All the black-robed men knew that Eugene's choice was their only path to survival, and they had no other option.
One by one, the black-robed figures fell to their knees, following Eugene's lead, desperately kowtow toward Father Raphael.
Each of them frantically kowtow, their foreheads hitting the ground with force.
Blood soon seeped from their heads, pooling on the ground, creating a horrifying scene of crimson stains.
"Father, forgive us! We were wrong! Please, spare our lives!"
They cried out in unison, their voices filled with terror and regret, as if they could already see death's shadow looming over them.
Their desperate pleas and the sound of their heads hitting the ground blended with Eugene's own cries, creating a symphony of despair.
Meanwhile, the patrol had arrived.
More and more influential figures gathered at the scene.
Though they were unable to pass through the mysterious barrier, they could clearly see and hear everything happening within.
Seeing the spectacle unfold, their faces were etched with shock.
All they could do was stand there, watching the drama they couldn't intervene in, their hearts filled with confusion and tension.
Father Raphael stood quietly, his gaze serene as he watched the black-robed men kneel and beg for their lives.
His expression remained calm, hands clasped behind his back, showing neither mercy nor anger.
He didn't respond immediately, nor did he take any action, as if waiting for something.
The faint holy glow still surrounded him.
The oppressive air remained unchanged, suffocating in its intensity.
"Do you think they deserve to die?"
Father Raphael turned his head and asked Borne in a calm voice.
Though his words were soft, they echoed through the barrier like a hammer striking Eugene and his companions' hearts.
Eugene and the black-robed men immediately realized that their fate no longer rested in Father Raphael's hands, but in those of the young man they had previously overlooked.
In desperation, they turned their tearful eyes toward Borne, kowtow even more furiously.
Their foreheads slammed into the ground repeatedly, blood streaming down as their pleas grew more frantic and filled with terror.
"Sir! Spare us! We were wrong! Please forgive us, we don't want to die!"
Their desperate cries echoed within the barrier, each word saturated with fear, and those outside the barrier could hear everything as clearly as the air they breathed.
Eugene, once so arrogant and ruthless, now had nothing left but fear and hopeless supplication on his face.
He was doing everything in his power to appeal to Borne, hoping that this young man would save them from death.
Borne, however, stood there in stunned silence, utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
He had never expected Father Raphael to pose such a question, nor did he anticipate being thrust into the position of deciding their fate.
He froze, unsure of how to respond.
Having never experienced such a situation, Borne's heart raced, filled with confusion and uncertainty.
"Father… I… I don't know what to do," Borne whispered, his voice trembling.
It was clear that he was overwhelmed by the unexpected responsibility placed upon him.
Father Raphael smiled gently at Borne, his eyes reflecting a calmness that seemed to penetrate deep into Borne's soul, as though this were a test of his heart.
"Their fate is in your hands, child.
You can choose to forgive, or you can choose to punish."
Father Raphael's tone was soft and encouraging, yet it carried a weight that pressed upon Borne's very core.
Borne's breath quickened, his heart pounding in his chest, as all eyes fixated on him.
Eugene and his companions knelt before him, their faces contorted with fear and despair, desperately seeking forgiveness.
And yet, Father Raphael's serene smile only made the decision feel heavier.
Looking into Eugene's eyes, Borne saw the raw terror reflected back at him, and his own heart wavered, torn between mercy and justice.
Borne had never faced such a difficult choice before. His heart was torn between sympathy and anger.
These people, who had once tried to destroy everything, were now on their knees, begging for mercy. In a single moment, fate had reversed itself.
Time seemed to stretch out endlessly during Borne's silence.
Every second felt heavy and oppressive.
Eugene and the other black-robed figures remained kneeling, blood and tears dripping down their foreheads, creating a pitiful scene.
As the moments passed, the tension in the air only grew stronger, refusing to dissipate.
Finally, Borne took a deep breath.
He lifted his head and spoke slowly.
"Let them go, Father."
Borne's heart, weighed down by his own moral convictions, ultimately chose mercy.
His voice was soft, but it echoed clearly within the barrier.
Eugene was the first to lower his head and kowtow deeply, tears and blood flowing together, his mouth filled with words of gratitude.
"Thank you! Thank you for your mercy!"
The black-robed figures trembled, their faces lit with joy and relief as they followed suit, kowtow and expressing their thanks, their tears flowing freely.
It was as though Borne's decision had pulled them back from the brink of death.
Father Raphael's gaze remained gentle, his smile unwavering.
He looked at Borne with an expression that seemed to say he had known what decision Borne would make all along.
The priest nodded slightly, his eyes full of compassion.
"Your choice reflects the kindness in your heart, child.
But remember this—
Kindness is a virtue, but wisdom must guide it. We must be compassionate, yes, but also discerning.
And that is why they cannot be forgiven."
Father Raphael's smile remained, kind and warm, but his words cut through the air like a biting wind, sharp and cold.
Eugene and the others plummeted from their fleeting joy into the abyss of fear and despair. Their faces turned ashen, eyes wide with terror, unable to accept the sudden and final judgment.
Tears flowed again, but this time they were tears of pure terror and hopelessness.
"Father, please! Spare us! We beg you!"
Eugene's voice trembled with desperation, his kneeling body shaking uncontrollably from the sheer hopelessness.
But Father Raphael's expression remained unmoved.
The other black-robed figures joined Eugene in their cries for mercy, their voices trembling with despair.
They repeatedly kowtow their heads, now bloodied and raw from the unceasing impact with the ground.
Borne stood frozen, his heart filled with confusion and inner turmoil.
Moments ago, he had believed that his mercy represented a moral victory—a triumph of kindness over hatred.
But Father Raphael's words had cut through his belief like an invisible sword, leaving him deeply shaken.
He couldn't comprehend why, even after he had made what felt like the right choice, Father Raphael had still chosen to punish them.
"Father, why... why are you doing this?"
Borne asked softly, his voice filled with confusion and inner struggle.
Father Raphael turned slightly and gently placed a hand on Borne's head.
"Child, forgiveness is a noble virtue, but forgiveness does not mean indulgence.
Allowing evil to go unchecked is a betrayal of goodness.
Some sins cannot be forgiven lightly, for they would endanger many others.
Mercy requires wisdom, and true forgiveness must be grounded in justice."
Father Raphael's voice, though gentle, carried the chilling weight of judgment.
Everyone present now understood the finality of the judgment.
Eugene and his companions grew silent, their pleas fading into weak sobs.
They knew they could not escape this inevitable punishment.
Their last flicker of survival instinct had been extinguished.
Outside the barrier, those who had initially watched with curiosity now stood in silent fear.
Some instinctively took a step back, their faces pale from the realization of the gravity of Father Raphael's words.
The sacred and unshakable majesty radiating from Father Raphael filled the atmosphere with an indescribable pressure.
As he stood in the center of the barrier, the very air seemed to grow heavier under his presence.
The faint divine glow that surrounded him gradually expanded, enveloping the entire barrier.
Eugene and his companions had nowhere to escape.
The fear in their eyes grew with every passing second, spreading like wildfire.
Father Raphael stood with his hands behind his back, slowly closing his brown eyes.
In the silence, faint points of light began to flicker in the air, as if stars themselves were descending from the heavens.
These light points twinkled softly, emitting a warmth and holiness that felt both gentle and overwhelming.
With each breath, more and more light points appeared, gathering together to form a brilliant sea of light above them.
The points of light multiplied, becoming a radiant ocean that shimmered like the dawn of a celestial realm.
The entire city was bathed in this pure, radiant glow, and it seemed that no darkness could resist this divine force.
"Descend," Father Raphael's voice echoed softly but firmly.
At his command, it was as if the very sky itself tore open, revealing a colossal wall of light that cleaved through the night sky.
Countless swords of pure light began to materialize from the void, hovering behind Father Raphael.
These swords varied in length, width, and shape, each one radiating an indescribable divine brilliance.
Each sword gleamed with a pure, untainted light, imbued with power that seemed to come from the heavens themselves.
They hung in the air like golden arrows, poised and awaiting release, shimmering with an otherworldly luminescence.
The sheer number of swords and their overwhelming presence sent shivers down the spines of those witnessing it.
Eugene and his companions, now paralyzed by the radiance of the divine power before them, collapsed to the ground.
Their bodies trembled in fear, utterly overpowered by the sight, as if they were witnessing the coming of a holy judgment.
"Fulfill the will of my Lord and pass judgment on those who have fallen into evil."
Father Raphael said calmly, yet with unwavering conviction, as he opened his eyes once again.
Behind him, the swords of light began to tremble ever so slightly, as though the divine power within them had been waiting for this moment to be unleashed.
In an instant, tens of thousands of swords of light shot toward Eugene and his companions with incredible speed.
The swords, like razor-sharp blades, streaked through the air, emitting a resonant hum as they flew.
Each sword was uncannily precise, as if guided by an unseen will, homing in on the souls of every sinner present.
Eugene and the others could only perceive a blinding white light before them.
They didn't even have time to scream as the countless swords of light completely consumed them.
The swords seemed to pierce not only their bodies but their very souls, shattering the last vestiges of their resistance in an instant.
In that fleeting moment, their pain and despair reached their peak.
Their bodies disintegrated under the divine onslaught, leaving no trace behind.
The pride and sins that once defined them crumbled beneath the overwhelming force of this holy judgment.
It was all over in an instant.
Their existence was erased as if they had never been.
With the final sword's descent, the brilliance of the barrier began to fade.
The light swords dissolved into shimmering particles, floating briefly in the air before vanishing altogether.
The air was still, no longer charged with any vibration, only a profound silence filling the space.
Father Raphael's expression remained serene, as if this had been nothing more than a routine divine judgment, rather than a decision between life and death.
As the light disappeared, only the bare ground remained, devoid of any trace of the sinners who had once stood there.
Father Raphael continued to stand, hands behind his back, still bathed in the divine glow, his face as calm and unmoved as ever.
Borne thought Father Raphael had a very majestic back.