Salvation of the Fallen - Chapter 30
Arsena crawled under the shadow cast by the blue blade and clung to it, whimpering. But all she received in return was Tarta’s cold, red gaze.
“Please end it. So that I won’t commit any more sins. So that the mad god can’t take me away again. Annihilate me. Please, don’t be too late this time.”
Arsena tightly closed her blue eyes and stretched her neck. Suddenly, with a blinding flash, the space shook.
“Tarta.”
At the sudden unfamiliar voice, Arsena lifted her closed eyes. The Seven Blades of God. Those glorious faces recorded in the temple were spreading their vast wings and pointing their swords. Not at her, but at Tarta.
“It’s been a long time, my friend.”
“What’s going on?”
Even at the greeting from his kindred whom he hadn’t met in hundreds of years, Tarta deeply furrowed his brow. There was no reason to be glad to see those who had turned their backs on him, calling him corrupt when he said he would remain in this world. Especially when they were pointing blades at his neck after intruding into the space he had created, interrupting the moment he had waited for the most.
“We’ve come for that thing.”
“What?”
At one of their chin gestures, Tarta raised his straight eyebrow crookedly. The evil that had covered the world. Among them, Saira was the weakest existence. A trivial being that couldn’t do anything alone and only incited the weak hearts of people. He couldn’t understand why they would tear through the space he had created and fearlessly point their swords just to take such a being.
Tarta’s eyes narrowed. Memories flashed through them. The god-like being’s repeated emphasis on the extinction of Saira. The pieces he had dismissed at the time now came together tightly.
“That day, were you the ones who diverted it from me?”
How Arsena, the weakest among the lowly beings, had managed to escape him and hide for so long. The answer to the question he had pondered for hundreds of years was found in an instant.
These were the ones who had urged him to return, saying it was time, even when he was turning the world upside down to find the escaped Arsena. These were the ones who had turned their backs on Tarta, calling him mad when he said he would remain in the world, instead of telling him the truth. Tarta’s red eyes flickered with madness at the deception of his kindred.
“Everything was His will, Tarta.”
Tarta’s lips twisted at the heavy voice filled with belated guilt and regret.
“Was hiding it from me also His will? Since when. Why on earth? Why did He care about such a trivial thing?”
“That thing is dangerous. It’s an evil being that will taint the world with darkness. Tarta. Hand it over. It’s God’s command.”
“Ha! A mere Saira? Stop talking nonsense. And since when did He give me orders?”
Tarta lazily raised the corners of his mouth and burst into laughter. It was a relaxed demeanor unimaginable for someone with seven swords at his throat.
In the beginning. The nine lights that started the world. Among them, the one called God merely sowed the seeds. The one who cultivated life that grew abundantly like weeds. The other eight lights merely followed His will voluntarily. The same was true for Tarta. There was no reason for him to take orders from God.
“Get lost. This is mine.”
“Tarta. You’ve been bewitched by it. That’s why it’s dangerous.”
As Tarta growled, sweeping away the seven swords with a single touch, the Blades of God stepped back. The strongest Blade of God. Thus, one whom even God could not carelessly recall. It was clear that they couldn’t handle him even if they all attacked together.
Watching the situation, Arsena hurriedly crawled on the floor, burrowing through the gap to cling to Tarta’s feet.
“Come to your senses, Tarta. That thing is dangerous. The world’s destruction…”
“Don’t make me say it twice. I said this is mine.”
Tarta spread his snow-white wings, embracing Arsena, who was trembling like a beast. As if he wouldn’t even allow others to look at her.
“Then we have no choice.”
As soon as the words ended, the seven swords were once again pointed at Tarta’s neck. Tarta raised the corner of his mouth as if it were laughable.
“This is the last time, Tarta. Even now…”
Slash.
Before the words could be finished, a white neck was cut by Tarta’s sword tip. Tarta’s face was calm as he beheaded his kindred. Just like when he had punished evil.
“I said it’s mine.”
The Blades of God, hesitating at the sight of the burning red eyes, rushed in at once. Every time the blades clashed, a blinding light burst forth. The sound that shook eardrums was like thunder. Arsena trembled and clung to Tarta even more desperately.
Tarta’s blade showed no mercy. Even if those he was cutting down were his kindred from the beginning of time, now they were merely those who came to take what was his. His unwavering blade took their lives with precision.
“You’ll regret this, Tarta. That thing is a disaster.”
The fight didn’t last long. Finally, the last light faded dimly. Tarta tightly embraced Arsena, who had gone limp within his wings, now dyed red and soaked with the blood of his kindred. Marks were etched like brands, blooming profusely on her pale, almost transparent skin.
It’s mine. My prey that I’ve waited for so long. I couldn’t give it to anyone. Even if they were once my kindred.
Judging Arsena was his role. It should be him who tears that soul to shreds as punishment. Every breath was entirely his. He couldn’t let it be taken away. In his blood-red eyes tainted with madness, a thick possessiveness bloomed chaotically.
Hah…
Tarta exhaled a long, deep sigh. What disturbed his mind wasn’t the heads of his kindred rolling on the floor.
He couldn’t kill Arsena. He, who had never hesitated even once until now. He, who had waited breathlessly for so long to atone for his mistake.
Why on earth? What was so special about this?
“Huk!”
As he brushed back her black hair, Arsena awoke, panting like a bird trapped in his hand. Her whole body was drenched in cold sweat as if she had a nightmare. Hurriedly looking around, she found relief in the scattered heads of the Blades of God on the floor and burrowed back into Tarta’s embrace.
“Thank you. For protecting me.”
At that small whisper, Tarta lost his reason.
He pounced like a beast, thrusting his tongue into her blankly parted lips, chewing on the soft flesh inside taking a deep breath, he swallowed her moist, small lips whole. After tracing her delicate mucous membrane, he was enchanted by the sweet, seductive smell.
Damn it. It didn’t matter anymore. Maybe he was bewitched.
From the moment he first sucked on that unclean flesh. No. Maybe from the moment their eyes first met. He couldn’t even gauge when he had been bewitched by this lowly being.
This sweet scent flowing out. This sweet body. It was certain that it was driving him mad. Not a bit could be taken away. By anyone.
“Ah…”
Swallowing the faint breath that fanned his lust, Tarta filled her with his tongue. If he could, he wanted to thrust himself deeper, to fill her completely with himself.
“Get on all fours.”
“Hmmm.”
A subtle question filled her gaze as she looked at him with dazed eyes. Tarta gritted his teeth.
If that wicked being had bewitched him. If it corrupted him. Even if it dragged him into that deep, dark abyss, he could no longer hold back. He would only intertwine their tongues and flesh, binding them together so she couldn’t escape, falling together. There was no turning back now.
“I said get on all fours so I can thrust into you.”
Along with the sound of grinding teeth, a firm command fell. Though it was Tarta who would violate her, his attitude was as if he was willingly granting Arsena’s request. Confused, Arsena got on all fours on the stone floor and watched Tarta. Like a small, foolish animal looking back at the predator chasing it.
Slap.
Tarta’s thick hand struck Arsena’s b*ttocks. At the burning pain as if hit by a whip, Arsena’s body stiffened in an instant.
“You need to raise your hips if you want me to stuff you.”
