Chapter 14: The Saint Who Sold Her Halo
Volume 2: The Origin Lustcore – Harem of the End
Arc 3: Halo & Horns – Trials of Flesh and Faith
> [Status: Xal'tharrah Defeated – Lustcore Synchronization at 88%]
[Next Trial: The Angel Who Fell for Pleasure]
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1. The Descent into Light
We emerged not into shadows—but into radiance.
The gate delivered us to a skyborn cathedral floating above an ocean of silver mist. Choirs of disembodied voices sang in fractured harmony, their notes shimmering like broken stained glass.
And there, at the altar of a glowing temple, knelt a woman in white chains.
Her hair was silver flame. Her eyes were molten gold. Her wings, once majestic, were scorched black at the edges.
She turned toward us and smiled faintly.
"You've come for my trial."
System Ping:
> [Trial Initiated: The Fall of Saint Celestira] [Objective: Witness her betrayal—and offer her a new sin.]
Kalysta winced. "She's the one who judged me. This'll be fun."
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2. The Saint's Crime
Celestira led us deeper into her cathedral, every step trailing feathers and ash.
"I once presided over divine pleasures," she said softly. "But I chose to taste what was forbidden. I fell... not for lust—but for love. A love I could not sanctify."
We passed murals animated by divine light:
Her cradling a mortal lover, dissolving into tears as angels pulled them apart.
Her chained, stripped of her halo by beings of law.
Her final smile before her wings burned.
"I gave up divinity to remember what a kiss felt like," she said.
Lilix muttered, "Relatable."
The temple shook.
"She's repressing the trial," Rhyssara warned. "She's too broken to test us unless we make her."
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3. Sin by Confession
Celestira took us to the Confessional Garden.
Each of us had to step into a glowing pool, where memories would be shared and judged.
Elyria entered first.
She confessed a moment of cowardice—abandoning her first squad to save a divine scroll.
Kalysta entered next, confessing a child she once bore but never claimed.
Lilix admitted to secretly loving Elyria, knowing the feelings were unreturned.
Nyxira's confession was simple: "I liked watching him die."
Seraphina revealed she knew I was destined to fall... and chose me anyway.
Then I stepped in.
I confessed that every time I saved one of them, part of me enjoyed being needed.
Celestira listened, expression unreadable.
Then she wept.
"I miss feeling anything real," she whispered. "Teach me how."
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4. Wings of Flesh and Fire
Suddenly, the garden flared—wings of light erupted from the sky.
An archangel descended, her face a mask of judgment.
"You have failed, Celestira. You will not become flesh. You will become nothing."
A sword of celestial ice pierced the sky.
I stood before her.
"Not today."
My Lustcore burned. My Harem stood beside me, blades drawn, spells ready, hearts defiant.
Battle ignited across heaven.
We fought angels made of thought. We destroyed sanctified illusions.
Kalysta unleashed forbidden hymns.
Elyria broke divine law with every arrow.
And Celestira—shackled, fallen—sang a war prayer that shattered the archangel's mask.
Behind it...
Was her own face.
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5. The Final Sin
The trial had always been herself.
Celestira faced a mirror-version of herself: perfect, untouched, divine.
"I reject you," the saint said. "I choose to love. I choose him."
The divine self struck with light.
I blocked it—with the black rose Kalysta had given me.
Light met darkness—and balanced.
Celestira fell into my arms, breathing hard.
"Will you let me sin with you?" she asked.
"I'll sin with you forever," I said, kissing her.
System Update:
> [Saint Celestira has joined your Harem] [Title Gained: Heretic of Heaven]
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6. Halo Shared, Not Worn
That night, we did not feast.
We prayed.
Together. Each to their own truth.
Celestira removed her halo—and placed it on my head.
"I want to be mortal," she whispered.
"You already are," I said. "More than most."
Valtheria's voice echoed faintly, trembling.
"One more piece... and you'll reach me. Be ready, Kairo. I'm not the goddess you remember."
We stepped into the light of the next gate.
Not sinners.
Not saints.
Just broken lovers, walking toward an ending none of us could predict.
> [End of Chapter 14]
[Next: Chapter 15 – Demon Queen's Gambit: Lust Against the Clock]