Beside the Reincarnation Pool, Ragna gazed at the celestial figures taking form within its glowing waters, their silhouettes gradually solidifying into divine warriors. His mind drifted back to the pivotal moment when the Ancient One had drawn him into the Mirror Dimension and presented him with a choice—a choice that, he now realized, was far more significant than it first appeared.
Each reward the system offered seemed to align with the path he chose, shaping his fate in ways beyond comprehension. The first option: gather and master all six Infinity Stones, granting him the supreme authority over reality itself. These stones were the very fabric of the Marvel Universe, crystallized remnants of cosmic singularities. To wield them all meant to hold omnipotence in his grasp. Yet, with all six in hand, would he even need an additional power boost? The Authority of the World would be redundant at that level, a mere embellishment to his supremacy.
The second option mirrored the path of Odin, who once wielded vast cosmic power but cast it away, scattering the Stones across the universe. In return, Ragna would gain a tremendous augmentation to his solar energy-based divinity. He found this offer tempting—true strength came from within, not from artifacts like the Stones. Even Odin, in his prime, could not surpass the Fourth Tier of divine might. But with Fifth-Tier strength, Ragna would tower over gods, standing unchallenged across the cosmos.
Then there was the third option—an enigma. It demanded that he sacrifice the Infinity Stones to the system itself, with an unknown yet supposedly greater reward in return. What could the system possibly need from these artifacts of ultimate power? What could be so valuable that it warranted such a trade? The possibilities intrigued him.
But in the end, Ragna made his decision. He understood the rules: as long as he left his current choice unresolved, no new options would appear. With that in mind, he was willing to forgo immediate power in favor of uncovering something even grander.
Turning away from the Pool, Ragna set his sights on Valina, who stood nearby, curiously watching the emergence of new Angels. Though he had explained the nature of the Reincarnation Pool to her before, she remained captivated. But the moment she noticed his serious gaze fixed upon her, alarm flickered across her face.
Sensing what was coming, Valina plastered on a nervous smile and tried to change the subject.
"Why here of all places?" she asked with forced enthusiasm. "There's no food, no drink, not even a decent bottle of wine! Honestly, I think Midgard would be a better location for the Reincarnation Pool. They've had centuries of Angelic worship—if we converted them properly, we might even be able to create the first King-Class Angel!"
Ragna 's expression darkened slightly.
"I have no interest in Midgard," he stated flatly. "There's someone there I'd rather not cross paths with. And in case you've forgotten, Asgard claims dominion over Midgard, which means dealing with Odin. That's a complication I don't need."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a warning tone.
"Besides, if you want to build an Angelic faith, you'll have to contend with Heaven itself."
Valina huffed, folding her arms. "Fine, but this place is still a wasteland."
"The location is strategic," Ragna countered. "No unnecessary distractions, no outside interference. It may not be luxurious, but it serves its purpose."
Then, in one swift motion, he ruffled Valina's hair—hard.
"Also," he said with a smirk, "don't think I don't know what you're trying to do. You just don't want to train."
Valina flinched.
"From now on," Ragna declared, "no wine until you complete your training."
A look of sheer desperation overtook her face.
No escape.
No negotiation.
Just pure, unrelenting discipline.
As Ragna put Valina through rigorous training, the Angels continued to gather. Before long, the first Angelic Battalion had fully formed:
• One high-rank Angel, emanating an aura of immense power.
• Twenty mid-rank Angels, each radiating refined divinity.
• Five hundred low-rank Angels, their wings pulsing with celestial energy.
Together, they knelt on one knee, offering their supreme reverence to their Creator.
They would fight for him.
Die for him.
Give everything to him.
"It's incredible," Valina whispered in awe.
The Angels stood resplendent in ornate dark-gold battle armor, their winged helms concealing their ethereal faces. Their radiant wings fluttered in unison, creating a mesmerizing cascade of shimmering light. The sheer grace and precision of their formation was breathtaking—a spectacle of divine might.
Ragna stepped forward, his gaze locking onto the high-rank Angel at the forefront. Her sharp, commanding presence stirred a distant memory.
"You resemble an Angel I once knew," he mused. Then, after a moment of thought, he spoke with finality:
"I will name you Holy Keisha. From this day forward, you are the First Angel, commander of the Legion of Angels. For the next four years, all newly born Angels shall be entrusted to your leadership."
Keisha immediately fell to one knee once more, lowering her head in submission.
"I accept this honor, Sovereign," she declared. "My life is yours to command."
With that, she turned to the gathered Angels and gave the first order of their new existence—a call to arms, a command to train and grow stronger.
Ragna watched approvingly. Though lesser Angels could develop their abilities through battle, true growth required faith energy, channeled into the Reincarnation Pool. With an ample supply, they could ascend to higher tiers at an accelerated rate.
His work was only just beginning.
"Enough admiring them," Ragna told Valina. "They may be beautiful, but they're also dangerous warriors."
He smirked.
"You can't even defeat Keisha yet. Maybe you should focus on training instead of gawking?"
Valina groaned.
More training.
Endless training.
Still, she could not deny the truth of his words.
And so, under the watchful gaze of their Creator, the Angelic Legion began its rise, preparing for the battles that lay ahead.
Meanwhile, across the Andromeda Galaxy, the tides of war continued to shift. The universe was far from calm.