It has been peaceful for more than fifteen years for this swamp.

A gathering of Lizardmen tribes governed this swamp and was thankful for the peace.

Nestled very close to the edge of the continent, the war between the high-rank Supernatural races and Humans had never reached their isolated sanctuary. Despite having the same hate for the Ancient Humans for what they did, the Lizardmen have had enough.

Too much had been taken away from them in the ancient times.

Upon awakening in the new era, they treated this as a second chance to treasure life.

Because of this—their territory thrived, expanding into the nearby forest and beyond.

Some of the low-rank Supernatural races—were also aligning with them not through tyranny, but through helping each other instead. No bloodshed was needed and they were doing well in keeping that new way of living.

However, today, that temporary peace was shattered.

A loud crack resounded from the sky, startling the Lizardmen from their daily activities.

All eyes turned upward as they saw an inverted celestial tower descend from dark clouds.

Flocking and hovering around this celestial tower were creatures with celestial wings.

Just a glimpse of them made the awe-struck Lizardmen quickly recognize them as Angels.

The Chief Leaders of each tribe hastily summoned their people to gather, anxiety had always been present in their hearts—for the Lizardmen had long feared the tyranny of the high-rank Supernatural races.

Seeing the Angels, however, beings of divine grace inspired hope instead of dread.

Celebrations erupted spontaneously.

Angels are beings who gain strength from giving grace and warmth to other living beings, they thrive with more happiness, and peace in the world. Because of that—the Lizardmen were excited to see them.

Instinctually, the Lizardmen waved their arms and called out, eager to meet the Angels.

All of them were hoping to be taken under their benevolent, protective wings.

Out of the high-rank Supernatural races, the Angels were the best one to meet for them.

Realizing their gatherings, the celestial beings descended, and as they descended further, the Lizardmen's cheers grew louder, filling the air with a jubilant cacophony that resonated through the swamp and into the hearts of every Lizardman present. ɌÀɴɵBÈꞨ

However, the words that came out of the Angels' mouths were not as expected.

"Choose, fall under our rule, or die..."

Upon hearing this, the cheers instantly halted as the Lizardmen were startled.

It was hard to comprehend what was happening.

Seeing that the Lizardmen, hadn't provided an answer, the Angels flapping their wings above them frowned in contempt. One Angel at the very front, pointed his brilliant glowing sword at one Lizardman and fired a light beam.

Swoosh!

Boom!

In under a second, the Lizardman wailed and cried as his body completely disintegrated.

Everyone gasped as what was left on the Lizardman's spot was an empty void.

"I said choose, don't let me repeat my question again..." the Angel said, his voice threatening.

Realizing what was happening, a Chief Leader, a Lizardman with a bulky body with tribe marks across his body stepped forward, "What is the meaning of this?! How can you kill someone like that? It's against your Origin's divine rule!"

"Hmm? Dare you to lecture your benefactor?" the Angel asked coldly. "Know your place..."

Defying his very essence, the Angel did not hesitate.

He charged his holy energy, focusing it all into his sword until it glowed with a heavenly light.

Making a vicious swing, he hurled the sword, toward the Chief Leader of the Lizardmen—the weapon piercing through the Chief's chest and pinning him to the ground. He coughed blood as his eyes widened in utter disbelief.

Not once has he ever thought an Angel would be this ruthless.

Blood sprayed in every direction, the crimson droplets painting a grisly scene.

One Lizardman, standing behind the impaled Chief Leader was smeared with blood, he tried to reach for his face—and wiped the war liquid from his scales. As he looked at the blood on his hand, realization dawned upon him.

Instantly, his breaths grew heavy, and a scream tore from his throat.

"Haaargghh!!"

Just like a tolling bell, the shout shattered the fragile peace and plunged them into chaos.

Panic erupted and the Lizardmen scattered like rabbits.

All of them ran in all directions, their orderly gathering dissolving into a frenzied stampede.

Such realization hit them like a physical blow, the Angels weren't the benevolent beings they had once known. Instead, they changed for the worse as they easily killed, as if making a lift of their hands.

Even the other Chief Leaders stepped back in fright.

Despite having to do such atrocities, the Angel who had thrown the sword hovered above.

His expression was devoid of any kind of remorse or mercy.

Not even dazed by the chaos he had created, which should've induced him with a powerful guilt and pain—the Angel descended to the ground, his celestial brethren followed his lead, landing right in front of the Chief Leaders.

Passing the Chief Leaders leisurely, the leading Angel looked around in pleasure.

Another Chief Leader then braced himself to ask, "W- What are you...?"

Had it been in the ancient past, an Angel doing something like this would be punished, by the Angel Origin's light, locked in the Eternity Prison until the soul is cleansed. But now, the Angel didn't seem to be suffering from any punishment.

It made this Chief Leader doubt whether he was a real Angel or not.

Upon hearing this, the leading Angel glanced over his shoulder and smiled graciously.

His smile was vibrant and innocent, contrasting with what he had done.

"I am Ensis the Custodian of the Thirteenth Crusade Legion, and yes..." Ensis introduced, the halo above his head began to flicker from a golden light to being corrupted by a red hue. "I'm not an Angel, anymore. I am a Dark Angel. His light was never meant to make us stronger, his light was weakening us. Now that we tasted the other side, we've grown stronger than ever"

"So now it begins, the Crusade to cleanse the world..." He added, raspingly.

Facing another Angel behind, Ensis commanded, "Stelios, start the Crusade. Show no mercy"

"Y- Yes! I'll start right away!" Despite his timidity, Stelios flapped away.

Holding his staff tightly, he and the other Angel flew and chased the running Lizardmen.

Soon enough, the sound of the screams of agony intensified in the background.

Despite knowing that their people were being massacred, in cold blood, the Chief Leaders couldn't do anything. Even the aura coming from Ensis showed that he was strong, in fact, extremely strong.

If they attacked Ensis, they would've failed miserably and be obliterated.

Maybe the years of peace softened them, but their bodies were trembling uncontrollably.

None of them knew whether to choose their pride and attack or their fear and stay.

Just then, another Chief Leader fell to his knees and prostrated.

"No more, we don't want bloodshed! We'll do anything, but let the blood end here," He said.

Listening to the pitiful plea, Ensis stepped towards him and caressed the Chief Leader's head gently. He could feel that the Chief Leader was genuine with his words, "Of course, there is a way to make my Dark Angels stop this, and free your people from painful deaths. Is that what you want?"

"Yes, I'll do anything!" the Chief Leader nodded resolutely.

Seeing him so eager, Ensis smiled and took out a piece of light from his crimson halo.

He then extended his hand, radiating a brilliantly glowing red light dense with holy energy.

Just the intensity of the light alone seemed almost as if it were a fragment of Ensis' very soul—the holy energy exuded an overwhelming sense of reverence—even to the Chief, someone who couldn't fathom the holy energy aside from gauging it through its oppressive force.

Seeing this, the Chief Leader was confused as he didn't know what Ensis wanted.

"Go ahead and touch this light, and my Dar Angels will stop," Ensis said.

Despite knowing that Ensis was planning something, the Chief Leader didn't hesitate to give the red light a touch so that his people would not be slaughtered. Almost instantly, however, the red light infiltrated his body and tampered with his energy flow.

In an instant, the Chief Leader fell to the ground, groaning in pain.

At the sight of this, the other Chief Leaders shouted, asking if he was okay but there was no response. He crumpled on the ground as the invasive light coursed through his veins, visible beneath his skin.

Overwhelmed by an unbelievable amount of pain, the Chief Leader screams.

His veins bulging as if his body were about to explode.

Moreover, his eyes were devoured by the red light as he rolled on the ground.

He was desperately searching for anything to stop or lessen the pain.

On the other hand, the other Chief Leaders watched in horror as they saw the natural energy inside him being tainted, forcibly transforming him into something, unnatural. Eventually—the red light enveloped his entire body, and when it finally receded, a new person stood in place.

At first glance, there were not many changes to his appearance.

But on closer inspection, the differences were stark.

A glowing golden cross-shaped mark now adorned the center of his chest, his skin had also turned pale, and his eyes, once a normal brown, were now a bright, eerie yellow. However, it was the air he was emanating that changed the most.

He didn't emit the same energy as a normal Lizardman would.

He changed, metamorphosed into something different.

"J- Just what have you done to me?!" the Chief Leader shouted, fearful of his current state.

It was obvious that he had been turned, a twisted version of his former self.

Contrary to what the others believed, the fear of his current state didn't stem from the clear changes to his body. No—it was the seething violence growing inside him. The Chief Leader felt something burning within, it was a will that did not belong to him, and his throat became drier the longer this fire remained unsatiated.

Even his hands were beginning to tremble, and his heart was itching with the intent to kill.

Overwhelmed by the sensation, he looked at the other Chief Leaders.

Failing to restrain himself, he dashed toward them, his hands outstretched forward.

Just before he could reach them, Ensis intervened and stopped him in his tracks.

"I'm scared... I can't control myself," the Chief Leader muttered.

Upon hearing this, Ensis smiled before he pointed to the other side, "No need to fight it,"

"But there are other lesser beings more suited for your thirst, isn't there?" He added. Your next chapter awaits on M V L

As if the last rope of reasoning, broke at those words—the Chief Leader turned to the other Lizardmen who were running away and screaming. Not even needing any further command, he sprinted away, seething with murderous intent.

Seeing this, another Chief Leader gritted his teeth and pointed his sword at Ensis.

"Damn you! You said that you would stop if he took your corrupted light!" He shouted angrily.

Even though the volunteering Chief Leader, did as he was told, Ensis didn't seem to have any intention of stopping the massacre. "Do your words mean nothing?! Is this how far the Angels had fallen?!"

Gracing a sly smile, Ensis looked at this barking Chief Leader, "I said I'd stop my Dark Angels"

"But I never said I would stop the crusade," He added sadistically.

Upon hearing this—the other Chief Leaders stepped back as they could not believe this was happening, they couldn't believe their peace was shattered in mere moments. Pointing at the corrupted Chief Leader—who was tearing apart Lizardmen. and devouring their blood, Ensis added, "My Dark Angels will stop, but he's your problem, not mine"

"A-Are you a Devil? How could you do this...?" the Chief Leader trembled in utter fear.

Responding only with a smile, Ensis called the other Dark Angels.

He and the other Dark Angels then began to flap their wings before they flew away leisurely.

Despite the screams and cries for help, they flew away without any inclination to help.

Surely, the Angels had completely turned for the worst.

It seemed the Lizardmen's hope of protection under their wings would never come true.

All of their hopes were replaced by a nightmare of bloodshed and chaos.

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