Zara walked toward the cellar with slow, sinister steps, his hands slightly open.
His face glowed with intoxication and excitement, as if he could already see the terrified expressions of the prey hiding inside.
In the dark cellar, two girls huddled together, trembling. Mud streaked their delicate faces, and tears rolled silently down their cheeks.
"Ah… I found you."
With a swift motion, Zara lifted the slate covering the entrance, revealing the two shivering figures within.
"Ahhh!!"
"No! Don't come here…!"
Their voices cracked with fear.
"Well, well… still young. Bloody Mary."
Zara lifted the chin of the older girl and inhaled deeply, savoring the scent.
"Such fresh Bloody Mary… should I drink from your neck, or rip out your heart directly? Mm… I can't decide. Maybe I'll just start by taking off your limbs."
The girl's entire body shook. He shut her eyes, tears dripping from the corners.
"Zara, stop wasting time," Soba's cold voice cut in. "Take the blood and let's move. The Martial Soul Hall's hounds are still on our trail. This isn't the era of our ancestors—we can't afford to toy with prey anymore."
His words carried bitterness. Thousands of years ago, evil soul masters had reigned supreme under the leadership of a god born from among them. The soul master world had prospered under their rule—until an enemy surnamed Qian rose, declared them evil, and slaughtered them without mercy.
Driven to desperation, their ancestors had taken refuge in the Killing Capital—their sacred ground, now their prison. For millennia, they had waited for a chance to return, only for the Martial Soul Hall to grow stronger with each generation.
"Hmph, you don't need to remind me." Zara's face darkened.
A red light flickered in his eyes.
"You're lucky… you'll die quickly."
A blood-red short blade appeared in his hand. He raised it, ready to sever the younger girl's head.
The girls could only close their eyes, bodies limp with despair.
"Angel Guard!!"
Golden pillars of light erupted from the ground, enveloping the girls in a protective barrier.
"Tch!" Zara's pupils shrank, and she leapt backward just as two golden spears slammed into the spot where she had been standing.
From the sky descended six figures clad in golden armor, white wings spread wide. Each wore a golden mask, faces hidden, but the immense aura they radiated made it clear—every one of them was a Soul Saint.
Feathers of soul power drifted down like snow as the golden glow bathed the earth.
"Angel Legion!!"
Zara and Soba spat the words through clenched teeth.
The two girls, now cradled in the arms of female angels, felt their fear melt into an unfamiliar calm—only to faint from the emotional shock.
The six angels hovered above, looking down on the two blood-stained evil soul masters.
"Exterminate evil!"
"Sixth Soul Skill—Angel Light Cannon!!"
Four beams of golden holy light shot downward in unison.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul True Body!!"
Soba roared, a blood-colored axe materializing in his hands. He swung it upward—only for the scarlet axe light to disintegrate like frost under the sun.
"No…!"
Zara and Soba's eyes widened. They bolted, moving faster than they ever had.
"Form the array!"
The six angels gathered, positioning themselves in a six-point formation. A golden magic circle spread beneath them, and from its center rose a massive golden spear.
The sacred domain locked down the battlefield, trapping the two evil soul masters.
Zara struck at the barrier—only to be repelled with a violent shockwave.
His gaze flicked to Soba.
"Soba! Cover me!"
Without hesitation, Soba roared:
"Sixth Soul Skill—Soul-Eating Sky Split!!"
The demon axe surged with crimson lines, dripping with bloodlust, as he leapt high, aiming for the array.
"Saint Angel's Judgment!" the Angel Legion's captain commanded.
The giant golden spear descended, its holy light scorching Soba's skin.
Boom!
The clash shook the earth. Soba's eyes widened in terror.
"Zara!!!"
"Sixth Soul Skill—Bloodthirsty Assault!!"
Zara's short blade glowed with condensed blood energy. In a blur, he didn't strike the angels—he targeted the barrier.
Boom!
A small gap ripped open.
"Perfect."
Without a glance back, Zara bolted through.
"Soba, I'll avenge you someday!!"
"Zara… you traitor!!!"
The golden spear pierced through Soba's chest. Holy light engulfed him, reducing his body to ash.
"Chase!"
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