A thick fog of dust swirled around.
The soldiers watched while holding their breath as the 1st seat's strongest attack was effortlessly blocked by Aurelius's two fingers.
Everyone witnessing this felt their hearts sink almost immediately.
Upon realizing the complete failure of his attack, the 1st seat swiftly retreated, retaining his spear due to Aurelius's leniency. But even after retreating and taking a deep breath to calm himself, the 1st seat could not find any openings in Aurelius's seemingly casual stance.
"There's no gap..."
Taking another deep breath, the 1st seat calmed his trembling heart. He lowered his stance, making it more precise. At that moment, he felt a tingling sensation, and a blue spark rose from his spear.
Originally, there was a common martial art for spearmen. However, the 1st seat, after relentless effort, evolved it, creating a new martial art that could make him surpass the realm of heroes for a split second.
This was his most powerful martial art.
"Martial arts: Dragon Severing Spear!"
This was the 1st seat's original martial art—an exclusive technique that only he could use in this world. A cool determination settled in his ruby eyes. He believed that this attack, no matter how powerful or weak, would make even Aurelius falter.
"Aaaaa!!"
With all his might, he rushed with his spear at Aurelius.
The soldiers widened their eyes as the 1st seat seemed to vanish, appearing as if he had teleported. They blinked and saw the spear aimed directly at Aurelius's nose.
-Swoosh!
A powerful gust that cut through the air accompanied the attack.
"Die! Evil God!"
Regardless, Aurelius simply sighed at the incoming attack.
"A foolish endeavor."
Was this truly the power of the supposed second-strongest in the entire Slane Theocracy?
It was slow and pathetic.
To Aurelius, it felt like a turtle lumbering towards him.
Before the spear could even touch him, Aurelius moved forward and caught the first seat by the neck in mid-air.
"Khuaaak!"
The sudden stop almost snapped the 1st seat's neck from the recoil of his failed attack.
Fortunately, he didn't die instantly, but he was choking and struggling, feeling the overwhelming disparity of strength between them.
His body hung helplessly in Aurelius's grasp; the strength he had so confidently displayed was now meaningless.
But suddenly, at that moment, Aurelius sensed someone's presence approaching, and an evil glint passed through his eyes. He looked into the 1st seat's eyes.
Aurelius's pupils glowed a deeper red, his bloody gaze breaking the first seat's spirit as if possessing him.
"Fall into this fantasy, for from now on, this will be your true reality. You are no longer a member of the Slane Theocracy but a loyal pawn, planted by me."
Having secretly implanted false memories in the mind of the 1st seat, Aurelius pretended to lift his sword and aim at the 1st seat's heart.
The first seat looked up at the sky with hazy eyes, lost in fabricated memories. He did not even realize Aurelius was right in front of him and that the demonic sword was about to pierce his heart.
"Stop-!"
Suddenly, a voice reached Aurelius's ears.
Aurelius's eyes flashed with mild disdain, but he did not stop.
His blade effortlessly penetrated the 1st seat's chest. Of course, since the first seat was now his pawn, Aurelius made sure not to pierce his heart and kill him instantly.
He merely pretended to kill him, and then, with a light clench of his fist, Aurelius struck the 1st seat's stomach.
"Khwaak!"
Bang!
The shockwave blew the first seat backward and sent it flying directly in front of the soldiers, causing his body to roll onto the ground.
'Hmm, since I adjusted my strength, I'm sure he didn't die.'
Thinking to himself, he pretended that the first seat was dead, and finally turned to the person who had called out to him earlier.
As expected, it was Zesshi Zetsumei.
Her black and white hair was neatly tied to the sides. The stark contrast of her hair mirrored her eyes—one black, one white—giving her an eerie yet striking appearance. In her hand was a scythe resembling a cross spear.
She looked young, appearing to be in her early teens.
But Aurelius knew better. She was a half-elf, her youthful appearance hiding her true age of over a hundred years. An existence far older than the Cardinals with the authority to participate in the Supreme Council of the Theocracy. She was the true strongest of the Slane Theocracy and the guardian of the sanctuary.
"Why didn't you let him go?"
"And why do you think I should heed the plea of a weakling like you?"
He said it in a curious tone, and Zesshi replied, tilting her head and pointing at herself.
"Are you talking about me? Me, a weakling?"
"Who else? The one I just swatted away was not even a weakling; it was just a pest."
Listening to Aurelius's words, Zesshi, instead of raging, sighed at the pitiful appearance of the 1st seat, who was being carried by the soldiers.
Then, suddenly feeling a strange pressure on her body, she ignored the 1st seat and instead asked Aurelius.
"This dark red aura you emit... is that why the air suddenly became heavy?"
"Ohhh? I guess you really are a descendant of the Six Great Gods to be able to withstand that."
Replying nonchalantly, Aurelius just watched her, smiling. She matched his ideal type perfectly. Even when he watched the anime, although there wasn't much shown about her, he liked this mysterious girl and fantasized about her.
That was why he had come this far to get her. After all, now that he had the strength, it would be a waste not to fulfill the greed and wishes he once had.
"You are Zesshi."
"Yes, I'm Zesshi, the Extra Seat. But how did you know my identity? It's extremely rare for even some of the strongest people on this continent to be aware of my existence. The Cardinals treat me like a secret weapon."
"There is no need for you to concern yourself with trivialities."
"True~ So, I'm your target?"
"You could say that. So, what's your choice? Will you surrender?"
"Hehe~ Are you asking me to surrender? I guess you're pretty strong?"
"You can look forward to it."
Zesshi glared at him with curious eyes. The person standing in front of her radiated an aura of unknown cruelty.
This caused her to smirk, raising the corners of her mouth.
For the first time, she felt her heart pound with excitement. An insatiable sense of selfishness flared up within her.
"Haaa.♡"
Exhaling heavily, a flush appeared on her cheeks, and she couldn't help but ask about the person who, for the first time, made her feel like this.
"So, what's your name?"
"This introduction is late. Anyway, my name is Aurelius Nova Lucifer. I am the person you will soon be begging to in bed. Hehe."
"What...?"
At his explicit and provoking words, Zesshi reacted strangely; instead of getting furious, she shut her mouth tightly. Her body quivered as she repeated her question, seemingly confirming Aurelius's identity.
"What did you just say?"
"What do you mean?"
"I asked you! What's your name...?"
"Do you have a hearing impairment? I said it is Aurelius Nova Lucifer. Do I need to say it again?"
Aurelius narrowed his eyes, but Zesshi ignored the look and grabbed her chest.
"Um, are you really... Aurelius, the God of Calamity?"
"Yes. Without a lie, I am Aurelius."
Upon hearing that confirmation, Zesshi felt her heart, which had momentarily stopped, begin to beat rapidly.
"Not yet... Not yet... I can't believe it... I need to see if you really are the God of Calamity that I've been waiting for so long! I want a duel right now!"
—Zooooom!
Zesshi's aura changed in an instant. As she glared at Aurelius, an eerie energy spread across the ground, ready to rush at him with unparalleled momentum.
Her presence was considerable. The energy she radiated was undeniably that of one of the strongest beings in this New world. But Aurelius merely looked at her with a nonchalant face.
"I'm pleased you're not spouting nonsense about why I destroyed the Theocracy and other bullshit. So, I give you a plus one for that, and it seems like you have a strange liking for me, unlike others from the Theocracy who hate me from their core, and I like it very much, so I give you another one plus... Alright, it's settled. I will take you back to Nazarick and make you mine. You definitely deserve to be more than a pet."
"You can do whatever you want. But before that...!! First, I have to make sure you're really Aurelius! If you're that God of Calamity, block my attack!!"
With her eyes wide open, Zesshi screamed and rushed towards Aurelius. The feeling of kicking off the ground and advancing was exhilarating.
—Kwaaaaang!
With a roar that scattered the earth, her figure disappeared in an instant and reappeared in front of Aurelius's nose.
"Come on. Let's see if you can accept my burning heart and are worthy to make me yours."
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