Abyss Draconis

[Congratulations on completing the Quest: Defeat an Arch Angel.]

[Rewards:

+3,000,000 EXP!

+5 Level Up Cards.

+300,000 Purchase Points.]

[Congratulations, Host has been recognized by an angelic power!]

[Host has gained a Mark.]

The system notification flashed as Ryuk felt the golden motes of light that had been the Archangel slowly fill up his insides.

They dipped through his wounds, as he felt them completely heal up, as if time on them had been reversed.

The motes meandered through him for a few seconds, before they suddenly vanished.

But then, Ryuk could still feel their presence deep within him.

A golden vortex appeared in the room, and stepping out was none other than Radiant Aveia, who silently watched as the golden cocoon of light slowly faded from him.

And then—

RIIIIPPPLLLLEEE

A golden ripple surged out, momentarily blinding her, but she forced her eyes open, her breath catching in her throat at the sight of him.

He stood there, levitating 5 centimeters in the air.

His snow-white hair floated behind him rhythmically, golden motes of light surging out of it, but most eye-catching was what floated behind his back.

It was a golden halo that formed the shape of a circle, but it was no ordinary circle.

Around the edges of the circle were the impressions of claws, hung all around it, seemingly holding the circle in place around him.

The sight of it shook her heart as Radiant Aveia stood frozen in place.

She had seen a couple of Arch Guard halos in the past, and they were all simple golden circles.

But this one...

It had the impression of claws around it—a sign that it was far from ordinary.

Ryuk levitated back to the ground, a golden ripple surging as he landed onto the destroyed floor, before his head faintly turned, as he looked at the golden claw halo behind him.

'So, this is the Arch Guard Halo?' he thought, looking at the shining golden rings.

'Looks cool,' he thought with a shrug, before he turned back to look at Radiant Aveia, watching as the focus in her eyes returned.

"You passed the Arch Guard Test, and are now an Arch Guard..." she said, her voice still holding the shock, but it didn't stop her from going along with the protocol, as her hand stretched outwards and a golden card appeared.

Her other hand moved as a couple of runic symbols appeared in the air and inched toward the golden card, disappearing into it, before she walked toward Ryuk, stopping a meter away him.

The golden card floated to him as his hand reached out and took it in his grasp.

"The Arch Guard Halo is already enough means of identification, but in some places, you might still be required to show up your Identity Guard—either for your Ammamora Points to be viewed, or to check how long you still have left to stay on Ammamora," she said as Ryuk turned to the card and he noticed a couple numbers.

They were:

{Duration Left Before Renewal: 3649:23:59:59}

{Ammamora Points to Next Tier: 700 / 100,000.}

"So there is another Tier beyond the Arch Guard Tier?" Ryuk asked as he turned his attention to Radiant Aveia, who nodded.

"Yes, there is. But there's no test for it, as it's more based on loyalty and ability than battle prowess."

"You would need to amass points, fill up the Tier, and only then will you be able to move to the next Tier."

"As for how you would amass those points, it is through commission for your service as an Arch Angel."

"A maximum of three days from now, and you would be reached out to by the Council."

"You would learn more from them about the benefits of being an Arch Guard and the expected service required," she explained lengthily before a golden gate appeared at the side, which she walked towards, nudging him to come after.

Ryuk dipped the card into his pocket before he followed, disappearing into the golden portal—but midway, the system notification blinked before him.

[NOTICE:

The host has been issued a tracking device, which is being monitored right now.]

The system flashed before him as his eyes twitched.

'Tch, so much for it just being an ID card.'

Seems like the golden ID card wasn't just something that held his time duration in Ammamora and his points, but also a tracker that Ammamora could use to find his location as long as he held it on him.

[I can deactivate it before it is fully locked on you,] the system notification flashed

'Don't.'

[Why? Your location will always be revealed to them,] the system said, but Ryuk remained adamant.

'If not because of you, I would never have known that I was being tracked, and I guess the same is true for all of the people holding an ID.'

'If you deactivate the tracker on my card, there's a huge chance they'll be able to quickly lock onto that—and then, they'll want to know how I managed to hack the card and stop their location sensors.'

'In other words, it'll only fetch me unnecessary attention.'

'That's something I can't afford... yet,' he said, as the system notification faded off.

Ryuk stepped through the portal, opening his eyes to the sight of the office.

The jaws of the Fallen sitting in the room silently dropped in shock when they noticed the golden halo behind him.

"He's... he's an Arch Guard!" they involuntarily said out loud, but then the voice rang out:

"Compose yourselves," It was none other than Radiant Aveia, as the room silently settled before she turned to Ryuk.

"I'll lead you out..." she said to him, before moving towards the exit.

Ryuk followed, but throughout the way, the actions of all the Fallen Angels remained the same.

They all had their jaws dropped in shock when they noticed the halo behind him.

_______

"Is that an Arch Guard Halo!?"

"He possesses the power of an Arch Guard!?"

"Just how strong must he be?"

________

They both soon stepped out of the building, and quickly enough, Ryuk found his way back to the Fallen Guards.

At the sight of Radiant Aveia, they instantly straightened, saluting—but then...

Their eyes shifted to Ryuk, and the shock returned tenfold when they caught sight of the golden halo behind him.

"He's... he's now an Arch Guard!?"