Chapter 70

In Heaven's Mountain, the Hall of Arbitration is the abode of the Seraphim of Justice, Teris. As a member of the Supreme Council, he is responsible for exercising judicial power in arbitration. Here, the angels' appeals and disputes will receive the fairest judgment, and Teris never makes mistakes.

At this moment, the grand and solemn Hall of Arbitration was filled with a solemn atmosphere. Below the throne engraved with the pattern of a balance, the six-winged Seraphim Teris coldly gazed at Athena, who stood below the steps, and remained silent, listening to the plea of his adopted daughter, whom he had placed great hopes in.

"The current peace is just an illusion! As the future leader of Heaven's Mountain, I must destroy all potential threats! We will inevitably have a second Light and Darkness War with those fallen ones. Instead of waiting for the enemy to attack, we should strike first!" Athena, wielding the Azure Fury Holy Sword, declared loudly, "We and the fallen angels are mortal enemies! Even if they are now dormant, gathering their strength, one of our races will surely fall in the future, and it will definitely not be us!"

"Why do you think that angels and fallen angels cannot coexist? Have you personally experienced the First Light and Darkness War? Have you communicated with enough fallen angels to understand their hearts and wills? Do you have sufficient evidence to show that the fallen angels and angels are constantly hostile to each other, eager to exterminate each other, and always preparing for war?" Teris took a step forward and said solemnly, "Answer me! If you can provide convincing evidence, Heaven's Mountain will enter a state of war from this moment! If you have made the decision to provoke the fallen angels based on your imagination and impulsiveness, you will be punished!"

Athena shouted excitedly, "Evidence? Do we need evidence! They are fallen angels! They abandoned the holy light and glory, betrayed the expectations of the Father, and willingly transformed into darkness! Moreover, the sacred angels, who abandoned their faith and glory and transformed into darkness, triggered the First Light and Darkness War, which has already made us a laughingstock among the realms! Regardless of what the fallen angels think, their existence is an indelible stain on the endless glory of Heaven's Mountain! Only their blood and complete destruction can wash away this disgrace! As the future leader of Heaven's Mountain, I have already sworn to protect everything in Heaven, not only to safeguard its peace and security but also to defend its glory and dignity!"

"No, you are wrong! As the future leader of Heaven, you should protect the people who trust you and entrust everything to you! Do you know how many brave warriors and innocent lives will fall if you rashly start a war! Do I need to recount the horrors of the last great war to you!" Teris pointed at Athena and shouted, "I have always taught you to use your power cautiously. We are angels, naturally endowed with powerful holy light, and Heaven's Mountain possesses formidable strength that makes the realms fear and tremble. But precisely because of this, we must use our power more cautiously! Do you know what serious chain reactions the aftermath of the Second Light and Darkness War will have on the realms! How many innocent lives will die!"

Athena retorted without backing down, "I don't know! I don't want to know! I only care about my Heaven and its people. I believe that every warrior's sacrifice will bring a happier and more peaceful life for the angels. To die in battle for protection is what every warrior dreams of, and I am no different! As for the lives of the realms, what does it have to do with me! I am the guardian of Heaven, and I am only responsible to my people!"

Upon hearing this, Teris was suddenly enveloped in fierce holy flames. The intense holy light flames were so thick that it was clear that the holy light reflected the emotions of the angels. Such intense holy flames could only mean one thing: the usually just and calm Teris could no longer control his anger, and his emotions had reached a boiling point.

Athena's heart skipped a beat, and a flash of fear crossed her eyes.

"It seems you have completely forgotten my teachings." Teris stared at Athena intently, speaking each word slowly, "I thought you were ready, but I was wrong. To disregard the lives of other races for the sake of your own, such thoughts cannot be said to be entirely wrong. Humans have similar sayings: our heroes are their enemies... But such thoughts are only suitable for brave generals and warriors, not for you!"

He stepped down the stairs, the undulating holy flames becoming even more intense, indicating that Teris's anger was still rising: "When you received the holy sword, what did I teach you? We are the eldest sons of the Father, with the duty to protect this world for the Father. The Father rejoices in his creations; every living being in every world is his child. As his most beloved eldest son, how can we ignore our younger brothers and sisters! Even if we must use force to maintain the peace and stability of more innocent lives in this world, we should not actively initiate war, rule through terror and slaughter! If we do so, how are we different from the demons in the Lava Hell! The leaders of Heaven's Mountain are never afraid of war, but they must never be ruthless executioners obsessed with war!"

"I thought that under my guidance, you would grow into an embodiment of justice and power, protecting Heaven, but you are like him. You regard war and force as goals rather than tools. You provoke the fallen angels merely to prove your strength and courage. The so-called protection of Heaven's glory is just a laughable excuse to convince yourself."

"No... I'm not..." Athena kept retreating under Teris's silent and powerful pressure, her momentum completely suppressed by the enraged Seraphim of Justice.

"Desiring war and wanting to prove your bravery is just your laughable vanity and pride. For your personal desires and delusions, you are willing to resort to war. Because of your impulsiveness and foolishness, Heaven's Mountain may be plunged into the Second Light and Darkness War. The peace achieved by the heroes' blood and sacrifices will be destroyed. The aftermath of the war will be endless and far-reaching, affecting the realms, and countless innocent and precious lives will disappear because of your selfishness, and you actually argue that your actions are not wrong!?"

"I... I..." Athena's mind was in chaos, and she had no way to refute, as all her thoughts were exposed under the burning holy fire of Teris's eyes of justice.

"You are not worthy of the love and respect of the people and warriors, not worthy to be the leader of Heaven, and not qualified to wield the divine artifacts left by the Father!" The Seraphim of Justice roared in anger, his fury transforming into surging holy light that enveloped the entire Hall of Arbitration. "Athena, the Power Angel, in the name of the Seraphim of Justice Teris, I will strip you of your angelic crown!"

The majestic power of judgment transformed into a tangible force, and the radiant halo above Athena's head shattered with a loud crack.

"In the name of the Father, I revoke your authority to wield the holy sword!"

The holy sword, enveloped in aurora and holy light, slipped from Athena's hand and fell into the hands of the Seraphim.

"In the name of the countless heroes who fell in the First Light and Darkness War and sacrificed their lives to protect Heaven's Mountain, I will strip you of your power! Extinguish your holy light! Destroy your self-righteous reliance! I will make you become one of the lives you have ignored! I will make you understand that there are countless innocent beings in this world who do not have your talents and power, who can only live humbly but strive hard. I will make you understand that every life is fragile and precious, and they are all the Father's beloved children, and I will not allow you, this arrogant and ignorant fool, to trample on them at will!"

The scarred rune armor emitted a faint sound, and the golden plates and blue crystals began to peel off. The ancient divine runes engraved on the armor continuously transformed into scattered starlight. The symbol of glory gradually lost its vitality, turning into ordinary iron, and fell to the ground with a clanging sound. Deprived of her weapons, crown, holy light, and armor, Athena's pride and power dissipated like water, and she opened her eyes, stunned by the sudden punishment, unable to speak.

But the punishment was far from over.

Her adoptive father and mentor, the Seraphim of Justice who had guided her all along, now looked at her with a strange gaze, filled with sadness, disappointment, and an inexplicable sorrow and reminiscence. He extended his left hand, and intense holy light continuously gathered: "I am very disappointed, Athena. I thought you were ready, but you were not. Your reasons for wielding weapons come from your laughable vanity and immature and impulsive beliefs. You regard the power given to you by the holy sword and holy light as merely a tool to display your personal bravery. You use your power crudely and directly to vent your impatience and anger. You do not understand the true nature of the power you bear! Your power came too easily, so easily that your heart began to swell, making you despise the weak and disrespect the innocent. You do not realize how many lives your every decision will affect. Since this is the case, I will let you experience how ordinary beings struggle and fight against fate, and taste the feeling of losing your power!"

"In the name of the Ark of Genesis, gather the ether currents, and construct the bridge of transition!" The radiant Sword of Justice fell into Teris's hands, and the heavy sword with the power of judgment and arbitration slashed down at Athena, "In the name of the Arbiter, I will exile you!"

With a scream, Athena woke up from her dream. Her face was covered in fine sweat, and she recalled her past exile, feeling a myriad of emotions. She couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"Awake?" A voice that brought her inexplicable comfort sounded.

***

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