Nova's gaze, sharp and penetrating, settled on Annie. "You're surprised, aren't you?" she mused, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on **her** lips.
Annie, still visibly shaken by the preceding revelations, nodded with fervent agreement. "Well, yes, profoundly surprising!" Her voice, typically composed, now carried a distinct tremor of disbelief. "Because I am astonished that an angel could vanquish a being as formidable as yourself... a spiritual entity." She underscored the final two words, as if grappling with the inherent contradiction.
Nova's smile broadened, a subtle transformation of **her** facial contours. "Look, I comprehend the apparent absurdity, but you must understand, an angel Origin does not engage in direct combat. Not every conflict necessitates physical confrontation. Rest assured, I shall elucidate the reasons when I delve into the intricacies of the ranks." Her tone remained serene, almost dismissive of humanity's limited grasp of such cosmic truths.
Lyla, ever the pragmatist, interjected, her arms tightly folded across her chest. "Yes, proceed swiftly." Her impatience was palpable, a stark contrast to Nova's ethereal composure.
Nova's eyes, still reflecting **the host's**, swept across the chamber, lingering momentarily on the inert forms of the civilians, each now host to a spiritual entity. A mischievous glint flickered within their depths. "You realize, of course, that these individuals could be marshaled into an army." The proposition hung in the air, a tempting yet perilous suggestion.
Lyla's jaw tightened, her voice hardening with a blend of defiance and pride. "And you presume we are unaware of that? These individuals are under the influence of a spiritual being. The masks affixed to their noses are specifically designed to impede the spiritual entities from, well, asserting control." She gestured vaguely towards the unconscious civilians, a hint of accusation coloring her tone.
Nova's smile returned, a knowing, almost condescending curve of **her** lips. "Nevertheless, I possess the capacity to command them." The simple declaration carried immense weight, an unspoken challenge to Lyla's perceived authority.
Lyla bristled, her patience visibly fraying. "You know what, that discussion can wait. For now, simply enlighten us regarding the ranking systems." She waved a dismissive hand, clearly intent on redirecting the conversation to more immediate concerns.
Nova's expression grew more solemn, the playful glint receding. "Very well, I shall elaborate. There are five distinct ranks, and I shall commence with the lowest, progressing to the apex.
"**Low Rank: Wisps.** These constitute the most rudimentary echelon. They manifest as demons of grotesque and repulsive appearance, spiritual beings of unremarkable presence emitting only a faint aura, and beasts whose nascent strength can merely threaten a single edifice. Yet, even among angels, the lowest rank possesses the capability to unilaterally decimate at least two of your nations." Nova paused, allowing the profound implications of her statement to resonate.
Caspian, who had been listening with rapt attention, finally broke his silence, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes. "These angels, are they benevolent?" His question was earnest, betraying a human yearning for reassurance in the face of such overwhelming power.
Nova's gaze softened almost imperceptibly. "They can be, indeed. It is contingent." Her response was enigmatic, hinting at complexities far beyond human comprehension.
Lyla, her burgeoning curiosity overriding her earlier resolve, interrupted once more. "Forgive my interruption, but I have a query unrelated to the ranks." She shifted her stance, her brow furrowed in deep contemplation.
Nova inclined **her** head slightly. "And what might that be?"
"Why are spiritual beings unlike beasts or demons? Why is it imperative for them to inhabit humans?" Lyla pressed, her gaze unwavering. "For instance, I rarely encounter a demon residing within a human form."
Nova's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement. "Would you prefer a demonstration?"
Lyla blinked, momentarily bewildered. "I fail to grasp your meaning."
"Were I in my true spiritual form, I could effortlessly egress from this containment unit in which you have placed me," Nova clarified, a subtle challenge embedded in her tone.
Lyla's eyes narrowed. "I would be intrigued to witness such an attempt." Her voice was tinged with skepticism, an undeniable dare.
Caspian, acutely aware of the escalating tension, swiftly intervened. He placed a restraining hand on Lyla's arm, his expression stern. "Lyla, desist." He then turned to Nova, his voice imbued with sincere apology. "Our sincerest apologies, Nova."
Nova's expression remained placid. "There is no need for apology. My host, Leo, has already enjoined me not to engage in conflict, and I have pledged to him that I shall maintain amicable relations with you all." A faint, almost imperceptible warmth emanated from **her** form, a subtle testament to the lingering influence of **her** human consciousness.
Caspian, Lyla, and Annie exchanged uneasy glances, a silent acknowledgment of Nova's immense power and their own precarious standing. Nova, observing their reactions, continued, addressing Lyla's earlier inquiry. "Regarding your question, Lyla, you see, our designation as spiritual beings is quite literal. We lack a corporeal form, necessitating a host with a physical body to inhabit, thereby extending our longevity. This inherent lack of physicality renders us immune to conventional attacks. Consequently, demons are uniquely capable of assailing our spiritual essence through their dark energy. Not all demons wield dark energy; some possess, shall we say, a 'red energy.' Dark energy is cultivated by individuals who are inherently wicked, devoid of compassion, and consumed by madness, whereas red energy stems from profound anger."
Lyla nodded slowly, diligently processing the intricate details. "Understood. You may proceed."
Nova resumed her exposition, her voice even and meticulously articulated. "**Middle Rank: Phantom.** These represent a modest advancement over the lower echelons, and indeed, they still engage in combat. It is crucial to note: should you encounter any species that refrains from physical assault, I implore you to flee, and do so with extreme urgency. Phantoms are potent, yet not overwhelmingly so."
"**High Rank: Specters.** This rank typically operates in solitude. They require no assistance, and I emphasize, *no* assistance, to lay waste to multiple nations. At this stage, spiritual beings begin to emanate an overwhelming aura, capable of unleashing devastating slashes that could obliterate five of your structures in a single strike. Demons, conversely, grow more formidable with each passing day, accumulating greater energy, and their physical forms become exceptionally resilient, rendering them impervious to ordinary blades."
"**Commanders: Harbingers.** Their might and dominion are extraordinary. They are exceedingly powerful, and any lapse in vigilance will prove fatal. The most challenging among them is the 6th Harbinger. That particular individual possesses such immense power that she rarely resorts to physical confrontation; her influence is wielded through mere pronouncements, much like the word I employed against the 10th Harbinger. There are currently ten Harbingers, each endowed with unique abilities commensurate with their scaling. However, the primary ones demanding your utmost caution are the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Harbingers. Proceed with extreme circumspection. I have previously alluded to the 2nd Harbinger. Now, you posed a question, Annie, concerning a clash between a fully mastered dual-blade katana user, a demon, and a fully mastered single-katana user, a spiritual being—who would emerge victorious? This is where the narrative becomes truly captivating. The 2nd Harbinger wields the dual-blade katana but has never achieved complete mastery, utilizing only half of its inherent power. In stark contrast, the 1st Harbinger is a spiritual being who has attained absolute mastery over a single katana. That entity is truly insane; capable of cleaving through reality itself with its blade. Its speed is unparalleled, I mean, up to 2000 times the speed of light. It could annihilate your planets with a single, unseen slash, leaving me uncertain of the true extent of the 2nd Harbinger's power."
Lyla's eyes were wide, a mixture of profound awe and deep trepidation etched upon her features. "What of the 3rd?" she inquired, her voice barely a whisper.
Nova's brow furrowed slightly, a rare display of contemplation. "She was the sole entity audacious enough to challenge me. I have, regrettably, momentarily forgotten her appellation... Ah, her name is Xyne. She is a beast that underwent an evolution into a demon. Her strength is utterly insane, and I mean *extremely* insane. A single punch is capable of... I genuinely cannot quantify her full power, as I have never witnessed her unleash it entirely, even during our confrontation."
Lyla exhaled slowly, a grim realization dawning upon her. "Understood. That is... reassuring to hear," she stated, though her tone conveyed anything but genuine comfort.
Nova then concluded, her voice resonating with an ancient, primordial power. "The ultimate echelon comprises the **Origins**, known as entities, capable of obliterating multiple planets, if not entire universes. Their might is beyond comparison. There exist only three Origins: myself, the angel who has been vanquished, and the Curse Lord."
"The Curse Lord?" Lyla echoed, her voice now laced with a new, profound fear.
Nova nodded. "Indeed. I had not encountered him even before my departure from my own world. He is powerful, exceptionally so, but I am the second strongest. The primary position belongs to the angel, yet there is an angel who eluded capture. No one is aware of this, save for myself, because, presuming the king possessed this knowledge, he would have exhausted every conceivable means to apprehend and eliminate it."
Lyla, her mind reeling from the sheer magnitude of power Nova had described, finally raised a hand. "Very well, that is sufficient for now. Annie, can you devise countermeasures with this intelligence?"
Annie, who had been furiously transcribing notes, looked up, her eyes gleaming with scientific fervor. "Yes, I believe I can, but I will require both demonic and spiritual energy."
Nova, without a moment's hesitation, offered, "I can provide the spiritual energy."
Annie's face illuminated with gratitude. "Thank you, I am truly appreciative." Her voice was imbued with a renewed sense of purpose.
Lyla, ever the commander, redirected her attention. "So, regarding the matter of the army?" She gestured towards the unconscious civilians, a strategic glint in her eyes.
Before Lyla could elaborate further, Nova, with an almost ethereal grace, simply permeated the transparent tank. The metal and glass offered no discernible resistance to her spiritual form. She materialized directly before Lyla, **her** eyes, still reflecting **the host's**, holding a hint of triumph. "I tried it."
**To be continued...**