Chapter 313 – The Price of Corruption  

For whatever reason, the Colosseum and the sky above it were saturated with magic and various energies. Gi-Gyu’s gate could be a likely culprit; all in all, the incredible energies here made it the perfect descending ground for monsters.

A bright light shone in the sky.

“Ahhh…” exclaimed the Roman citizens all around the place. “Ahhh! Please save us!”

They had been on their way to the Colosseum to seek safety, but when they saw the bright light, they knelt on the ground and began praying. The Vatican still had a great influence on Italy. Although most of the religions were gone, many still remained religious.

And at this very moment, the magical light was enough to strengthen their faith.

“It’s time…” an elderly gentleman in an elegant suit rose and whispered. At the time, there was a myth: One day, the sky would illuminate their country and bring salvation. Consequently, the crowd erupted in murmurs, and some even knelt on the ground. However, they all looked around to figure out the situation.

The elderly gentleman continued, “The light will arrive from the sky…”

Although he was mumbling, everyone could still hear him. He continued, “Sending God’s warriors to destroy our enemy.”

Fwoosh!

Initially, the light only beamed down in the middle of the Colosseum. However, it began to spread; it soon enveloped everything around the Colosseum.

“Kyaaaa!”

“G…God’s light!”

“What the hell is that?!”

When the people saw an ominous black light trying to devour God’s light, they began screaming.

***

Several figures chuckled ominously in the middle of the Colosseum, where the light shone the brightest.

“Kekeke.”

“The great beings have arrived. Alberto, they will tear you limb from limb and then feed you to the monsters!” said a politician to Alberto. It was hard to believe a high-ranking politician would speak so coarsely. Alberto couldn’t help but sigh when he thought about how such an individual was responsible for leading Italy.

These people were solely responsible for the current situation.

‘Marchetti…’?Alberto thought about Marchetti and other Argus members. Marchetti had said he wasn’t sure but believed many ex-Argus members were now loyal to the Vatican.

Seemingly, all those members had one thing in common.

‘They were told that their dead families will be resurrected.’?

Alberto found this promise ridiculous. The very same people who had killed their families had promised to resurrect them.

“Well, I guess they aren’t the only ones responsible,” Alberto muttered. A part of him blamed him for what had happened. This wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t formed the group. And even if he did, he should’ve cared for the members better.

One of the politicians screamed, “You have the appearance of the great beings, but…! Your wings are black! Clearly, you’re impersonating the great beings!”

When the politicians first saw Hamiel, they had revered him. However, they had soon realized Hammiel didn’t look like the ones they worshiped. They still couldn’t attack him, but they now seemed certain Hamiel was not on their side.

Fwoosh.

The light beaming down on the Colosseum grew brighter. Slowly, the politicians and their guards began changing.

“Kekeke…” They stopped speaking words and began groaning like beasts. “Are you okay?” Alberto asked Hamiel, unperturbed by the politicians’ transformation. He was more worried about how tense Hamiel looked. An ominous energy danced around Hamiel.

Hamiel chuckled and replied, “I’m fine.”

Alberto flinched and looked away when a frown appeared on Hamiel’s face.

‘What happened to him?’?Alberto wondered. Back when the first monster had attacked the Colosseum, he had chased after Cardinal Castro with Hamiel. At the time, Hamiel had a respectful attitude and had introduced himself as a servant of his grandmaster, Gi-Gyu.

But now, Hamiel looked very different. His appearance and energy had changed, but his pitch-black wings shocked Alberto the most.

‘It hasn’t even been a month since I saw him… How can a person change this much?’?But Alberto realized something. ‘Wait, he isn’t human.’

When Marchetti had seen El, he called her a “great being.”

“So El and Hamiel are angels… and so are our enemies.” Alberto remembered how shocked he had been when he first heard this. He resented those responsible for this, but if the culprits were really angels, was the Vatican really at fault?

Thankfully, El and Hamiel had eased Alberto's worries. They had said that the ones in the Vatican might be God’s apostles, but that didn’t mean they were “good.” Even though God had tasked the angels with monitoring the world, they weren’t all that different from humans.

Of course, only a few angels, including El and Hamiel, believed this. The rest of them were arrogant beings who thought they were superior. El had explained that as time passed, these angels became twisted.

“Do not call me that again,” Hamiel ordered Alberto. “And step aside.”

.

Before Alberto could obey, he was moved to a corner of the Colosseum. No one or nothing had pushed him—he just involuntarily moved there. Alberto looked at Hamiel in amazement.

“Ugh…”

“Ackk…!”

Alberto had been in enough battles to believe that he had seen everything. However, what unfolded before him left him shell-shocked.

“P-President…!” one of the politicians groaned. These politicians had threatened Alberto just a moment ago, but what had happened next was so gruesome that Alberto couldn’t help but pity them.

The politicians were now writhing in pain thanks to the “divine light” from the sky.

“H-help…”

“Ugh”

“Keeeek!”

A second ago, they had been fashionable men in expensive suits. Now? Their suits had melted away, their faces were grotesque, and their eyes and noses were leaking some kind of acid. They were human no more.

Hamiel mumbled, “They must have all been using that drug.”

Without turning toward Alberto, Hamiel announced, “You can see now, can’t you?”

As his wings slowly opened, Hamiel ordered coldly, “This isn’t something you can handle. If I am forced to protect you, I can't focus, so stay back.”

Alberto flinched, but he replied, “I’ll help.”

“...”

“It might not be much, but still… My offensive isn’t strong, so I will… ” Alberto stepped forward with a tense face.

Hamiel’s forehead twitched slightly, but he nodded, “Go ahead then.”

Hamiel had given his permission to Alberto to get involved in this battle. Alberto was not a strong player, but Hamiel felt he could be useful.

And the various energies Alberto was exuding currently just couldn’t be ignored. Hamiel whispered, “Not bad.”

At that very moment, Alberto tensed to release his power. When it reached Hamiel, it shocked him.

“...!” Hamiel suddenly found himself full of power. Alberto declared, “I am ready to give up my life for this.”

Meanwhile, the politicians completed their transformation.

“Kwerrrk!” the beasts roared as the light beam from the sky grew increasingly bright.

Hamiel said to Alberto coldly, “It’s about to begin. You may want to give up your life, but my duty is to protect you. The Grandmaster’s order is absolute. If you get in my way, I will move you somewhere else, even if I need to do it by force.”

Alberto nodded. He was about to use a couple more skills for Hamiel, but he needed more time.

“...!” Alberto watched in shock as Hamiel opened his giant black wings and covered the sky.

Hamiel roared, “Eat up.”

The dark energy from Hamiel began devouring the light beam from the sky. It was then that someone came down from the sky.

Was one of God’s apostles descending?

Hamiel’s forehead and lips twitched. He mumbled, “Grandmaster… I am forever indebted to you. I will repay you with everything I have until my soul disappears.”

The descending angel looked familiar.

Alberto murmured, “Cardinal Castro.”

***

“How do you feel?” the one who used the alias Ras asked. He held a low Seat of Power but had enjoyed great power in hell after Lucifer’s demise. But Marquis of Dissension wasn’t satisfied with this. In the end, he had extended his claws to Earth.

“Andras, I can tell you have prepared a lot for this.”

“I am relieved you are satisfied with my work,” Andras replied respectfully. It was hard to believe that a powerful figure like him was acting so humble. He knelt on the ground and bowed deeply to the figure in front of him.

“But it’s not perfect yet. Is this all you have accomplished so far?”

“No.” Andras raised his head. “Your current body was about to shatter, so I made this as a temporary measure.”

The figure nodded arrogantly.

Andras continued, “Your actual new form is being prepared as we speak. I am sparing no effort to create a powerful shell to hold you.”

The figure finally looked satisfied. He said to Andras, “It looks like Gabriel has made his move.”

“Yes.” Andras bowed deeply enough to touch the ground again. “Now that he has realized the truth, he must be impatient. He has been waiting for a very long time. Knowing what he’s like, the fact that he has waited this long must mean…”

“It must be because he isn’t in good condition.”

“Indeed.”

Both Andras and the man smiled.

“He was a complicated problem. I was planning on using him as a pawn, but he kept trying to change the game. But it’s understandable.” The smile on the man’s lips deepened. “He was stuck inside Chaos for a time, so it makes sense that he isn’t in a normal state. This actually works to our advantage. He was a tricky problem, but now he has become nothing.”

“Very much so.”

“All right, so I hear you helped him.”

Andras raised his head again and explained, “I only helped a little in his plan.”

“Kekeke…” the man chuckled. He suspected Andras did much more than just “help a little.” He was certain that Andras had manipulated Gabriel to further their plan.

The man rubbed his chin and mumbled, “But you acted too rashly. I think it’s because…”

The man frowned when he felt his hairless chin. His original face was covered in an unruly beard, but now, his face was clean-shaven.

He asked, “Is it because of that child?”

“Yes.” Andras bowed again guiltily.

“Fine, I can understand that. But everything will find its place eventually, Andras.”

“I am at your command,” Andras offered.

The man ordered majestically, “Continue working on the new body for me, but at the same time, you must also find the remnants of my other forms. The things Gaia and my old forms held will help us greatly in the future.”

“Of course, I will do as you wish, so…” Andras bowed again and continued, “You must become the king of this world and all the dimensions. You’re the only one fit for the position, and… When the time comes, please do not forget your promise.”

Andras inhaled deeply before whispering, “Oh, mighty Kronos.”

The man quickly disappeared as if he was just an illusion. The only thing that proved he had been here was the smile on Andras’ lips.