Chapter 274: Holy war 12

Arriving in front of a small hill, the scene that met the Duke's eyes was one of devastation. Fires crackled amidst the rubble, casting eerie shadows over the lifeless bodies strewn about.

Despite the horror before him, the Duke struggled to keep pace with the demonic lady leading the way. She moved with an unsettling swiftness, as if driven by a force beyond mortal comprehension.

With each step, the Duke's breaths grew labored, his muscles protesting the exertion.

Yet, driven by a mixture of fear and determination, he pressed on.

The demonic lady glanced back at him, her eyes betraying a hint of concern.

"Are you sure you don't want me to carry you, Duke?" she inquired, her voice tinged with a strange mixture of compassion and mockery.

The Duke hesitated, briefly considering the offer. The thought of relinquishing control to this otherworldly being was tempting, especially considering the toll the journey had taken on his battered body. However, a sense of pride, coupled with a deep-seated mistrust of the demonic lady, held him back.

"Yes... I'm sure," he replied, his voice strained with effort.

Though it may have seemed foolish to refuse assistance, the Duke couldn't ignore the ominous aura emanating from the demonic lady. Even the briefest contact with her had left him feeling tainted, as if her very presence threatened to consume him from within. Any further intimacy could prove fatal, particularly in his weakened state.

Moreover, there was the matter of honor. As a nobleman, it was his duty to maintain a certain level of dignity and self-reliance, regardless of the circumstances. To be carried by someone of her ilk would be a mark of shame, a concession he was not willing to make, even in the face of adversity.

"Well, if you say so~," the demoness replied with a casual shrug, her crimson eyes flickering with a hidden agenda.

Despite her nonchalant demeanor, she maintained her brisk pace, mindful of the Duke's noble status.

She couldn't afford to let him succumb to exhaustion before presenting him to her lord; his role in their plans was far too crucial.

Surveying the desolate landscape around them, the demoness could sense the impending collapse of the once-mighty empire. It was only a matter of time before the remaining soldiers either surrendered or met their demise at their hands.

With the empire's leadership decimated, including the presumed demise of the Duke, there was little left to challenge their dominance.

As they approached their destination, a massive, ominous-looking birdcage loomed in the distance.

Within its confines awaited a sight that stirred conflicting emotions within the Duke's heart.

"We have much to discuss, Father," Adrian murmured, his voice a chilling whisper that sent a shiver down the Duke's spine. "But first, let us attend to more pressing matters. There is a Light looming on the horizon, and we must be prepared."

Confusion clouded the Duke's mind as he struggled to comprehend Adrian's cryptic words. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice betraying his bewilderment.

Before Adrian could respond, the night sky erupted into a dazzling display of radiant brilliance. Thousands of spears of light rained down upon them, illuminating the darkness with an otherworldly glow. The Duke's breath caught in his throat as he beheld the awe-inspiring sight before him.

Turning back, he saw them – hundreds upon hundreds of angels, their celestial forms glowing with a divine radiance as they brandished their spears and bows, poised to unleash judgment upon them.

Adrian couldn't help but smile, a hunger gleaming in his eyes as he beheld the approaching host of angels. To him, they were not harbingers of salvation, but rather an opportunity for conquest, a chance to claim dominion over the heavens themselves.

"Intriguing, isn't it, Father?" Adrian remarked, his voice tinged with a sinister delight. "It seems our adversaries have finally revealed themselves. How fortunate for us."

Still confused, the Duke stared at the skies, his mind reeling with questions.

Why had these bloody angels chosen this moment to descend upon them, when the battle was already over, when everyone lay dead?

And why were they raining down spears of judgment upon the very humans who had praised and prayed to them?

"I know, it's quite hypocritical, right?" Adrian mused at the Duke's reaction.

"Not only were these fuckers late, they even have the audacity to wipe out anyone who comes in their way... to think that the gods would use these doves just to get away with things they were too afraid to act upon themselves. Don't you think the goddess is quite silent right now, Duke?"

The Duke looked at Adrian in confusion. Wasn't Adrian supposed to be the hero? So why had he turned into that monster just a while ago, and why was he now disgracing the goddess?

"Hahaha, well, even if all of these doves flock like this, they're all just food," Adrian said, his voice tinged with a dark amusement.

As he spoke, dark lightning crackled around his body, wrapping him in an ominous shroud of power.

Suddenly, the oppressive pressure that had weighed down upon them lessened, forcing the white angels in the sky to descend as if gravity itself was pulling them towards the earth.

Dark miasma seeped through the air, suffusing the atmosphere with a malevolent energy as demons gathered around their lord, eager to bask in the power emanating from him.

Finally, a holy war was about to unfold, a clash of celestial and infernal forces that would shake the very foundations of the world.