Death Heir's Devouring System
Chapter 30: Salvation by Force

Chapter 30: Salvation by Force

Due to the exhaustion in his body, his strike traveled much slower than normal. There was a limit to how far one could push themselves before their body began to break down, and Azrael was nearing that limit.

A flicker of amusement passed over Seraphina’s face as she raised her glowing sword, interrupting his attack.

A shockwave traveled from his arms through his body, causing his bones to feel like they were about to break apart. He was forced to take a step back, trying to find another approach.

’To think that our powers are so far apart.’

Contrary to expectations, Seraphina didn’t strike back. Her gaze remained cold, studying him. Her lips parted, about to speak, but a sound behind her interrupted. The Tainted monster that she had been dueling all this time roared, its only arm heading for her heart.

She remained unfazed as she felt the attack coming. With a graceful motion she evaded the monster’s blow, simultaneously her sword passed through the air in an upward arc cutting off the abomination’s arm.

Under normal circumstances the monster with now two missing hands should have shown even the faintest hint of fear... and yet even now, in the face of certain death, the menacing smile remained unbroken on its face. It was quite eerie how these creatures, no matter what, didn’t fear death even when it practically stared down at them.

Once the severed arm hit the ground, the soil beneath it withered, losing the last traces of fertility it had clung to despite the damning cold. This was a known phenomenon, a result of the overwhelming Corruption saturating the abomination’s body. The greater the Corruption, the greater the threat it posed to the world.

Seraphina’s striking eyes narrowed momentarily.

’It was a somewhat good sparring partner, I suppose,’

Upon her command, the flames that had been slowly consuming the creature’s legs climbed upwards, engulfing its whole figure. Since it didn’t have eyes or ears, it was using some other method to perceive the world. Unfortunately for it, Seraphina’s flames had been enough to block all of its senses, reducing it to a simple torch that burned, waiting for its death.

The death of the Tainted monster had come swiftly... yet Azrael was faster.

His scythe had already crossed halfway the distance to severing Seraphina’s neck.

A momentary surprise passed over her face before taking a calculated step narrowly avoiding the strike.

’My advantage... it’s gone,’ Azrael thought bitterly. No matter how one looked at the situation he was pretty much screwed. But that didn’t mean he would give up, he would either kill that so-called angel or die trying to do so.

Gritting his teeth, he let the next strike roll from the end of the first.

The deadly scythe loomed overhead, threatening to pierce Seraphina’s head, the blood on its blade fell down on her pristine armor.

It was subtle, yet Azrael caught it. The moment the drops of blood landed on her crimson attire, they dispersed. For whatever reason they had been absorbed.

’Of course,’ his eyes narrowed in realization. ’Why didn’t I think of that? She would not only have strength, skills and weapons but armor as well. On top of it, her armor seems to have some kind of passive skill: absorbing blood.’

Now it made sense why she and Isolde had managed to look so spotless in the middle of a battlefield writhed with blood.

He didn’t have much time to spend on that revelation, however, as Seraphina raised her arm stopping his strike. An echo resonated in the area. And her eyes squinted from the surprising power Azrael still had in him. However, the fact remained she had caught his weapon classified at the Blessed Rank with her hand.

’Armor of the Cleansed Rank at least. Things are going from worse to a disaster. I should have never gotten greedy and approached the Rift in the first place.’

His mind worked, searching for a way out, no matter how he looked at things he was outmatched. Would he be able to escape? No—even if he did, he would have to kill close to a hundred Chosen while avoiding every monster in sight to not let the Corruption overtake his mind.

For a brief moment, his eyes caught Victor. The man’s skin was hidden beneath hardened blood, yet he wore a massive grin on his face. One foot had crushed a monster’s skull, his left hand held another at bay, and his right hand was about to cleave a third monster in half.

’The fool is in his own world,’ Azrael realized there was no way his companion would be able to help him right now.

Just when all hope seemed lost, Azrael heard the roars of the Cryothanes that he had evaded racing towards Seraphina. This was his last hope, he would let them be a distraction and inflict a wound on Seraphina’s head. Since that was the only part not protected by her armor.

The plan to use them as a distraction had fallen apart before it could even start. The cold winds in the vicinity suddenly ceased, replaced by a chilling stillness that ran down his spine.

The Cryothanes that had been charging toward him froze mid-stride, even those locked in battle with Victor.

Their bodies twisted unnaturally, as agonized cries escaped their maws before they erupted, flesh and gore scattering in every direction.

A subtle smile appeared on Seraphina’s beautiful face as she let go of Azrael’s scythe.

"Good work, Isolde,"

’Huh?’ Azrael blinked, stunned. He followed her gaze.

There the silent girl stood, blind eyes still locked onto the now calm battlefield. She didn’t seem to acknowledge her companion’s words as she simply sat on the ground as if awaiting something. She looked so frail... and yet, she had brought down every Twisted monster in the area without lifting a finger. He recalled Victor’s words: that she could wipe the floor with all of them without so much as lifting a finger. At the time he thought it had been a joke.

Now, it didn’t seem like one at all.

’Monsters, plain and simple.’

Now the idea of killing the so-called angels seemed ridiculous. He knew that the heirs of the great clans would be strong. But he hadn’t been prepared for the gap between them to be so vast.

"Hmm~ that is strange. You still seem... sane," Seraphina mused.

He was caught off guard by her words.

Taking a cautious step back, he raised his weapon in a defensive stance.

’I tried to kill her out of nowhere, and instead of retaliating... she’s speaking to me?’

Could it be that he was the sane one and everyone else was mad?

Seeing the confusion on his face, Seraphina let out a sigh and stepped forward. Before he could strike, she took a firm grip of his weapon, the gauntlet on her hands protected her skin without a problem.

Getting ready to be struck, Azrael braced himself—only to be left confused as Seraphina gently placed her hand on his chest

"This is for your own benefit,"

Then his chest began to glow, as did her arm. A subtle light flowed from his body into her palm.

The process lasted barely a second. Then, it stopped. She let go, stepping back in silence.

Blinking in disbelief, Azrael examined himself, searching for any newly inflicted injuries. The countless ones he had accumulated were still there, but no new ones had appeared.

’What did she do?’ he thought, alarmed, glancing at her.

For the first time, her composure faltered. She stared at him, clearly confused.

Not thinking much of her reaction, he glanced around. The world didn’t seem so blurry anymore. His mind, once clouded by haze, felt much clearer.

’Why do I feel... calmer?’ he thought puzzled, eyeing his Corruption Progression.

Corruption Progression: [0/100]

His eyes widened, shoulders lowering as if a burden had slipped away. The haze had vanished along with the rage. He looked at her, not with hate, but with something else: confusion, clarity and caution.

’What the hell... did she just do to me?’