#35

“Disgusting man!”

Sorin watched the futile struggle of the mages against the never-ending horde of demons continuing to attack them. It was almost pitiful to see them deteriorate so quickly, the more they kill, the more demons get summoned.

This battle wouldn’t end until every single one of them was devoured.

They looked pathetic. The pure chaos of the scene was a grim reminder of humanity’s future against the demons. No matter how much they fought for survival, stronger demons kept crawling up from the depths of hell.

“I am one of them.” Sorin placed a hand on his mouth to cover the smile unsettling creeping up his lips, it was unsightly. One that was out of place in a situation like this.

The realization felt like an icy shiver inside his chest. Sorin had crawled up from the deepest pits of hell, a fiery abyss that humans had thrown him into.

He had willingly accepted his pact with Lucifer, the one who had given him this chance to fulfill his desires.

In the blur of battle, Sorin’s thoughts went unfocused. The crimson tint of blood filled his eyes as he listened to their dying screams.

Sorin blinked.

It reminded him of the battlefield. He fought so hard for the empire, for its people... and yet, nothing ever changed.

“Die you bastard!”

The whistling sound of the casting spell snapped Sorin out of his thoughts, he barely dodged the magic arrow aimed directly at him.

The air around him felt electric as the magic arrow dissipated into nothingness. The pain on his cheek felt like a wake-up call, he felt warm liquid slowly dripping down his face.

“Oh.” It was the only word that escaped his lips as he placed a finger on the deep scratch on his cheeks, eyes wide and unflinching.

“I got distracted,” he whispered to himself before turning his attention to the brave mage who dare attack him. The young man was panting, barely even surviving the dozens of demonic beasts attacking him.

Sorin’s serpent was busy attacking the stronger mages, hopefully, it wouldn’t sustain that many injuries after the fight.

“This has been taking so long, perhaps it’s time to end it.” Sorin mused with a mocking gaze toward the mages. The haunting truth that their fates were all on Sorin’s fingertips had finally settled on their minds.

It happened too fast. Sorin flicked his hand, thick miasma gathering around him then there was silence.

Every single mage in the room, including the council leaders, was brought to their knees. Miasma wrapped around their bodies, its presence cold and suffocating. The expression of fear and agony etched on their faces made Sorin chuckle.

“Isn’t this fun?” Sorin asked, his voice holding a sadistic edge as he watched their futile struggle. Miasma was poison to the human body and mind, with his orders, the thick black tendrils of miasma forced itself inside their throats.

It had effectively shut them all up.

Sorin ignored their writhing and shaking as he skipped through their bodies on the floor before stopping to meet the head mage.

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The old man stood out from the rest, with his heavily embellished robe and the magic artifact hanging on his neck. His gray eyes burned with hatred as he glared up at Sorin, he looked so pathetic in that state.

Sorin kneeled down to meet his gaze, giving him a warm smile “Don’t worry, I won’t be the one killing you.” He reassured. The blood on his cheeks had continued to trickle down his lips, the taste of iron entering Sorin’s tongue.

“In fact, I haven’t directly killed anyone, have I?” Sorin hummed to himself “Why would such a benevolent Saint such as me, dare to kill someone? It would dirty my hands.” The sarcasm was thick in his voice.

Sorin’s beloved serpent hissed in response to his words, his orders immediately locked into the demon’s consciousness. The serpent coiled itself around the head mage, its grip seizing the old man by his hair before it dragged him mercilessly toward Neve.

The head mage struggled relentlessly around the serpent’s grip. Muffled screams came from his mouth as tears started to fill the corner of his eyes.

Sorin watched silently as Neve’s expression remained cold and blank. Her silver eyes bore into the old man’s, and Sorin could see her composed facade slowly breaking down.

The death-filled scenery around them reflected all the torment and suffering that she had suppressed for so long.

“You...” Her voice cut through the chamber with icy clearness, even in such a weakened state, her mana was uncontrollable. It surrounded her like jagged spikes of ice, sharp and deadly.

“What you’ve done to me is unforgivable.” She continued “But in this world, it’s not only about me. It’s about the innocent lives that were lost to your cruelty and oppression.”

She breathed in “I was lucky to survive.”

Sorin felt a painful pang in his chest. The memory of Neve’s death flashed inside his mind. Sorin stepped closer to Neve, before placing a hand on her shoulder “What do you plan to do, archmage?” he whispered quietly.

Neve locked eyes with Sorin, her pale eyebrows twitching ever so slightly before her lips curved into a sardonic smile, silver eyes shining with such intensity, Sorin couldn’t help but hold his breath.

“I’ll kill him, Sorin.” She replied, “I’ll be the one punishing him.”

A gentle chuckle escaped Sorin’s lips as he nodded his head before slowly moving his fingers, an ornate dagger materializing out of his palms.

“It’s quite fitting, actually.” Sorin commented “A head mage as strong as you dying in such a crude, boring way.”

Neve shakily took the dagger from Sorin, twisting it a little bit as if she was testing its weight in her hands “You don’t deserve an honorable death.” she continued Sorin’s words “I won’t use magic on you, it would be a waste.”

The old man’s screams were muffled by the miasma, a mix of anger and desperation at the way he was getting mocked by Neve.

The serpent dropped the old man on the floor but before he could move an inch, Sorin placed his foot on top of the mage’s ribs. The pressure was just enough to push out the air out of his lungs.

“My apologies, we can’t have you moving around, can we?”

Neve stepped forward before she kneeled down on top of the old man, straddling her legs to keep him from moving any further.

“Scandalous,” Sorin commented with a grin.

Neve’s face remained the same but she clicked her tongue in response.

She moved her eyes to the head mage, watching his expression, etching it inside her mind before she raised her arms, the dagger held tightly in between her fingers.

The head mage’s eyes widened as he shook his head-

The dagger plunged deep into his flesh, avoiding all of his internal organs. Neve pulled back and drove the dagger again. and again. and again.

Sorin watched in fascination as the old man struggled with the continuous assault. It took minutes for his movement to grow weaker, gradually turning into a rigid stillness. His features twisted in agony as his breathing became slower.

“I hope you enjoy the afterlife.” Sorin sneered when Neve raised the dagger one more time, directly aiming into his heart.

The chamber fell into an eerie silence, the weight of what had happened hung heavy in the air. As Neve slowly lowered her hand, panting and heaving deep breaths.

“Impressive,” he said, voice laced with genuine admiration.

Neve’s expression softened ever so slightly as she tried to move herself up. Sorin caught her before she could fall, arms wrapped around her exhausted body.

“...I’m free,” she whispered to him.

Sorin reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face “You are.” he agreed, his voice barely a whisper.

Neve didn’t even realize that all the mages around them were dead. All it took was a single snap of Sorin’s fingers, the tendrils of miasma exploding inside their heads.

It was a rather quick death despite how brutal it was.

The Sanctum was left in ruins. With corpses of its inhabitants strewn in each of its rooms and hallways, it would leave such an impact on the empire.

As Sorin stood silently in the middle of the destruction, Neve wrapped around his arms, her consciousness fading away as she let exhaustion wrap around her like a heavy blanket.

He smiled “This is your freedom, Neve.” he whispered.

Sorin felt blood dripping from his nose as he sighed “I think I might have exhausted myself.”