Twisted Truth

When Gabriel woke up again, it was already late at night.

Without the support of divine power, she had never felt so vulnerable and powerless. Right now, she was like a little girl, no longer possessing that great strength or the divine power she once had. Everything had left her, even her wings.

Almost all of her white feathers had fallen out, and her once beautiful, pure wings were now bare and fleshy. Gabriel felt that with all this, her original resolve was crumbling. She was now afraid to go out, afraid to look at anything around her, even though Catherine visited her every day, hoping to get some instructions from her as before. But Gabriel was already in a state of utter confusion; how could she give instructions or lead others? She could only lock herself in this small room, letting sadness and loss engulf her, powerless to resist what was happening.

Great God... please tell me, what should I do?

Gabriel's right hand trembled as she reached out to the idol before her, as if yearning for salvation, but then it fell limply to her side—days without food or water had pushed her body to its limits. If this continued, Gabriel had no doubt that she would very well die... And then what? Where would she go? Would she, like the other holy spirits, return to the side of her beloved god? Or would she go to Hell to become food for the devils?

Every time she thought of this, Gabriel felt a surge of fear and trembling. As an archangel, before being sent down by the God of Justice, she had been in charge of the Celestial Army's operations on the front lines against Hell. She knew all too well how cunning and cruel those demons were. Because of this, the thought of possibly suffering the same fate filled Gabriel with an overwhelming, deep-seated fear. But what could she do now? The great god had abandoned her, and she saw no hope or light before her. Was this the punishment the great God of Justice was inflicting upon her? Was she to die in fear and trembling as punishment for her mistakes?

But... but...

A faint voice emerged from the depths of the archangel's soul, almost inaudible.

Then Gabriel closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

That's why she didn't notice that her locked door had been opened silently.

"It seems she has finally reached her limit."

Catherine entered the room, closed the door, and glanced at Gabriel, who was huddled in the corner, giving him a disdainful sneer.

"See? This is what happens to a dog abandoned by its owner, Nalu."

"Indeed, Your Highness Catherine."

The priestess, dressed in a completely different black robe than before, gazed at the angel who had once been her master with a complex yet joyful expression.

"It's wrong to be inflexible; you have to learn to find a master you should obey, instead of just waiting to be adopted..."

As she spoke, Catherine reached out and lifted Gabriel's body.

"Look at this ugly posture! Nalu, can you believe it? She still holds faith in that great God of Justice."

"I believe you, Your Highness Catherine."

Upon hearing the words "God of Justice," a flash of hatred and disdain appeared in Nalu's eyes.

"I must have been seduced by that evil thing to believe everything it said, and now I know that it's not something I should dedicate my life to."

"That's right."

Hearing Nalu's answer, Catherine nodded in satisfaction and reached out to gently stroke Nalu's cheek.

"Then tell me, who should we be loyal to?"

"He is the great... the only... Arcane Mage in the world..."

"Very good."

Catherine's lips curled up into a slight smile.

"So, what should we do for our great, one and only master?"

"We should... we should kill all these stupid and inferior humans here, and use their corpses to express our loyalty and love to our master! Only by killing these inferior beings can our great master build a better world!"

Nalu's face flushed slightly with excitement, and her eyes shone even brighter.

"These murderers who slaughtered our master's people must receive justice in blood; they must all fall in pools of blood, their corpses expressing their repentance and humility to our great and only master!"

"Well said, Nalu."

As she spoke, Catherine lowered her head and kissed the priestess's lips, and Nalu responded passionately, his expression growing increasingly excited.

"Your Highness Catherine, I... I..."

I know you're anxious...

Catherine smiled and reached out a hand to silence Nalu's lips.

"But we have more important things to do, don't we?"

"Yes... Lady Catherine."

Looking at the archangel in Catherine's arms, Nalu also showed an expectant expression.

"So, Lady Catherine, how will you train this archangel into a loyal and obedient bitch?"

"Of course I have my own way."

Even as she uttered those words, Catherine's smile remained pure and serene.

She seemed like a saint who would save the world.

When Gabriel woke up again, what she saw was no longer the cold, dark room, but a clean and comfortable bed filled with sunshine and vitality.

"What am I doing...?"

"You have been unconscious for a long time, Lord Gabriel."

Catherine's gentle voice rang in Gabriel's ears, startling her so much that she quickly turned around.

"Miss Catherine?"

It was only then that Gabriel realized she was not wearing any clothes. Her delicate, slender body was exposed naked to the sunlight, which made Gabriel blush slightly. She hurriedly pulled up the sheet in her hand, barely managing to cover her body.

"I..."

"I never expected to see such a shy side of you, Lord Gabriel. It truly surprises me."

Sitting by the bed, Catherine smiled as always, unchanged, still as gentle and considerate as ever.

"However, your wings..."

Hearing this, Gabriel's heart sank. She pulled the sheet wrapped around her tighter, as if that would conceal everything. Although Catherine didn't ask any further questions, Gabriel knew that this was no longer a secret. At this moment, she was completely affected by the blow of being abandoned by the gods and was completely unaware of anything unusual. Similarly, Gabriel didn't notice that an evil shadow was slowly approaching her.

"I..."

Gabriel opened her mouth, then closed it again. She didn't know what to say, how to say it, or what the consequences would be. She had once been an archangel, a symbol of the Temple! And now, she had been abandoned by the gods! And how would Catherine react to this news? Would she despise her? Leave her? Or abandon her?

"I have already..."

Finally, Gabriel gritted his teeth.

"I am... no longer the Archangel... because of my previous failures. The great God has abandoned me..."

As she spoke, Gabriel lowered her head, curling her body into a tight ball. Even the archangel who once commanded angels was now nothing more than a mortal after being stripped of his divine power. His once strong heart had long been riddled with wounds from previous disappointments and tribulations. However, Gabriel did not encounter the scolding and anger she had expected. Instead, she felt a warm embrace enveloping her. When she looked up in surprise, she found Catherine gently embracing her, like a loving mother comforting her grieving daughter.

"Don't be so sad, Miss Gabriel."

When Gabriel said those words, he didn't feel anything special, but as Catherine continued, he immediately realized something was amiss.

"But isn't that a good thing?"

"Good news?"

Gabriel felt his mind go blank. A good thing? Why would this be a good thing?

"Because..."

As she spoke, Catherine released Gabriel and looked at her with a smile.

"That way, you'll see what that bastard really is, won't you?"

"Miss Catherine?!"

If Gabriel was merely puzzled before, she was now practically jumping for joy.

"What are you saying? How can you blaspheme like this! Do you even know what you're saying?!"

"Of course I know, Miss Gabriel!"

Compared to the Archangel's panic, Catherine was noticeably calmer.

"But I don't understand why you're so angry?"

"Why? I..."

"You are no longer an angel under the God of Justice, are you?"

Before Gabriel could even speak, Catherine's words left her frozen in place.

"That bastard has already abandoned you, so why are you still speaking up for him? Archangel? Or rather, the former Archangel? You've done so much for him, but look closely now, what has he done? He abandoned you and took back your divine power. Since he's treated you like this, why are you still protecting him?"

"That's because it was my mistake..."

"Was it really your fault?"

Catherine interrupted Gabriel's explanation once again, and her words silenced Gabriel, who was about to argue.

Indeed, this is precisely what Gabriel has been pondering, yet has never dared to admit.

Was it really my fault?

Initially, she wasn't the one who proposed this plan; she herself wanted to stop this reckless strategy. But the other party was an emissary personally sent by the God of Justice, so how could she disobey his orders? But what did she gain in the end? She actually joined forces with an evil and chaotic being to fight the enemy? Why would the God of Justice do this? Doesn't he know that he is the one who upholds order and goodness the most? Why? Why does he test her like this? Does the God of Justice truly believe that an angel and a chaotic Godspawn can fight side by side?

All of this is the fault of the God of Justice.

It was he who sent that person down, it was he who commanded me to obey and not disobey, it was everything he did that led to this failure! It all stemmed from the foolishness of the God of Justice; I did absolutely nothing wrong, so why am I the one who should be punished in the end?!

This was exactly what Gabriel was thinking, but out of respect for the authority of the God of Justice, she dared not actually think it, and could only suppress it in her heart. But now, under Catherine's temptation, her previously suppressed heart began to stir.

"I... Miss Catherine, you are a saint serving the God of Justice, you mustn't say such things anymore!"

"I have absolutely nothing to do with that boring bastard!"

Upon hearing this, Catherine suddenly stood up, her sharp gaze startling Gabriel.

"The God of Justice? That idiot? How could I have been so foolish as to believe in such a despicable thing? But luckily, I've seen through his true colors, Miss Gabriel. Now, I'm no longer a believer in the God of Justice."

As Catherine spoke, a pair of pure white wings slowly unfurled from behind her, then transformed into jet black.

She actually fell into depravity?!

If this fact shocked Gabriel, then what happened next left her completely speechless.

In addition to the pair of jet-black wings, another pair of wings appeared, but unlike the previous ones, these wings did not emanate a holy or evil power, but rather a dazzling, magical light.

"This, this is..."

"I have found something that I would give my life, my soul, and everything else for, Lord Gabriel."

Catherine looked down at the archangel, her eyes revealing an unmistakable smugness.

"That is His Majesty the Great Arcane Mage, the only being to whom I will dedicate my life. This time, it is a decision I made through my own will, not by listening to the brainwashing of those old idiots in the Temple."

"Miss Catherine, you..."

Gabriel felt her mind was completely overwhelmed. Arcane Mage? The representative of the God of Justice on the Prime Material Plane had already become a slave to Arcane Mage? She instinctively reached for her side, but found nothing.

"If you're looking for those two counterfeit props, I suggest you save your energy, Archangel."

Watching Gabriel's actions, Catherine's lips curled slightly.

"Those are nothing but forgeries created by that foolish, cowardly, despicable wretch who plagiarized the creations of our great master. You don't really think you can defeat me with such trash, do you? Besides, now that you've lost your divine power, what right do you have to use the weapons made by that cowardly god?"

"... What... what do you want to do...?"

Gabriel took two steps back uneasily, watching Catherine.

"It's very simple."

Catherine smiled in response to Gabriel's question.

"For our master, the more servants the better, isn't it, Miss Gabriel? Why not join us and serve the great Arcane Mage? I believe His Majesty the Arcane Mage will certainly accept you."

"I refuse! I will never associate with an evil sorcerer!"

Perhaps it was because he heard the words "Arcane Mage" that Gabriel immediately straightened up, and his previously confused eyes became much clearer.

"Even though I have lost the divine calling, I could never stoop to your level and sink into the mire of evil! You will not succeed!"

"What a pity, we knew you would say that."

Catherine shook her head, while Gabriel frowned in confusion.

"Us? Catherine, you..."

"Oh, right, I forgot to introduce someone to you."

As Catherine spoke, she reached into her robes and pulled out a pendant. Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise the moment he saw it, and what happened next left the archangel in disbelief.

As Catherine chanted, the figure of Nalu appeared. She still held the holy book in her hands, but the difference was that her once pure and beautiful sacred robe had turned jet black, clinging tightly to her body and outlining the girl's beautiful figure. It looked as if she was actively seducing someone.

"Nalu? What happened to you? How could you become like this?! Wake up! You are a weapon created by the God of Justice himself!"

"I'm awake, Lord Gabriel. So far, you're the only one still lost in the dream."

Nalu responded to Gabriel's words with a clear and unquestionable tone, then looked at Catherine with a lewd smile. Seeing this, Gabriel couldn't help but shudder. She realized that the Weapon Spirit before her had completely changed; she was no longer the person she once knew, but something else entirely. For the first time, Gabriel felt so helpless and vulnerable. She wanted to do something, but she could do nothing.

"Then, Your Highness Catherine, we..."

"That's true..."

Catherine smiled and turned her head.

"This is a generous gift prepared for our master, so naturally we must give it a good and careful training, won't we?"