“Julian?! He is here?!” Emery’s voice was filled with disbelief.

The last news he had received about his Roman friend was three years prior. Julian had been deeply involved in rebuilding a kingdom on a war-torn planet. The exact location had always been shrouded in mystery, and Emery had never fully understood what Julian had been up to.

To discover that Julian was now part of a significant Nephilim event was both startling and troubling.

Emery’s attention was fixed on the radiant pillar, its glow pulsating with each chime of the divine bell. His mind raced with questions and concerns.

Turning to Jinkan, he urgently asked, “Are you sure it’s him?”

Jinkan’s expression shifted to one of mild irritation.

She rolled her eyes and replied sarcastically, “Well… I don’t know… I only spent six months with him in that secret realm… what do you think?! Of course, I know it’s him!” Emery’s astonishment grew as he processed the information.

The revelation that Julian had made it into the top ranks of the Trial of Faith, with fewer than ten participants remaining, left Emery even more bewildered.

Julian’s success in such a prestigious Nephilim trial was astounding, especially given the implications of his position. Emery’s thoughts turned to Julian’s unique abilities, his law of sovereignty, which supposedly has some connection to faith energy.

“But why? Why didn’t he tell us about this?” Emery’s confusion turned to frustration.

Annara, ever observant, only fueled his unease further with her ominous comment. “Huh… I always knew he is a troublesome one.”

As Emery’s thoughts swirled with questions, the divine bell rang once more. The glowing pillar intensified, signaling that the trial had advanced into another stage. The figures emerging from the realm became more significant with each round.

Jinkan, watching alongside him, remarked,

“He’s in the top eight now. He did well, indeed.” Her words carried a hint of admiration as she explained the weight of his ranking. Julian had earned yet another prestigious title—the Heavenly Ruler—a distinction reserved for the most formidable participants of the Trial of Faith. This title marked Julian as someone of immense divine favor within the Nephilim’s complex hierarchy.

And then, after what felt like an eternity, Emery finally saw him.

Julian emerged from the portal, stepping out of the secret realm with a calm, commanding presence. His once-familiar figure was now suffused with a radiant, almost regal aura that clung to him like a second skin.

The transformation was striking—Julian had ascended to the full moon magus realm, his power evident in the very air around him.

Whispers rippled through the crowd, many craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the mysterious figure who had risen to such prominence in the trial. Shock and curiosity painted the faces of those watching as they tried to identify him. Julian was not a Nephilim noble, nor a familiar face to most in Seraph City. His rise had been swift, silent, and utterly unexpected.

Emery was just about to approach Julian when a sudden movement caught his attention—Athena, the Kronos magus, leaped at Julian, embracing him tightly.

Her cheerful congratulations rang out, drawing the attention of several nearby magus. The familiarity between the two struck Emery as concerning. Having a prominent figure from the Kronos faction so openly friendly with Julian made him hesitate.

He stopped mid-step, his instincts telling him to hold back and observe.

Jinkan, who had been quietly watching alongside Emery, seemed to understand the situation and said. “You do what you need to do… I’ll investigate the Astiel in the meantime,” The Amarhiks princess had her own affairs to handle, and after agreeing on a time and place to meet, she left joining her entourage.

Emery couldn’t shake his fixation on Julian. His eyes stayed locked on his old friend, observing every interaction, every gesture.

As the hours passed, Julian mingled effortlessly among the Nephilims, exchanging words with influential figures. The ease with which he navigated these circles was unsettling. Emery listened closely, his spirit sense picking up every word exchanged.

Many flattered Julian profusely, addressing him by two names. The first, “Heavenly Ruler,” was the title Julian had earned through his performance in the Trial of Faith. But the second title—”The Great Pacifier”—was unfamiliar to Emery, and it piqued his curiosity. “What are you planning to do?” Annara asked. Emery, however, kept his focus on Julian. He wasn’t ready to make a move yet, not until he understood more.

The Trial of Faith drew to its conclusion a few hours later, with the final rankings announced, and the top spot claimed by someone familiar to Emery.

A young magus, Nael Nephilim, a prominent member of the Azazel family, first gained recognition during the Celestial Expedition. Known throughout the Nephilim faction as the “Faith Child,” Nael had been groomed for greatness, and it appeared he had just received recognition from the three supreme principalities.

The atmosphere shifted into one of celebration. The top participants, those who had garnered the favor of the supreme beings, were rewarded with special honors and gifts bestowed by the Seraph.

Emery watched with growing concern as Julian stood tall among the Nephilim elites, his presence now fully accepted within their ranks. The pride and ease with which Julian moved among them only deepened Emery’s unease

When the final festivities were over, Julian and Athena slipped away from the main gathering. Emery kept a careful eye on them, his instincts compelling him to follow.

They left the grand temple grounds, heading toward the residential district, where only the wealthiest and most influential magus stayed. S~eaʀᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

The grand estate and opulent surroundings hinted at the wealth and power that Julian now moved within. Emery remained unseen, his senses alert as he observed from the shadows. Unfortunately, Emery’s mastery of space magic was severely restricted here, and his spirit reading abilities were equally diminished by the heavy wards surrounding the residential area. From the shadows, he could only watch as prominent guests and envoys from various factions arrived bearing gifts, though he was unable to discern the conversations taking place inside the hall.

Patiently observing, come evening, Emery noted that Julian and Athena retired together, sharing a private room.

The following day, a similar pattern unfolded, with even more guests coming to visit the estate. Emery continued to observe, piecing together the subtle nuances of Julian’s interactions with the Nephilim envoys. The longer he watched, the more convinced he became that something was amiss. His intuition told him that there was more to Julian’s recent rise in the Nephilim ranks than what appeared on the surface.

“Maybe I should just ask him directly!” Emery was prepared to confront Julian and demand answers when Annara arrived with new information. She had managed to approach one of the envoys and gather additional details.

She learned more about Julian’s new identity as “Julius the Great Pacifier” and the planet he was now ruling.

Realizing that there was little more to be gleaned from his current position in Sky City, Emery decided his next step would be to visit this kingdom that his friend mysteriously ruled upon.

x x x x x x x x x

Search the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.