410

The Village of San Vanganza

"For the glory of God!" shouted the angels in unison, wielding their swords of celestial fire, cutting down the oncoming horde of demons.

Behind them lay the partially ruined village of Santa Van Gonzalo, littered with the bodies of fallen angels—a testament to the fierce battle between Heaven and Hell that had raged for hours.

Despite their environmental suppression, the sheer numbers of demons threatened to encircle the angels, maintaining the upper hand.

"Lord Malachi!" cried a female angel with skin as white as goat's milk, collapsing to the ground. She was gravely wounded, her beautiful wings torn by the demon's claws.

Her plea for aid went unanswered.

Malachi, leader of the angels, remained unmoved, sparing her only a fleeting glance before refocusing on the enemies before him.

In his hands, the longsword ablaze with heavenly fire became a scythe, reaping demons with each swing. Demon after demon fell under his relentless assault, their hellish blood staining his form.

A colossal, three-headed demon roared, its massive claws lunging at Malachi. "Perish!"

Malachi's expression remained impassive. With a flicker of his pristine white wings, he effortlessly dodged the onslaught, countering with precise strikes. His blade pierced the demon's chest, sending tremors through its colossal frame.

The demon's heads rose in unison. "Lord Kazan will avenge me..."

Malachi sneered, flames erupting from his sword as he slashed. The celestial fire engulfed the demon, incinerating it from within.

"Boom!"

The explosive discharge of heavenly fire spared him the touch of hellish blood, though he absentmindedly wiped his cheek.

Just as Malachi prepared to resume his onslaught, a blazing inferno erupted nearby, engulfing the heart of the demon horde in holy light and searing heat surpassing the sun.

"Boom—"

With a deafening roar, dozens of demons vanished in an instant, consumed by the blossoming holy light and flames, their demise silent.

Malachi's expression shifted.

Moments later, Forseti descended from the heavens, landing amidst the demon ranks, Sulfuron's flames dancing in his hands.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Despite their numbers, not a single greater demon stood a chance against the interplay of intense holy light and flames. The fiery emanations from Sulfuron's Warhammer wreaked havoc among the demon ranks, leaving destruction in their wake.

Before the demons could react, other Paladins joined the fray, casting brilliant waves of holy light that detonated amidst the demon horde.

While most members of the Silver Hand were mortal, their prowess augmented by the Holy Light allowed them to rout demons with ease, often outnumbering and overpowering their foes, aided by the formidable Protoss knights.

With reinforcements, the angels' morale surged, their resolve unyielding. In moments, the tide turned decisively against the demon army, which soon began to falter and retreat.

Flying to Malachi's side, Daniel smiled. "Indeed, the Silver Hand knights are unmatched in demon slaying."

Malachi gestured subtly. "Daniel, is this..."

Daniel nodded knowingly. "Yes, he is the High Lord of Hearth Valley, the Aesir God of Sun. Unexpectedly, Malachi, we have the Sun God in our midst."

Malachi remained stoic, his gaze locked on the unfolding battle, his countenance unchanged.

"What's on your mind?" Daniel inquired involuntarily.

"Nothing," Malachi replied tersely, refocusing on the fray, wielding his Skyfire Sword against the demons.

Daniel didn't press further, joining the battle alongside Malachi.

Forseti raised his hand, directing the Sulfuron flames skyward.

Transforming into its warhammer form, he brought it crashing down.

Dedication of the Holy Light!

Rays of holy light surged from the ground, bathing the surroundings in a golden hue.

Several defensive knights joined in, invoking their own offerings of holy light. Soon, a vast network of glowing veins covered the battlefield, spanning nearly half its expanse.

"Boom! Boom—"

Demons within the holy light's reach were consecutively struck down, their shrieks and screams echoing through the chaos as the golden light enveloped them.

Already on the brink of collapse, the demon army swiftly crumbled, scattering in all directions. Angels and knights pursued them briefly before they disappeared into the void.

"At last, victory is ours," Daniel exhaled in relief.

"We've won countless such victories," Malachi remarked flatly.

Daniel turned to him. "Yet, they remain in history. Since the fall of that unmentionable name into Hell, true victory has become scarce."

"Yeah," Malachi agreed nonchalantly, then glanced towards Forseti approaching him, offering a polite smile. "Greetings, Asgard's Sun God. I am Malachi, servant of the Lord. Daniel and I serve under the command of Lord Randkiel."

"Hello," Forseti returned the greeting courteously.

While his demeanor may have seemed somewhat reserved compared to Malachi's, his smile appeared more genuine—a testament to his Paladin upbringing.

There was no ulterior motive to his restraint. Forseti merely regarded Malachi through the Eye of Reckoning.

The results were surprising. This high-ranking angel's reckoning revealed a shade of red—an indication of deep-seated sin.

Angels, inherently a wise race predisposed towards righteousness, rarely bore the stain of sin. Forseti glanced across the other angels nearby, noting their hues rarely extending beyond orange.

Malachi stood alone in crimson—a dark and profound shade.

Forseti harbored no sympathy for such an individual, briefly contemplating disciplinary action against him.

Though powerful at level seven, Malachi's sin-infested nature would inevitably diminish his effectiveness under the Holy Light. Forseti believed he possessed the strength to overcome Malachi.

Yet, a fleeting thought dissuaded him. The Golden Holy City, though long absent, wielded immense historical and mysterious power under Jehovah's dominion.

Rushing judgment against Malachi could invite considerable repercussions.

"Are there any demons remaining nearby?" Ander interjected.

"Of course," Malachi confirmed. "This victory is but a minor one. Demons pour forth from Hell, and we must seal the rift to expel them once and for all."