The three gang leaders weren't delusional. They knew perfectly well that the true rulers of the city were the Lord and the military.

But since they were in the outer region, they had been allowed to run amok as they saw fit. It wasn't an official agreement; they just knew that as long as they didn't bother the military, they would be left alone.

This was why they were bewildered to see Michael's real realm. In a flash it all made sense: he was that powerful because he was part of the mighty army.

But then that raised the question: why had the military gotten involved with their business? They hadn't provoked them first.

"W—What is the meaning of this? Why is a member of the army here?" The Green Eagles' leader stuttered. Every trace of arrogance was now gone from her tone, and subconsciously she began to move backwards.

"Army?" Michael arched an eyebrow. "They have nothing to do with this. I am here because you have angered me."

"R—Reconsider!" The boss of the Red Tigers knew how dangerous Michael was simply by looking at his soul weapon.

"I—If we have done something to offend you, please forgive us!"

Tilting his head to the side, a smile that lacked its usual warmth spread across Michael's face.

"'Forgiveness'?" He chuckled darkly.

"Sure, you can ask it from the tens of thousands of children that have perished from starvation as a side result of your leadership."

Feeling goosebumps rise on his back, the leader of the Black Bears bared his weapon outright.

"GUARDS!"

He was the only one who managed to keep his cool after feeling Michael's cultivation up close. Knowing that there was no changing his mind, the best thing was to gang up on him.

"He is just one man! He can't deal with us alone!"

In response, Michael's eyes burned crimson.

[Berserker activated]

[Dash activated]

"I wonder if that is true?"

Boom!

Instantly chaos erupted. The onlookers of the arena began to scream in panic. Abandoning everything, they sprang to the exits.

At the same time the goons, part of the gangs, hurried to aid their leaders. Yet they appeared to be too slow; with the leaders being too close to Michael, he had a few seconds alone with them.

"Come! All of you that have partaken in the extortion of innocent civilians are to be judged!" Michael proclaimed.

'Human blood!' Devil's Tongue remarked in joy once tasting the liquid.

'It has been so long since I tasted it! Make me bathe in it! Don't stop until everybody is dead!'

While the place descended into a chaotic mess, the only one that remained frozen on her seat was Ava. Originally she had planned to jump to Michael's assistance.

Yet the sight in front of her shocked her; Michael butchered humans with a proficiency she had never seen before. Rather than choosing to die protecting humanity, these people charged him trying to keep their privileged lives, knowing how much suffering they were creating as a side result.

'How is this possible? He doesn't waver in front of so many humans? It's like he doesn't even register them as his own kin but aliens instead.' She thought.

Truthfully, she had been nervous all this time. Would she be able to kill a human with her own hands? Not just one but many. Even knowing all the horrible crimes they had committed, extorting children and abusing women, she wasn't sure if she would remain the same if she ended the lives of so many.

'I am terrible.' She bit her lower lip in frustration, looking at her feet. 'I feel glad that I don't have to join the battle. I feel relieved that I can leave it up to him, while I don't even have to lift a finger.'

"Even after promising myself that I will not hold him back, I am too scared to act." She mumbled.

Unsure what to do, she remained stuck in a dilemma. Too scared to take action.

She remained frozen in that state until a familiar voice drifted in her ears.

"Are you okay? You are bleeding…"

Raising her head, she saw Michael kneeling before her. He had taken a small napkin and used it to dry her lips.

"Didn't you promise me that you would take better care of yourself?" He asked with his usual warm smile.

"I—I am sorry... Even after all my big talk, my brain froze when I saw you kill humans so casually..."

Before she could continue, he patted her on the head.

"Remember, I came here to deal with this myself. I never asked you for help, so it's natural you will not interfere."

Ava's eyes turned moist; embracing him in a hug, she buried her face in his chest before crying. "I am sorry for being so useless!"

Even now she felt reluctant to glance at the carnage Michael had left behind.

That was in truth not a flaw of her character but by design. With humanity facing the threat of alien invaders, the most vital lesson that had been entrenched into the heads of every soldier that didn't grow up in an influenced faction was to protect their kin.

Disdain was fine, hate was fine, cruelty was fine. But never kill another human without a trial, unless absolutely necessary. It would be better if they perished fighting against the aliens instead.

'She is certainly doing better than me in my past life.' He thought inwardly while still comforting her.

Allowing Ava to come with him held a strategic reason. He had to plant a seed in her mind that not every lesson taught in the military was for the greater benefit of the human race. When the time came, one had to get their hands dirty if they wanted to make a significant change.

'Becoming witness to humans being butchered is vastly different than seeing them die against the alien invaders… But some would only hold us back from advancing forward.'

He could only sigh. If he had realized this truth sooner. Maybe he wouldn't have become a witness to the extinction of the human race.

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