Even for Apprentice Death Gods, the idea of massacring a million innocent civilians was too heavy, making them hesitant.

Therefore, the council had to expand the scope and let those Low Tier warriors, who were previously beneath notice, take on the role of butchers.

Yet Yang Lie... agreed without hesitation.

For him, as long as they were weaker than him, they weren't worth considering as human.

If they weren't human, then killing however many wasn't a problem.

However, Yang Lie found it odd that for an event involving a million people, the council handled it so hastily. With no investigation, they rushed into organizing a massacre.

This didn't seem like a plague remedy, more like...

Concealing some truth.

Of course, deeper secrets were beyond the grasp of someone like Yang Lie, and he didn't care much.

As long as there were benefits, he was willing to do it.

He and three other Apprentice Death Gods were assigned together. One was a tall, burly man named Hikamu, a Sequence Guard, slightly stronger than him, and another who seemed like a "Commander", was referred to by Hikamu as "Little Idol", whose strength was also remarkable.

As for the last person, it was a figure wearing a black hood, face concealed by thick clothing, making it impossible to identify gender or appearance.

The four of them got along quite well, forming friendships with each other.

Except for the one concealing their identity, who remained silent, not engaging in unnecessary conversation with the three.

Nonetheless, Yang Lie was pleased, having met such powerful figures, which greatly benefitted his future prospects.

After exchanging pleasantries, they headed to Bottom City to begin their mission.

Everything proceeded smoothly; they encountered little resistance whether in killing or arson.

After all, their "opponents" this time were civilians, whose greatest resistance might come from a few band members wielding broken weapons.

The four forged ahead, even hosting a killing competition out of boredom, to see who had the most creative ways to kill.

However, with so much bloodshed, exhaustion inevitably set in.

The other three grew impatient with the slaughter, only Yang Lie remained tireless, viewing this night of killing as indulgence.

The more he killed, the more relaxed he felt, the more joyful he became.

However, the appearance of that "couple" somewhat upset him.

The two didn't fear his threats, facing death with calm acceptance, refusing to abandon their humanity till the end.

In them, Yang Lie saw his former mother and himself.

This made him both angry and somewhat ashamed.

So, he hastily killed them off and left as if fleeing.

Since then, although he managed to connect with high society, receiving handsome rewards, and even becoming a Civil Protection Officer...

Still, from that day forward, a strange "emptiness" inexplicably plagued him.

He couldn't help but ponder a single question.

His mother urged him to climb at all costs, to abandon humanity and become a beast, to grow strong...

But why?

For a full meal? To avoid bullying? But now he could already eat and be clothed warmly, even enjoy luxuries.

He no longer needed to survive like his father.

Was it for finding his mother?

But deep down, he knew the mother he longed for was likely long dead.

So what did his life truly mean? Just simple killing to satisfy his warped desires?

Yang Lie felt this wasn't right at all.

Yet he couldn't articulate why; he couldn't find the answer.

That's why, in his final moments, he asked such a question.

"In this life, what are we truly fighting for?"

To become someone he inwardly never wanted to be, a butcher he once despised, changing his nature amidst blood and fire.

What were his desires, truly?

...

Yun You slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the empty hall, feeling a sudden sense of confusion within her heart.

Who was Yang Lie? Surely a villain of the worst kind.

He deserved to die, killing him was Yun You's just cause.

Yet, even so, she found him somewhat pathetic, trapped his whole life in the chains of his childhood, twisted into a monster by his father's ideals and his mother's final words.

But was it truly just his parents' fault? Yun You didn't think so; the issue ran deeper beneath the surface.

It lay with Nest City itself, even with society as a whole.

Nest City was rotten to its core, its DNA engraved with survival of the fittest, unable to bear much humanity and kindness.

It was the root of all problems.

Realizing this, Yun You remembered Jack's "wish" he shared with her earlier.

"My true ideal, or rather my sister's and mine, is to ensure every child in Nest City has access to education, that every unfortunate sick person can receive medical resources, that everyone can have enough to eat."

"When we've eradicated inequality, cleared all sources of oppression, I believe that the prosperous era that once only existed in our imaginations will finally come."

At first, Yun You felt Jack's wish was too idealistic, impossible to achieve.

But now, she felt there was reason in it.

Nest City indeed needed change...

"Maybe in the future, I'll want to fulfill this dream too."

Yun You shook her head.

Having consumed Ta Sui and Yang Lie, Yun You only felt a surge of power within, which, if slowly digested, would surely elevate her strength to a new level.

But now wasn't the time for slow digestion; she still needed to wrap everything up.

"Ha..."

The girl exhaled deeply, glancing back at the conference hall.

The ground was littered with corpses, rivers of blood flowing, yet she alone stood resolute.

The breeze stroked her blood-soaked long hair, stirring the girl's heart.

Only she understood how much hardship and pain she'd endured along this journey.

But it was all worth it.

At last, she could proudly say in her heart...

"Dad, Mom."

"Don't worry about me anymore; I've succeeded."

"Though it's just the beginning, believe that Ah You can certainly accomplish it."

"Surely can."

The little girl took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the conference hall.

Yang Lie was dead, yet her life had to go on.

...

"Clap—"

But just as the little girl stepped out the door, two familiar figures suddenly appeared before her.

Xie Kang and Aurora...

At this moment, Xie Kang was tightly bound by a steel cable, hands and feet firmly locked, unable to move.

The one holding the other end of the cable was Aurora.

Aurora Miles had brought this culprit here.

She must have guessed Yun You would come here, so she brought Xie Kang along.

"You really did win."

Aurora looked Yun You up and down, not asking much, and directly handed the cable to the girl.

At the same time, she offered her own hands.

"Then let you personally handle this guy."

Aurora said calmly, her pale blue eyes showing no emotion.

"Decide his... and my fate."

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