**Chapter 170: I, from the Abyss, Will Save Humanity Today (Part 1)**
Boom—!!!
As the young woman swung her scythe with all her might, a fierce scarlet flame crashed into the black fire wrapping around the other woman. Two torrents of energy collided, wreaking havoc in all directions, an astonishing explosion erupting, turning the little study into ashes in an instant.
Then, the two returned to their energy duel, like two opposing storms in an endless void.
Scarlet and d*ath Black, the two flames entwined in every corner of the visual field, tongues of fire continuously devouring each other. The “woman’s” figure inexplicably vanished from the young woman’s sight. The next moment, a voice, as if from a deity looking down and disdainful of everything, echoed through the void.
“[Abyssal Language] Hilvigia Rabithermos, my apostle, seed of Chaotic Fire.”
“[Abyssal Language] You were born from my will, yet you adamantly refuse to return to my embrace. Your thoughts have already turned towards those wretched creatures, the sins of this world.”
“[Abyssal Language] This is my fault, as well as the fault of the world.”
Along with the lifeless voice, suddenly, the young woman felt immense energy surging towards her from all directions. The Infernal Fire, which she had thought she could withstand, was almost instantly suppressed by the erupting black flames, the pounding energy forcing her to bend down in resistance, gasping for breath.
“[Abyssal Language] But you are my new-born seed of fire, I do not wish to extinguish you here, yet it is not without consequences.”
The voice continued coldly, “'[Abyssal Language] If you cannot express gratitude now, I will take your will, obliterating the evils that stain this world, and once again fuse with the pure seed of fire… At that time, I shall be fully revived, exterminating the wretched and cleansing this land, bringing this filthy world to a new beginning.”
The young woman stared wide-eyed, desperately channeling her energy while listening to the lofty words, her teeth grinding as she muttered, “What the heck are you talking about?”
Her attention was all on resisting the overwhelming black fire, and she barely understood what was being said.
Yet there was one thing she clearly heard.
Bringing down this filthy world and starting fresh?
Even though she had long known the Mad God’s intentions…
But—
“How arrogant…”
“Gidales, what a creature.”
Under the overwhelming weight, the young woman’s expression turned fierce as she slowly straightened her back, her eyes suddenly glinting with scarlet, the Sin Fire violently surging forth, pushing back against the black flames that pressed in from all sides.
…………
Beyond the towering walls ominously surrounding the Holy City were desperate screams and chaotic roars.
“Hold the line, no one can take a step back—!!!”
On the bridge leading to the Holy Angel Fortress, Lafael’s eyes burned red as he watched the crumbling defenses across the bridge. He spotted several black monsters charging from hundreds of meters away, drew his blade, and shouted orders until his voice was hoarse. However, the soldiers’ eyes were filled with despair and terror; they kept retreating, no one daring to charge forward.
“My Lord Count, we should escape!”
A subordinate shouted beside him, trembling, “It’s hopeless! This isn’t even a fight! We’re facing a disaster that could destroy the world! We can’t win—there’s no way!”
“Since it’s a world-destroying entity, what good is it to flee?” Lafael roared angrily. “Dying here, in this darkest hour, dying while charging against disaster with a sword drawn, becoming a hero at humanity’s last moment instead of being a disgrace? Even if no one sings praises afterward, this is the way of the warriors of the Northern Region!”
“The monsters are right in front of us!”
“Rather than retreating and dying like cowards with our backs turned to them, let’s take a couple of their teeth with us before we go!”
“Falcon Army, heed my command—”
Frost erupted, wrapping around the sword’s edge. Not far ahead, a soldier was sent flying, his body bloodied and consumed by black smoke, turning to ash mid-air.
Lafael raised his Frost Sword, fiercely roaring as he charged toward the monsters.
“Face them head-on!!”
“Ahhhhhh——”
Around him, the battle cries intensified, and many followed in his footsteps, rushing forward.
On the west side of the Holy Angel Fortress, nearest to the high walls of the Holy City, black smoke snakes, like reapers in the air, swarmed around, silently harvesting countless brave souls, casting shadows over the towering fortress.
A grotesque monster, as hideously gigantic as a small mountain, slammed into the last high wall of the fortress. The wall crumbled, the earth cracked, and countless soldiers of the Royal City were obliterated in the impact. The pitch-black monsters surged inside one after another, and the defense completely collapsed. The surviving soldiers dropped their shields and weapons without hesitation, frantically fleeing.
“It’s over…”
“It’s all over… everyone is going to d*e…”
Near the fortress’s southern campsite, countless panicked soldiers stumbled about, their spirits utterly crushed by the Abyss, like mad dogs searching for hiding places. Some walked numbly along the chaotic streets, murmuring to themselves, a silly grin on their filthy faces, as if they had truly lost their minds.
Sophia and her father were mixed in with the crowd, just as dazed and numb, hearing explosions and screams all around, but not knowing where to run. Her father, somewhat portly, ran ahead, and Sophia followed him. She tripped on the uneven ground, and someone stepped on her back. She made her way to the roadside and struggled to stand. Sitting on the shattered curb, she looked at her scraped knee and hand, bl**d flowing and mingling with the dirt on her clothes. Sophia wanted to cry but couldn’t, trembling as she curled up and hugged herself.
“Sophia!”
Her father, realizing she hadn’t kept up, rushed back, panting heavily as he reached her side. “Come on, move! Don’t stop! Those monsters are gonna k*ll us, move—!”
Further along the Holy Wall, the Knights of the Sword of Kanli, with sword insignias on their shoulders, were fighting fiercely against the monsters climbing the walls. Under the leadership of Captain Rect, they pushed several monsters off the wall, but the price paid was often the lives of several times more national defenders.
“d*mn it…”
As he struck down a powerful Abyssal creature with a wind blade, Rect wiped his face, glancing at a subordinate who had fallen alongside the Abyss, struggling in despair as black smoke rose from his body. He breathed heavily, suddenly feeling a wobble in his stance. When he looked down, he discovered his chest was also emanating the ominous black smoke.
“Just my luck…”
The man shook his head in resignation, glancing up at the sky, where his Majesty the Queen stood majestically, quickly slicing through the air with her long sword, unleashing sharp wind blades towards the giant monster outside the city.
“Looks like I can’t protect you to the end, my Majesty.”
He sighed, as the black smoke began to billow from his body. A flash of pain crossed Rect’s face.
Just then, he heard a monstrous roar from his left, as another ghastly creature climbed to the top of the wall. The man glanced at his tear-stained deputy, a woman who probably had feelings for him. Rect knew this, so he smiled at her and said, “The rest is up to you,” before leaping toward the beast, caught in a whirlwind, tumbling off the castle walls, quickly descending towards the ground, faintly hearing the woman on the wall scream heartbreakingly, “No—”
The last thing he saw was the dense branches reaching for the sky, radiating soft white light.
Outside the fortress, beneath the remnants of the northern wall, Safiros’s Horned Horse exhaled its last breath, its battered body slowly turning to ash in the smoke.
“Goodbye, my old friend…”
He murmured, hearing more monsters approaching from ahead. He glanced around, locking eyes with the remaining dozen knights, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.
Two seconds later, a brilliant gold light erupted from his body as he roared to the sky, “Fist of Judgment!!!”
“Roar—”
The knights hammered their chests in unison, echoing the same resounding roar. They gripped their swords tightly; some swords were already broken, but they still held on.
“Follow me, let’s take down a couple more.”
“Ahhhhhh!!”
Under the sky, the bl**d-pumping heroes unleashed their final battle cries as they charged at the monsters, and soon, those voices faded into the billowing black smoke.
Sophia sat numbly by the roadside, lost in thought, watching the direction where the shouts had disappeared, ignoring her father’s urging.
Above in the sky, thunderous explosions rumbled; that was Her Majesty the Queen engaged in a fierce battle with the giant monster. Its massive form was now visible; despite the wind blades striking it, they only seemed to drive it into greater rage, achieving no substantial effect.
Inside the Holy City, Saint Margaret descended with golden light and azure rain, showering the land with healing miracles. However, compared to the overwhelming black gas, that light was like a mere firefly.
Reflected in Sophia’s dim gaze were these scenes. She seemed lost for a long time, devoid of life, suddenly saying, “Father, I give up…”
“We can’t escape anywhere.”
“None…”
…………
Inside the Sacred Tree, in a sea of consciousness thrumming with energy.
The blazing Infernal Fire was gradually suppressed by the surging black flames. The girl, wrapped in Scarlet Flame, gritted her teeth defiantly. Yet as she watched her strength being eroded inch by inch, a flicker of urgency crossed her eyes, but there was nothing she could do.
In the next moment, a gigantic face appeared not far from her, as if a phantom formed in the ether. It was exquisitely beautiful, strikingly similar to her, with golden eyes looking down on her, filled with utter disdain, reaching out a hand toward the area engulfed in Infernal Fire.
“[Abyssal Language] Filthy fire, traitorous power, you should feel shame for associating with it…”
The hand passed through the searing flames. Instantly, the bl**d-colored tongues of fire rushed out, scorching the palm with a sizzle, turning the once fair skin black, muscles melting away to reveal skeletal remains. But in the next moment, chaotic power restored it to its original state.
“[Abyssal Language] Can you feel it?”
“[Abyssal Language] My apostles are coming.”
“[Abyssal Language] And the wretched creatures you care about are already crying out beneath its claws. It won’t be long before they transform into the flesh and bl**d of gods. This is their fortune and my forgiveness, just like yours.”
The hand continued to push slowly through the flames, heading straight for the tiny body of the girl, as insignificant as an ant.
“[Abyssal Language] Lay down your resistance, and wither away, becoming our noble seed of fire… This is your fate, unstoppable.”
