Episode 7 - The Crimson Moon (1)

"Though I can't say the same for you."

Their face twisted in shock and horror. And in that moment, all I did was to smile...

That's right. Fear me, for I am your death.

I let out a devilish giggle as I stared at them with my eyes that had turned completely different.

They all froze. Their faces, that once brimmed with twisted laughter and condescension, was now contorted into shock, fear, confusion, and disbelief. My wounds healed by the brimming energy around me.

Not a single wound or a drop of blood was on my body, except for the stains of my blood on my suit that was torn out by attacks. Their voices rose in dissonant panic.

"Wh-What the hell...?"

"He was...! He was dead!"

"No... That's not human anymore...!"

My enemies took a step back as I stood tall admist the swirling storm of Divine and Void energy. The air around me howled, charged with black and white lightning that danced like angry spirits unchained.

The sky itself seemed to respond. Clouds roared and twisted above, casting shadows even in broad daylight.

The place where all this was unfolding, was as good as dead. But the market that was distant from here... The once warm that echoed with the sounds of bargaining and laughter fell silent, cold, and distant, at the sight of the sky becoming darker.

"What is that...?" One of the subordinates whispered with his eyes wide with terror.

"That aura—it's not mortal! It's not even demonic! It's—!"

"Boss!" Another cried, eyes snapping to the man in command. "Y-Y-You said you had ties to the Hell Realm! Is that a devil?! Is this something... you summoned?!"

The so-called "boss"—that smug bastard who had sent flying with a single punch—stared at me with eyes narrowed. But even he couldn't mask the tremble in his clenched fists.

"No," he finally answered with low and dry voice. "This isn't something from Hell. This is worse. This is a... Fallen Angel."

My wings now fully unfurled, stretched high and wide behind me... Pure black feathers that were sharper than the obsidian blades, dripped shadows into the air. Two majestic crimson horns with black hues curved over my black hair with golden-brown shades, and beneath them, my eyes glowed like eclipsed suns—twin whirlpools of black and red that devoured the light.

I floated off the ground slowly, like a judge ascending to his seat at the gallows. They were still frozen. That was good in its own way. I raised my right hand, palm facing the sky.

"Come," I whispered.

A metallic screeched echoed through the ruined hideout as my sword that was burried in the lower floors shot upwards like a javelin with a monstrous speed.

It tore through one of the trembling subordinates, slicing him from torso to jaw in a clean, flaming line. He couldn't even get time to scream as his body split in half with blood and flame sizzling together midair.

The sword landed in my plan, humming with rage. Black lightning acred across its blade like it was a living storm held captive in steel.

"I'll kill you all,* I said, calmly. "And I'll enjoy it."

Just as I dove, they scattered, and the storm began. I moved like a phantom—no, it was more than that. I moved like a death incarnate. My blade cut through air and bone alike. My sword brimmed with dark crimson aura.

I slashed through a Beastfolk man's arm, pivoted mid-air, and drove the sword through his chest with a twist. Another came at me with a flaming axe. It was useless to do anything now. They couldn't escape their death. I raised a single hand.

[Divine Blast.]

It seemed like the System couldn't tell who was controlling my body, and so it couldn't fully tell who use the skill. That's why it simply showed the name of the skill used.

The explosion tore him into red mist. Everywhere I glanced, I heard screams, despair, and chaos.

From now on... That's how I have to live...

I had just killed a commander, so the remaining commanders began to shield the rest, forming barriers, and shouting orders. They used spells, enchnatment-like spells, and even drew on high-level spells. However, even then they couldn't graze me. I wasn't weak enough to be harmed by such spells. Their spells couldn't even come this close to me let alone graze me.

My [Divine Void] consumed it all. It spun behind me like a serpent, devouring everything that came at me, even it was light. It was amusing to think how swiftly tables had turned. I, who was a mere prey just a few moments ago, was now a predator. To me, their fear was like a music. It was probably because I'd become a devil now.

One woman tried running, so I let her... Let her believe in hope. Then I appeared before her and severed her spine with a flick of my sword. Her eyes remained wide with tears coming out as her body crumpled.

How cruel I am at this moment... It scares me...

I was just thinking about how cruel I'd become at that moment, but I couldn't even think and feel sad for the ones I killed for a bit. Another threw spears of lightning.

[Divine Barrier.]

They scattered on impact. I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up, and crushing it in my grip like pulp. Blood rained from my fingers.

"Please! STOP!" Someone screamed.

I was swinging my sword at that "someone" who screamed, but I paused mid-air, only to hear a whimper... a childlike fear in an adult's body. I lowered my sword. I couldn't bring myself to kill her.

I'm sorry, but I can't... I didn't want to kill you guys. Just like you right now, I want to survive. I'm just sorry... I just have to do it. I've to be strong, and so, I'll kill you all and become strong.

I couldn't bring myself say those words in person except for saying them in my mind. Even though my younger dark self was controlling my body, I was the one who was thinking and feeling all these feelings.

I decided to deal with her at last and turned my face, and saw the sadistic woman crawling away. Her beauty was twisted in fear.

"You're... you're just my type." She gasped, blood on her lips. "You would've been fun... fun to break."

I said nothing, but felt like an idiot for feeling sympathy for them... But then again, I didn't know how they all lived until now, so it was not my place to say or judge anyone. I simply acted and said on what I considered to be good.

She reached for her daggers with a shaking hand, smiling in horror. "I'll still make you mine! I just have to win—!"

[Divine Sword Rain.]

Blades of blackish-crimson aura rained down to her like a judgement, piercing each limbs, pinning her down the ground. She screamed, then laughed.

"I love it... this pain..."

"You disgust me," I said, approaching slowly.

She blinked in confusion. Then I bent down, looking into her trembling eyes, I whispered, "You're afraid, aren't you? That no matter how many you break, someone will break you."

She froze as the time had stopped for her.

"And now..." I continued, my voice low and soft. "You realize that you're not the tormentor anymore. You're the toy."

Her pupils shrank. Her lips quivered. Then... Her heart gave out. She died with a scream that crackled in the air. For a few seconds, only silence could he heard. Of the 15 subordinates and 5 commanders, only 2 were left alive.

One was the subordinate who I decided to deal at last, and the other was the boss who wasn't attacking or doing anything while his comrades were dying. He made me sick to the stomach.

My gaze feel onto the human girl who I let decided to deal with after I was done dealing with the boss. She was whimpering, sobbing, and hiccuping, as she held her head, looking at the ground as remained fallen on the ground, all despaired.

"Mom... save me... I don't want to die... I didn't even kill or did anything bad... I just wanted to make a little money to feed myself and others at slums... I don't know why all of this is happening... All I did was to take care of materials I was given... Mom... Please save me."

My eyes wide opened as I heard her muttering to herself in voice that was almost a whisper. I then began walking towards her. I didn't want her to die. I didn't want to kill her. Whether it was because she seemed like an innocent girl who was forced by the fate to do all of this unknowingly, or it was because she uttered the word "Mom".

I just didn't want her to die. And so, I spoke to my younger self through through my consciousness as if I was connected to him telepathically. I knew he would hear this, so I spoke.

"Hey! Don't kill her—!"

"I know! Don't worry."

I didn't speak further. I, my younger self, bent down, and put my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me with shocked eyes tears began to rain down her cheeks like a dam had broken in her eyes.

"Please! Don't kill—!

"Don't worry. I won't," I smiled.

[2 Million coins have been transferred.]

"Huh...? 2 Million coins...?" She looked confused as she saw the screen before her. I could somehow see it.

She looked between me and the translucent screen before me over and over again. "But why...?"

"Ever since I entered the hideout, I noticed a girl who was standing far, alone in darkness, remaining void of expression and anything, even when the rest seemed to be enjoying themselves in their evil acts. And when they all began attacking me, all this girl did was to stand back and enhance the power of her comrades with a sad look. Even now, you did nothing, except for making barriers and all for your comrades, no?"

She didn't say anything, but lowered her head. She just couldn't bring herself to say anything. I knew it.

"Go and put this to good use, okay? With this much amount, you'll not have to worry about money for a while. Live a good life. And remember: Don't try to make money from shabby or fast-looking ways. They always come at a greater risk."

"Thank you..." She said, almost in a whisper, with a trembling voice. "Thank you very much, kind sir."

"It's just my way of redeeming myself, nothing else."

So, even this punk feels sympathy for others. I'm glad to see this... I somehow felt relieved as I saw all of this to happen. I didn't care about money, but lives he, my younger self, saved.

Now, it's time to deal with the bastard who used her...