Once the countdown reached its conclusion, the angels swiftly seized the purgeable beings assigned to them. In contrast, the purgers opted to cling to the angels they had chosen as a means of free transportation. Antur and Eric, limited by their ranks, didn't know how to fly, while Ainspenser, the highest-ranking purger, possessed the ability but chose to accompany one of the angels as part of the plan. Gaige could also fly, not only due to his second-ranking status but also because he was blessed with divine powers. However, he did not follow or cling to the angels. Instead, he remained grounded while the others ascended into the sky and vanished. He flashed a grin at the rest of his family, who were concealed within their house. They all glared at Gaige with palpable tension, as if awaiting his assurance of their success. Gaige's attempts to decipher their expressions proved fruitless, so he issued a command. "Take care of the kids," he said, and Rowan, Straz, and Howl nodded whil
One of the gravest errors the returnees had committed during the hunt a decade ago was their failure to detect the purger who had been concealing their identity among them. This lapse had resulted in a disastrous outcome, making the returnees determined not to let such deception occur again. Not knowing the whereabouts of their adversaries made the situation even more complex and challenging. Hence, Gaige's family's initial mission was to aid the purgeable beings in identifying the purgers who would be hunting them. Their strategy involved tracking down the returnees who had formed their own group, integrating with them, earning their trust, providing them with magic stones, and confirming their ability to purge the purgers. There was no need to actively engage on the front lines; this was the plan they had formulated, and it was what Phutzafghuerh had expected Gaige to carry out. Regrettably, trouble sought him out. The first person Gaige had tested the magic stone on turned out t
"Why is he so noisy?" Lisa mumbled to herself. She was running along the road, oblivious to the traffic. Patal, running alongside her, decided to snatch her phone away since she seemed too engrossed in it to notice her surroundings. "Hey!" Lisa protested. "Focus on the road," Patal admonished. "I'm running just fine," Lisa retorted. "It would be foolish if something happened because you were distracted," Patal said as he tossed her phone back to her. Lisa managed to catch the phone even as they continued running. She secured it in her pocket and said, "You're annoyed with Phutz too, aren't you?" "I'm not annoyed by him," Patal replied bluntly. "You did seem annoyed, though. Are you jealous that he set the record first?" Lisa teased. She almost hit herself on the street lights because Patal suddenly changed his direction. "Hey, quit being so competitive—you are too old for that." "I am not." "Okay. Okay. Whatever." Even though Lisa is aware of how Patal feels, she still teas
"Oh no! The lady escaped!" the purgers exclaimed with feigned surprise. Despite their loud voices, their lack of concern was evident. They also showed reluctance to immediately pursue Lisa. "Do you think she can evade us?" the purger with the red bow scoffed. He then directed his henchmen to go after Lisa, leaving him to face Patal. "I don't think they can catch her," Patal said confidently. He was sure that Lisa was not in any imminent danger, as she was adept at escaping. As the last ones to become purgeable beings, they had accrued significant experience dealing with situations like this. The returnees and aliens had trained them well. Among their instructions were to avoid engaging in conversation with purgers, not to try comprehending what the purgers said, and instead, to focus solely on escape or elimination. Without hesitation, Patal discarded his empty pistol and withdrew the two concealed weapons he had stashed under his vest. "Oh, not much of a talker, are you?" the pur
Patal managed to escape thanks to Ainspenser's assistance. He headed straight for the roof in search of Lisa but found something else instead. "The real thing is more terrifying," Patal remarked. Survivors among the aliens and returnees who had experienced the hunt a decade ago always recounted their ordeals as if they had been characters in a horror movie. To those who were unaware of the true events, it often seemed like exaggeration. However, as Patal observed the scene before him, he realized that the aliens and returnees had described their experiences with complete accuracy. From his vantage point, Patal witnessed the surge of purgers that the others had mentioned. The purgers emerged from their hiding places in a manner reminiscent of a swarm of ants emerging from a disturbed nest. As the moon bore witness to more bloodshed, the night grew even darker. For everyone involved, it felt as though the real hunt had finally begun. The frightened screams of their prey and explos
After centuries of enduring punishment and exile to Earth as a purger, Andy could barely recall the exact transgression that had led to his punishment. His memories were a jumble, and he wasn't even sure if they had become entangled with fabricated recollections. All he knew was that he had been accused, and the people of Heaven had been too indifferent to verify his innocence. Even though his memories were unclear, Andy could sense the depths of Heaven's disdain for him. After a few centuries of pleading to return to Heaven, he had given up. However, the punishment he endured, though seemingly straightforward, was stifling and tested his patience as the centuries passed. It was the monotony of the same routine day after day that wore on him, making life increasingly dull and tedious. While routine could be beneficial, Andy found that repeating the same tasks day after day, extending over centuries, became excruciatingly monotonous. Andy, a purger assigned to the same purging task f
Andy outstretched his arms and, with a mischievous tone, proclaimed, "Please give me attention." The others present scowled, their expressions souring. One of the administrators retorted, "Attention? You've been seeking that for centuries." Andy snorted, his demeanor casual and smile intact, but his eyes smoldered with anger. "I didn't initially seek it; you people made me this way," he retorted. His words were delivered nonchalantly, but beneath the surface, his fury burned. None of them dignified his statement with a response; the administrator merely gave him a dismissive look. Andy was accustomed to this treatment and was one of the few unafraid to act openly in front of the administrators. Most of those summoned typically fell to their knees immediately. The administrators held a rank close to the highest order. They enforced the laws and meted out penalties for infractions, but without proper evidence, they were powerless to take action. Hence, they couldn't immediately har
Still within Andy's grasp, Patal and Lisa were thrown to the ground when Andy declared his delusional friendship with Gaige. They had not expected to survive, and yet, they were not entirely shocked when they were spared. Relief washed over them at being alive, but it was tinged with anxiety about the reason for their reprieve. They feared that Andy might use them as leverage against Gaige. Escape seemed impossible as they were confined to an unfamiliar, doorless room with no ventilation. The atmosphere inside grew increasingly oppressive as their anxiety mounted. "How can we get out of here?" Lisa asked, her fear palpable. The already eerie and dark room took on an even more ominous aura due to their trepidation. "What a psycho," Patal muttered. He tapped Lisa's thighs in astonishment, pondering how Andy had cleanly severed their legs without causing any pain or bloodshed. "Do you think this is an illusion too?" Patal inquired. Lisa responded by tapping his amputated legs as w