"You two, stand in front of these two boxes. I’m about to perform the preliminary implantation."
Bishop Corlmo pulled his nephew over to the box they claimed contained that mysterious Fifth-Tier crystal. I did the same, positioning myself before another box.
"Thank the Divine I only have to implant for the two of you. That woman, Falina, is handling the implantation process for fourteen individuals at the Academy. Truly, I pity her," the bishop muttered, his tone laced with exhaustion as he busied himself with the ritual preparations. He crouched down and began drawing a formation on the ground, Father Sir assisting him while the two men exchanged idle chatter.
"Fourteen? That’s quite the surge in rebirth candidates this year. Where did so many come from? Are they all from the Academy?"
"Indeed. Counting the two we squeezed into the list, there are sixteen in total. Fourteen of them are top students from various academies, though most have some connection to the Divine Church. Some have been groomed as promising talents since childhood. One of them is even the daughter of a High Bishop and a top student at the Imperial Kingdom Academy. For her, I managed to secure a Third-Tier crystal for implantation," Corlmo explained.
The title of High Bishop ranked just below that of the Supreme Bishop in the Breath of the Sun Church. While a Supreme Bishop handled the affairs of specific Domains at the central Church headquarters, the local districts were governed by High Bishops. Despite their technically lesser status, High Bishops wielded immense authority at the regional level, often surpassing even senior members of the central hierarchy in practical power.
The daughter of a High Bishop… and a star student at the Imperial Kingdom Academy? That wasn’t someone to be trifled with. While I didn’t know the full context of what was happening, one thing was clear: I was about to participate in some kind of ritual—a significant one at that. Judging by the weight of the people involved, this ritual couldn’t be anything ordinary. It’d be wise to remember that High Bishop’s daughter and tread carefully.
Meanwhile, Father Sir’s attention remained fixed on the mysterious crystal.
"Another Third-Tier? This is unprecedented. Aren’t there usually just eight to twelve participants per year? Some years don’t even yield a Third-Tier crystal! Don’t tell me this year is breaking all records. What about the other levels?" he asked, clearly shocked.
"Hahaha, your surprise is understandable. No, no more surprises beyond what I’ve mentioned. Apart from this Fifth-Tier crystal, there are two Third-Tier crystals, four Second-Tiers, and the rest are all First-Tiers. These crystals are remnants from the Divine War, refined from the Angels who served under the Bright God. Our Lord preserved them to study the Bright God’s Divine Power, and having learned all there was to learn, decided to release some of them for use in the Lower Realm. This Fifth-Tier crystal, however..." Corlmo chuckled, his tone carrying a trace of pride. "It took a great deal of persuasion and a claim of research necessity to convince Our Lord to bestow it upon me. Even during the height of the Bright God’s dominion, gathering three Fifth-Tier crystals was considered extraordinary. Now that Our Lord has perfected the transformation process for Ten-Winged Angels, only then was I graced with this rare treasure."
My ears perked up, and my blood ran cold as the weight of his words sank in. Was he saying this crystal was refined from an Angel?
To understand the significance of such a revelation, one must first grasp what an Angel is. When a Divine Being attains sufficient power, they gain the ability to create divine creatures—beings with remarkable talents and sacred bloodlines imbued with the Divine Being’s own power. These divine creatures aid their creators in managing the Divine Realm, waging holy wars, and delivering decrees. They are loyal servants of the Divine, collectively referred to as Divine Envoys.
Within this category exists a wide variety of beings. Early designs aligned with their creators’ appearances or specific needs, with successive generations honed through refinement and survival. Over time, some templates emerged as superior—easy to produce, cost-effective, highly functional, versatile, and aesthetically pleasing. Newer gods, preferring efficiency, often replicated these proven designs.
Among notable examples are the Holy Dragons favored by Dragon Gods, High Elven Envoys cherished by the Elemental Deities, the Saintly Demons of the Demon Lords, the Soul Reapers of the Death God, the Arcane Spirits adored by the Magic God, and the Mech Girls idolized by the God of Science.
But Angels are by far the most common and widespread of the Divine Envoys. Nearly 80% of Divine Beings employ Angels in their service. With their incomparably radiant beauty, pristine white wings, and sacred aura, Angels have long been synonymous with the Divine. Initially a hallmark of Light-aligned gods, Angels eventually diversified as other gods adopted their design, leading to the creation of countless subspecies—such as the infamous Fallen Angels.
The Divine Church plays a critical role in the mortal realm, gathering followers and faith for the gods it reveres. However, due to their limited ability to intervene directly, gods often dispatch Divine Envoys to oversee church operations, deliver divine proclamations, and safeguard the church’s advancement.
I often saw Angels from the Breath of the Sun Church soaring over the Imperial Capital to guard its headquarters, their luminous silhouettes a near-sacred sight.
"Bishop Corlmo, did you just say this crystal was refined from an Angel?" I couldn’t hold back my curiosity and asked, despite the risk of sounding rude.
"What exactly is this thing, and what’s it used for?"
Though I kept my tone steady, my unease was evident. Mistflower, standing nearby, was visibly more excited. The glint in his eyes and the barely restrained grin on his face told me he already had an idea of what this “thing” was.
"Huh? Your father didn’t tell you?" Corlmo raised a brow before answering. "This is an Angel Heart. By refining an Angel, you can condense their divine bloodline into the crystal. When a mortal implants the Angel Heart, their affinity for Light-based Divine Power is greatly enhanced. And with the church’s Rebirth Ritual, the mortal can undergo complete transformation into a Rebirth Angel."
The revelation struck me like lightning, leaving my mind momentarily blank. So this was my father’s solution? To have me reborn as an Angel? It made sense—the transformation would be so thorough, even my race would change. It was the perfect way to escape my current predicament unscathed.
"Father Sir, are you saying you want me to become a Rebirth Angel?" I steadied myself and sought confirmation.
"Yes," he affirmed without hesitation. "It may sound harsh, but this is the best path forward. Once you become an Angel, your potential will soar to unimaginable heights. You’ll also be able to serve the church and build a legacy of your own. It’s a win-win situation."
It was hard to argue with his reasoning. Father Sir was right. For most commoners, the chance to ascend as an Angel would be a dream worth any cost. Entire families, I imagined, would bankrupt themselves for even a sliver of such an opportunity. Why, then, was I hesitating?
"Father Sir," I said after a pause, curiosity tugging at me. "I can’t help but wonder—why are all the Angels I’ve seen from the Breath of the Sun Church beautiful women?"
