Chapter 9 – Evolution
The Crimson Devourer’s body continued to transform.
Crimson crystals spread across its chest like molten armor, while its muscles expanded with every passing second. The second eye on its shoulder opened completely, scanning the battlefield with terrifying intelligence.
The pressure alone forced the weaker Abyssal Spawn to kneel.
Boss Evolution Progress
35%
Azrael stared at the progress bar.
"If it reaches one hundred percent..."
Elena finished his sentence.
"We lose."
The three of them rushed forward without another word.
The Crimson Legionnaires immediately moved to intercept them.
Eight soldiers formed a defensive wall around the evolving boss.
They locked their shields together.
A crimson barrier materialized before them.
Elena slashed with her katana.
Clang!
The barrier only rippled.
"It blocked my attack!"
Azrael frowned.
"So we break it."
He raised his sword.
"Oblivion Crescent!"
A crescent-shaped wave of black energy crashed against the barrier.
This time...
Cracks spread across its surface.
The Legionnaires staggered backward.
"It worked!"
Seraphina extended both hands.
"Genesis Growth!"
Massive roots burst from beneath the road.
Instead of attacking the soldiers...
The roots wrapped around the cracked barrier itself.
They expanded rapidly.
The already damaged shield shattered into countless fragments.
"Now!"
Azrael and Elena charged simultaneously.
The first Legionnaire thrust its spear.
Azrael ducked beneath it before driving his sword through the monster’s chest.
Enemy Eliminated
+40 Evolution Points
Elena moved like blue lightning.
Her katana danced through the battlefield.
Within seconds, two more Legionnaires collapsed.
The remaining soldiers refused to retreat.
Even as their allies fell...
They continued protecting the Devourer.
"They’re buying time!"
Azrael shouted.
The boss’s progress climbed again.
Evolution Progress
47%
The Crimson Devourer suddenly lifted one massive hand.
Dark red energy gathered in its palm.
The System immediately warned them.
Warning
Boss Skill
Crimson Gravity
"What does that—"
Before Azrael could finish speaking...
The ground beneath them exploded.
An invisible force slammed onto everyone in the area.
BOOM!
Azrael crashed onto one knee.
His sword struck the pavement.
He couldn’t lift it.
It felt as though an entire mountain had been placed on his shoulders.
Seraphina fell to the ground.
Even Elena struggled to breathe.
The surrounding cars were flattened instantly.
Streetlights bent until they snapped.
The Devourer laughed.
Its deep voice echoed across the city.
"Pathetic..."
"You cannot challenge..."
"The King’s Army."
Azrael gritted his teeth.
His muscles trembled violently.
Move.
He had to move.
The System suddenly chimed.
Passive Skill Triggered
Indomitable Will
You refuse to kneel before superior beings.
Strength temporarily increased by 20%.
The pressure lessened slightly.
Azrael slowly stood.
The Devourer’s eyes widened.
"You..."
"...can still stand?"
Azrael smiled.
"You talk too much."
He pushed forward step by step.
Each movement felt like lifting a mountain.
The distance slowly closed.
Twenty meters.
Fifteen.
Ten.
The Devourer roared and slammed its fist downward.
Azrael rolled aside.
The impact left a crater several meters wide.
He immediately counterattacked.
"Oblivion Crescent!"
The black slash struck the monster’s arm.
The crystal armor cracked.
A shallow wound appeared.
Boss HP
2,500
↓
2,320
"It actually damaged it!"
The Devourer’s expression twisted in anger.
Before it could retaliate...
Golden light enveloped Azrael.
Seraphina had managed to stand.
"Genesis Blessing!"
The gravity pressing against him weakened further.
Azrael felt his body become lighter.
He charged again.
Meanwhile, Elena fought the remaining Legionnaires alone.
Blue flashes filled the battlefield as her katana struck repeatedly.
She defeated another soldier.
Then another.
But she was slowing down.
Blood dripped from several wounds across her arms.
"I can’t..."
"...keep this up."
Suddenly—
A Legionnaire slipped past her defense.
Its spear shot toward her chest.
She couldn’t dodge.
At the last second...
A vine wrapped around the monster’s leg.
Its attack missed by mere centimeters.
Seraphina smiled weakly.
"I’ve got you."
"Thanks."
The two exchanged a determined nod.
They had become a team.
The Crimson Devourer’s evolution continued.
Evolution Progress
68%
"No..."
Azrael frowned.
"We’re running out of time."
The System suddenly displayed another notification.
Level Up Available
Current Evolution Points:
1,020
Would you like to level up?
Azrael blinked.
"I can level manually?"
Without hesitation—
"Yes."
Warm energy surged through his body.
Level Up!
Level 2
↓
Level 3
Choose Two Attributes
+5 Strength
+5 Agility
Azrael invested everything immediately.
His muscles surged with newfound power.
He grinned.
"That feels..."
"...amazing."
Seraphina also leveled up.
She placed all her points into Spirit and Vitality.
Her healing aura became noticeably brighter.
The Devourer noticed the change.
"You..."
"...grow stronger..."
"...during battle?"
The System answered in their place.
Synchronization Increased
Azrael
3%
↓
5%
Seraphina
3%
↓
5%
The twins looked at each other.
Their halos briefly flickered into existence once more.
Not fully.
Only for an instant.
Tiny black and white feathers drifted around them before disappearing.
Elena stared in disbelief.
"Did..."
"Were those..."
"Wings?"
Azrael looked over his shoulder.
The feathers had vanished.
"What was that?"
Neither twin knew.
But the System did.
Evolution Milestone Reached
Hosts have entered the path of Angelic Evolution.
Current Stage:
Mortal
Next Stage:
Halo Bearer
Progress:
5%
Azrael smiled.
"So..."
"We’re finally getting somewhere."
The Crimson Devourer roared furiously.
It could sense their growth.
For the first time since the battle began...
It abandoned its evolution.
The progress bar stopped.
Boss Evolution
72%
Paused
Instead of waiting to become stronger...
The Devourer chose to kill them first.
It tore a massive chunk of concrete from the road and hurled it toward the mall.
The survivors screamed.
If it landed...
Everyone inside would die.
Seraphina’s eyes widened.
"Azrael!"
He didn’t hesitate.
His sword erupted with black energy.
He leaped into the air.
"Oblivion..."
Every ounce of power flowed into the blade.
"...Crescent!"
A massive arc of darkness split the flying concrete in half.
The two pieces crashed harmlessly to either side of the mall.
The survivors erupted into cheers.
The Devourer’s smile disappeared.
Its two crimson eyes narrowed.
Then...
It laughed.
A low, unsettling laugh.
"So..."
"It seems..."
"The King was right."
It slowly pointed at Azrael and Seraphina.
"You two..."
"...must never become angels."
The battlefield fell silent.
Even the Legionnaires stopped moving.
The twins looked at one another.
The monsters already knew what they were destined to become.
Which meant only one thing.
Somewhere out there...
There were enemies who knew far more about the Celestial Evolution System than they did.
And those enemies had already marked them for death.