-SHATTTERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Space beside them burst open violently as reality itself cracked apart, and an overwhelming presence descended upon the surroundings, pressing down on everything nearby as if the universe itself had been forced to acknowledge the intrusion.
From the shattered space stepped two newcomers, one woman and one man.
The moment they appeared, every Angel except the demi gods retreated instinctively, their expressions twisting with shock and unease. It was not fear alone, but recognition, the kind that made their instincts scream before their minds could react.
Even the two demi god realm Angels frowned deeply, their brows constricting in clear annoyance as soon as they laid eyes on the newcomers.
"Isn’t it quite lively here?"
Elizabeth spoke with a curious tone, her voice calm and effortless as it echoed clearly through space, reaching every being present without resistance.
Her skin was warm and smooth, carrying a faint glow that made the golden tones upon it stand out naturally. Her bright amber eyes were sharp and full of life, alert and confident, as if the situation unfolding before her was nothing more than mild entertainment.
Black hair fell in loose, slightly messy layers around her face, the ends tinged with orange-gold hues, as though brushed by lingering flames.
At the center of her glabella, an amber-colored flame burned quietly. It was small and restrained, yet unmistakable, giving her an ethereal presence that felt closer to a deity than a mortal existence.
Her build was slender and well-balanced, favoring agility and control over brute force. Everything about her posture and movement suggested speed, precision, and complete confidence in her own power.
She wore a fitted black outfit beneath flowing white robes that wrapped around her form. Gold flame patterns traced along the sleeves, collar, and edges of the fabric, subtle yet striking. At first glance the attire appeared ceremonial, yet its structure made it clear that it was made for movement and battle alike.
Her presence felt warm and confident. She carried herself with ease, often smiling, but that warmth never felt harmless. Beneath her calm expression lay a quiet danger, like fire waiting patiently for a reason to burn.
Another voice responded to her question.
"True. Looks like they finally caught something interesting for once."
It was the man who spoke. His name was Perseus.
His skin was dark and smooth, marked with faint golden patterns along his neck and shoulders, as though light itself had fused into his flesh. His eyes were a steady gold, calm yet sharp, missing nothing. Thick black curls framed his face naturally, untamed yet orderly, and resting upon his hair was a crown of golden leaves.
He was lean and well-proportioned, built for control rather than raw strength. On his glabella, a small golden flame burned quietly, mirroring Elizabeth’s.
He wore flowing robes of black and white, layered simply but edged with gold. A white cloth crossed his chest in a clean, ceremonial fashion, while the black robe fell behind him, traced with faint star-like patterns. Nothing about his attire demanded attention, yet it naturally drew the eye all the same.
His presence was quiet, but heavy. He did not force his will upon the surroundings, yet the space around him felt steadier simply because he stood there, as if reality itself had settled into place.
Seeing them, the Demi God who was gripping Aamon by the head spoke in a stern and warning tone, his authority carrying weight.
"What are you doing here? Do not interfere in the business of the Heavenly Realm."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrows slightly, her lips curving upward as if she had just heard something mildly amusing.
"Your business?" she asked calmly, her tone carrying faint disbelief. "Brother, is he joking?"
"It does not look like it," Perseus replied in a relaxed manner, his voice smooth and unhurried. However, his gaze carried immense weight, as if countless mountains were pressing down through his eyes alone.
Without warning, an invisible pressure descended upon the surroundings.
The pressure was suffocating and heavy, spreading through the void like an unseen tide. Space itself seemed to tighten, pressing inward from all directions. Breathing became difficult, and even swallowing felt unnatural. The Angels stiffened as their bodies reacted instinctively, and even the two demi gods felt their throats go dry as unease crept into their divine forms.
"Why are you acting so high and mighty?" Elizabeth spoke again, her voice calm yet filled with quiet authority. "This is the Middle Realm, not the Heavenly Realm."
Her amber eyes sharpened as she fixed her gaze on the demi gods.
"And who exactly gave you the authority to question our presence?"
She took a slow step forward, and with that single movement, the pressure intensified. It did not explode violently, but instead pressed deeper and heavier, making resistance feel pointless.
"Did you forget?" she continued, her voice steady and cold. "Your Supreme signed an oath with ours. Whenever the Gates of Heavens descend, we are entitled to oversee the reason behind it."
Her gaze hardened further, all warmth disappearing.
"So tell me," she said evenly, "who gave you the right to question our presence?"
Elizabeth looked directly at the demi god ranked Angels, her stare questioning not only their authority, but their very right to stand there.
What shocked everyone was not her words, but the reaction they caused.
None of the Angels displayed their usual pride. No one lifted their chin or spoke back. Their expressions twisted awkwardly, stiff and restrained, as if they had been forced to swallow humiliation and could not react.
Silence spread through the void.
Only the faint, repeated sound of Aamon tapping weakly against the massive hand gripping his head echoed through the emptiness.
The two demi gods exchanged brief glances before taking slow breaths, forcing their rising anger back under control.
"Fine," one of them finally said, his voice steady but tight. "You may watch. But you will not interfere with our task."
The demi god holding the sealing artifact stepped forward toward Aamon, his expression stern and resolute.
"Wait."
Perseus spoke softly. The moment the word left his mouth, both demi gods halted as if space itself had obeyed him.
"What now?"
Clear irritation appeared on the Angel’s face as he turned toward Perseus.
"Let us handle the demon," Perseus said calmly. "You may retreat."
Those words shattered the last thread of restraint the Angels had. He erupted forgetting everything.
"DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE I WILL NOT ACT AGAINST YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A TRANSCENDENT?"
The demi god Angel summoned his divine sword, returning the sealing artifact as holy light surged outward. His aura fully erupted, no longer restrained, his eyes blazing as he stared directly at the Transcendent before him.
The Cosmos was divided into three realms.
The Heavenly Realm, where Heavenly beings resided.
The Abyssal Realm, home to Abyssal beings.
And the Mortal or Middle Realm, where other than mortals....Transcendent beings existed.
The beings who surpassed the natural limits imposed upon their race, bodies, and existence were recognized by the Cosmic Will as Transcendents.
Although the Middle Realm was weaker overall and could not compare in raw power, it was never devoid of extraordinary beings.
There existed individuals who shattered norms, broke past the limits carved into their existence, and rose through sheer will and deep comprehension.
For Transcendents, Will was the most important factor.
Their Will was so dense and powerful that it bridged the gap between realms, ignoring race, origin, and hierarchy.
Angels and Abyssal beings excelled in many aspects of power, but they shared a common flaw.
Their Will was lacking. It was not that they could not increase their Will, they could. But they couldn’t surpass the limits placed on their Will like the Transcendents.
And that single difference was enough to shake even the heavens.
The Origin is impartial. Even though mortals are weak, if they possess the determination to walk through the unknown darkness, they can still glimpse light at the end of that dark tunnel.
Mortals are the only beings who possess the potential to harness the true power of Will.
Even Angels and Abyssal beings can utilize willpower to a certain extent. However, Transcendents go far beyond what ordinary existence can imagine.
The strongest existences within both the Abyssal Realm and the Heavenly Realm are known as the Eternal Supremes.
Likewise, the Mortal Realm also has its own Transcendent Eternal Supreme.
The fragile peace that existed throughout the Cosmic Realm, and the reason why the Angels could not freely manipulate the Mortal Realm and turn it into a faith farming ground, was solely due to the presence of that Transcendent Eternal Supreme.
Yet even though Transcendents are powerful within their realm, their numbers are extremely few.
They are so scarce that they cannot oversee the Mortal Realm as a whole. Nor can they freely travel to every world in need of help. Only when a truly dangerous calamity arises do the Transcendents intervene.
Across the entire Cosmos, the number of Transcendents is only a few thousand at most.
When compared to the overwhelming populations of the other two realms, their numbers are pitifully low. This is not due to lack of effort, but because the Path of Transcendence is not an easy one, and not everyone is capable of walking it.
This path is reserved only for the strong and the elite.
"Hmph!! Your reaction alone proves what we suspected to be true. That demon has absorbed a Rune, hasn’t he? I can feel an unusual energy surrounding him. I was not completely certain before, but seeing your reaction confirms it."
Perseus spoke in a calm, neutral voice, yet his words caused every Angel present to stiffen.
It was not that the Angels feared the Transcendents standing before them.
Rather, they feared the existence that stood behind the Transcendents, unseen yet absolute.
***