onto the earth.
“Roar—”
The long, echoing dragon roar sent shockwaves through every soul.
In the eyes of countless onlookers, the Red Dragon unfurled his vast, sky-obscuring wings, displaying his immense, awe-inspiring form. Crimson scales gleamed under the sunlight, radiant and fierce.
The Ember Army’s cheers erupted into frenzy—like thunder, like a storm. The passionate Hymn to Kai Xiusu echoed across the battlefield.
“By the Gods Above,” murmured the frontline soldiers of the Allied Forces, staring up at the Red Dragon as if he were the god of destruction, the bringer of the world’s end. In their eyes—different, yet unified—was only fear, despair.
White feathers drifted down, landing softly on their heads. They knew—the angel had fallen.
“As he did in the Northern Regions, the Emperor has once again ascended the stage of the Feiansuo Continent, unyielding, invincible. The grand theatrical performance he orchestrated was nothing short of epic. He roared, he tore through the chest of a divine offspring, shattered the wings of the Gold Dragon, and stole the life force of a Heavenly Sovereign.”
“From this day forward, the old order of the Feiansuo Continent has suffered an irrevocable rift.”
—Feiansuo Continent: From Destruction to New Life
An Der. Wolson
(End of Chapter)
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