Chapter 90: The Ring of Divine Judgment

After defeating the bat-like humanoid monsters, Indigo did not allow even a second of rest.

He simply turned around and continued walking deeper into the cave as if what had just happened was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Angelica and her two subordinates followed behind him.

The deeper they ventured, the heavier the air became. The cave walls narrowed and widened unpredictably, shadows stretching unnaturally along the jagged rock surfaces. Strange growls and distant echoes of movement could be heard from various tunnels branching off into darkness.

Monsters appeared again and again.

Grotesque creatures crawled from cracks in the stone. Winged beasts descended from the ceiling. Some emerged from underground, their claws scraping harshly against rock.

Angelica and her subordinates were visibly frightened.

Their breathing was uneven. Their shoulders stiff.

But Indigo remained calm.

Every monster that approached was eliminated before it could even reach within striking distance.

Sometimes he used blades.

Sometimes firearms.

Sometimes pure condensed energy.

He moved efficiently—precise, measured, controlled.

No wasted motion.

No unnecessary destruction.

It was as if he had walked this path many times before.

’He doesn’t even hesitate…’ Angelica thought quietly, watching his back.

’Is this what true strength looks like…?’

After several more turns and battles, they reached a narrow opening in the stone wall.

The gap was barely wide enough for a person to pass through without lowering their head.

Indigo stepped in first.

Angelica followed, slightly bowing as she entered. Her two subordinates carefully trailed behind.

The passage was tight and suffocating.

Then—

The narrow corridor suddenly opened.

Before them lay a vast underground chamber.

The ceiling stretched high above, glittering faintly. Embedded into the stone walls and ground were countless pale-blue gemstones, glowing softly like frozen stars.

The entire chamber shimmered with cool, mystical light.

Angelica gasped.

“It’s… beautiful…”

Indigo scanned the surroundings carefully.

“It should be here…”

He muttered under his breath.

Angelica stepped forward slightly.

“U-uhm… where is the gem?”

Her voice carried a hint of nervousness.

Indigo turned toward her.

Her face was slightly red again, though whether from anticipation or something else was unclear.

“The gem is here,” Indigo said calmly. “It’s fused among all of these.”

’The Gem of Judgment should be golden and shaped like a ring,’ Indigo thought carefully.

’But judging by the environment… it likely needs direct contact before revealing its true form.’

He observed the gemstones one by one.

Then his gaze stopped.

Two pale-blue gems were fused together slightly differently from the rest.

Their alignment was unnatural.

He walked toward them.

Angelica watched closely.

Indigo reached out and touched the twin gemstones.

Instantly—

The pale-blue color shattered like glass.

The fused stones morphed, reshaping themselves.

In his hand now rested a golden ring.

Its surface gleamed with divine radiance, intricate engravings circling the band.

’Yes… this is it. Just like in the webtoon.’

Indigo picked up the golden ring and walked toward Angelica.

When he stood before her, he raised his hand and revealed it.

“This is the gem you’ve been longing for.”

Angelica’s eyes locked onto the golden ring.

Her breathing grew shallow.

’It’s exactly like the ancient records… The legendary golden gem ring…’

Her expression lit up with joy.

Then—

Her cheeks flushed deeper.

She slowly extended her left hand.

“C-could you… put it on my ring finger?”

Indigo blinked.

“Hm? Why do I have to do it?”

“Ugh, just do it!”

Angelica said quickly, her face now completely red.

“…Alright.”

Indigo gently held her left hand.

Her fingers were soft, slightly trembling.

He carefully slid the golden ring onto her ring finger.

’H-he really put it on me… D-does this mean… that Master Indigo and I are already…?’

Angelica’s mind spiraled.

Her face grew even redder.

But Indigo had no such thoughts.

To him, it was merely a practical action.

The moment the ring fully settled on her finger—

A surge of overwhelming energy exploded outward.

Golden light burst from Angelica’s body.

The air trembled.

The pale-blue gemstones around them vibrated.

Angelica gasped.

“I can feel it… The holy power of the gods…”

Her voice trembled—not from fear, but awe.

Indigo observed quietly from behind his mask.

A faint smile formed beneath it.

“Do you feel it?” he asked calmly. “Then try using your power here.”

Angelica nodded.

She raised her hand toward the pale-blue gemstones embedded in the walls.

The ring glowed brilliantly.

Every gemstone in the chamber began to shake.

Then—

They tore themselves free from the rock.

Hundreds of pale-blue stones floated in mid-air.

Angelica clenched her fist.

Instantly, all the gemstones shattered into dust.

The chamber echoed with the explosion of crystal fragments.

“Wah… This… this is incredible!”

Angelica’s voice was filled with genuine excitement.

Her subordinates stared in amazement.

“Congratulations, Miss Angelica! You achieved your wish!”

“Yes! That power is extraordinary!”

Indigo stepped forward slightly.

“Now that you’ve obtained the Gem of Judgment… would you like to come with me and meet the other members of the Darkest Alliance?”

Angelica blinked.

“Huh? Umm… of course.”

She turned toward her two subordinates.

“You two should return. Your duties here are complete.”

They bowed deeply.

“Yes, Miss Angelica.”

Indigo raised his hand slightly.

“I can send you directly back to your base.”

One of them hesitated.

“Huh? Then please… if you would.”

Indigo extended his palm toward them.

A dark-blue light surrounded their bodies.

In an instant—

They vanished.

Teleported away.

Angelica watched with fascination.

“Your teleportation range… it’s truly vast…”

Indigo turned to her.

“Let’s head to the next location.”

Angelica nodded.

Her face was still faintly red.

Indigo reached out and took her hand.

She froze.

Her heart skipped.

’H-he’s holding my hand… again…’

Her face turned bright crimson.

But instead of pulling away, she tightened her grip slightly.

And in the next second—

They disappeared.

*Moscow, Russia – HIVE Headquarters*

They reappeared in front of a massive industrial structure covered in reinforced steel and layered security systems.

Angelica looked around nervously.

“U-uhm… where are we?”

“We’re in Moscow.”

“M-Moscow? How did we teleport this far…?”

Her voice was slightly shaky.

“My teleportation range is extensive. I can travel almost anywhere.”

Angelica calmed slightly.

She gave a small smile.

Together, they walked toward the entrance.

Four guards immediately blocked their path.

“Stop!”

One of them shouted.

But before he could continue, another guard grabbed his shoulder.

“Hey, stop. Don’t block his way.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Are you stupid? We’re currently in an alliance with Darkest. The masked man in front of us is the leader of that alliance. The one rumored to be equal to our boss.”

“W-what!? That’s Indigo!?”

“Of course, idiot! Let them pass.”

“U-uhm… this way, sir…”

The guards quickly stepped aside.

As Indigo and Angelica walked past, whispers followed.

“Hey… who’s the person behind Lord Indigo?”

“I don’t know… she’s wearing a white hood. I can’t see her face clearly.”

Another guard leaned in.

“Are you blind? Look at her figure. Even with that white coat, I can tell. She’s a woman.”

“A woman? Are you sure?”

“I think so…”

They entered the facility.

Moments later, Indigo stood before a reinforced door.

He knocked once.

Then opened it.

“Boris.”

Inside, Boris sat at his desk, while Alea stood beside him holding several documents.

“Oh? Indigo!”

Indigo and Angelica stepped inside.

“I came after your message,” Indigo said calmly. “Where is the prisoner?”

“Of course. He’s in the detention wing. We can head there shortly… but wait—who’s the woman behind you?”

Indigo glanced back at Angelica.

“She’s the newest member of the Darkest Alliance. Miss Angelica.”

Angelica slowly lowered her hood.

Her radiant face was revealed.

Alea gasped softly.

“…She really does look like an angel…”

Boris stood up.

“Woah! I didn’t expect you to bring someone powerful to our side. As expected of Indigo!”

He walked toward Angelica and extended his hand.

“My name is Boris. Leader of HIVE and your senior within the Darkest Alliance.”

Angelica looked at him with calm, cool eyes.

She shook his hand.

“My name is Angelica. Leader of The Angelic Moon.”

Boris paused.

“The Angelic Moon… I’ve heard that name before. Aren’t you the one who killed the Eighth Pope of Rome?”

Angelica smiled faintly.

“It seems your knowledge is quite extensive, Lord Boris.”

Boris chuckled.

“Hehe. Of course.”

Indigo watched them both silently.

’Everything is moving according to plan.’

But deep inside—

He knew something else was coming.

And the real storm had yet to begin.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep