Chapter 220 - 185: The Miracle of Radiance Descends Again

As the impassioned war prayer concluded.

A hidden, dark power surged from his body like ripples in water, slowly spreading in all directions.

Raphael, who just a second ago was praying to the Divine Emperor for protection while suspended in the air like a Demigod, let out a hysterical, agonizing scream. It was as if his soul was on fire, as if something was trying to tear its way out of his mind and body.

The white lightning that had once filled his eyes was now completely consumed by the dark Mighty Power.

Black, web-like cracks spread across his face, and the dark Mighty Power seeped out from them.

The Mind-Stealing Gem.

This Void Divine Artifact, treasured by the Void Realm Great Demon Thousand-Change Monarch and possessing the Mighty Power of the Formless Divine Monarch, was far more powerful and terrifying than any mortal could imagine!

It was a power strong enough to destroy an entire planet!

Even though Verne had been destroyed by Reinhardt’s own hand, a portion of its power still lingered within Raphael’s mind and body.

If it were fully unleashed, millions of soldiers in the Space Dragon Race’s army on the battlefield surrounding the catacombs would be killed in an instant!

He had been able to break free from Florant’s control and kill him only because he had been willing to pay any price, crossing the line of his long-held faith to use a sliver of the Mind-Stealing Gem’s power.

He made this decision not because he was a coward who feared death, clinging to his own wretched life.

His body and bloodline contained the power of the Mind-Stealing Gem, and a vast ocean of profane knowledge was sealed in the deepest recesses of his mind.

Death itself was not frightening. But if that knowledge and power were to fall into Florant’s hands, the entire Ash Soil Star Zone would face annihilation. As a Combat Priest and a member of the Imperial Think Tank, that was something he could never accept.

Even so, the decision to betray his faith and principles had burdened him with a heavy sense of sin.

He even believed his sin-laden soul was no longer worthy of returning to the Divine Emperor’s radiance.

For the Vengeful Angels’ victory, to wash away his sins, unleashing the power of the Mind-Stealing Gem, burning his soul away on the battlefield, and sacrificing himself for the cause—this was the last thing he could do.

As more and more of the dark power seeped from his body.

As the area within ten meters of him became completely submerged in the dark lightning of the Void Divine Artifact.

As this tragic and heroic act of martyrdom was reflected in the eyes of Manon and Matthias, and appeared before the eyes of Technician Soldier Agate.

Whether or not they had ever doubted Raphael’s faith, whether or not they had ever questioned the Combat Priest’s allegiances.

But at this moment.

His Loyalty needed no further test.

And as for Irenia, who witnessed it all, her eyes trembled. Her heart, which had been dead for many years, seemed to suffer a great shock at this moment.

She recalled the sight of her father’s back, more than twenty years ago, as he resolutely returned to their family domain after sending her away.

She recalled the once-peaceful plains outside their family castle, where her father and the Clan Knights had charged toward the countless Demons invading their home, ready to fight to the death.

That was her last memory as she left via the Teleportation Waymark.

But even today, she still couldn’t understand what use there was in such a meaningless sacrifice.

The war wouldn’t stop just because they died.

And slaughter and death remained the eternal, unchanging theme of this Dark Cosmos.

Just as Raphael’s vision was completely shrouded in darkness, just as he prepared for death, ready to turn his broken body into a raging fire to buy precious time for the Vengeful Angels’ retreat.

At that very moment.

In a daze, he saw a tall, imposing man walking amidst a silver radiance, his face indistinct.

This fleeting glimpse felt like an echo of memory before death.

But when Raphael came to his senses, the Divine Emperor’s Eternal Flame was blazing in his field of view. Like a fire burning away a spider’s web, the dark Mighty Power seeping from his mind shrieked an ear-piercing scream that no Mortal soul could endure as it was scorched by the flames, continuously fading away.

Even the pain of his soul burning was gone.

"Reinhardt... Lord Reinhardt?"

The next moment, Raphael’s pupils contracted in an earth-shattering shock. He stared, stunned, at Reinhardt, who stood before him bathed in silver radiance. The Radiant Holy Artifact·Divine Emperor’s Fury in Reinhardt’s hand was now emitting an endless Radiant Power.

And when he looked down and saw that same Radiant Power enveloping his own body.

Raphael’s mind went completely blank.

’This is...’

It wasn’t just him. The other members of the Vengeance Angel Squad were also utterly astounded to discover that the Emperor’s Radiant Power was now flowing through their bodies.

Healing their wounds.

Restoring their stamina.

Granting them strength.

Matthias stared blankly at his hands and spoke in a voice filled with disbelief.

"A Miracle of Radiance..."

During the past Battle of Grillers, he had personally witnessed the miraculous moment when Reinhardt, cloaked in Radiant Power, shattered the Furious Great Demon with a single punch.

However, he never would have thought that one day, this miracle would be bestowed upon him!

It wasn’t just the Vengeance Angel Squad. The moment the Radiant Power descended upon the battlefield, the expressions of both the Space Dragon Race and the Void Demons changed drastically in utter horror.

From the perspective of an Imperial Knight, this was the Emperor’s blessing, a Miracle of Radiance.

But if one switched perspectives, it was no different than a blessing from the Void Realm Four Gods descending upon the battlefield, a powerful enemy undergoing Demon Ascension on the spot, or a member of the Space Dragon Race awakening the mighty bloodline power of the Cosmic Primordial Dragon!

It was simply too terrifying.

The Elemental Dominator who had previously intended to reap the heads of the Vengeful Angels to claim credit from its superiors now had a look in its eyes that went beyond mere horror.

It froze for a moment.

Then, in the language of the Space Dragon Race, it let out a high-pitched, terrified, and trembling shout, "We must notify the fleet immediately! We absolutely cannot let these Imperial Knights escape—!"

But there was no need for this Space Alien to report up the chain of command.

The moment the Radiant Power reached the battlefield and blessed the Vengeance Angel Squad, both the leader of the Space Dragon Race and the Great Demon of the Demon Legion sensed that something was amiss.

’To be able to attract the attention of a supreme being...’

In other words, if the Imperial Human Race on Kemola Planet were allowed to leave, they would surely become a great enemy in the future.

This was just like how the Empire would never let a single traitor who had undergone Demon Ascension escape the battlefield.

At almost the exact same moment, both sides began to mobilize a portion of their main legions, marching rapidly toward the place where the Radiant Power had descended. They were determined to crush these potential threats in their cradle on Kemola!

「Meanwhile.」

Raphael’s hands trembled slightly. He couldn’t believe that he, who had completely ’fallen,’ could still receive the Divine Emperor’s blessing.

Then, Seventy-Six’s voice rang out via Telepathy.

’Arriving at your position in about thirty seconds. Clear a landing zone for me.’