"Stay away from us, you devil!!!" one of the angels shouted, his voice trembling with both fear and defiance.


    With a mixture of amusement and disdain, I watched as another angel attempted to summon a spear of light, his hands shaking with the effort. It was almostughable how feeble their attempts were in this tainted realm.


    Despite the hindrance of their divine powers and the poisonous air surrounding us, their determination wasmendable.


    Yet, before their efforts could fully materialize, the whip-like tendrils behind me moved with a mind of their own, striking out and piercing the hearts of the four angels who dared to challenge us.


    As their bodies fell to the ground, it became evident that my actions were not guided by conscious decision-making. Instead, they seemed to flow from some deeper, primal instinct, a survival mechanism kicking in without my deliberatemand.


    It was a realization that struck a chord within me—a reminder of the need to harness and control this aspect of myself swiftly.


    After all, I couldn''t afford to risk inadvertently harming the ones I cared about


    Not long after their divine, golden hearts were presented to me, still pulsating with the vitality of their former owners, the four angels watched in horror as my mouth began to open, revealing rows of sharp teeth glistening in the dim light.


    With a swift and deliberate motion, I seized each heart and swallowed them whole, relishing in the sensation as they slid down my throat.


    As the hearts settled within me, still warm and beating, the four angels began to wither away before my eyes, their life force drained by my consuming act. It was a swift and decisive end to their existence, leaving only a haunting silence in their wake.


    Despite the influx of toxic white mana coursing through me, there was a strange new sensation that apanied the consumption of their souls. It was as if my soul and body were working in perfect harmony, filtering out the unnecessary toxins and allowing me to absorb the pure energy of the souls I had consumed.


    And, surprisingly, their souls were delicious—a fact that brought a twisted smile to my lips. It was a sensation I had never experienced before, one that hinted at a newfound power coursing through my veins. Perhaps, I thought to myself with a chuckle, I might even be addicted to this newfound source of sustenance.


    With thirteen other souls still remaining, I realized that I had plenty of material to experiment with. I could test the limits of my new abilities, leaving some souls untouched while using others as subjects for my twisted curiosity. After all, what harm coulde from a little experimentation when there were so many souls to spare?


    As I strode forward with purpose, an angel stumbled backward, eventually copsing onto the ground. His once-pristine wings were now tattered, evidence of a fierce battle he had likely waged against demons. Despite the turmoil, he retained a strikingly handsome appearance, a fact that irked me slightly. Not a speck of dirt marred his face—a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding us.


    He seemed suitable for my purposes.


    "No, no! Please," he pleaded, but his words fell on deaf ears. It was toote; I had already decided to enlist him for a little experiment of mine. With a pointed finger, I applied a gentle pressure to his back, intending to execute a simple flick—a seemingly innocuous gesture, or so I thought.


    But what followed was far from ordinary.


    With a resounding BOOM, a shockwave erupted from the point of contact, unleashing a devastating force that tore through everything in its path.


    In an instant, the angel vanished, reduced to scattered remains strewn across the muddy ground.


    The echoes of screams reverberated through the air, but I paid them no heed, disregarding the curses and profanities hurled in my direction.


    It was a disy of power beyond anything I had anticipated, a chilling reminder of the depths of my newfound abilities.


    And as I surveyed the destruction wrought by my actions, a twisted sense of satisfaction washed over me.


    As my eyes began to glow with an eerie purple hue, I found myself drawn to a faint, flickering golden orb hovering where the angel had met his demise. A soul, I realized—a precious essence awaiting consumption.


    It seemed my newfound abilities extended beyond the physical realm; now, I could perceive and interact with souls directly. With a sense of anticipation, I reached out and seized the orb, feeling its ethereal energy pulsating within my grasp.


    Without hesitation, I consumed the soul, expecting a burst of satisfaction to apany its consumption.


    Yet, to my surprise, it tasted bitter and unsatisfying, a stark contrast to the delectable essence of previous souls.


    Puzzled by this unexpected turn, I pondered the discrepancy briefly before dismissing it as inconsequential.


    After all, there were still plenty of souls left to experiment with—a fact that filled me with a sense of twisted excitement.


    With a malevolent grin spreading across my lips, I turned my attention to the remaining angels, relishing the prospect of further experimentation.


    This newfound power was proving to be far more exhrating than I had initially anticipated, and I couldn''t help but revel in the chaos and destruction thaty ahead. With each step forward, I embraced the darkness that consumed me


    ''Hahaha… yeah this was getting really fun''


    ….


    "Hmm~ he''s feeding well," a voice murmured from the darkness of the night sky, its tone tinged with a sense of satisfaction. The speaker, a woman shrouded in the same darkness that enveloped the heavens, observed the scene unfolding below with a mixture of interest and detachment.


    As the wind caressed her skin, she floated effortlessly above the tumultuous scene ying out beneath her. A sense of power and control radiated from her, a stark contrast to the chaos below.


    "Is this really alright, mother? Aren''t we just rushing things here now?" Another voice, soft and doll-like, interrupted the silence, its concern palpable in the air. The figure, resembling a perfect doll, gazed down at the scene unfolding below—a scene of relentless onught and maniacalughter that seemed to emanate from the darkness itself. This was not the brother she remembered, and the realization filled her with unease.


    "Hmm~ are you worried, Nya?" The ck-haired woman''s response was calm, almost indifferent, yet there was a flicker of concern in her eyes—a concern borne out of a deeper understanding of the situation.


    "...Yes," Nya admitted reluctantly, her voice barely above a whisper.


    As a creation meant to be the perfect sister for Ian, it was only natural for her to feel apprehensive about the sudden shift in his demeanor.


    This side of Ian was unfamiliar, a forgotten memory buried deep within his subconscious—a memory that only the woman d in darkness could have known.


    And now, as she watched her creation grapple with the reality of her brother''s transformation, she couldn''t help but feel a twinge of regret for the role she had unwittingly yed in bringing it about.


    "I understand yours and the others'' worries, but you don''t have to worry too much right now. Ian is just under an unstable state due to the new profound sensations his body is adapting to. It won''t be long before the old himes back," the woman reassured, her voice a soothing balm amidst the swirling uncertainty.


    Though Adrian had technically assimted with his other half, bing a singr being of darkness, there remained a sliver of humanity within him—a fragment etched in the bottomless depths of his soul.


    It was this humanity, this kind-hearted essence of Ian, that would eventually resurface, bringing with it the memories long buried within him.


    "By the way, Nya, is his army ready?" she inquired, her tone calm yet tinged with a hint of anticipation.


    "Yes," Nya replied solemnly. "For the past few months, all the million demons he requested have been properly trained. Though some perished in the rigorous process, they have all been reced."


    "Good~ Good~" The woman''s smile was filled with a sense of maternal pride.


    "It is only natural that my baby gets the best of what he deserves." With onest nce at Ian, her gaze filled with both affection and determination, she turned back to Nya.


    "Take care of him while I prepare myself," she instructed, her demeanor shifting to one of focused resolve.


    "Are you not nning to join the fray, Mother?" Nya''s voice carried a note of concern as she nced at the woman beside her.


    The woman tilted her head slightly at the question, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "No," she replied, her voice soft yet resolute.


    "As much as I want to right now, I have to prepare for the uing causality of the things we are about to do. Besides, the beings the goddess has brought to her side are quite troublesome to deal with."


    "Even for someone like you?" Nya inquired, her curiosity piqued.


    "Yes," the woman confirmed with a nod. "But don''t worry. Mother has her ns. So take care of Ian while I''m away for the time being. And as for his girls, make sure none of them dies."


    "As you wish, Mother," Nya replied dutifully, her gaze unwavering.


    "Well then, goodbye for now." With those parting words, the darkness that enveloped the woman dissipated, revealing a beautifuldy dressed in all-ck Gothic nun clothing. Her once-ck hair had transformed into a light brown hue, cascading around her shoulders in gentle waves.


    Nya reached out instinctively, catching the girl as she stared up at the starry skies above, her thoughts consumed by the enigmatic ns of her mother.


    As she held her mother''s saintess close, Nya couldn''t help but wonder whaty ahead and what role they would y in the unfolding events orchestrated by the woman they both revered and feared.