Smack! Smack! Sounds of whips slashing on fresh flesh, blood scattered around. Blood dripped down from the whip, filling the air with a fishy and pungent spray, reminiscent of a slaughterhouse."You're so tough, not even a single sound escapes you," Rave taunted as he whipped the blood off his weapon. "Are you truly human?"Rain hung on a human cross in a shadowy room, arms and legs bound with chains. His tattered clothes were stained with blood, and wounds from the whipping covered his body."Do you really not want to speak? Where is it?" Red Thug used a leather cloth to wipe the blood off his weapon, then reached for another torture tool. It had a small hole in the center and a hidden sharpened blade at the top. It resembled a cigar cutter, but its purpose was undoubtedly something more sinister. "Do I need to cut something off of you?"Ching! Ching! Red Thug tested the cigar cutter. Wow! it looking good.Rain looked at Red Thug with determined eyes. After a long hour of torture, words finally escaped Rain's mouth in a hoarse whisper, "When?"Rave's eyes widened slightly, a smirk forming on his face. "Ah~ finally, some sound in this lonely room. Never thought you'd fear this little nail clipper... but what did you say?"Both men locked eyes. Rain repeated his question, "When... are you betraying...""That's not the word I was hoping for, Rockman, but it's okay. It's a good sign that you're speaking. So let's play your game. This is also your last day alive. I should show you some mercy." Red Thug grabbed a chair and sat down, facing Rain. "At first, before we met you."The sound of teeth grinding against each other filled the silence of the room. Rain's face darkened as he spoke slowly and hoarsely, "Is Ivara?..."Red Thug shrugged. "Huh, that little bird is pure. It's truly hard to corrupt her. She's smart, even though she's just a little bird. She sticks with you everywhere." He held his head. "So annoying, always talking to you with that happy face. I've never seen her like that before. But it's also a good thing. It makes it easier for me to find a way in." Slowly, he took out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and smiled.Rain's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's you...""Ha ha ha ha, I just gave her a little carrot and a little magic word, 'Brother Rain needs your help.' Not even count a second, she bit the carrot—"Clang! Clang! Rain forcefully used his arm, but the chain remained intact."bastard! Why did you do that to her?" Rain shouted. "Cough cough... Her father and mother will kill you if they find out what you've done." Blood dripped from his chained hand."Ah, you think something will happen if you disappear, right?" Rave stood up, one hand in his pocket, and raised another hand over his shoulder. "Nah, no need to worry, brother. We already have a plan for this, right?" Red thug tried to imitate Rain's persona."You, You... Pretend to be me... this is all you plan along?" Rain said.Rave Combed his hair down, tilted his head slightly to the left. "What are you talking about, brother Rockman?" this time he changed the voice completely. "Yes, no one will notice me if I disappear, because I'm just a jerk from the slums. But someone as important as you, is different. Everyone loves you, does whatever you say. I'm really jealous."Rain clenched his fist. "Just because of this... Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped you all.""Ah. for that one..." Rave smirked with dark, dangerous zealot eyes. "If I'm on this side and do his bidding, Lord Lucusia promised me a bonus that I've been waiting for a long time. The prestige that only you can get, my little bird."Rain's body shook. His eyes turned dark with blood vessels all over. "I'll kill you, you damn rotten pest!"Rave touched his own chin. "You truly are a cruel prisoner, stealing everything from everyone. Even my precious bird, whom I've taken care of my entire life. That innocence and radiance should only be for me, but when you came... in just two months, it felt like the world flipped. Her wings and kindness are now only for you..." Rave tightly gripped his fist, blood dripping. He looked up at Rain, his eyes glowing red. "But it's okay now. Everything is back on track, maybe even better than before, right? I'll taste her instead of you. That purity and tenderness, isn't that good?" Rave imitated Rain's smile.Clang! Clang! Clang! "Argh, Rave, you have to pay for this!""Ha ha, I'm enjoying our conversation, ah, this is how they feel when be a torturer. I like it, but my time is over." Rave grabbed a bucket of water with cold ice in it. "I've dressed you before on stage."Swoosh! splash!Glacial water splashed. The cool temperature made Rain's body shudder like a newborn lamb. The red blood stains fell down, mixing with the water."Not to worry, I have already mixed it with holy water from this church. I hope you like it," he smiled. "He is ready!" Clap! Clap!Shatter! Rattle! Rattle! the floor shook. Then, slowly, he began to lift up.Suddenly, a bright light shone in his eyes, making it difficult for him to see clearly. After a moment, his vision returned, and he found himself in the main church room, standing at the back of the preacher's stand. The only source of light was the fire from the lanterns. People sat on long benches, some smiling at him, while others glared at him with anger.The fire suddenly lit up in a clockwise motion, revealing ten victims chained to each pole. There was even a child crawling among them, checking their condition.In the center stood Holy Priest Lucusia, who walked towards Rain and placed a holy book on the preacher's stand. He then flipped through its pages, causing his robe to flutter around him. A bright light emitted from his back, and a clean and powerful voice came from his mouth. "May the Holy shine upon us,""Holy shine upon us." "Holy shine upon us." "Holy shine upon us." chorus in monotonous."Tower has sent us a new hope for tomorrow. This sinner in front of us has committed many evil deeds. He has killed, stolen, lied, and even pretended to be one of us, a member of the holy order!" Lucusia exclaimed, showing Rain's Follower Badge, that broken into two pieces. "It is a forgery! He used the Saint's name to deceive us, crafting beautiful words to hide his true identity. He is a sinner of End land."The crowd erupted, chanting, "Kill the sinner! Kill the sinner!"Lucusia lowered his hand to his heart. "But the Holy always provides a way, a hope, a future, even for someone who has lost their way countless times. The Holy still has blessed him to be a vessel of the Holy Child." Lucusia raised his hands. "He has just one mission, to seek redemption and speak the truth to the Holy!" The light shone even brighter than before"Truth to the Holy!" "Truth to the Holy!" "Truth to the Holy!Lucusia flipped the pages of the holy book, and the bright light scattered, turning the room back into darkness with only the lantern light."Sinner, where are you hiding the holy mana stone?" Lucusia asked in a monotone voice.Rain looked at him fiercely. "If the Center Church finds out what you've done, they will execute you. Saint Aria will also come after you, and you will see her wrath. Your heart will cut into a thousand pieces!" A crisp voice resonated throughout the hall.Lucusia shook his head. "The Holy gave you a chance, but a sinner is a sinner. You have chosen the path of the devil and lied against the Holy once again," he said.The sound of people cursing him heard from the distant benches."I will give you a light that will shine into your heart. Bring forth the Maiden." Lucusia said.The light from the lantern hanging from the ceiling slowly descended, casting its glow upon the dark area in the center of the hall. There, a girl wearing a long white robe, her face pale as a ghost, lifeless eyes, and tear stains still visible.Rain looked at Ivara, his eyebrow lifted in sadness, and a hint of sorrow filled his eyes. "She's innocent. Why have you gone this far?""Because you have tainted her with evil, she needs redemption," Lucusia replied."This is all futile. Let her go. I have no more of that sun rock," Rain said, his tone filled with desperation."Smart evil like you, always hiding the delusion treasure, and use that to manipulating and deceiving people to the dark side," Lucusia said, walking towards Ivara. "So this is the key to unlock the evil lies,"Rain's face softened as he tried to control his emotions. "Let her go, I'll give it to you," Rain said."Don't use that evil words. I didn't come here to negotiate. I need you to speak the truth," Lucusia rose his hand up, "To cleanse your sins. Holy will reach hand to you first."Rave stepped out of the shadows, now dressed in a priest's robe with black dyed hair. In his hand, he held a white bow and arrow quiver. He walked up to Ivara, embracing her, and looked at Rain with a sinister smile, licking his lips. "Do you like my little bird? She's truly beautiful, and now she's in my hands," Rave said, slowly placing her hand on the bow.No words out, only the trembling of Rain's body and the rumbling of the chain."I knew you had been practicing this maiden, the art of arrow. This is our holy blessing, because in the ancient legends, arrows were also the key to unlocking an evil heart. This maiden shall bring us the truth," Lucusia said.Rain's anger now replaced with desperation, "Rave... Even this thing, you are also sale it to him." He looked at Ivara and murmured, "I'm so sorry to bring you to this..."Rave smiled as he witnessed Rain's despair. He moved head closer to Ivara and gossiped beside Ivara's ear, "Ivara, can you help brother aim at that bird?" She aimed at Rain.Swoosh! Arrow flew fast directly at the aim point. Thud! hitting Rain's left hand. His arm shook, but no sound came out of his mouth.People in the room applauded, relieved that finally, evil was starting to pay for its sins.Lucusia hugged his own arm, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth. "Your dark power is strong. You have hidden the truth in the depths, but now, let us unleash even more holy power." Lucusia slowly rose a hand up.Snap!Suddenly, tears began to fall from Ivara's eyes. "Brother Rain! Why are you be like this? Who did this cruel to you... is that my arrow? What have I done... Ah, ah, ah, I'm sorry, brother. I didn't mean to... What have I done?" Her voice trembled, but her face remained emotionless.Rave embraced her and spoke with Rain's voice. "It's okay, Ivara. That was just an evil monster disguised as a human. You simply aimed and killed it." He gently touched her hand. "Just help brother once, and I will be free.""Ah, Brother Rain is still with me... I will kill the evil to help my brother." She drew her bow, aiming at Rain. However, her hand shook, tears flowing like a fountain. Her heart felt like it had been hit by a hammer. What she saw was a man on a cross, smiling at her gently. His voice was barely a whisper, but she heard it clearly. "It's okay... Don't be sad, okay?"Swoosh! Arrow flew fast.Thud! But because her hand was shaking, she missed her target and hit his left shoulder."Nooo, Brother! Why do I have to do this? I don't want to do this at all... I can't do it anymore." Blood began to leak from her eyes, her body trembling. But like a marionette, she raised her gaze and drew her bow again. "Stop! I don't want to kill brother." She aimed at Rain's head. "Brother Rain, help me! Please, help me! Brother, kill me, please!""Stop! I will tell you where I hid it!" Rain exclaimed.Snap!Ivara's body froze. Her head and hands dropped, blood and tears falling.Lucusia smiled widely. "Now! The Heart of Evil unlocked with the maiden's arrow. Where is it? Where is that holy mana stone you kept?""Ivara... Ivara Candy Sachet. I hid it under hidden socket of candy sachet." said with lower voice. but the sight in front of him left him shocked. His body hair stood on end.Lucusia's crescent eyes glowed, and he pulled out the sachet from his shirt. "Do you mean this sachet?" The light from the lanterns turned blue, casting Lucusia's tall shadow in every direction. "I got it right from the start." He grinned evilly. "Do you like it, my show?"Clang! Clang! Clang! In a furious motion, the sound of bones and chains crashing together, Rain's eyes turned red. "Curse you, you rotten fox!"