Indignation

The demonic human had a startled expression on his face, "Do you have no fear of the Gods!?"

Aunt Amabel closed her eyes and replied curtly, "Oh? To hear such words from someone who worships a Devil…"

Heart Ignition was an ability that was considered taboo by those who pursue the path of aura.

It was believed to be a disrespect to life itself…

…and that those who use it would have no chance of reincarnation at all as the ability burns one's life and their soul.

Thus, many chose to not learn this Aura Art.

'I couldn't care less about the Gods, nor the afterlife. They were my only family in this life and I'll do anything it takes to protect them.'

Aunt Amabel opened her eyes and once again whispered a chant, [Strength Enhancement]

A burst of power that was even greater than before surged within her body.

Clank!!!

"Grrr! I'm still a Middle Stage Beginner Swordsman!! I'm stronger than those two idiots you killed"

Shouted the demonic human after barely blocking the war ax that longed for his life.

"Tsk." 

Aunt Amabel clicked her tongue.

She rushed towards the man again. However, the demonic human dodged and kept a certain distance from her.

"Fuck!"

Aunt Amabel cursed, she knew what her opponent was doing.

"Haha! Since you've started your Heart Ignition, I'll just need for you to run out of time!"

The demonic human laughed crazily.

"Well, unlike you slow warriors, us swordsmen are more agile and lethal!"

"Shut the fuck up!"

Aunt Amabel rushed again and continuously chased after her opponent.

Meanwhile, Regis and Dahlia, who were already at the entrance of the forest, watched the battle with worried expressions.

"Do you think Aunt Amabel will be okay?"

Dahlia softly asked as tears fell down from her eyes.

However, Regis remained silent.

He knew that things weren't looking good for Aunt Amabel.

'Heart Ignition, huh…?' He thought absentmindedly as he remembered the words that Aunt Amabel chanted earlier.

Chants weren't as simple as words that were spoken, they were akin to a declaration to the world itself which recognizes the invocation of an energy technique.

Therefore, it wasn't strange for him to hear something that Aunt Amabel whispered.

In Aunt Amabel's case, the energy technique she used was of the category of aura, also known as an Aura Art.

'I don't care if I die slightly faster…'

Aunt Amabel seemed to have made a decision as she slightly bent her knees, looking as if she was trying to charge again.

A chant rang in her mind. 

[Bull Charge]

"Haha! I told you it's usele— What!?" 

Swoosh—

The demonic human's eyes widened as he saw Aunt Amabel who was already in front of him.

"Fuck you."

"H-How!? Don't tell me… you have another Aura Ar—"

Splurt—

The war ax cut off the demonic human's word the same way it cut his neck.

And with that, the third demonic human was beheaded.

"Huuu… I'm done for, aren't I?"

Aunt Amabel let out a chuckle.

She had started to burn her life, and it would not stop until nothing was left of her.

Furthermore, using Bull Charge increased the rate at which her life was burning.

Thus, she looked into Regis and Dahlia's direction.

However, her eyes soon widened.

'So that was why her body was weak, huh? I guess it was a blessing in disguise…' She thought as her eyes landed on Dahlia.

Aunt Amabel wasn't able to see the cause of Dahlia's weakness before, but with her now heightened senses, she was able to sense something in her.

She then looked at Regis in the eyes and nodded, 'As for him… With his capabilities, he will surely make it big anywhere.'

Aunt Amabel smiled at the two, before raising her hand and waving them goodbye.

Then, she proceeded to return to the slums.

She couldn't escape anymore. 

It was too late for her. 

And so…

'...I'll make sure that those demonic humans won't be able to chase after them…!'

However, as she was making her way towards the slums, a scene that disgusted her to the extreme presented itself before her.

Boom!!! Boom!!!

Shiiing— Clank!!

"Ahhhh! Help!!"

"Why aren't you opening the gate!?!"

"Open it please! We're citizens of Toran City too!"

"We are citizens of the Acheron Kingdom too!"

"We are humans too!!"

"Just take my child!! I beg of you!!!"

…

Amidst the chaotic massacre brought upon by the demonic humans, the people in the slums who chose to enter the city were stuck in front of the city gates.

Their tears and cries for help didn't affect the guards on the other side of the city gate.

The guards didn't seem to feel anything as their eyes radiated apathy.

"Animals of the slums! How dare you proclaim yourselves as citizens of the kingdom!?"

"Such blasphemy shouldn't be tolerated!"

Splodge—

A sound was heard as one of the guards stabbed a person through the gaps of the city gate.

The area fell into silence.

The people of the slums didn't retaliate, nor did they panic.

They simply stared at the person who died by the guard's sword.

It was at that moment that it dawned upon them; in the guards eyes, they weren't considered humans.

In turn, in the City… in the Kingdom's eyes, they weren't humans.

What filled the people's heart was indignation and despair.

"Why…"

"Aren't we humans too???"

"Please… my child is innocent…"

…

"I hope you die a painful death!"

"I'll curse you even in the afterlife!!"

"I'll pray for the city's downfall!!!"

…

The people's despair turned to anger, and their anger, to hatred.

Hatred towards the guards who looked at them as if they weren't human.

Hatred for the kingdom that forsook its citizens.

'Disgusting…'

Aunt Amabel saw the scene and shook her head.

This was precisely the reason why she urged Regid and Dahlia to escape through the forest instead.

Although there may be dangers in the forest too, it was better than the sure death they'll meet when they try to enter the city.

'I have no time for this…'

Aunt Amabel did her best to kill all the demonic humans in her way.

'Thankfully, all I have seen so far were inferior demonic humans.'

After a long while of fighting and killing demonic humans, Aunt Amabel began to feel her life slipping away.

However, it was at that moment that she felt something pierce her stomach. 

She looked down and saw a hand with long, pitch-black claws piercing through her stomach.

Then with great difficulty, she looked back and saw a man.

His eyes were black, however he didn't have the same crazed expression as the others.

In fact, he even exuded some elegance.

"It can't be…"

Aunt Amabel's eyes began to lose focus.

"Hmmm, someone with a Platinum-grade Gift? It's a pity she seemed a little desperate… She would've been a great offering to the demons…"

The man said with an expression of pity, then looked around.

"Anyway, make sure to keep all the children alive and bring them back with us. Check everything, even the forest. They will be vital to us in forming Suicide Squadrons."

"Yes, Leader!"

The group of demonic humans responded in unison.

'No… please… let them be fine…'

Desperate pleas echoed inside Aunt Amabel's mind before everything went black.