"Where am I? Why am I here? An unfamiliar area... that's rare."

The man was standing inside a room. There were no windows showing the outside, and the inner lights were dim. The man was rotating his head in order to absorb as many details from the packed environment as he could, eager to figure out his location.

"Welcome, Sevan Vertex."

Just as the man named Sevan was sure that not a single soul was present, a greeting speech hit him. He turned his head around in surprise, with instinctual defense mechanics being already activated. By his experience, every war begins with a chaotic bloodshed. Every presence is potentially hostile at point zero.

"There is no need to be stiff and get your guard up."

The silver-haired man, who appeared seemingly out of the void, was wearing a small smile. From head to toe, everything about him was white and bright.

"Who are you?"

Sevan, however, didn’t allow himself to be swayed by the man's appearance. He wasn't convinced that lifting his guard was a sound choice, therefore he continued to stare at the man with suspicion.

"Phanuel, Angel of the Lord's Eternal Judgment."

"An angel...?"

The angel's introduction took Sevan aback. Though he has existed in the desert that lies beyond death for such a prolonged period of time - it was the first time he met face to face with a being unlike his kin.

"Yes. However, don't let that truth to cause you uneasiness. The subject of discussion here will be you, not me, Sevan Vertex."

Noticing the well-covered signs of anxiety emitted by Sevan, the angel was quick to throw a relaxing speech.

"What can an angel possibly want from me...?"

Sevan was puzzled by the angel's declaration. What could possibly an angel want from him? The question haunted him, not allowing a peace of mind.

"Sevan Vertex."

The angel opened up a white book he has been holding. It appeared as if he prepared for the meeting beforehand, for the page he opened was marked.

"By now, you have participated in 526 battles."

The angel began to slowly walk back and forward, as he was reading the contents of the book aloud.

"Out of these, there were 188 where you survived till only 100 participants were still breathing."

Sevan's gaze followed the walking figure, forbidding itself to lose track of the smallest of body twitches.

"From those, there were 53 battles where you remained among the 25 last survivors."

The angel continued his casual routine, ignoring Sevan's tight observation

"And then..."

For that part, the angel stopped in his tracks and sent a quick glance at Sevan. Shortly afterwards, he made a half-turn to his right in order to face Sevan directly.

"Filtering further, there were 10 rounds where you reached the very finale of the tournament...”

The book was abruptly shut.

"And lost."

The unexpected sudden development caught Sevan off-guard. Momentary, his brain blanked and lost its defensive nature.

"There is no need to point out the obvious fact that you are an exceptionally talented warrior. However..."

The angel directed his eyes right into Sevan's, making the stare feel like the sharp stabbing of a knife.

"There is something rather... unusual about your performance. You are aware of it, are you not, Sevan Vertex?"

"Perhaps. Want to elaborate?"

Clearly understanding that the angel researched him, Sevan developed a desire to test him further.

"In 10 out of 10 finales, you... threw away your victory as if it was a piece of trash. Why?"

Reading through Sevan's unwillingness to smoothly cooperate, the angel decided to cut right to the chase.

"Oh, that. Such thing did happen, didn't it?"

He slightly averted his eyes, as a smirk surfaced on his face. He didn't hold much sympathy for an entity responsible for running the hellish coliseum.

"Not too friendly, are we?"

The angel wore a sad expression as he questioned Sevan's attitude.

"You... You know what this world is like... And instead of doing something about it...You summon me to ask some petty questions? How can you call yourself an angel!?"

Sevan easily bursted at the angel. From within, he truly desired to give the angel a piece of his mind. He developed a fierce urge to comment on the twisted reality they were forced into, as well as to criticize it and its supervisors.

"I steal, lie and kill. How can such bloody 'Purgatory' be under the control of angels!? The control of God itself!? A place where sins are an enforced norm... it's no holy place of purification. It's hell itself!"

Sevan gritted his teeth in anger as he shot the verbal bullets at the angel. He was obeying the absurdity of the realm because there was no alternative path available. It didn’t take long for him to be convinced that Purgatory is governed by devils, no saints or angels.

Meeting face to face with an angel who claims to supervise the realm of fiends... broke down everything for him. If angels can't be trusted to be holy and represent 'good', then what good the appraised final destination known as "Heaven" is? Is there no salvation even after death? Will his sister and many partners never attain eternal happiness, even after escaping that prison!?

"........"

The angel remained silent. He closed his eyes and ceased movement, as if becoming a solid wall to resist Sevan's attacks.

"Would that be all?"

Then, with a calm and composed voice, the angel implied that he desired to move on.

"You bastard...!"

The angel's indifferent reaction ignited Sevan, making him clench his fists and step forward - with the intention of hitting the holy creature in the face.

"It appears as if you don't understand yet."

The angel slowly raised his hand toward Sevan.

"What did you...!?"

Just as the angel's opened palm was directed at Sevan, his body froze still. Clearly, some supernatural force was in play for that development.

"Now let me ask you something. Is stealing, food, when you have none, evil? Is lying, to avoid potential danger, wrong? Does killing, before being killed, deserve banishment?"

"That's..."

Not only Sevan's ability of movement, but his lips, too, grew frozen. He couldn't properly counter the angel's words, for they bore fragments of morality he could agree with. As he extinguished most of his initial flame of hatred, he was now ready to listen to the angel's arguments. As if reacting to that change of heart, the spellbinding Sevan's body dissolved into nothingness.

"Oh, then I take it you have leashed your fury? Beautiful. Then, you do agree that these actions, under certain circumstances, lose their label as 'evil'?"

"... Yes. Humans are beings programmed to put their survival as the highest priority. In the scenarios you presented, that very survival is at stake."

"Indeed. With a heavy question mark of uncertainty hovering above one's life, the morality of actions turns blurry. What is accepted and what isn't... a mixture of the two opposites - becomes the new reality."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"But even so... there are those who partake in these 'sins' even when they are safe. In the first place, pitting humans against others under such circumstances is pure evil."

Sevan's voice was calm, yet filled with a hint of negative criticism. He accepted some of the angel's words, however still opposed the overall concept.

"It's true that some resort to these vile acts even without an urgent need, where the taken actions turn into 'evil' and branded 'sins'. But try to recall your ventures into the battles of Purgatory. How often did you come across such evil?"

“Wha...?”

Sevan didn’t expect that question. It appeared suddenly and was cloaked in randomness.

“Well, I did... a few times...”

He frowned, trying to recollect his thoughts. For some alien reason, his answer was very vague, as were the situations he recalled.

“Few was it? I believe that most enemies you came across - were all fighting for their own survival.”

The angel smiled in satisfaction as he watched Sevan stretching to reach a different answer.

“... What is the meaning of this?”

Sevan finally admitted defeat. Despite his vast history of experiences in that hellish tournament, he couldn’t bring forth enough examples to pass off “evil humans” as a norm in Purgatory.

“Even after so many battles, you are yet to comprehend the meaning behind the ‘Battle of Purification’. But such is fine, for most don’t.”

The angel began to walk around yet again. It must have been a habit of his, that surfaced whenever he was in the mood to share his knowledge with another.

“Crimes that were chosen to be called ‘sins’, are the most basic and the most addictive of all. Will the human soul yearn for these dark arts? Will it banish them? These questions ultimately decide one’s alignment. Good or evil. Saint or sinner. Holy or corrupted.”

He stopped in place to take a momentary breather and then turned around to walk the familiar repetitive course. Sevan’s eyes, previously that of a savage beast, were now following the movements of the angel with curiosity.

“Sadly, the human world, by itself, rarely offers keen insight into one’s soul. The standard of having the frequent dilemma between sinning and surviving - is alien to most. You, yourself, called this environment an absurdity, for you compare it to the standard you have grown to accept as a human being. This alien absurd reality - is exactly what Purgatory attempts to generate with its existence.”

“In other words... this is all one huge test of extreme morality?”

Sevan’s voice was scattered, for he couldn’t believe the words he produced. Not even once before did he see the act of bloodshed as a test for anything. Blinded by the goal of survival, the possibility of a hidden deeper plane completely escaped him.

“According to the current system’s rules, a participant who sins five times - is automatically sent to Hell. This is one part of why you rarely came across humans bearing black souls. Alas, being the divine utopia it is, Heaven accepts only the purest souls into its embrace. Therefore, only souls that have proven their worth through countless tests will ever reach it. As such, Purgatory rarely offers a direct road to Heaven, and instead offers reincarnation.”

“So there really was a judgment system after all...”

Sevan smiled with a dim relief as he learned that even in the insanity of constant war - someone was still looking for good and evil. He really did find most of his opponents likable, devoid of any obvious or extreme corruption.

“Now let us take a recursive turn, and return to the original question imposed on you. Why? Why do you let others win in your stead?”

The angel stopped and directed his eyes at Sevan. This time, Sevan was expected to cooperate with the angel he initially despised. The two parties found common language, and could proceed forward.

“That's..."

Sevan looked to the side, as the armor-piercing question returned like a boomerang. He desperately tried to find a sane and objective way to explain his actions and their intents.

"Well, really... It's just that whoever I was paired with... felt like a more fitting candidate..."

"What made you arrive at such odd conclusions?"

"Well, they either had a cleaner spirit, a better goal in life..."

Sevan didn't venture into practical examples. He merely handed out outlines of patterns he came across.

"Were you fulfilled when you helped them step toward happiness?"

"Fulfilled..."

Sevan pondered over the contextual meaning of the word. Does the angel ask whatever Sevan felt good about himself? Whatever he was ‘happy’?

"It felt good, didn't it? To go out of your way, to sacrifice your own 'happiness' for the good fortune of others."

Recognizing Sevan's struggle to output his honest thoughts, the angel decided to give him a push.

"W-Wha-!? That's r-ridiculous...!"

Sevan was stuttering as he attempted to oppose the angel's words without success. Realizing that the irrational words held merit, Sevan's chest began to exhibit signs of ache.

"Ridiculous? Hardly so, Sevan Vertex. As you said, humans are programmed to flourish their own survival. Giving up reincarnation and choosing eternal death does really feel off... at first. However, humans are being who can replace their own priorities with extrinsic values by experience."

"Extrinsic values...?"

"Humans enjoy tales of heroes, who would sacrifice everything they have for the well-being of others. When one can overcome his instinctual nature, programmed for survival, then he is viewed as 'good’ by others."

"It's not such a pretty thing in my case."

Sevan couldn't but deem the angel's words as misguided. Comparing Sevan's actions with that of a hero of some epic... he couldn't disagree more.

"I just feed on the misfortunes of others. As a living person, my life was filled with emptiness and pointlessness. Becoming the person who allows others to step toward a light-filled path... it makes me feel meaningful."

"It fulfills you and defines your purpose for existing. To feel good about the well-being of others is by no means a crime. You say there is no beauty in that? Who decided it is the objective truth? At the very least, I do find it beautiful."

The angel tried to make Sevan accept his own ego. An ego fueled by actions Sevan was skeptical about, for they should stand in opposition to the laws of nature.

".........."

It was now Sevan's turn to stay silent. He received multiple powerful blows. The armor protecting him from mental assaults - shattered to pieces.

"It's fine if you can't accept this idea right now. After all, you are the rational type who tries to find all the strings governing human actions."

The angel smiled as he offered Sevan an easy way out. It was enough that Sevan absorbs the angel's words and thinks over them. The time of resolution may come further in the future.

"Now let us swim further backwards, to the first question you raised when arriving here."

"...?"

After such a long discussion, Sevan couldn't possibly recall what he questioned upon arrival.

"This place, and the reason you are here."

The angel reminded Sevan of the two initial wonders he had while lost in confusion. These two questions, which should have stuck as top priority all the way through - were very easily forgotten as Sevan lost himself in the conversation.

"The place itself holds little importance. A stray room located outside the arena of sand. Hence your unfamiliarity with it."

The angel spoke in disinterest. He bothered to present a brief explanation so that Sevan won't needlessly allow his mind to be haunted by trifle matters.

"As for the reason you are here... This, on the contrary, is a subject of great interest."

As he reached the more relevant part, the casual soft smile returned to the angel's face.

"Purifiers, as they love to call themselves, are the 'invisible' guardians of Purgatory's trials."

"Can't say I heard of them..."

"Naturally, for they are vowed to keep discretion. Their existence is to be kept hidden from the common participants."

Surprised to hear about the existence of elements he was previously unaware of, Sevan honed his hearing and focused his mind, in order to absorb the novel information.

"They are selected warriors, dispatched into battles in order to obliterate participants labeled as 'sinners'. The idea is to clean the tournament from negative energy, and allow the cleaner spirits to battle among themselves."

In other words, a filtering mechanic, placed in order to lower the ugliness of the whole endeavor.

"Are they... angels?"

Never before meeting any supreme being throughout his history in Purgatory, Sevan questioned the identity of such noble creatures.

"No. They are humans, who were offered that position. Just like... you, Sevan Vertex."

The angel smiled as he pronounced the final bit. The meaning behind Sevan's presence in that room has finally revealed itself.

"Me...? You mean dispatching sinners instead of being a proper participant?"

"Precisely. For a man like you, who defines himself through others, this would be hardly far from perfect. Your very actions support this reasoning, and greatly overlap with the concept as a whole."

The angel starched his right hand as if inviting Sevan to reach out to it.

"You said they are an enigma, right? A secret that normal participants can't possibly learn about... In other words, by revealing this information to me - you leave me no choice but to accept. Otherwise, I'll be an illegal player or something like that."

"Not at all."

The angel quickly leashed his hand and averted his eyes.

"In such an unfortunate scenario, I'll be forced to tamper with your memories and force you to forget of this fruitful meeting. Such action wears bold shades of gray morality, therefore I sincerely wish to avoid using it."

It was apparent that Phanuel has used said method before, and that he felt shame and discomfort with its execution.

"Let me get it straight. I'll be partaking in the wars with the purpose of killing sinners, and letting more pure souls achieve victory, correct?"

"Indeed."

"With no reward offered in exchange?"

"Reward? I believe that, for you, this role, in itself, will be an eternal reward."

Sevan had to make sure, one last time, before handing out his answer. In his head, he went over the many events of his previous wars.

'To fight so that somebody else will reap benefit.' Certainly, an odd path to take for a human being, and regardless the very path he has been walking until then.

"I... accept."

It didn't take much to convince Sevan. He saw himself as abnormal, and such thorny road of nonexistent prizes would fit him perfectly.

"Splendid. Now come to meet the rest of the crew. Surely, you will find many of them familiar."

One of the room's doors has opened up, revealing yet another room behind it. There, Sevan saw a pack of humans who were sitting and chatting with each other.

"These are...?"

Sevan was speechless. Phanuel was spot on. Sevan did happen to know many of his fellow Purifiers. He came across them in battles and grew to respect them for many varying reasons. A single tear flowed down from Sevan’s left eye. To hide the embarrassing sight, he slightly bowed his head, and swiftly wiped it out with his arm.

He was not alone. What he cursed as a grave mental illness - was shared to some degree by all the Purifiers. Fighting for eternity for the sake of others, never expecting to receive a reward... Such is the fate of the road he chose. It was a path suiting him, for he defined himself and his joy through others.

In the realm of bloody trials... Sevan found a calling for himself.