Infiltration

Hong raised her right hand to her forehead. Though she had never opened her eyes, it was as if the figure radiating holy light had burned them, and she slightly furrowed her brow.

"Living Saint..." she murmured softly.

The holy-light form that had descended from the heavens slowly turned around. Its illusory, indistinct body floated about ten centimeters above the ground. The alloy floor of the bridge hall melted beneath its feet, sending rolling waves of heat into the air. Its translucent, light-forged wings fluttered slightly, while powerful psychic energy resonated excitedly with a pleasant chime like wind bells.

The breach running through the bridge had caused the atmosphere to leak. A violent gale swept through the hall, carrying countless lightweight objects away. In an instant, they were sucked into space—but the automatic damage-control system soon activated. A layer of surging silver-white metal rapidly sealed the breach in the roof. Then the gale died down, and the nearby ventilation ducts began hissing as they quickly replenished the air.

The surviving Hermetic Society believers in the hall seemed to see the dawn of hope. Though they had nearly been sucked out of the hall by the airflow moments ago, they now clung tightly to nearby fixtures and cheered joyfully. "The Living Saint! It's the Living Saint! Our protector has come!"

Holy radiance surged through the hall. Hong's brows drew tightly together as she sensed the immense power contained within that psychic "being." Even her ever-calm expression now held a hint of solemnity. Remaining on guard, she murmured, "...It's neither alive nor holy, and it isn't human either..."

The instant her voice fell, that powerful psychic being raised the light-forged greatsword in its hand. Blinding holy light burned along the blade, and terrifying energy began gathering in the air.

Hong's nerves instantly