Rei Ao's voice is soft, yet the room's temperature plummets; frost blossoms across the window glass.
Zelel's lightforged sword reappears. She levels the blade at Rei Ao.
"If you insist on interference, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Her halo blazesangelic power unleashed!
As one of Heaven's foremost battle angels, she once singlehandedly repelled a combined demon invasion and has absolute confidence against any lowerrealm beingat least, until meeting Rei Ao.
Rei Ao's mouth curves; rainbow light ripples in his eyes.
"Your courage is admirable."
He steps forward lightlylike inviting a partner onto the dance floor.
A single stepyet it feels like a mountain collapsing.
An indescribable pressure rolls out from him; the room's light bends, strange geometric patterns bloom on the furniture, a deep cosmic hum echoes in the air.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly Zelel can't breathe, as though the world's weight crushes her shoulders.
Her light sword trembles violently; cracks web across the blade.
Crack!
It shatters into countless motes of light and dissipates.
Her wings droop lifelessly.
Knees buckle; she drops to one knee.
Panting hard, fine sweat beads her brow.
Chapter 788: Zelel's Shocked, K-On's Adventure
"WWhat kind of power is this?"
Zelel forced herself to raise her head, her eyes full of disbelief.
Never had she felt such a terrifying pressure.
Not even in front of the Archangel had she experienced this suffocating despair.
She could tell he wasn't even serious.
That was just a casual trace of his aura.
Gabriel's eyes widened, her small mouth forming an O.
She looked at her sister kneeling on the floor
Then at the unruffled Rei Ao.
Incredible!
She knew Rei Ao was strong.
But this strong?
That was her sister Zelelone of Heaven's very strongest battleangels!
Yet she couldn't stand even a wisp of Rei Ao's aura?
Because the killing intent wasn't aimed at her, Gabriel felt nothing at all.
"Can we talk properly now, Zelel-san?"
Rei Ao withdrew the majestic pressure.
Air began to circulate again.
He walked over to Gabriel, gently ruffled her golden hair, and the rainbow light in his eyes softened.
"Gabriel is happy with me. That's all that matters."
Zelel froze for a moment, then struggled to her feet, wings trembling as she folded them.
Shock, resentment, confusionand a barely visible reverencewhirled in her eyes.
A proud warrior like her
had never imagined losing in such a way.
Even more astonishing was the level of power Rei Ao had just revealedfar beyond anything she understood as "strength," beyond even the sacred texts' descriptions of supreme beings.
"What exactly do you want?"
Her voice had lost its earlier edge, now rough and husky.
Rei Ao smiled.
With a casual wave, a tea table inlaid with star patterns appeared in the room.
Two steaming cups of black tea sat on it.
"Very simple.
"Gabriel wants to stay here, and I want you to respect her choice."
He paused, those iridescent eyes fixed on Zelel.
"If you're worried about Heaven's rules I can change them myself."
Zelel drew a sharp breath, almost dropping her teacup.
Change Heaven's rules?
Even the Archangel would never dare say such a thing!
Heaven's laws were supreme decrees set at Creationnever once shaken.
Yet looking at Rei Ao's calm face, she couldn't muster the slightest doubt.
What he had shown just now was only the tip of the iceberg; perhaps he really could do it
After a long silence,
Zelel finally took a deep breath.
A trace of weariness surfaced on her holy face.
Her body was tiredher heart even more so.
"I understand."
She turned to Gabriel, expression complicated.
"Since this is your decision, Gab, I won't interfere any further."
Gabriel could hardly believe her ears; even her halo flickered with surprise.
"RReally, Sis?"
She had expected a cataclysmic argument
had even braced herself to be dragged back to Heaven.
And yet everything was settled this easily?
Zelel nodded.
Her wings folded, the divine light around her slowly dimmed.
"But I hope you two will take good care of yourselves."
She gave Rei Ao a deep look, as if trying to read the secrets in this mysterious man's eyes,
then merely shook her head.
"Heaven will keep watching this place."
A dazzling pillar of holy light descended, enveloping her.
In the final instant before she vanished she told Gabriel, "Remember to visit Heaven sometimes."
A rare gentleness colored her voice.
The light faded.
Zelel was gone,
leaving only a few drifting feathers that dissolved into motes of light.
Gabriel stood there dazed.
After a good while she suddenly flung herself at Rei Ao,
cheering like a child who just got her favorite toy.
"Rei Ao! You're amazing! Even my sister lost!"
Adoration sparkled in her eyes.
Right now, Rei Ao was grander in her heart than any god of Heaven.
Rei Ao caught her with a smile and placed a light kiss on her forehead.
"A trifling matter."
Turning toward the kitchen, he asked,
"Hungry? I'll make breakfasttoday we're having special angel cake."
Gabriel's eyes lit up instantly.
"Really? I want double frosting!"
Another world
On a mountain path, four lively highschool girls were chatting and laughing their way toward the summit.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, sprinkling mottled shadows over their journey and lending a poetic charm.
"Come on, Miojust a bit more! The view up top will be fantastic!"
Yui Hirasawa waved energetically from the front.
Her pink jacket stood out in the sunlight like a happy butterfly.
A stuffed backpack bounced on her back, crammed with snacks and drinks.
Mio Akiyama wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked helplessly at her friend.
"Yui, we've been walking for two hours already"
Her voice was soft and weak; her stamina was clearly near its limit.
Sweat plastered her long black hair to her cheeks, making her look even more pitiful.
"Mio's stamina is worse than Yui's~"
Ritsu Tainaka, only lightly sweating, caught up from behind,
teasingly poking Mio's cheek.
"You've gotta exercise more, y'know!"
Her trademark headband sat across her brow, her face bright with mischief.
Tsumugi Kotobuki smiled and handed over an elegant water bottle bearing her family crest.
"Let's rest a bit. I brought tea and pastries."
Her graceful manners formed a charming contrast to the wilderness, yet never felt out of place.
The four girls found a flat rock, savoring the mountain breeze and Mugi's exquisitely prepared treats.
Mio pulled out her phone, snapping photos of her friends' laughter:
Yui theatrically stuffed cake into her mouth, cream on her lips;
Ritsu struck a goofy face with her cap worn backward;
Mugi held a bonechina teacup with perfect poise, as if attending high tea.
These ordinary moments were precious treasures to Mio.
"Ah! A squirrel!"
Yui suddenly pointed to a treetop not far away, jumping up in excitement.
The other three followed her fingerthere was nothing.
"Yui you missaw it again, huh?"
Ritsu shook her head, smiling indulgently.
Yui scratched her head,
laughing sheepishly.
"Hehe maybe I was seeing things~"
She stuck out her tongueutterly adorable.
~~~
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Chapter 789: Danger! Akiyama Mio's Trade!
After a short break, the four girls of the Light Music Club resumed their climb toward the summit.
But the good weather did not last.
The onceclear sky suddenly turned dark.
Heavy clouds gathered so quickly they were almost visible in motion, and within moments they blanketed the entire sky.
A muffled rumble of thunder rolled in the distance, and the air grew damp.
"Is it going to rain?"
Mio looked up anxiously, her slender fingers twisting together.
"But the forecast said nothing about rain today"
"Just one more ridge, Mio, and we'll reach the rest station!"
Tsumugi pointed to a small wooden hut ahead, trying to sound calm.
"Let's hurry over!"
They had barely reached for their raincoats when fat drops began to fall.
In an instanta torrential downpour.
All four were drenched like soaked cats.
Mio's long hair stuck to her face and neck, Yui's jacket turned unbearably heavy, Ritsu's cap lost its shape completely, and even the alwayselegant Tsumugi looked bedraggled, her carefully styled blond hair clinging to her cheeks.
"Run!" Ritsu shouted, and the four dashed toward the hut.
Rain stung their faces; the nowslick mountain path was treacherous.
The downpour intensified, visibility plummeted,
and thick mist spread through the slopesonly a few steps away shapes vanished.
Mio gripped Tsumugi's hand, terrified they would be separated.
Her heart pounded; besides the roar of rain she could hear only her own ragged breathing.
"Ritsu! Yui! Where are you?" she shouted,
but thunder swallowed her voice.
A flash of lightning lit her pale face.
When the three finally staggered into the rest station, the scene made them despair even more.
The hut was packed with hikers seeking shelter; there was no room at all.
They could only squeeze beneath the eaves, barely out of the direct rain, yet the icy mountain wind made Mio shiver uncontrollably, her lips turning bluishpurple.
"Today really isn't a day for hiking"
Ritsu shook water from her clothes, her teeth chattering; her trademark headband was soaked limp.
Suddenly Tsumugi's expression changed.
Her sapphire eyes swept the area.
"Wait where's Yui?"
"Huh?"
Only then did Mio and Ritsu realize the everenergetic, pinkhaired girl was missing.
Mio's heart leapt to her throat; dread engulfed her.
"Yui Yui's gone?!"
"She must've gotten separated in the fog!"
Ritsu stomped in panic, water flying from her hair.
"That airhead has no sense of directionshe once walked into the wrong classroom at school!"
KRACHAK! BOOM!
Lightning split the sky, followed by deafening thunder.
The rain pounded even harder, as though the heavens had been pierced.
With the trail this dangerous, searching would be recklessbut if they didn't go, Yui could be in mortal danger.
Horrible images flashed through Mio's mind; her stomach clenched with fear.
"We need help!"
Tsumugi pulled out her phoneno signal in the mountains.
She frowned in rare frustration.
"What do we do?"
Mio bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, her eyes darting between the rain curtain and the phone as she struggled.
At last she made up her mind.
"I I have a way."
Under Ritsu's and Tsumugi's puzzled gazes, Mio opened a chat interface only she could see.
A mysterious group chat had appeared in her consciousness not long ago.
Its members came from different worlds, and the group owner, Ling Qing, possessed unbelievable powers in exchange for "trade."
Mio had only observed until nowdeals always carried a price.
But for Yui's sake she had to try.
Akiyama Mio: "Is anyone there? I need help!"
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Oooh, another trade coming up."
Frieren: "What's wrong? I thought Mio's world was just an ordinary civilizationshouldn't be that dangerous."
Busujima Saeko: "Ordinary people still face problems they can't solveeven 'ordinary' problems."
Frieren: "Fair point. @Akiyama Mio, tell us what happened?"
Akiyama Mio: "We were climbing when a storm hitone friend is missing!"
Akiyama Mio: "The rain's too heavy, we can't find her, no signal She could be in real danger!"
Hayasaka Ai: "Lost on a mountain in a storm that's dangerous."
Kat Megumi: "Shouldn't you wait for professional rescue?"
Julis: "Why panic? In my world this rain is nothing."
Yotsuya Miko: "It really is dangerous, though!"
Mabel: "Getting wet counts as danger?"
Shiba Miyuki: "@Mabel, for normal humans, hypothermia can be fatal."
Busujima Saeko: "Problem is we can't enter her world to help"
Hiiragi Shinoa: "Only one option left~ @Akiyama Mio, you'll have to trade with Rei Aokun~"
Marcille: "He's apparently the only one who can cross worlds."
Kat Megumi: "But think carefully about the price."
Akiyama Mio: "I I know!"
Akiyama Mio: "If it saves Yui, I'll make the deal."
[Ding! Akiyama Mio has initiated a trade request!]
[Objective]: Find her friend Hirasawa Yui.
[Please choose trade terms.]
Akiyama Mio: "@Rei Ao, Group Master, please help!"
Rei Ao: "I've seen everything that happened."
He had just sent off Gabriel's sister Zelel; now another incident arosethings were hectic.
Rei Ao: "Let's be clear: you have only one thing you can offer in trade. Are you sure?"
Akiyama Mio: "Yes. Yui's safety is more important."
She had decided; she could never rest easy while Yui was in danger.
[Ding! Trade initiated!]
[Client]: Akiyama Mio
[Task]: Locate Hirasawa Yui
[Price]: "Onetime right to use Mio's body."
Chapter 790: Vanishing and Appearing Trick! A House too?!
Deep in the mountain forest.
A bleak, icy wind.
A torrential downpour.
Yui Hirasawa crouched beneath a large tree, trembling as she futilely held her backpack over her head.
Rainwater dripped steadily from the tips of her hair.
Her pink jacket was soaked through, clinging to her body.
Her lips were purple with cold, her teeth chattering, her whole body curled into a tight ball.
"Mio Ritsu Mugi where are you?"
Her voice, thick with tears, sounded especially faint in the empty wood.
Each breath left her mouth as white vapor, and her fingers had gone stiff with cold.
Dense fog and lashing rain erased everything from view; she could no longer see the path she had taken.
She tried to recall the hiking route, but her hopeless sense of direction left her completely unable to orient herself in such conditions.
Every attempt to move only led her farther astray.
At last she sagged, exhausted, against the trunk. Her mind began to blur.
"Am I going to die?"
The scene before her wavered and dimmed.
"So cold I wish I could have one more slice of Mugi's cake"
Her thoughts drifted to the lightmusic club room, always filled with laughter and the smell of sweets.
Just then
Tap!
A faint silhouette appeared through the curtain of rain.
