The Candle That Burns Away Sin

Tell me, are you afraid?

Kang De looked down into Gerard's shocked and terrified eyes, his voice like that of an angry god.

At this moment, power shifted, laws changed, and those who thought themselves superior, above all beings, and manipulating the rules fell into the mire of the Mortal World, burdened with deep sins.

... to face judgment from those Fire Thief.

The dragon's Dragon Might had been suppressing the soul, loosened slightly. Kang De held Gerard's head in his grasp. Shalana's dying face was still vivid in his mind. A simple death sentence was no longer enough to comfort the one who had died in agony.

It is even less sufficient to uphold the divine principle of karmic retribution.

His tone was icy. "Let me hear the sound of your fear."

Gerard finally regained his strength to speak, and he stammered, "Who are you! If I have done anything wrong, I am willing to apologize and make amends! I am a member of the Round Table, I am the messenger of the knights, I..."

"No, that's not it," Kang De said firmly. "We'll talk about it later."

He tightened his grip with his left hand, and Gerard winced in pain, his mouth involuntarily opening wide. His pupils contracted violently, as if he had already realized what was about to happen, and he let out a muffled scream, "NOOOOOO!"

Kang De, holding the spinal sword, slowly but powerfully thrust it down.

From entering the theater to tearing apart Japanese soldiers with bare hands to swallowing swords, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

It happened so fast it was dazzling, and the brain couldn't even process what was happening.

It wasn't until they witnessed the Asian man slowly driving the terrifying spinal sword into Gerard's mouth as he screamed in agony that the upper-class people attending the feast realized... this was no entertainment.

Instead... terror descended.

The witty, elegant, and skillful Gerard, the messenger and guide of the Round Table, the learned high priest, now kneels on the blood-soaked stage. Just minutes before, he was demonstrating the art of pain and despair, using ingenious and masterful methods to execute three Africa slaves, giving them the most magnificent and elegant death, presenting the audience with a superb feast. And now, he has become the subject of this spectacle.

People watched in astonishment as all of this unfolded.

As they watched Gerard kneel on the ground, head tilted back, letting his long spine slowly descend into his esophagus, they saw blood gushing from Gerard's mouth like a fountain. They saw blood seeping from Gerard's hands and feet, yet he remained kneeling motionless on the ground, his hands and feet supporting him as he looked up at the sky.

It's like a sinner repenting for their transgressions and accepting punishment.

It is conceivable that the intense pain and terrifying despair must have made him want to struggle desperately, but the incomprehensible and terrifying power suppressed the instinct of a living being, causing his body to twist, break, and snap under the clash of these two contradictory and intense forces. He could only watch helplessly as all of this happened.

Until the spine is almost completely inside, a finger's length remains outside the mouth.

"Right now, I really want to pull it out with all my might."

Kang De grasped the end of the spinal column. "Is this what you wanted?"

Gerard's eyes were filled with desperate pain and endless pleading.

"A very good look. Have those you've hurt ever looked at you like that? Did you ever show them any pity?" Kang De said calmly. "And what are you hoping for now?"

Gerard's eyes grew increasingly terrified; he couldn't utter a sound, only able to whimper and moan.

"But I am different from you. You have no pity, but I do."

I will heed your pleas and not pull it out.

"You won't die, because this thing isn't a punishment I'm giving you, but rather your..."

Kang De said softly, "The wick."

Paradox Element surged in like a torrent, extending down the spine and penetrating deep into Gerard's body. This was a power Gerard could not comprehend; he could sense those things taking root, spreading, and transforming within him. He could perceive that his body had become different, yet he remained unable to move. The intense pain that tormented him constantly not only did not dissipate but intensified.

He sobbed in anguish, but there was nothing he could do.

Until his body was covered with the corrupting patterns of Paradox Element, and ugly, corrupting substances and distorted keratin continued to grow from all parts of his body, he became a kneeling monster, yet still retained the original outline of a human. This degenerate form made his kneeling posture facing the sky reveal a dark beauty.

Kang De released the handle of the Paradox Element and snapped his fingers lightly.

A spark ignited at the top of Gerard's spine, in his mouth.

"This is the wick; its fuel is the Paradox Element injected into your body."

"Humans can tolerate tiny amounts of this substance to remain safe, but exceeding this concentration will cause them to become corrupted, mutated, and turn into monsters."

"It's like a sin."

"That is your sin, Gerard. You are no longer human; you are a demon in human skin. Sin has accumulated within you, countless sins. You have abandoned your humanity; this is your true nature. Now retribution has come, and you must repay your sins, paying the heaviest price."

"From this day forward, you will become a lamp burning with sin. This Flame will consume the Paradox Element, reducing its concentration within you. When the concentration of the Paradox Element drops to a level that normal humans can tolerate, it will mean that your intolerable sins have been completely burned away, and you will return to a human form. And then..."

Though the flames of evil were small, they overshadowed the brilliant lights of the underground theater, casting the shadows of demons and monsters, and projecting Kang De's figure onto the magnificent walls—a figure both enormous and terrifying.

It's like a messenger of punishment sounding the trumpet of doom.

His voice was deep and thunderous, booming and awe-inspiring, as if it resounded from the heavens.

"--I will allow you to die as a human being."

Endless pain, despair, and terror swept over him. Gerard's body was immobilized, and only the endless pain tormented his clear senses. He knelt on the ground, looking up at Kang De's cold face, feeling a tremendous sense of absurdity and disbelief.

He didn't even know why.

But that doesn't matter anymore.

Kang De turned and, before the candle of atonement, in this stage, altar, and judgment seat, looked at the men and women feasting in celebration.

His eyes burned with fierce flames, Paradox Element transformed into a cloak and hood that flowed and entwined, concealing the face of the great man. The Divine Ring of Stellar Authority radiated intense light, constructing dazzling wings of light behind him. In the void, it seemed as if a dragon was flapping its wings and roaring. The fog of lies dissipated, revealing the source, and sin was everywhere he looked.

"Now, it's your turn."

A terrified scream rang out.

These noble people finally realized their current predicament.

It's not that their reaction time is too slow; it's just that they've been having too much fun all this time. Moreover, their long-term pampered lifestyle and high status have made them lose the ability to deal with unexpected situations.

Just like the nobles who were used to seeing slave gladiators fighting to the death in the arena and hunting wild beasts, when they saw bloodied gladiators appearing before them with swords in hand and revealing bloodthirsty and cruel expressions, they found it hard to understand how lowly slaves dared to defy noble bloodlines.

Now they suddenly realize that they have become the prey.

A word that had been forgotten for a long time, was completely unfamiliar, and had even disappeared from the dictionary surfaced in my mind.

That word is called...

Retribution.

Tables laden with delicacies were overturned in the chaos. Elegant gentlemen pushed aside screaming women blocking their way and fled. Some frantically dialed their cell phones, while others shouted for security.

Many more people screamed and even wept uncontrollably.

They looked no different from the lower classes who had been wantonly tortured and manipulated as playthings and materials; they cried, screamed, and wet their pants just like the others.

Because they know what they have done, they know what they will face.

They always knew.

However, no one has come.

Hearing the screams, security personnel rushed out from behind various doors, raising their submachine guns, but the next moment they were all stunned, because the first thing they saw was the Executioner with its wings spread and its posture like a dragon, a creature straight out of mythology—then, a silver torrent swallowed their vision.

The bloodthirsty swarm, soaked in and fed on the Paradox Element, surged forth, engulfing the tiger's accomplices in a brutal, tearing death. Obeying the commands of their master, they blocked all exits and hunted down those who tried to escape, like Veil slowly falling.

The horde of vibrating, buzzing insects was terrifying, devouring bodyguards and security personnel into piles of bones. The upper-class people who were still feasting excitedly just a moment ago realized that real horror was about to arrive. There was no way to escape, and no one could save them—because the footsteps of the enemy were already approaching.

"Please, forgive me! I'll do anything you ask!"

"I submit to you!"

"I'm very rich! You can have all my money! Don't kill me!"

"I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

Pleading voices rose from all sides as well-dressed people scrambled to their feet, splattered with soup and wine, their elegant hairstyles disheveled, their expensive clothes crumpled. They begged and pleaded, kneeling on the ground, groveling like ants. Kang De surveyed each face with a blank expression.

The projection screen in front of them scans every face. Thanks to the development of the Internet, Horus is conducting rapid facial recognition, and almost all of these people can be found online.

They are all powerful, wealthy, and influential figures, and news about them mainly focuses on their investments, property purchases, social activities, Queen's banquets, and charitable work.

Billionaire, prestigious university president, well-known tycoon.

Everything you could want.

"You..."

Kang De calmly said, "So rich, so happy, born without worries, spending a day's money equals a poor person's lifetime of struggle. Your legal enjoyment is something ordinary people can only dream of in their entire lives... Why? Why are you still not satisfied?"

These words were spoken in Chinese, and the people pleading could not understand them.

Because Kang De didn't need to answer either.

No explanation can absolve them of the sins they committed.

"I won't hang you on a streetlamp just because you're too rich. I have no intention of upholding justice for a hostile country in a faraway land. I don't care how incomplete your revolution is, or how ridiculous your democracy is. There are all sorts of morals, precepts, rules, and laws in this world. I have no interest in being a law enforcer or a god, but there is one thing that everyone on this planet must abide by."

Do not do evil, do not harm others, and do not impose on others what you would not want to suffer.

Kang De's voice echoed throughout the hall and even reverberated in the horse farm.

"Therefore, I appear before you."

"Repent, and then you will atone for your sins. You will enter my domain, and you will go nowhere until your sins are atoned, until the torch is extinguished and the Paradox is resolved."

As if already aware of the impending horrific end, the theater descended into madness, with people screaming and fleeing in terror. Kang De surveyed the fleeing sinners with a cold and resolute expression.

Paradox Element intertwined and flowed in the void, solidifying into a vast and shimmering horn. Kang De suddenly blew it, and anger roared out as the horn's deep roar. The black Phase Gate swung open in response, occupying the entire stage, and the vibrations of the Paradox Engine rumbled closer from another world.

The River of Origin roared and surged, a purple torrent bursting forth. Liquid Paradox Element surged from the Phase Door, spilling onto the ground and flowing in all directions, spreading layer by layer along the steps and slopes, breaking open doorways and spreading throughout the entire secret underground structure of the horse farm.

People screamed and tried to dodge, but the eerie liquid substance had already soaked through their shoes in an instant. They froze, looked down, and screamed in agony as their limbs were gradually covered with purple crystalline substance. The intense pain indicated that a terrible mutation was taking place!

These depraved individuals, burdened with countless sins, were frozen in place, struggling and screaming desperately, but the purple substance spread like vines, gradually covering their bodies, like the hands of the dead, tightly binding and clenching them.

Then, black vortexes unfolded beneath their feet.

These people only had time to let out a scream before they plummeted into the purple fluid, as if dragged into the land of punishment by countless crazed and resentful hands of the dead.

This scene was a thousand times more terrifying than swords and spears, completely shattering the defenses of the others. But even the most piercing screams could not move the heartless Fire Thief; they were unworthy of a single shred of pity.

A torrent of Paradox Element surged forth, spreading to every corner of this hidden stronghold. Kang De stood in the center of the stage, his eyes closed.

His consciousness spread infinitely along with the Paradox Element. With his will, every point of the Paradox Element flow could be anchored to spatial coordinates. Criminals infected with a sufficient concentration were dragged into the White Mist World, one after another. They were already able to survive in that world that obliterated life and isolated vitality.

This is just the beginning.

Until no one in the entire horse farm escaped, the portal closed shut, and Kang De stepped into the White Mist World, a wasteland in West Africa. The sinful people looked at this unfamiliar territory with pain and confusion, struggling, screaming, and pleading.

Horus said slowly, "Father, do they also need candles?"

"No, it's a waste... it can't atone for their sins."

Kang De paused for a moment, then said, "Horus, we polish the fragments of the Starry Firmament Bridge, we create the power core, we search for ways to battery and converge the Paradox Element, we search for materials, we develop crystals, but ultimately, the most suitable carrier for the Paradox Element is..."

His gaze fell upon these non-human beings, imprisoned by the power of time and space.

"Or these lives, burdened with countless crimes and cruelty."

"This is their way of atonement, this is my judgment and verdict, this is the victim's revenge... From this day forward, they will wage war against all injustice and evil."

Kang De turned away indifferently. "Initiate a new project, equip them with heavy armor, high-powered melee weapons, destructive implant modifications... we'll find it useful."

Horus's tone was somewhat unusual, even sighing, "It still came to this."

"Otherwise?" Kang De countered, "How can I cleanse people's hearts of corruption and evil thoughts?"

The Transformers remained silent.

Just then, Kang De heard a series of agonizing screams. Gerard, still pinned to the ground, witnessed everything and let out a series of excited sobs, as if he wanted to say something.

But with a spine inside his mouth, he could no longer say anything.

It's okay, though.

Kang De said calmly, "Speak."

With that sound, Gerard's body writhed, his throat gurgled a few times as if trying to speak, but failed. Then, his shoulder exploded with flesh and blood, turning into a gaping maw, the Paradox Element creature mutated into a vocal organ.

Gerard's terrifying and painful roar rang out from within, filled with agony and anguish.

"Don't want!"

He screamed, "Don't hurt these people! You have no idea how powerful they, their families, and their companies are! If they die here or disappear, the whole of Britain will..."

Kang De sneered, "So what?"

"My God, don't you understand! This will cause a huge upheaval! This is an outright declaration of war! Whether it's Britain or the Round Table! Especially the Round Table! They are our close allies and guests!"

"Yes! The Round Table... the Round Table... the Round Table will know!"

All that he had experienced today, all the despair and pain, only this name could give Gerard a glimmer of hope and courage. "They won't stand idly by, they will respond with war, they will find out who you are, you can't even imagine how vast and ancient its history is..."

Even after witnessing and experiencing everything, Gerard still held boundless faith in the Round Table. He shouted, threatened, pleaded, and negotiated. "We can have a better solution!"

"No, I have the most suitable solution."

Kang De stood tall in this independent dimension that belonged only to him, amidst swirling White Mist, howling skies, and the echoes of time, space, and light. "Let them all come."

"I will destroy them, I will punish them, I will kill them all."

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PS1: Updated!

PS2: Also, there are some things I wanted to say in the previous chapter, but considering everyone's emotional release and catharsis, I'll put them in this chapter instead—In reality, there is no Round Table, no superhumans. After being rescued, the victims worked hard to quit drugs and start new lives, bravely testifying in court, but they didn't join the feminist movement and are still trying to forget the nightmare... Yes, Shalana's story is true.

PS3: I did a lot of research and reading to write this story. The BBC even made a similar documentary a few years ago, telling the desperate story of a United Kingdom girl who was kidnapped on the streets of London... Some things are really hard to imagine happening today.

PS4: Let's end with a number and a record -- In our time, there were at least forty million slaves worldwide, more than at any other time in history.

PS5: I don't know why I'm writing this. I just feel that we have a mission, we are meant to have a mission... One day, one day.