Chapter 304: The path to heaven
The group of angels had just finished with the monstrous crabs. Their eyes were cold and merciless as they watched the last of the monsters writhe in pain. The glowing orb in the hands of their leader drained the beast’s last bits of life, ripping its soul away.
Suddenly, a frown crossed the angels’ faces as they detected something approaching in the distance.
The branches of the trees rustled, and the leaves shifted. None of the angels appeared alarmed, as their senses had already gauged the newcomer’s strength.
Moments later, a young man stumbled into view, his body covered in dirt, his face a mask of pure fear and panic. When his gaze met the group of angels, his initial reaction was shock and horror, but that quickly shifted to disbelief and joy.
"You... you are angels!" he exclaimed, his expression lighting up with hope and reverence. His entire demeanor changed as if he had just found salvation. He collapsed to the ground as though all his burdens had suddenly been lifted.
The angels exchanged glances, a flash of disdain and disgust flickering in their eyes, though they quickly masked it. Even though their mission wasn’t to rally human forces, they knew how to manipulate human emotions and how to act in their presence.
The angels turned to the young woman holding the orb, silently asking for direction. If it had been up to them, they would have simply killed the human and moved on. But the orb demanded souls, and this one was just another to harvest.
The young woman, Aola, studied the kneeling man. Her eyes glowed with a sharp, probing light as she examined him for any hint of deception. Her energy flared briefly, ready to strike if anything seemed off. However, nothing about the young man seemed out of the ordinary. He was just a wandering Level 6 Warrior with no special bloodline or constitution.
Satisfied, Aola softened her expression and stepped forward with a serene smile. "Yes, young man, we are indeed angels of God. My name is Aola. My forces and I have been sent to this world to free your soul from the suffering of this apocalypse and deliver you to Heaven."
The man’s face lit up further, his expression becoming pure and unrestrained bliss. It was as though he could hardly believe his good fortune. "Will this really be over?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
Aola’s smile widened, though internally, she was filled with contempt. The ease with which this human surrendered his will disgusted her. She was still amazed at the weakness of these mortals, their willingness to relinquish their lives so easily.
Of course, she had never faced their hardships, never known the desperation of surviving the apocalypse. For the people living in this ravaged world, the promise of paradise—of eternal peace and safety—was irresistible. The choice between a life of fear and destruction and the hope of Heaven was no real choice at all.