Once she had that idea stuck in her head, she'd ignored every clue after.

  Like when she grew black wings to raid the execution ground, holy water burned her. But when she drank holy water mixed with blood in human form, her insides weren't burned. She just lost control and sprouted wings.

  She hadn't thought about it then. Looking back now, she realized holy water wasn't as powerful as she'd thought.

  A human body could handle holy water's magic. What really threatened her was losing control, transforming, and getting hunted by the Church. Or getting burned by holy water a second time.

  Meaning, as long as she controlled her urges and stayed human or only showed her light side, she'd be fine.

  Now, her only problem—she couldn't make the same stork angel wings with black edges as before.

  Luo Wei thought a moment, then asked Hol and Jack, "Do angel wings fade?"

  "???"

  Both wore matching shocked faces. "Angel wings... fade?"

  Angel wings were white. What would they fade into?

  "They don't?" Luo Wei pressed. "What about mutation? People's hair goes white overnight from stress. Angel wings changing is normal too, right?"

  Hol looked at Luo Wei's serious face and suddenly got it. Was she talking about herself?

  Last winter, when they fled through the Beast Mountains together, he'd wondered why Luo Wei's wings and hair were pure white. Stork angel wings should have black-tipped feathers.

  But the Holy Knight Commander had verified Luo Wei's identity. Though he found it strange, he hadn't asked.

  Hearing her bring it up now, Hol felt something subtle. She had secrets too.

  "Angel wings don't fade, but..."

  Hol paused. "There's one case where divine descendants' traits can change slightly."

  "What case?" Luo Wei asked.

  "Atavism," Hol explained. "Normally, divine bloodlines thin out until people become ordinary humans. But some awaken ancestral blood and gain ancestor traits."

  "Angels are divine creations. Angel descendants are god descendants too. Atavism is possible."

  The chances were tiny—basically zero. Angel bloodlines couldn't compare to direct divine blood.

  But Luo Wei needed a reason. He could make one up.

  Hol said thoughtfully, "The Life Goddess once became a pure white kite bird and bore Horus, the Guardian God."

  "If a stork angel descendant and Guardian God descendant had a child, they might produce one with pure divine blood who reverted to the Life Goddess's original form."

  If timing weren't wrong, Luo Wei would've given Hol a thumbs up.

  As expected of a well-traveled lich who knew god history and race secrets. He could spin reasons on the spot.

  With that worry solved, Luo Wei perked up, voice lighter. "So that's it! I wondered why my wings faded. Atavism."

  "Captain, you have wings too!" Jack's eyes went wide. He peeked at the fiery red wings above, then whispered, "Captain, who's stronger—you or him?"

  He pointed up.

  Logically, the Sun God's Chosen should be stronger. But after their time together, Jack blindly worshiped Luo Wei. Whatever she said was right. She was the strongest.

  Of course, the guy in the sky helped with contrast. His brain really didn't seem bright.

  "Hard to say," Luo Wei's lips curved. "At being stubborn and narrow-minded, he's way better than me."

  She didn't lower her voice. Feiru, with excellent hearing, darkened. He clenched his fists. "One minute's up. You cowards—still haven't decided?!"

  "Hold on!"

  Luo Wei replied without looking up, speaking faster. "I'll handle Feiru. Hol, Jack—the other three are yours."

  "Yes, Captain!" Both nodded.

  "Axina," Luo Wei slowly released her. "Can you stand?"

  "Cough. Yes." Axina stood shakily and wiped blood from her mouth.

  "Watch Gladys then."

  Hol immediately set Gladys next to Axina.

  "Gladys," Luo Wei crouched and touched her head. "Borrowing your sword."

  The unconscious girl's lashes trembled, as if responding.

  Luo Wei picked up the longsword, turned, and looked at Feiru floating above. "We're ready. How do we start?"

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Feiru pulled off his pendant and held out his fist, facing down. "When it hits the ground, we fight!"

  He opened his hand. The metal pendant slipped through his fingers.

  The glinting pendant fell like a meteor, tracing a thin silver line before dropping into the dust.

  "Whoosh—"

  Feiru flapped his flaming wings and charged, gripping his sword.

  The three teammates beneath his wings raised wands together, chanting light spells at Siria.

  Luo Wei sprinted forward. Her black hair whipped in the wind. Silver frost spread through it, instantly turning it snow-white.

  RIP! Holy wings burst from her back, spreading in the wind and carrying her skyward.

  Feiru dove. Flames swirled around him, leaving brilliant red trails. His sword, wrapped in crimson fire, slashed down hard.

  Next second, his eyes caught pure white.

  Luo Wei beat her wings and shot up. As the sword wind reached her head, she raised her blade to block. Her powerful wings stirred fierce currents.

  The force from below was incredibly strong, almost pushing his sword toward his face. Feiru had no time for surprise—he gripped the hilt with both hands and pressed down.

  Luo Wei also held her sword overhead with both hands. The weight above kept pressing the blade toward her forehead, forcing her to retreat diagonally.

  Too close. Heat from the flames washed her face.

  "Screech—"

  Both exerted force. Where blades met, blinding sparks flew.

  Cold light flashed in Luo Wei's eyes. She tensed and beat her wings hard, surging upward with her sword.

  Sharp blades scraped past each other. Cross-shaped sparks scattered. The massive force was unstoppable. Feiru's arms trembled. His body forced backward, sword raised high, struggling against the blade pressing toward his face.

  Two seconds. The situation completely reversed.

  "My God, that's—"

  Wind blew the sand away. The audience erupted.

  Under golden light, the burning red wings got flipped by a sudden white figure. Holy white wings appeared above the arena.

  Dust swirled. The girl's frost-white hair danced in wind. Her delicate face radiated breathtaking majesty. Her slender but powerful body was bathed in soft white light, so pure and holy they almost thought an angel descended.

  Everyone held their breath, expressions dazed.

  "Is... is that an angel?"

  After a long moment, they dared ask softly, afraid their worldly voices would disturb that sacred vision.

  "...Impossible. Can't be an angel." Some denied it immediately.

  Someone guessed, "A Chosen then?"

  "Which god's Chosen?"

  "Luo Wei shouldn't be a Chosen, right?" someone said. "Isn't she a stork angel descendant?"

  "Stork angel descendant? Stork angel wings look like that?"

  The professors looked confused. Whatever angel Luo Wei descended from, she couldn't be stronger than a Sun God's Chosen with phoenix wings, could she?

  They looked at the arena. Two figures, red and white, faced off in air. White held the upper position. Red was pressed down so far his wings were almost parallel to the ground. How was this possible?!

  The phoenix was the Sun God's transformed projection. Who could be stronger than... wait. A god's transformation?

  Professors suddenly stood, staring at those white wings.

  The Life Goddess had fallen. The Life Godhead returned to earth. Could a new deity be born among Her descendants?

  Professors closest to Alfried couldn't help speaking. "Your Eminence, do you—"

  Alfried raised his right hand slightly. They swallowed the rest.

  Finally quiet. Alfried watched the arena with deep eyes. Just bloodline atavism. Nothing special.

  Below the stands, through hazy golden barrier, everyone glimpsed the arena battle.

  Feiru, suppressed by Luo Wei, stopped resisting directly. He gave up, dropped, and his red wings protected him as he fell. Near the surface, he spun and soared back up to Luo Wei's level. Golden-tipped feathers at his wing edges erupted with golden flames.

  "Light of the Sun God—Smelt!"

  Scorching fire wind blew across like wildfire.

  Outside, everyone shook their heads and sighed.

  In the end, the Sun God's Chosen was superior. Though Luo Wei was an angel descendant, she had no divine power. That alone made her weaker than Feiru.

  Alfried and Headmaster Morrison both watched the white figure intently—one mocking, one worried.

  This wasn't about magic anymore. It was about who had deeper foundations, stronger backing. Siria was done for.

  Under thousands of eyes—some satisfied, some disappointed—raging flames surged at the girl, about to swallow her snow-white wings.

  Feiru looked triumphant. He raised his chin, looking down with a victor's arrogance.

  "Is this all you've got?"

  Luo Wei's eyes held pity. She gently raised her hand, slender finger touching the scorching flames.

  Her red lips parted. A soft sigh.

  "Extinguish..."

  The flames reversed. The tide receded. Firelight vanished.

  Feiru's body grew heavy. Invisible force swept over. The flames on his wings went out. Golden feathers lost luster. Red wings became dull.

  That strange force spread like a virus. When all flames faded, Feiru discovered in shock he couldn't maintain his Chosen form!

  "No! Impossible!"

  "What did you do?!"

  Feiru shouted, but his wings retracted visibly. He fell powerlessly.

  Luo Wei floated lightly, looking down at his fall.

  "Your inner fire was too strong. I'm cooling you down."

  The stands fell silent.

  Though Alfried showed no anger and even said "Not bad" calmly, professors were terrified.

  Among them, probably only Headmaster Morrison stayed calm.

  Chester's neck twisted stiffly toward the arena. He prayed frantically—the seminary had to win.

  Otherwise, no one could handle the Church's fury!

  A moment later, his prayer seemed to work.

  After hitting ground, Feiru rolled, propped himself with his sword, and scrambled up. While dodging Luo Wei's pursuit, he shouted to teammates, "Quick! Light spell!"

  Hearing their captain, the three seminary members changed formation. Herbert and Gustav tied up Jack and Hol while Lanris raised his wand and chanted fast.

  Hol and Jack had been kiting, harassing close and bombarding from distance, never letting them finish a spell.

  Unfortunately, two versus three was still disadvantaged. The longer it dragged, the more exhausted Hol and Jack got. The seminary's three showed increasing advantage.

  When Feiru gave his command, Herbert's trio had switched to offense, broken through Siria's line, and released light magic.

  "Holy Radiance!"

  Blinding white light pierced the arena. Lanris raised his wand, pointing forward solemnly.

  "All worldly sinners be silent!"

  Holy Radiance—first skill of light purification. Supposedly anyone hit went blind immediately.

  Hol and Jack instinctively raised hands to cover eyes. When their hands touched frames, they remembered their sunglasses.

  Human movements couldn't match light speed. They blinked and discovered—they weren't blind!

  "Haha, these sunglasses actually work!" Jack was thrilled.

  But Hol wasn't as optimistic. Light and dark elements clashed. The air was saturated with light elements, making him feel oppressed.

  Every breath, the dark elements in him rejected light elements. Like countless ants crawling in his chest—not painful, but unbearably itchy.

  Axina was the same. Though she had no dark affinity, she knew she was a succubus and instinctively rejected light magic. Even though it hadn't hurt her, she couldn't help wanting to flee.

  Luo Wei thrust her sword at Feiru. White light poured over her wings. White fluffy feathers trembled in wind. Her back skin itched slightly.

  She'd guessed right. In non-dark form, light magic had no lethal effect on her.

  But she couldn't let them continue. Light magic had mental control effects. She had to interrupt!

  Luo Wei sheathed her sword and flew up. Her left hand pulled her wand and quickly made a fireball, throwing it at Lanris.

  "Divine Command!"

  A hoarse voice rang out. Feiru had raised his wand and shouted a second spell with all his strength.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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