I didn't even process what happened until it was already over.Pride crushed that smug little angel in less than a minute.
The girl collapsed to her knees, trembling.Fear, agony, loss—she drowned in all of it at once.She couldn't breathe under Pride's presence. I didn't blame her.
To us—fallen, damned, corrupted—his aura felt like warmth.To angels?A graveyard swallowing them alive.
And somehow… I felt everything she felt.Her terror, her grief.Even the pain of the angel Pride crushed like rotten fruit.
But more importantly—what did that short angel mean by "fallen apostle of God"?
No time for that now.
Pride walked toward the girl, his aura rising with every step.The golden burn mark under his chin pulsed and howled like a living thing.When he crouched down to meet her eyes, he looked almost gentle—which somehow made it worse.
"So," he whispered, smiling,"can you kill me first, little angel?"
She whimpered.
He laughed quietly, almost disappointed.
"Come on. That's no fun. Thrust that angelic weapon at me."His voice sharpened, cracking the air."Do it. Now. That's an order, you weakling."
Trembling, sobbing, half-delirious—she lunged the glowing blade at him.
It shattered instantly.
The bar erupted in laughter—demons, damned souls, even mortals who no longer cared if they lived or died.The girl went limp, unconscious.
Lust approached Pride with a napkin, wiping the blood off his cheek as if he were a messy lover.
"It's alright now," she whispered."Leave the girl. She won't hurt us."
Pride's aura lowered slowly.He kissed her, tender and vicious all at once.
Jester and I exchanged looks—we felt like outsiders at their little romance show.
The bartender set fresh beer in front of the four of us.We sat.
I cleared my throat.
"So… what was that? And why did he call Pride a fallen apostle?"
Pride's smile faded. Lust squeezed his hand.
"I was once an Apostle of God," he said quietly."The purest. The strongest.Michael ordered me to hunt down Lust.But I fell to her instead."
Lust smiled with shameless pride, turning to me.
"The fallen, the damned, demons—none of us are welcome in the mortal world anymore. Not since the screams from both Heaven and Hell began echoing."She nodded toward Jester and me."It's mostly you two. Your screams started the holy tremors."
Pride added, voice darkening:
"Lilith warned us five hundred years ago—'When Heaven and Hell scream together, the Holy War begins.'Then she vanished.We searched for centuries.Jester found her temple, and then you appeared."He stared directly into me."Your suffering—and your brother's—was exactly what she meant."
I already suspected as much, so it didn't shock me.
"Sorry," I muttered.
They all burst into laughter.
Jester clapped my back."You idiot—we've wanted revenge on Heaven for five hundred years. You did us a favor."
For the first time in my pathetic existence…I felt wanted.Appreciated.
Damn it.
I smiled.Quietly."…thank you."
Lust leaned back, drunk and nosy.
"So, Sammail… how's the whole genderless problem?"
I froze.
They knew my father was abusive.But they didn't know the rest.Not the memories that clawed their way back.
Jester cackled.
"He still doesn't have a dick! I saw him in the bath!"
My face burned."You sneaked on me, you pervert!"
We all laughed.For a moment… it felt normal.
The angelic girl woke up.
Jester noticed."So, what do we do with that little angel? She's awake."
The crowd roared with disgusting excitement.
"Kill her!""Rip her apart!""Break her!""Take turns!"
And then the room fell silent.
Azazil entered.
One of Hell's Overlords.Tall, black hair, eyes red as fresh wounds.His soul looked more rotten than anything I'd ever seen—even worse than mine.
He approached the trembling angel, intent clear:rape, torture, pass her around.
She couldn't scream.Couldn't move.Just shook, silent tears dripping down her face.
And then—
I saw Adam.
Strapped.Broken.Crying while Jester tore him apart.
Call me a hypocrite if you want.Adam deserved what he got.But this girl?She was just following orders.
I stood up.
"Can't we just… let her go? She's learned her lesson."
Jester grinned.Lust softened.Pride looked at me with something like respect.
The crowd?Disgust.Hatred.Whispers.
"Is he joking?""Naive brat.""Lilith's son? Really?"
Azazil looked at me with pure contempt.
"So the new Corruption speaks."His voice slithered with venom. "Your mother abandoned us for five centuries. How dare you order anything?"
My blood boiled.
Jester's eyes darkened.
I stepped forward.
"You misunderstood," I said coldly."I'm not proposing.I'm ordering."
Azazil approached me slowly, wrath burning around him.
"Make me."
His presence crushed the air.He was one of the strongest Overlords alive—I had already lost.
But then my vision tinted black and red.
My horns split through my skull.
I lunged.
He slammed me to the floor with ease.Pain stabbed through me—real pain.It had been a while.
"Give up, kid," he growled."You can't beat an Overlord. Even if you are Corruption."
i smiled coldly ,
Jester said,
"You sure about that, Azazil? Look at your hand."
A tiny scratch.Pathetic.
Azazil scoffed.
"So the brat marked me. Impressive for an eighteen–year–old, but not—"
The scratch darkened.Spread.Rot.
He staggered.Coughed blood.Collapsed to his knees.
"What—what's happening? Why isn't it healing?!"
I dashed forward.
"For an Overlord," I whispered,"you're pretty dumb, aren't you?"
He gasped.Trembled.
I leaned closer.
"My mother's gift was corruption.One touch—one scratch—and the body either dies…or becomes hers."
I drove my hand through his chest and tore out his heart.
"I chose death for you, worthless Overlord."
Silence.
Then Jester howled with laughter.Pride and Lust froze in shock.
Lust whispered,"When did he learn to use her gift…?"
Jester smirked darkly.
"He didn't have to.He ate her.All her power is inside him.Even if his awakening isn't complete…"
He looked at me proudly.
"…he can handle himself."