[Rules of the Cartenon Temple]
1. Thou shall worship God.
2. Thou shall praise God.
3. Thou shall prove thy faith.
4. Those who fail to obey these commandments shall not be spared.
Ding!
[Itarim's Blessing: 'Rules of the Carteon Temple' activated.]
"...!"
Suddenly, the air in the chapel changed drastically.
[Little Monarch! This energy… it's that of the Itarim...!]
[It's a trap! It seems this place is...!]
But before Beru's and Esil's urgent voices could finish.
"Praise Itarim!" Along with Kim Chul's booming voice, a grotesque chorus erupted from the mouths of the Cult members in the chapel.
[...It seems like a place where they sacrifice those who aren't followers of the Outer Gods!]
"Worship and revere!"
"Prove your faith!"
Ding! Ding! Ding! System messages appeared one after another before Suho's eyes.
[Itarim's blessing restricts the mana of non-believers.]
Whoosh! An unknown force suppressed Suho's magic power.
[Itarim's blessing permits the use of mana to those who have proven their faith.]
[Itarim's blessing grants divine power to those who have proven their faith.]
"Kill Vulcan!"
Ah, Aaaaaaaaaah - At Kim Chul's command, all the Outer Gods' Cult members, with bright smiles on their faces, launched a concentrated attack on Suho.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Hahaha! A demon noble walked right into our trap!"
"Even Vulcan himself is nothing but a sacrifice when his mana is sealed...!"
Punch! At that moment.
"...?!"
The Cult member who charged at the forefront had his jaw dislocated by Suho's sudden punch.
Bang! His body was flung back faster than he had charged, crashing into the wall.
"...!"
The eyes of all the Outer Gods' Cult members, including Kim Chul, widened in shock.
[Tenacity Lv.7]
There stood Suho, grinning, completely unharmed.
"Well, I've confirmed that Grandpa isn't here..."
Crack. He clenched his fists and stepped forward scanning the faces of the cultists who had attacked him, eyes burning with rage.
"Now I'll kill you and then ask questions!"
Bang! Suho's figure shot forward, kicking off the ground. Even with his mana sealed, he still had skills that didn't consume magic power. And the stats directly engraved into his body, along with the Vulcan's Horns he was already equipped with, were no exception!
[Effect: 'Destruction desire': Increases physical damage by 300%.]
Crash!
"Ack!"
The Outer Gods' Cult members were sent flying in all directions like fallen leaves. Once Suho went on a rampage, nothing could stand in his way. Kim Chul even stepped forward himself.
"Khahaha! You struggle quite a bit! As expected of a demon noble, you make a fine sacrifice!"
Flash! He channeled blue energy from the Star Piece on his forehead and swung a large shield towards Vulcan.
Whoosh - Bang!
Fist and shield collided. A tremendous shockwave spread out in all directions. Ad their gazes met in mid-air.
'He's not at the level of an ordinary A-rank!'
'Is this truly the power of a demon noble?!'
But that was only for a moment.
'I'll crush you!'
Suho's fierce attacks followed, raining down like shotgun blasts.
"Ugh...!" Kim Chul gritted his teeth and endured everything while swinging the sword with his other hand.
Suho immediately grabbed the Vulcan's Horns attached to his head with both hands and swung them forward.
Clang!
In an instant, the two Horns transformed into swords and sliced through the air.
'Ruler's Authority!' This skill didn't consume mana so the weapons shot out from Suho's hands.
"N-no!"
Kim Chul's eyes widened, and he stumbled backward. Every time he dodged Suho's attacks, other Outer Gods' Cult members were mercilessly slaughtered in his place.
"Kaaagh!" Believers caught in the attacks coughed up blood and died. But that moment, something surprising happened.
Flash!
The Star Pieces embedded in the foreheads of the fallen began emitting blue energy. It streamed out and enveloped their bodies, then ignited into blue flames.
Whoosh! A blue demonic energy took control of the corpses and raised them like puppets.
"Mist Burn?"
No… It was similar to Mist Burn, but different. The Outer Gods' Cult members were being controlled by the Star Pieces even in death.
"Kaaagh!"
The corpses, bound by the blue demonic energy, flew through the air and attacked Suho.
[Little Monarch! You have to attack the Star Pieces themselves!] Beru and Esil shouted.
[It seems they are the medium connecting Itarim and these guys!]
"They are using them like a kind of possessed priest." Suho's eyes flashed as he said those words.
"...Like me."
At that moment.
[The King of Beasts and the Monarch of Fangs, licks his lips.]
The Queen of Insects and the Monarch of Plagues, raises her eyes.]
[The King of the Snow Folk and the Monarch of Frost, is watching you.]
Even though his mana was sealed, it had no effect on the souls of the Monarchs who were already dead and wandering the sea of the afterlife.
Just as the energy of Itarim, existing far away in the outer universe, empowered the Cult members through the Star Pieces.
"Come out, Gray. Esil."
Fwoosh!
"Growl!" At that moment, a giant wolf enveloped in silver light burst out from Suho's shadow and struck the enemies.
Slash! Esil, who had been residing in Vulcan's Horn, also emerged and swung her spear at them.
"Wh-what's this, all of a sudden?!"
Kim Chul couldn't help but be flustered as the number of Suho's allies suddenly increased.
[Iron, come quickly.]
"...?!" At that moment, a whispering voice came from behind him. He shuddered and hurriedly turned around, but there was nothing there.
'A-a ghost?!'
Kim Chul was startled and turned back around, readjusting his posture. But why?
'C-come quickly?'
He wanted to go. Wherever that place was.
'What is this feeling?!'
He was confused. So confused! His subconscious was welcoming that ghostly voice!
"E-everyone, snap out of it! There are only a few of them! For the glory of Itarim!" Suppressing his instincts, Kim Chul shouted at his followers as if talking to himself.
"For Itarim!"
They raised their voices and mustered all their strength.
"We are willing to die!"
"For Itarim!"
"Even if we live it's…"
"For Itarim!".l
"Even in death, we shall become servants of Itarim!"
"Kill Vulcan! With the blood of a demon noble, we can create a massive amount of Star Pieces!"
The living Outer Gods' Cult members and those controlled by Star Pieces while already dead joined forces to attack Suho. But despite being vastly outnumbered, He only smiled, lips curling upwards as he spoke.
"Come out, all of you."
He might not be able to use mana, but so what? All of his Shadow skills didn't consume mana anyway.
[Skill: 'Monarch's Domain' activated.]
[The stats of Shadow Soldiers fighting within the caster's shadow are increased by 50%.]
Fwoosh! Suho's shadow spread out in all directions, centering around him. And from within it, the Shadow Soldiers who followed him rose.
"Scatter and destroy the Star Pieces!"
[Yes, Master!]
Screeeech! Que, faster than anyone else, transformed into a spear and pierced through the enemies.
Crack! Shatter!
"Kuh?!"
As his spear pierced through the Star Pieces embedded in the cultists' foreheads, blue light scattered into dust. Along with it, the Itarim's energy that controlled them dissipated, and their bodies collapsed on the spot.
"W-what is this?!" Kim Chul, the priest who had been leading them, panicked and stumbled around in confusion.
"Itarim! Save us! Save us... Save us...?"
But then.
'...What is this feeling?' Something was strange. Very strange…
[Skill, 'Monarch's Domain' is activated.]
From the moment an ominous shadow filled the entire chapel where the battle was taking place. From the moment Kim Chul stood on his shadow. For some reason, he had to desperately resist the instinct to run to Vulcan, kneel before him, and bow his head.
'Why, why?! What's happening?! Could it be that this demon noble Vulcan brainwashed me?' If that was right, it is a truly demonic trick!
"Kaaagh! How dare you try to bewitch me, a priest who serves the great gods! Do you think I'll fall for it?!"
Kim Chul gritted his teeth and charged towards Suho. He focused all his strength into one point.
"Die! Vulcan!"
[Iron.]
"Ah, who's there?!" At the ghostly voice whispering behind him once again, Kim Chul shouted and swung his arm backward. And there, a real ghost stood! A black shadow. An ant-like evil spirit was grinning at him with a cruel smile.
[Come quickly.]
Crack!
"...!" That was the last thing Kim Chul saw before he died.
[Hmm. Why did such a strong person get distracted in the middle of a fight? Well, I am fast, but still.] Que, who had pierced through the back of his head and shattered the Star Piece, tilted his head in wonder.
Beru looked down at Kim Chul's corpse and chuckled. [He must have missed the Monarch's Domain so much. Little Monarch! Quickly, extract Iron's...]
Suho had already arrived in front of Kim Chul's corpse.
[Shadow Extraction is possible on this target.]
'Was he one of my father's soldiers?' Perhaps because of that, Kim Chul's shadow was already writhing even before Suho got close. As if it was about to rise on its own, without even needing extraction.
"Hmm. Rise?"
[Shadow Extraction successful.]
[Khahahahahaha] - As soon as Suho finished speaking, Kim Chul's shadow swirled and sprang up.
[Khahahaha! I'm back!]
[Kieeek! You're finally back, Iron!]
[Khahahaha! I remember everything! All my memories are back!]
[Kihahahaha!]
Kim Chul burst into laughter with Beru as soon as he became a Shadow. He suddenly turned his head towards Suho. Having once served Sung Jinwoo, he instinctively knew Suho's relationship with him
[Little Monarch. My new master...]
But at that moment.
Shiver!
"...!" Suho's Sense stat sent a warning. And as he turned his head in that direction with a fearful expression. The two eyes of the giant statue sitting on the chair at the far end of the chapel were staring at him.
[Watch out...!] Before Iron could finish his urgent warning, Suho instinctively twisted his body to the side. Almost simultaneously, blue beams shot out from both eyes of the statue.
Ziiing! They narrowly missed him and caused massive explosions.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
The blue beams swept through the area, melting the bodies of the Outer Gods' Cult members who were there.
"Uaaaaaaaaaagh!"
"Ack!"
Only the grotesque remnants were left after the beams had passed. The screams came not from them, but from the other believers who witnessed their demise.
"I guess he's not a very merciful god." Suho sneered and glared ahead. The statue, which had just killed the believers who were praying before it, was now smiling brightly at Suho.
It was a cruel smile.
[To think I'd witness the Shadow Authority in a place like this.] A grotesque, echoing voice flowed from the statue's mouth. The emotion felt from that voice was clear killing intent towards Suho! And a distinct appetite, as if it had found a delicious meal right before its eyes.
[How pathetic. Getting cocky just because you killed one measly priest.] The statue of Itarim mocked Suho and spoke.
[But I have plenty of priests who serve me. Ones far more powerful than that.] It smiled meaningfully and turned its head…
Rumble! One side of the chapel walls crumbled under the blue beam. Beyond it, a gate was hidden, blue mist billowing out from it.
[Come forth, High Priest.]
At those words, a silhouette slowly emerged from within the gate.
Gasp! [This is bad!]
Iron, who had just become Suho's Shadow Soldier, suddenly recalled his memories from when he was still alive and shouted at Suho. [The High Priest of the Outer Gods' Cult is the S-rank villain, Hwang Dongsoo! Formerly known as Greed in the shadow army]
"...!"
At those words, Suho and Beru's expressions hardened. Why was Hwang Dongsoo appearing here all of a sudden?! And as the High Priest of Itarim, no less! With the power of the Star Piece added to his already S-rank Awakened abilities, his strength would undoubtedly be tremendous.
Thud!
[Khahahaha!] Along with the statue's maniacal laughter, Hwang Dongsoo finally emerged from the gate.
But.
"...?!"
He wasn't walking out on his own. He was being dragged out by the hand of a white-haired old man.