Ghislain watched Porisco ranting and raving like a madman, his gaze filled with incredulous admiration.
"How did he hold himself back all this time?"
Porisco had always been the type to indulge in every vice his position afforded. However, the rumors labeling him a "Saint" had forced him to put on a facade of piety. The moment an opportunity to vent his true nature arose, his suppressed instincts burst forth in full force.
"Hurry up! Drag them all out! Let them see the wrath of the true church! These cursed heretics!"
At Porisco's gleeful command, the temple knights charged into the building en masse.
The structure was large, housing numerous members of the society—a reflection of its role in providing charity and guidance across the capital. Yet, Porisco dismissed the idea that this might pose a challenge.
"Hah, what could a few spies pretending to volunteer possibly do?"
To his understanding, this society was a mere cover for a group of spies performing charitable acts to mask their true purpose.
Though they might possess basic combat skills, Porisco believed them no match for temple knights. With their blend of divine power and martial prowess, temple knights were capable of healing themselves while remaining formidable in combat.
Porisco's biggest concern wasn't whether the spies would resist—it was how best to stage their execution for maximum effect.
Crash!
A shattering noise disrupted his thoughts.
"Huh?"
One of the knights was flung from a second-story window, his lifeless body crashing to the ground. Porisco tilted his head in confusion.
"What's going on?"
Moments later, loud clamor and chaos erupted within the building.
"Arghhh!"
"It's a monster!"
"Kill it now!"
Boom! Crash! Smash!
The cacophony of destruction echoed loudly.
Porisco's natural instinct for self-preservation kicked in, prompting him to shuffle backward.
"Why is it so noisy for just one little volunteer group?"
Suddenly, the front doors exploded outward, and the corpse of another temple knight was hurled through the air.
From the wreckage emerged a grotesque figure—its swollen body dripping blood, its torn clothing barely clinging to its monstrous frame.
"W-what the hell is that?! A monster?!"
Porisco shrieked in terror, and the remaining knights stepped forward to shield him, their faces pale with tension as they stared down the grotesque creature.
But it wasn't alone.
A Horde Unleashed
"Growl…"
More monsters emerged, dragging the bodies of dead knights. Dozens of them poured out of the building, their heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
"Krk…"
More joined from the shattered windows above, leaping down with an unnatural agility. Combined, they numbered over thirty.
Ghislain frowned as he observed the scene. This was unlike the other locations he had visited. The sheer number of monsters here was staggering, rivaling the strength of a small barony's knightly forces.
And there was something else.
"Growl…"
The monsters were forming ranks, standing in a loose formation instead of attacking mindlessly.
"Are these… a more advanced version?"
Ghislain squinted, his mind recalling his previous life. Occasionally, there had been creatures that retained some form of coordination despite their monstrous transformations.
"These are definitely an upgraded variant."
From inside the building, a bell chimed softly, carrying a subtle magical resonance that sent shivers down his spine.
"That sound…"
The moment the bell tolled, the monsters charged.
"Stop them! Stop them!"
Porisco shouted in panic as the creatures surged forward.
The few remaining temple knights gritted their teeth and summoned their divine power, but their number was far too small to fend off the horde.
Ghislain decided it was time to intervene.
Boom!
The ground shook as he leaped in front of the knights, spinning once to unleash a devastating wave of crimson energy that obliterated the monsters nearest him.
"Weaker than I thought."@@novelbin@@
Their strength was proportional to their original capabilities, and judging by their performance, these had been nothing more than common citizens before their transformation. While they were stronger than novice knights, they were no match for Ghislain.
As the monsters were torn apart, Porisco's confidence surged.
"Hahaha! Count Fenris is a Master!"
Realizing he was standing beside one of the kingdom's strongest fighters, Porisco forgot his earlier fear entirely.
The bell chimed again.
The monsters froze.
A New Foe
From the shadows of the building stepped a man with pale skin, gaunt features, and long, unkempt hair. He appeared frail, yet his presence commanded attention.
He muttered to himself, seemingly confused by the situation.
"This… How did they find out? Of all times, why now?"
Ghislain narrowed his eyes at the man, wracking his memory. He recognized him.
Then it clicked, and a grin spread across Ghislain's face.
"So, you're here after all… Raviel."
The man—Raviel—stiffened at the name, his expression darkening as he studied Ghislain.
"You… know me?"
"Of course I do. How could I forget?"
Ghislain's grin widened as he spoke, his tone mocking yet filled with a strange camaraderie.
Raviel was one of the hidden powerhouses who had stood in his way in his past life. His unique abilities had left a vivid impression on Ghislain, one he hadn't forgotten.
Raviel's gaze sharpened.
"You're Count Fenris, then?"
"That's right."
"The rumors of you ascending to Master rank… they're true. To kill my 'Holy Knights' so easily…"
"Holy Knights?" Ghislain chuckled. "Is that what you're calling those monsters?"
In his past life, he hadn't cared about the details, simply killing them as they appeared. This was the first time he'd heard the term.
Raviel nodded solemnly.
"Yes. Even knowing they face certain death, they fight on. What could be more noble? They are truly deserving of the title Holy Knights."
Ghislain smirked.
"Using people as lab rats and then dressing it up as something noble. How poetic."
"Sacrifices are necessary for the greater good."
Ghislain tilted his head, feigning curiosity.
"Did you create them?"
Raviel shook his head.
"I began the research, but many others have since contributed."
"So, you started it. I'll be sure to hunt down every single one of your collaborators."
Raviel sneered, his expression twisting in disdain.
"Count Fenris… how arrogant you've become. You have no idea the power we wield."
Ghislain's grin grew sharper.
"Don't I? Raviel, Inquisitor of the Church of Salvation."
Raviel's face contorted in shock.
Few knew of his identity, let alone his title. For Fenris, a figure with no apparent ties to their organization, to know this much was unfathomable.
Porisco, who had been watching the exchange in confusion, finally found his voice.
"Wait—what's going on here?!"
"The Salvation Church? Ha! I knew it! You heretical scum! Kill him immediately!"
Porisco's voice echoed, trembling with indignation and fear.
Yet, none of the temple knights moved. The air between Ghislain and Raviel was thick with tension, a battlefield none dared to intrude upon.
Raviel ignored Porisco entirely, his sharp gaze fixed on Ghislain.
"Even the kingdom's intelligence agencies don't know our true nature. How do you? And to know my identity as well... who are you?"
Ghislain smirked.
"Why? You think you're the only one with secrets? I've got plenty of my own."
"You insolent wretch…"
Ghislain's grin widened, his relaxed demeanor masking the weight of his knowledge.
The Salvation Church's Shadow
The truth was, even Ghislain didn't know much about the Salvation Church.
In his previous life, the Salvation Church had emerged seemingly out of nowhere during the time of chaos. With despair rampant, their teachings had rapidly gained followers.
At the time, nobles like Ghislain had paid them little attention, dismissing them as just another cult. Only the established religious orders had vehemently opposed them, attempting to suppress their rise.
"Back then, we thought they were merely aligning with Duke Delphine to escape persecution… but they were already colluding this far back."
Ghislain's interest in the Salvation Church had only been piqued after the one-year war began. When the Kingdom of Rutania fell under his onslaught, numerous hidden powerhouses surfaced, some of whom were operatives of the Salvation Church.
Among them was Raviel.
"I should have investigated further back then."
But Ghislain's primary target had been Duke Delphine. To him, the church was just another tool the duke had wielded. The thought of uprooting the church had seemed secondary, something to address once the duke was eliminated.
Then came his defeat, and with it, his death—cutting short any chance of digging deeper.
"Well, I'll just have to learn now."
Ghislain raised his blade, pointing it at Raviel with a predatory grin.
"You must be pretty high up in their ranks if you're a 'Inquisitor.' I wonder what secrets you'll spill. I'm quite skilled at extracting information."
The Inquisitor's Resolve
Raviel's eyes glimmered crimson, and an eerie black aura began to emanate from his frail form.
"Though the Promised Day is not yet upon us… it seems eliminating you now is worth the risk."
Ghislain observed the aura carefully, his grin fading into a calculating expression.
"So, they had power even back then, yet they remained in hiding. What are they waiting for?"
The dark energy swirling around Raviel wasn't mana—it felt closer to divine power, yet far more ominous.
This was the hallmark of the Salvation Church, a power so eerily similar to holy energy that it had once sown confusion and fear.
In the early days of the church, its power had sparked controversy. The world had feared their "priests" and their abilities, yet it hadn't been classified as dark magic, leaving the established orders without grounds to persecute them openly.
The church had skillfully exploited the chaos to grow its influence.
"The 'Promised Day'… could it be tied to the time of chaos?"
The more Ghislain considered it, the more certain he became. The timing, the methods—it all seemed interconnected.
But there was no time for further speculation.
The Battle Begins
"Guess I'll figure it out one corpse at a time."
Boom!
Ghislain's eyes glowed crimson, his body radiating a blood-red aura as he launched himself at Raviel.
The Inquisitor reacted swiftly.
Chime.
A soft bell rang out, sending waves of unseen energy rippling through the battlefield.
"RAARGH!"
The remaining monsters surged forward, their eyes wild with madness.
Ghislain swung his blade with a fluid motion.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His strikes tore through the creatures, but this time, his blade met resistance. The monsters' bodies were now shielded by Raviel's dark aura, their flesh unnaturally fortified.
Though Ghislain cut down several, the remaining creatures swarmed him.
Watching this unfold, Raviel smirked.
"Is this all the so-called 'Master' of the North can do? Such an overblown reputation."
He rang the bell again.
Chime.
This time, the wave of energy was far more potent.
The black aura enveloping the monsters grew denser, and their bodies swelled grotesquely.
Ghislain barely had time to react before—
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the ground. The creatures' bodies erupted, releasing towering pillars of black energy that reached into the sky.
Ghislain was engulfed in the blast, his figure completely obscured.
Porisco and the remaining temple knights collapsed to the ground, their faces pale with horror.
"W-what… what the hell was that?!"
Porisco stammered, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
The black pillar of energy radiated an aura that felt almost divine yet profoundly malevolent.
"Th-this… this can't be real…!"
Porisco trembled, his mind reeling from the paradox of something so unholy yet reminiscent of sacred power.
Raviel stood amidst the chaos, his expression cold as he surveyed the scene.
"Such a weak opponent… to think I was hindered by someone like this."
The Inquisitor's frustration was evident. The commotion in the capital, coupled with the display of his power, meant he couldn't stay.
"Foolish child," he muttered. "Because of you, this operation has failed."
Black energy began to swirl around Raviel as he prepared to leave. The remaining knights and Porisco barely registered his movements, too paralyzed by fear to act.
But just as Raviel was about to vanish—
The Hunter Strikes
"Where do you think you're going?"
"...?"
Raviel froze, turning his head sharply toward the source of the voice.
There stood Ghislain, stepping out of the dissipating black pillar, his body wreathed in a fiery crimson aura.
Raviel's eyes widened.
"You…"
Ghislain's lips curled into a savage grin as he raised his blade, crackling with blood-red energy.
"Surprised? You're not getting away that easily."