LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 617: Advancement Part 2
Melissa hovered in front of the massive pool, her golden gaze sweeping over the gathered angels.
"This," she began, her voice carrying through the chamber, "is the Celestial Basin. The lifeblood of Heaven's warriors."
Some of the angels leaned forward, captivated by the sheer radiance of the pool.
Melissa crossed her arms, her six wings folding slightly.
"For eons, this sacred reservoir has been rationed. Only the most deserving, those who have proven themselves over centuries, were granted the right to partake in its power.
Murmurs spread through the group. Every angel knew about the Celestial Basin, but few had ever seen it.
Fewer still believed they would ever be allowed to drink from it. The privilege was reserved for the elite and talented.
Melissa's gaze darkened.
"But times have changed. The war has forced our hand. What was once a privilege is now a necessity. There is no longer a reason to conserve it, no reason to wait. Every warrior must be elevated if we are to withstand what is coming."
Silence filled the chamber. The weight of her words pressed down on them, their thoughts racing at the implications.
She gestured toward the golden pool.
"That is why, for the first time in Heaven's history, lower-ranking angels will be granted access."
"Your usual wait—centuries— or maybe even never — has been cut short. The Celestial Basin will judge your worth, and you will ascend accordingly."
A ripple of uncertainty spread through the group. One angel stepped forward hesitantly.
"Lady Seraphim, if we are all to take it… what happens when the pool runs dry?"
"Dry?" A chuckle escaped her lips. It was a knowing sound, almost amused by their ignorance.
"You worry over nothing. Even if every one of you bath from it today, Our reserve alone holds enough divine essence to elevate a thousand of you to the rank of Seraphim."
A thousand!
The number was staggering. It was difficult to even imagine that many angels reaching such heights.
Seraphim were meant to be close to the pinnacle of power within Heaven's hierarchy, and yet she spoke as if a thousand more could be made overnight.
Melissa's gaze sharpened. "Of course, being exposed to the Celestial Basin does not guarantee ascension."
"The amount you absorb depends entirely on your potential. Those with greater aptitude will take in more, while others… will receive far less."
Her eyes lingered on the gathered angels, her meaning clear.
Not all of them would be changed. Some would rise higher, while others would barely be affected at all.
Reign watched the reactions around him with a neutral expression, but deep down, he wondered if drinking all this liquid gold would give him a massive power boost.
Most people saw him as a demon because of his appearance, but after absorbing Ra, his aptitude for the divine skyrocketed.
In addition, his body, created by the system, could absorb almost anything without the risk of his energy clashing.
However, one thing concerned him—this liquid gold had a way of punishing those with evil thoughts, and it was far stronger than the one before.
Still, the potential to grow stronger was too tempting.
For Reign, there was no such thing as too much power, especially now that he no longer had a system that could boost his strength in a short amount of time.
That hunger for power wasn't his alone. Some of the angels looked tempted to jump in right away.
Melissa's lips curled into a faint smirk. "You all wish to advance, don't you? You crave strength. Purpose. Glory."
She stepped forward, the golden light reflecting off her pristine armor. "Then come forward. Step into the Basin and take hold of your destiny."
The chamber grew silent as everyone waited. No one moved at first, uncertainty filling the air.
Then, slowly, the first angel stepped forward, took a deep breath, and dipped a foot into the golden liquid.
The angel's entire body trembled as energy surged through him, sinking deep into his core.
But after a while, cracks formed on his skin, forcing him to step out of the basin.
Melissa looked disappointed.
She never had high expectations for angels from the far corners of heaven, but seeing the results still made her sigh heavily.
Rising only one level was a waste. The angel would die the moment he stepped onto the battlefield, just another worthless pawn.
"Next," she commanded.
Another angel stepped forward. Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists and stepped in.
The golden liquid wrapped around him right away, sinking into his skin. At first, it felt amazing, like pure energy rushing through his body. But then, pain followed.
Another failure. Another waste.
More and more angels stepped forward. Some managed to advance by two or three levels, but it still wasn't enough.
To be considered an asset in the war, they needed to rise at least four levels.
Finally, it was Reign's turn.
By this point, Melissa no longer expected a miracle. She just wanted to get this over with and move on to checking the next batch from the capital.
DRIP!
The moment his feet touched the golden liquid, nothing happened.
He kept walking forward until half of his body was submerged in the pool.
"Weird, I don't feel anything...?"
Before he could finish his thoughts, the water surged around him, swirling like a raging storm.
Shocked, he braced himself for the worst. But instead of pain, there was nothing but a refreshing sensation.
'Wow, this feels great. I feel like I'm in a hot spring,' he mused with a wicked grin.
Meanwhile, everyone watching stood frozen, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The water in the basin spun wildly, forming a massive whirlpool. He stood at the center of it all, pulling everything in.
"A once-in-a-lifetime genius! The pool is running dry!"
Melissa exclaimed. She quickly flew toward one of the compartments and pulled a lever.
CLICK!
More and more liquid gold poured down from the ceiling, replenishing the basin.
'That's it, keep giving me more power, idiots,'
Reign found her actions completely stupid. She was basically feeding the most dangerous being alive.