A crimson meteor tore across the sky, trailing blazing fire, dazzling and divine.
The crowd looked up in awe, shouting Kagutsuchi's name, believing it an answer from the gods.
But when the meteor struck—
Even restrained, Zeroy's attack wrought terrible destruction.
In an instant, rioters within dozens of meters were consumed by heat and shockwaves, their flesh bursting apart in scarlet fire, dying before screams could leave their throats.
The square fell silent.
The once-frenzied mob stood frozen. Many hadn't even noticed Zeroy saving the Holy Child from the flames.
Only the hidden agitators went pale, terror flashing in their eyes. They knew things had gone very wrong.
Kisara was still battling waves of rioters, while Rentarō was pinned under furious men, his clothes torn, blood at his lips.
However, they, too, saw Zeroy descending like a goddess, the Holy Child in her arms.
Relief washed over them. Surely now, not only was the Holy Child safe, but this chaos would end.
It was over. All would be well.
Wait—what did she mean by Flames, Reignite? By crimson meteor? By "you die"?
'What—!'
None had imagined Kagutsuchi, the savior who felled the Gastrea, would turn her fury upon humans.
And in such a bloody, terrifying way.
"Why..."
A Pureblood Society officer in the crowd trembled, clutching his Molotov. Sweat soaked his palm.
"Why kill your own followers?"
"Because you're no followers—only maggots cloaking evil in a god's name!"
The voice came right before him.
His vision blurred, and Zeroy was suddenly there.
A crushing force seized his throat, lifting him into the air. He clawed helplessly at her grip.
Then the agony in his gut. Looking down, he saw her fist driven through his abdomen.
She wrenched the Molotov from his hand, shoved it into his belly, and crushed it. Flames consumed him from within, turning his screams into the thrashings of a burning man.
"Lord Kagutsuchi... mercy... I only shouted with the crowd..."
Pleas rose from the mob, yet found no mercy.
"Shouted with the crowd?"
Her voice was cold wind, her killing intent sharp.
Before he finished, her figure flickered, appearing before another.
Her fingers clamped his skull. In his eyes, he saw visions of endless corpses and blood.
His mind froze.
Bang!
His face slammed into the ground, dirt and blood spraying.
"Chanting means nothing. Anyhow, you already booked your place in hell."
Only those who had truly committed unforgivable sins, without regret, could be judged as failing all three measures.
Zeroy hauled his head up, exposing a bloody, dazed face.
"Go."
She smirked coldly and smashed his skull down again.
It cracked like a melon.
"Go to hell. Tell them: don't be pests in your next life!"
On the rooftops, Rentarō struggled free as the rioters pinning him faltered.
He looked up, watching blood spray and screams echo. Those who had beaten him now shrieked in terror, trying to flee—regardless, invisible walls held them in.
"Why... why is Kagutsuchi slaughtering people..."
Rentarō's voice shook, disbelief in his eyes.
Like seeing Superman turn and massacre humanity.
"Because... her cleansing was never only of the Gastrea."
The Holy Child's sorrowful voice answered.
Not sorrow for their deaths; instead, sorrow that there were so many pests.
"Her vision is a better world. Criminals, like the Gastrea, are poison to be purged."
"..."
Rentarō shuddered, staring at the carnage.
One after another, people fell in the most brutal ways.
"We have to stop her... this isn't justice!"
He clenched his fists, hair hiding his face.
"Rentarō! What are you doing?!" Kisara grabbed him.
"Kisara, can't you see? It's a massacre—we have to stop her!"
"Idiot! Didn't you hear the Holy Child? Didn't you hear her? None of them are innocent!"
"Kisara..."
He stared at her in disbelief. She seemed like a stranger, unmoved by the slaughter.
"This killing is cruel, but if they're guilty, then so be it. Don't be stupid."
She explained firmly, trying to convince him.
She had always known his kindness, too much kindness. And she had warned him before.
However, he never listened, never changed. They had quarreled over it, but his gentleness hadn't caused much harm, and her vengeance distracted her.
Now, though, she could not allow his foolishness.
"..."
Rentarō shook her off.
"Rentarō!"
"Even if they're guilty, the law should judge them. Not this inhuman slaughter!"
He turned to leap from the rooftop.
"Rentarō... you fool!"
Kisara drew her blade.
...
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