Chapter 182: To the Divine Throne
"I will give you a chance to explain yourself," High Arbiter Elek said, looming over me stiffly.
I remained on my knees before him, my tail twisting nervously. The soldiers of the Last Light Company stood around us in a loose ring, solemn and silent as the grave. Their weary countenances were torn by conflict, an uncertain glow in their eyes. The arbiter’s wings fanned out behind him, rustling in agitation as he folded his arms, staring down at me.
"It was the only way," I whispered, not daring to meet any of their eyes.
Alex snorted, standing beside Connor outside the ring. "As if we can believe a story like that. Even if you could use infernal mana, how could you possibly kill a sixth-level demon? Not even Soltair can beat a demon at the same level by himself, so how could you when you’re so much weaker?"
"Silence, hero," Elek snapped. He let out a sharp breath and let his arms drop to his side. "But even so, I cannot deny your question. Xiviyah, are we truly to believe you single-handedly closed a sixth-level gate by yourself?"
"I wasn’t by myself," I said, raising my head and looking around the ring of soldiers. Save for a few I personally saved, they shied away, not daring to meet my eyes. Their wavering gazes diminished what little confidence I held, and my hands tightened on the folds of my bloodied skirt.
"So it seems," Elek said, sparing Captain Bethiv a glance. The man stared back proudly, as though daring the angel to challenge the claim.
"It is as she says." The captain stared back with certainty, as though daring the angel to challenge the claim. "I have no damn clue if she used demon powers or not, but one thing’s for sure. She killed tens of thousands of demons today, including the Gate Commander, and destroyed the core, not to mention saving our company. No matter what anyone says, that makes her a hero, at the very least."
Elek nodded slowly, seeming to weigh his testimony with the golden glow in his eyes. "Very well, I see no fault in your words." he returned his piercing gaze to me and asked, "And how exactly did you marshal these demonic powers?"