Chapter 297: Chapter 141: Blasphemy
A brilliant, dazzling pillar of light broke through the heavy dark clouds, shooting straight into the heavens.
Unlike the Dawn Holy Light previously seen over Krimms Cathedral, the radiance from the Coffin of Revival was far more brilliant. Even when the heavy clouds parted to reveal a crack of sky, the glow of the red moon was completely eclipsed by this light.
"...Is it starting again?"
At this moment, no matter where they were in the Caster City State, everyone looked toward the central district, their expressions turning grim.
「Northern Caster City State.」
Melbel flicked his black sword—a far more slender blade than Kali’s greatsword. He, too, felt the power from the Coffin of Revival, and his gaze darkened.
"Your strength..."
Across from him, Bolsen clutched his severed arm, his face—covered in scales and keratin—etched with astonishment. He couldn’t understand how a mere Guardian Knight could be so much stronger than him.
’That’s a Holy Professional of at least Director Level!’
"Is it still not planning to come out?" Melbel knew he had to end this quickly. The situation in Caster was far more complex than he had realized.
"Hmph!"
Bolsen snorted, then grit his teeth and yelled, "Lord Matteo, if you don’t show yourself, the sacrificial ritual will fail!"
’He wasn’t the only member of the Abyssal Sect in Caster. Better to ask for help now.’
Melbel abandoned the Dawn Holy Light he had been using. He now wielded the same power as Kali; countless black threads densely connected him to the Judgment Knights nearby. Their faces, however, were exceptionally grim, and upon closer inspection, one could see the resentment and fury in their eyes.
’Dammit, a Guardian Knight... daring to sacrifice Holy Professionals to gain power!’
"I shall devour!"
The massive Gate of Abyss opened a little wider. A Demon Commander leaned out, planting its hands on the ground and roaring at the Holy Professionals with its maw gaping wide.
"Just wait to die, you lot!" Seeing his chance, Bolsen stopped engaging Melbel and darted to the Demon Commander’s side to seek its protection.
He might have been driven a little mad without a contract to rein in an Abyssal Creature, but he wasn’t stupid enough to knowingly fight a losing battle.
"Devotion!"
Melbel’s gaze grew cold. The black threads pulled free from the Judgment Knights’ bodies and condensed over his armor, forming a new suit of full plate that glinted with a black light. The hilt of his sword fused with his arm, and his entire posture became even more imposing.
"Praise the Dawn..."
However, as he spoke, the lives of the Judgment Knights behind him were extinguished. They remained standing, motionless, their faces turning a deathly gray.
"..." Staring at the thousands of Judgment Knights, Bolsen was so shocked he could only stammer, "Wh-what is this bizarre ability? Since when did the faith of the Dawn include *this*?!"
Melbel had no intention of satisfying his curiosity. With a flash of movement, his black one-handed sword condensed to a single point, tracing a minuscule black line that pierced through Bolsen’s brow.
"You..."
After slaying Bolsen, Melbel didn’t pause, charging straight for the massive figure emerging from the Gate of Abyss.
"Desecration—"
The Demon Commander fixed its cold gaze upon him—or more accurately, upon the black armor he wore. "The Desecration Authority... has it appeared once again?"
"Darkness!"
"ROAR—"
An endless darkness enveloped the Gate of Abyss. Light and sound vanished; everything within its range became silent and black. One could only judge by the violent fluctuations at its edge that the battle within was not silent at all, but instead, extremely perilous.
「Meanwhile, on the other side of the city-state, outside the Basil District near the port.」
Black Jack looked at the figure beside the central cathedral and the pillar of light soaring into the sky next to it, then said calmly, "Give the order. Time to set sail."
"Aren’t we going to wait a bit longer?" Waleed scratched his head, his expression sour. "That bastard before killed tens of thousands of Vasquez soldiers."
"What? You want to get revenge for Nicole?"
"Of course not, er... Sorry, Nicole. You know I just have a sharp tongue..."
Nicole, who had been silent at his side for a long time, wiped the tear tracks from her face and said in a hoarse voice, "I know. That man... I will kill him!"
"I’d advise you to think that through carefully..."
Black Jack didn’t finish his sentence. ’With Wei’en’s proficiency in Magic, it was only a matter of time before he became a Great Mage. He might even reach the level of a Legend.’
’By then, Wei’en is bound to become one of the leaders of the Ghost Soul School.’
’And with the resources of the Vasquez People, forget about contending with the Ghost Soul School. A few near-Legendaries could show up and scare them into never showing the slightest hostility to the School ever again.’
"I know what I have to do!"
Black Jack shook his head in resignation. ’Looks like when I get back, I’ll have to recommend that the captain has these Vasquez People leave the Black Pearl.’
’For now, those Wizards just hole up in the Forbidden Land all day, doing their mysterious research. If we really made an enemy of them... I’m afraid even with the Black Pearl’s power, we’d have to hide out at headquarters and not dare to show our faces.’
At this point, Investigators in the southern Ruer District and the northern Yidrisu District had already begun evacuating civilians, leading them to flee outside the city-state.
It was only then that Lisi and the others learned that Holy Professionals from the Storm Church had entered Caster and were saving tens of thousands of people who had fled the city. They were all immensely grateful for the Storm Church’s help.
"Bishop Naike, thank you." As the Deputy Director of the Secret Investigation Department, Dorff’s status was sufficient to express the city-state’s gratitude to the Storm Church.
Bishop Naike nodded slightly, his eyes fixed on the pillar of light. He knew exactly what it represented.
’It seems Ales has succeeded. That makes sense—how could anyone imagine an ordinary person would be capable of single-handedly throwing the entire city-state into chaos and dragging the Dawn Church into the mire?’
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