Kapitel 221: Chapter 221

"Why! Just because of this?"

"They are not even human!"

"My family was taken away by Gastrea creatures!"

"The Cursed Children are just human-looking Gastrea!"

"Why do the gods use these Gastrea to judge our morality?"

"Letting them fight for humanity is just giving them a chance to atone for their sins!"

"You are not an angel! You are a devil!"

Humans around the world were shouting hysterically at Barbatos, their faces twisted with fear and hatred. Fear had gradually consumed their rationality. After all, the gods were planning to destroy the world, and they were a part of it.

Some armed men raised their guns and fired at Barbatos, yelling, "Go to hell, false angel!"

Ratatatatata...

Even the unarmed threw whatever they could—cans, stones—into the sky, aiming at Barbatos. Shouts and curses filled the air, blending into an indistinguishable roar of rage and despair.

However, amidst all this chaos, a few people remained silent. They clasped their hands together and prayed to the gods.

Barbatos remained expressionless. He didn't care about the insults. He continued to address the world.

"I will bestow a mark upon those who are good, and this mark will protect you until the arrival of the new world."

As Barbatos finished speaking, spots of light, like fireflies, began to fall from the blue sky.

The contrast between the beautiful golden light and the loud, abusive crowd venting their rage was striking.

A girl with straight black hair, dressed in a black school uniform, raised her hand. The golden lights fell gently into her palm. As they merged with her body, a wind-element mark appeared on her forehead.

Barbatos had originally intended to mark the ones who were to be eliminated. But according to Lord Tianli's standards, there were far more wicked people than righteous ones—twice as many, in fact. Thus, he opted to simply protect the good.

Tendo Mugen touched her forehead, feeling the mark. She murmured, "I am chosen... Am I truly kind?" She had never harmed the Cursed Children, but she hadn't helped them either. In her eyes, they were still human—infected, yes, but human. She had her own burdens: failing kidneys, her need for vengeance, her daily swordsmanship practice. She had no time, no energy.

"The Creator has destroyed the world before. The Tendo clan will not be chosen. It's a pity I won't get to take my revenge personally," Tendo Mugen whispered with a bitter smile.

She had left the Tendo family with one goal in mind: to exact revenge on those who killed her parents. She had become the "Sword Demon" of the "Tendo-ryu Battōjutsu," hoping to one day kill her enemies.

The golden rain from the sky marked those who were to inherit the new world. Those without marks began to panic.

"Damn it! I don't have a mark! Why? I never harmed the Gastrea! At most, I just asked the police to drive them away!"

"Why should I die? Damn the gods!"

"If I can't live, no one can! Kill all those with marks!"

Barbatos had already said it—only those with marks would survive into the new era. And so, the marked and unmarked instantly became enemies.

The unmarked vented their fear and hatred toward those who bore the divine mark.

In this world, martial training—such as kendo—allowed one to cultivate sword energy, and powerful individuals could slice through walls. When these people went mad, they caused heavy casualties.

Barbatos foresaw this.

A Promoter without a mark fired wildly at a Cursed Child who bore the mark. "It's just a tool, my tool! Why does it get a mark? Die!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The magazine was emptied within seconds, but the bullets couldn't pierce the light shield emitted by the mark. Not even nuclear weapons could harm those protected by Barbatos' divine power.

The rain of light ceased, and chaos erupted.

Cities were filled with riots, arson, shootings—armed thugs wildly gunned down passersby, desperate and enraged. Humanity's dark side was laid bare in the face of imminent doom.

The Holy Emperor looked out at the skyscrapers shrouded in smoke and listened to the chaos—explosions, roars, screams. She glanced at the divine mark on the back of her hand, fear filling her heart. But she knew there was no way to stop what was happening.

Barbatos looked down at the Holy Emperor. "You still have two questions."

The Holy Emperor raised her head and gave a bitter smile. "Lord Angel, my second question concerns a doubt in my heart. Is the Gastrea virus... a test from the Creator?"

Barbatos shook his head. "No, the Gastrea virus was born from human greed. It was created by humanity's own hands.

"The greed for immortality led to the creation of the 'Gastrea Virus,' and eventually, its outbreak.

"Humans destroyed their own civilization."

The Holy Emperor bowed her head. She had suspected this but had never known for certain.

"I have no further questions, Lord Angel," she said.

Around the world, rational people continued to ask Barbatos questions, and he patiently answered each one.

He needed two days. He also needed to accumulate strength. After all, he had expended most of his divine power in covering the world and shielding the marked individuals.

During these two days, he planned to absorb energy from the Teyvat universe to restore his power. He didn't mind answering humanity's questions during this time—one last kindness before their world was irrevocably changed.

The Tokyo area was divided into forty-three wards, each less populous than the last. District Thirty-Nine was on the outskirts, near the enormous stone monument. The war with the Gastrea had left most buildings in ruins, with the sewers the only habitable place.

This was also the area with the highest concentration of Cursed Children in Tokyo.

Takumi walked along the ruined streets, glancing at the prosperous parts of the city engulfed in smoke and flames. He smiled to himself. "Barbatos certainly knows how to handle serious work. Not bad."

He looked down at the manhole cover beneath his feet, squatted, and knocked three times.

Knock, knock, knock.

After a while, the manhole cover slowly lifted, and a young, innocent-looking girl peeked out. She blinked curiously at him and, sensing no ill intent, timidly asked in a sweet voice, "What's the matter?"