Chapter 78: To Invite Ruin Part Three

    It didn''t take that long for them to cut down their numbers... All while Abaddon gazed at them with the excitement of a child who had gotten a new toy.

    No—It was far more sinister... The way his grin seemed to spread from ear to ear was every bit unnatural as it was terrifying.

    Such was the expression a creature of darkness made when it witnessed the pointless—agonizing suffering of humans.

    To him, there was no better form of entertainment.

    Knights of the house of Meldon began to feel an immense sense of unease, despite the substantial distance between them and the grounds upon which this massacre occurred.

    They could still make out the bloody scene as one knight cut down the other, their screams, the agonizing cries for mercy.

    Each silenced under the blade of one they each believed to be their comrade.

    One would tend to believe that men of war wouldn''t be affected by such a scene.

    They would be right... And wrong, for it wasn''t the cries and screams that fazed them... Though they undoubtedly contributed, their terror stemmed from a different source.

    It was witnessing as men turned on each other, brothers of blood and steel thrusting their blades through the backs of an unsuspecting other.

    How quickly supposed bonds were thrown away when their lives were put before the blade, each ending with blood, tears, and pain.

    In a situation like this where there was no longer a need for the knights of Maldon to even stand here, considering those who had once opposed them were practically doomed to perish.

    They were unsure if they could turn back and leave. For they feared such an action would anger the fallen angel.

    After all, Abaddon had said a moment ago he wouldn''t be following the emperor''s orders... Fact, they didn''t believe such a statement in the first place, the emperor was a tyrant, sure, but to have a fallen angel do his bidding seemed very unlikely.

    So they silently concluded his words were lies.

    So what guarantee was there that they wouldn''t meet the same fate as the knights of Raine... none.

    So they simply stood and watched, all silently hoping the creature would eventually go away.

    Finally... After what felt like an eternity, only a dozen or two of the knights of Raine were left standing. Each not without wounds and all with a downcast expression.

    One looked to Abaddon, his expression caught between guilt and fear, his breath came out in ragged gasps as he clutched a cut on his left forearm.

    His sword hanging loosely in his grasp, his armor stained with the blood of the brethren he had slain.

    "S-Sir Abaddon... We have done as you have ordered... We ask that you spare us as you promised."

    Slowly, the other knights looked to Abaddon as well, all awaiting the confirmation that he would do as he had promised.

    How foolish.

    The fallen angel slowly folded his previously spread out wings, then began to clap as he chuckled softly.

    It was such a simple gesture, yet it had this... mocking feeling to it that made those who hear it feel their skin crawl.

    Slowly, some feathers frome his wings began to slowly leave his wings, falling in the air and dissolving into dark particles that slowly touched the knights.

    But it didn''t seem to do anything to them... Not now at least.

    "Impressive... Truly impressive. I must admit I had expected all of you to simply die off, after all standing so close to each other as you all were, it would be impossible to predict where the next blade would swing from."

    Abaddon''s expression twisted into a cold smile as he answered, "What I promised? Nah, this is, I said I would let let you go, I said I would liberate you from your sins—and I intend to keep my word."

    Another voice, barely a whisper, echoed in the stillness: "Is there no mercy left for us? No forgiveness?"

    Abaddon''s voice was calm, almost mocking, as he replied, "Mercy comes after atonement, not before it. You''ve walked willingly into the depths of darkness, and now, you will face its judgment."

    Then, with a swift motion, Abaddon swung his sword with overwhelming force. A blinding beam of energy surged forward.

    VOOSH~

    BOOM!

    Obliterating the landscape, turning it into a charred wasteland filled with smoke and ruin.

    The knights Meldon fell silent, their breath stolen away as they stared at the devastation.

    Suddenly, Abaddon took to the skies.

    His dark wings outstretched like a shadowy canopy as he approached the knights of the house of Meldon.

    Arriving, he hovered before them, his shadow looming stretched out to cover them, making all present feel uneasy.

    His piercing gaze scanned them, lingering on each knight with an unsettling smile.

    "Did you enjoy the show?" he asked, his voice was smooth and yet... dripping with menace.

    The knights, including Velder Meldon, exchanged uneasy glances before forcing a chuckle. It wasn''t out of genuine amusement, but out of fear.

    The tension was suffocating, and their laughter came as a means of placating the fallen angel.

    "We enjoyed it," Velder said stiffly, his voice barely more than a whisper, though it sounded far more like a plea for survival than a true sentiment.

    Abaddon''s grin widened, his sharp teeth gleaming against his shadow. "I''m pleased," he said, his voice soothing yet ominous.

    "You are lucky to be on the good side of the emperor."

    The knights looked at him, confusion flickering across their faces. Velder''s brow furrowed slightly, but before he could respond, Abaddon spoke again.

    "Enjoy your day,"

    His wings folding neatly behind him. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he soared into the sky, leaving a trail of dark energy in his wake.

    The knights watched in silence as Abaddon disappeared into the horizon.

    Fear still gripped them, their unease lingering long after his departure.

    One of the knights spoke up, asking their lord Velder Meldon.

    "My lord... Do you turly belive that creature serves under the emperor?"

    Velder remained silent for a moment gazing at the horizon before he spoke, " I doubt it... but if it is truly the case, then perhaps... This empire is about to change... So drastically that when things are over we may not recognise it."

    "All I pray, is that those changes are for the better... Not the worse."