"GRRRR...."

The nine Hollow Creatures advanced with synchronized precision, their combined mystical pressure crushing the air itself. The unit’s defensive formation trembled, each Searcher recognizing the impossibility of their situation.

Rey’s mind raced through desperate calculations.

’If I intervene with full power, I could potentially eliminate three, maybe four before the others overwhelm the position. But that would require revealing Sequence #1 Chaos Art techniques, using the Prince of Darkness’s capabilities, demonstrating combat effectiveness that no Gold-rank Searcher should possess—’

At that point, he would paint a huge target on his back.

He might as well be dead.

"Haa..."

Seraphine raised her sword with trembling arms, preparing to sell her life as expensively as possible despite depleted reserves and catastrophic odds.

The Hollow Creatures were twenty meters away.

Fifteen meters.

Ten meters.

Then—

VWUUUSH

—Divine light erupted across the battlefield with intensity that made the corrupted atmosphere scream in rejection.

An Angel descended from the gray sky like judgment made manifest—wings spread in display of power that made even Rey’s enhanced perception ache from proximity, armor constructed from solidified divine energy rather than mere metal, mystical pressure operating at scales that rendered the Hollow Creatures’ combined threat insignificant by comparison.

"Spirit Art, Purification Technique, Sequence #1: Celestial Sanctification!"

The technique activated with force that transcended normal Ancient Majik limitations.

This wasn’t just High Sequence execution—this was power amplified by Angel-tier capabilities, divine blessing, and mastery accumulated over decades or perhaps centuries of existence.

Holy flames washed across the battlefield like a tsunami, not burning but purifying. The nine Hollow Creatures tried to resist, their anti-life coherence struggling against assault that operated on principles specifically designed to eliminate wrongness at fundamental levels.

They lasted approximately three seconds.

Then they dissolved completely, not into ambient corruption but into purified Ether that dispersed harmlessly.

Nine threats that had required Seraphine’s full capabilities to defeat individually, eliminated simultaneously through single technique from an Angel whose power operated in a completely different category.

The divine light didn’t stop with the enemies.

It washed over the assembled unit, not as attack but as blessing—healing minor injuries, purifying accumulated plague exposure, restoring depleted Ether reserves, reinforcing mystical defenses against future corruption.

Rey felt the power touch him and immediately recognized its nature.

This wasn’t a mere healing technique—this was divine intervention operating through principles that transcended normal Ancient Majik frameworks.

The Angel was channeling power directly from one of the Five Ancients, using Authority-enhanced capabilities rather than standard Arts.

’Incredible,’ Rey thought with genuine awe despite his practiced cynicism. ’This is what true Angel-tier power looks like. Not just enhanced mastery of existing Arts, but access to divine principles that operate beyond normal reality constraints.’

Seraphine collapsed to her knees, not from injury but from overwhelming relief mixed with religious reverence.

"Angel Commander," she whispered, her voice carrying devotion that transcended professional respect.

The Angel—a male figure whose features suggested middle age despite the timeless quality Angels possessed—regarded the unit with expression combining satisfaction and encouragement.

"Well fought, Paladin Seraphine," he stated, his voice carrying harmonics that made mortal consciousness resonate with divine authority. "Your tactical decisions were sound, your resource management appropriate given unexpected circumstances. The coordinated ambush wasn’t anticipated in our intelligence—you handled it as well as could be expected."

He turned his gaze across the assembled Searchers, meeting each person’s eyes briefly with attention that suggested genuine recognition rather than mere acknowledgment.

"You’ve all demonstrated courage worthy of the Five Ancients’ blessing. Continue your advance with renewed vigor. The path ahead remains dangerous, but you’ve proven yourselves capable of meeting those challenges."

The Angel nodded once—a gesture that carried weight beyond its physical simplicity—then launched himself skyward with a beat of wings that created a pressure wave strong enough to scatter debris across the street.

Within seconds, he was gone, presumably moving to assist other units facing similar crises throughout the vast dungeon.

"...."

Silence held for several heartbeats as the unit processed what had just occurred.

Then someone laughed—sound carrying relief mixed with disbelief.

Others joined, the tension breaking as survival against impossible odds registered emotionally.

"We’re alive," one Searcher stated unnecessarily. "The Angel... he just saved us. Eliminated nine of those things like they were nothing."

"And healed us completely," another added, examining herself with wonder. "My Ether reserves are back to full capacity. The plague exposure I’d accumulated is gone. Even minor injuries I didn’t realize I had have been healed."

Rey stood among them, his expression showing appropriate relief and awe while his mind worked through different calculations entirely.

’That level of power... The Angel eliminated threats that would have killed everyone here without apparent effort. And based on his casual demeanor, that technique didn’t even represent his full capabilities. He could have done more if necessary.’

The implications were staggering.

If regular Angels operated at those scales, what capabilities did Archangels possess?

He reached out mentally to the Prince of Darkness.

’That Angel’s power exceeded anything I’ve encountered except you and Valdris,’ Rey observed through their soul-bond. ’But according to the power hierarchy you described, Archangels are categorically superior even to elite Angels. How much stronger are we talking?’

The Prince’s consciousness stirred with something approaching reverence—unusual for an entity typically devoid of emotional expression.

’The gap between Angels and Archangels exceeds the gap between mortals and Angels,’ it replied. ’Angels can master multiple Arts to High Sequence levels, execute Joint Arts that combine different Techniques for synergistic effects, and access limited divine blessing from their patron Ancients.’

’But remember that Archangels possess Ethereal Conceptions.’

Rey felt his attention sharpen.

’You mentioned those before—unique powers that transcend normal Ancient Majik frameworks. But I need more detail. How do they compare to Sequence #0 Techniques or Joint Arts?’

The Prince paused as though choosing words carefully.

’Sequence #0 Techniques represent the pinnacle of normal Ancient Majik—Forbidden powers that operate at scales approaching divine authority. Joint Arts combine multiple Techniques to achieve effects neither could produce independently. Both are extraordinary capabilities that define elite combat effectiveness.’

’Ethereal Conceptions exist beyond those categories entirely.’