Ch.65The Apostate (1) (Revised Version)

The history of the fallen angels was deeper than one might think.

War inevitably brought someone’s sacrifice, which sometimes remained as a noble memory, but other times devolved into a shabby tragedy.

Heaven and the demon realm. It did not discriminate between light and darkness.

During wars spanning over 1,000 years, countless traitors emerged who stabbed the masters they had once fervently followed.

Traitors had no grand justifications.

They were simply armed with intense vengeance and hatred. Having abandoned their faith, which they once valued more than life itself, they displayed such raw emotions that even demons found them repulsive.

“That’s why I understand even less.”

Ludmila’s reaction was understandable.

They had just fought a small war. From the demon realm’s perspective, they had inflated their victory to announce their resurrection and stir up enthusiasm, but not for the angels.

60,000. Just a few legions.

In the long history of warfare, this was a clash of very few troops.

Compared to Heaven’s tremendous military power, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

“It wasn’t like previous wars fought over the world. The justification was minimal. Compared to ancient warriors who willingly jumped in for Heaven, it was essentially a dog’s death.”

“Heaven didn’t seem to care much either.”

“Right. Even if they had survived, they would have only felt shame. Having lost to the demon realm, they would have felt worthless as warriors.”

“As you say, there’s no reason to feel betrayed.”

“If you look at the scriptures, you’ll get a clearer feeling, so take a look.”

Ludmila gestured.

A high-ranking demon who managed demonic laws in place of the Grand Magistrate, who assisted the Demon King, carefully brought a papyrus.

It was a manuscript copy of the scripture recording the demon realm’s history.

“I roughly sorted through it for you. There were five major wars during the 1,000 years of conflict, and records of fallen angels appear in three of them.”

The hands of the Grand Sorceress moved busily.

Demonic energy spread like a mirage over the ancient text. From the densely packed history, several names emerged.

“Methusael, Takizael, Admuriel.”

“Not unfamiliar names, right?”

“Of course, they were close to archangels. I even stood on the same battlefield as Admuriel once.”

Durin closed his eyes.

Even now, he occasionally heard the roar of war beyond his dark vision. As countless moments of war flashed through his mind, black-stained wings rose to the center.

A fallen angel with white hair but the reddest eyes of all.

A berserker who charged straight at the enemy commander without caring about the course of battle.

Rivers of blood and flesh. The fury that bloomed in the valley of slaughter had greatly shocked Durin at that time.

“It’s laughable to even compare that to now.”

“I know. That’s why I’m racking my brain over this. I can’t understand what thought drove them to crawl all the way to our demon realm.”

Ludmila heaved a deep sigh.

Even she, who glimpsed the future through the observatory, couldn’t fathom this matter.

She couldn’t hide her expression as such a trial befell them on the meaningful day of recommending talents for the demon realm.

“I wonder if they might be spies, but the more I think about it, that doesn’t seem right.”

“Is the demon king’s castle’s defense system that flimsy?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The great magic passed down from our ancestors is our great pride.”

Ludmila immediately objected to Durin’s casually thrown words.

The regent then replied with a smirk.

“So there’s no need to think too deeply. That angel can’t do anything here anyway.”

“You’re right. I should just think of it as some crazy person rolling in. Otherwise, I’ll get sick with worry.”

“I’ll gauge the angel. So, Ludmila, I’d like you to prepare for any contingencies.”

Durin said this and rose from his seat.

The king’s hall, which he had visited to examine the scriptures. He crossed that vast space and opened the main gate.

Kuguung-

The open view of the demon king’s castle welcomed him.

Below the high steps stretched a wide training ground. There, over six thousand warriors had gathered, swarming the place.

“There should be no discord in the sacred ceremony of selecting commanders.”

“I think things already went off track when an angel crawled in.”

“The white wings will make a good sacrifice to heighten the excitement. Their mere presence will boil the warriors’ fighting spirit.”

He walked forward slowly. Ludmila followed behind.

The atmosphere was no joke.

The momentum was tremendous as demons who were the best from across the continent gathered to compete for the honor of leading a legion.

“Come to think of it, you said you’d conduct the test yourself? I haven’t received any information yet, so could you tell me now?”

Ludmila looked to the side and asked.

Since military authority rested solely with Durin, she remained curious. The regent always tended to forge ahead alone when plotting something, so if she didn’t ask like this, she would face sudden situations.

Above all, she had a feeling as a sorceress.

“This is a legitimate request as the Grand Sorceress. Don’t dismiss it as mere curiosity.”

“Of course, Ludmila. You’re part of the castle’s leadership. I’ll certainly share it with you.”

“I wish you’d done that earlier, not now…”

Complaining was useless.

He had already shown his arbitrary nature by capturing a hero on his own and planning the castle’s future.

However, his direction was solely for the castle’s benefit, and above all, it didn’t deviate greatly from the flow of fate.

“Fine. What can I do?”

The anxiety that had risen with the sudden appearance of the angel subsided. Durin’s actions captured her interest.

Above all, the fate beyond the Milky Way whispered to her to watch.

She would simply follow, looking toward the end of the path Durin was taking.

#

Young lizard secretary Spranches was leading the warriors according to the regent’s orders.

Thanks to the gathering of individuals who were prominent in each continent, their personalities were very strong, but fortunately, they followed the secretary’s instructions obediently.

It was the power of authority that Durin had once emphasized about the demon king’s castle.

When strong control was given to instinctive disorder, it turned the warriors into gentle sheep.

That didn’t mean they were completely castrated.

It was refined power. Disciplined like a temporary legion, they poured out a single aspiration.

Dreaming of success and fame, they caressed their beloved weapons they had brought like siblings.

“Come on! Don’t get too close over there, step back!”

The angel’s presence also played a role.

If demons had gathered among themselves, even with control, disputes would inevitably arise since they hadn’t yet become a proper legion. They would likely vent their suppressed power elsewhere. But the white wings captured everyone’s attention, leaving no small gaps.

It was the presence of a female angel surrounded by the Golden Guard sent by the Demon King himself that was focusing the crowd.

“……”

A celestial warrior with a glowing halo above her head instead of horns. Her white wings, which had lost their luster during the war, contained no holy power. She was bound with ropes, showing a restrained appearance, making it impossible to gauge her strength immediately.

Only her proudly raised head showed her confidence.

“Hmm. So the rumors were true.”

“To think I’d see a fallen angel before my eyes.”

The interesting thing was that the demons weren’t showing immediate hostility. Rather, their curiosity was greater.

If a prisoner of war had been captured, they would have growled with the intent to tear them apart immediately, but the angel before their eyes had come to pledge allegiance to the demon realm.

The question that constantly pestered the demons was stronger than the hostility they felt toward Heaven, preventing them from thinking of anything else.

“Anyone who does unnecessary things will be dragged out of here immediately, so be aware!”

The tearful efforts of lizard Spranches also contributed greatly.

Whenever his appealing voice rang out, the demons found their places. They stood in rows by continent, waiting for Durin’s test.

Having gathered such an enormous number of warriors, they would surely face a magnificent test.

The demons held small expectations.

In this opportunity, personally supervised by the undefeated commander, they would properly make their mark and rise to greatness.

Just looking at the armed state of the soldiers visible in the distance made countless hearts pound.

In their minds, they were already picturing themselves as generals leading the demon king’s castle’s legions.

Verdia.

Like that barbarian who had led the battlefield in the south and became the core of the legion, they too hoped they could do the same.

Someday they would stand with the regent.

Raising their voices like field officers on glorious battlefields, creating scenes worthy of recording in scripture…

BOOM!!

Suddenly, a sound that seemed to shake heaven and earth was heard.

The demons were startled and looked ahead. Could it be that the regent had appeared?

They thought so, but that wasn’t it.

“…What is that?”

A crude club was stuck in the ground. It was so heavy that it created a large crack in the training ground.

If it had stopped there, it might have been understandable, but sounds continued to follow.

BOOM!! BOOM!! BOOM!!

The clubs that followed seemed to number well over a hundred. They were enough to encircle the training ground.

The demons were perplexed. What kind of weapons were these for?

While they couldn’t predict, a loud voice rang out.

“Demons, listen!”

Heads naturally turned upward. It was in the direction of the king’s hall.

At the top of the long, long stairs, a demon wearing black armor was visible.

It was the regent. The demons closed their mouths and focused on what he was saying.

“The position of legion commander has always been a glorious position that only the strongest could obtain.”

It was natural for those leading the legions, called the sky of the demon realm.

“You know better than anyone what must be done to prove it. I too have not prepared any trivial tests for you.”

Durin raised his hand. Simultaneously, a black greatsword emerged from the void, cutting through red fighting spirit.

“What has been given on the training ground are command batons that only legion officers can wield.”

The demons’ eyes changed. The clubs that had only looked crude suddenly began to look like treasures arranged for warriors.

“There are 600 of them. Since there are about 6,000 people gathered here, only a few can have them.”

Saying this, the regent looked around at the demons.

“I will not place restrictions on combat. Reveal everything you have and eliminate your competitors. I permit all disputes that occur here.”

THUD!!

Finally, the black greatsword was driven into the ground.

“Fight and seize them. That is the demon way.”

He announced the beginning of the test.

#

The Golden Guard surrounding the angel withdrew. They left the training ground entirely.

They watched quietly, as if they would not intervene in any way.

The binding ropes were the same.

They disappeared, becoming scattered particles of demonic energy. The angel was dumbfounded by the sudden change in the situation.

She wiggled her hands and examined her body. Freedom had truly come.

“What is this.”

She muttered involuntarily.

While demons generally lived free-spirited lives, wasn’t this too much?

Treating someone who was an enemy just days ago like this?

Many questions arose.

But she could quickly erase them from her mind.

“……”

The surroundings were ominous.

Shing-

The demons began to draw their swords. Someone shouldered a mace, and another warrior tightly gripped daggers in both hands.

If there was one commonality, it was that they all had crazed eyes.

Because they wanted to kill the angel?

No, they were consumed with madness after hearing the regent’s words.

The thought of being able to grasp a legion’s command baton erased all their thoughts. The warriors’ eyes saw only competitors.

If they eliminated them, they could do it.

The glory of commanding a legion they had dreamed of for so long.

“……”

A moment of silence.

Suffocating stillness.

The clanking of metal.

The last was the signal.

“Uaaaaaaah-!”

“Die!”

The demons swung their weapons.

There was no defense. They aimed for each other’s necks and plunged swords deep into each other’s chests.

“Damn it all!”

The angel was also swept up in it.

She deflected weapons flying at her from all directions and drove her fist into the head of a demon who was howling.

The sensation that tingled up her hand told her.

-Without survival, all talk of becoming a commander is meaningless.

She physically felt that she was definitely screwed.