(El is still referred to by her old name, Michael, until the next scene change in the chapter.)

“Could it be…?!” Gabriel exclaimed in disbelief.

Raphael swore, “That’s right, you fucking bastard.”

Despite Raphael missing his heart, his chest wound healed; just before the wound had fully closed, Gabriel saw something inside Raphael’s open chest.

Gabriel screamed, “Did you get the Life Root? You idiot! That power isn’t something you can handle!”

Receiving a part of Life was one thing, but accepting the Root itself was something only Michael could do. Gabriel had just realized that Michael had given her Life Root to Raphael.

Raphael whispered, “It’s only a piece of it. Only a piece, but…”

Holy flame bloomed from Raphael’s body in the process of sanctification.

Raphael burned the Life Root Michael had given him to gain power. He screamed as he grabbed Gabriel, “I should be able to take you with me!”

Gabriel, with his incredible power, tried to push Raphael away, but it was unexpectedly difficult. Then again, Raphael had used Life—God’s power—to suppress Gabriel, so how could it not...