The Priest of Corruption

Chapter 54: Black Wolf.

With a swoosh, the sword that had pierced the abdomen was withdrawn. Carmen slowly pulled out the sword and surveyed his surroundings.

Dead bodies. Everywhere, dead bodies.

Their attempt to kill all the enemies had failed. The underground arena was riddled with numerous passages, facilitating easy escape. When Carmen and Sajita pursued them, the enemies who had resisted initially scattered in all directions, as if on cue, and began to flee.

Carmen could have chased them if he wanted to. However, if he and Sajita pursued the fleeing enemies without knowing their numbers, there was a risk that the enemies would wipe out all the remaining kingdom soldiers.

Carmen wiped the blood from his sword and looked behind him.

Commander Trudy! Yes!

The response was strong.

How many are dead?

Twenty-four survivors in total! Three are severely injured, and eleven have minor injuries!

Carmen suppressed a sigh. Sixteen of the forty men he had brought with him were dead. If he had known this would happen, he would have brought a hundred elite soldiers. It was a grave mistake to bring only new recruits for experience, thinking it would be a simple crackdown.

After a moment-s consideration, Carmen decided it would be better for him and Sajita to continue the search alone. Ordering the soldiers to search the narrow passages in the arenl was nothing more than an order for them to be killed by a surprise attack.

Commander Trudy, Sajita and I will escort you all to the entrance. Take the wounded and leave this place... Boom!

A loud noise echoed from a distant place.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Something massive was charging towards them, demolishing everything in its path. Carmen quickly shouted.

Now! Everyone, run! Commander Trudy! Quickly!!! Yes!!!

The soldiers caring for the wounded hurriedly headed for the exit. Sajita!!!

At Carmens call, Sajita quickly nodded, picked up the spear that had fallen on the floor, and readied himself to throw it at any moment.

Bang! Bang! Baaaaaang!!!

Finally, the source of the noise burst through the passageway and into the middle of the underground arena.

Familiar outfits. Many familiar outfits.

Most of Ilechs agents, whom Carmen had given up on pursuing, were there. They were all fused together.

The humans that made up the body of the ragged monster opened their mouths simultaneously and screamed. - Kyeeeeeeh!!!

Thats...

He had witnessed something similar in Eradico before. The ragged giant he had come across in that city bore a striking resemblance to this monster. Perhaps due to a lack of bodies, it was crawling on the floor, incapable of forming a proper human shape.

Haap!!!

With a determined yell, the spear flew through the air at a terrifying speed and lodged itself in what was presumed to be the head of the ragged monster.

Whoosh!

- Kyeeeeeeeeeeeh! ! !

Carmen was jolted back to reality by the monsters screams. He turned his head to see Sajita, who had thrown the spear, already sprinting towards the monster. There was no time to ponder.

Sajita! lust stall it! Buy enough time for the soldiers to escape!

Sajita nodded lightly, not slowing his pace. His hand, gripping the white Bone Spear, held immense power. His muscles, honed from daily training, responded to his command.

- Kyeeeeeeeeh!!!

The monsters massive front paws, comprised of human mass, fell to crush Sajita. Sajita watched the trajectory of the paw and sidestepped with minimal movement.

Crash!

The huge paw narrowly missed, slamming into the floor. The humans that made up the giants paw reached out greedily to catch Sajita. He calmly stabbed it with his spear.

- Kyeeeeeeeeeh!!!

The ragged beast, impaled by the spear, let out a scream unlike any before. The reason was simple. The Bone Spear that Sajita wielded was a gift from the Trumpeter of Rest. This spear, imbued with the power of the Trumpet of Death and Rest, was a weapon capable of inflicting excruciating pain upon the dead.

In its rage, the ragged giant swung its front paw wildly. The attack was too broad to evade by merely running. With all his might, Sajita rolled backward.

Crash!

The wall, struck by the ragged beasts hand, crumbled.

The red cloak fluttered.

This was an opportunity. Seizing the opening created by the giants attack, the silver knight dashed across the arena floor.

A sword of pure white bone traced a long arc. The ragged beasts hind foot, deeply cut, hung in shreds. - Kyeeeeeeh!!!

A huge amount of divinity erupted with an ominous scream. Although Carmen and Sajita did not feel the divinity, they had an ominous intuition and quickly increased their distance from the monster.

Dark shadows. The shadows covering the arena stood up all at once. A frosty storm ensued.

Two powers exploded simultaneously.

Carmen hurriedly jumped up into the stands, dodging the storm of shadows and cold. A brief moment passed, and the storm that had arisen in a flash subsided as quickly as it had appeared.

Carmen stood up and shouted.

Sajita! Are you okay? Answer me! The answer came from the ragged monster. - Kyeeeeeeeeeeeee!! ! !

Carmen quickly turned his head to look at the ragged monster.

His armor was half destroyed from being hit head-on by the storm of divinity. Blood constantly flowed from the gaps in the armor.

Sajita, battered and bruised, raised the white spear while riding on the head of the ragged monster. Without hesitation, he slammed his spear down onto the monsters crown.

- Kyeeeeeeeh!!!

All the mouths of the ragged monster shrieked. All the humans that made up its body screamed. The ragged monster screamed and struggled violently.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

While holding the giants head with one hand, Sajita stabbed the white spear again and again. The scream of the ragged monster changed instantly. - Stop it!!! Stop it!!! I said stop!!! It hurts!!! It hurts!!!! Ahhh!!! Oh, Sewing Needle!!!

With the desperate plea, transparent threads erupted all at once like tentacles from the ragged monsters body.

Whoosh.

A transparent needle pierced Sajitas ankle. With an impassive expression, he swung the white Bone Spear, severing the transparent thread. As one needle was neutralized, dozens more sprang up and advanced towards him.

Stop and jump off, Sajita!

Sajita thrust his spear into the monster, then leapt from its head. - It huuuuuuuurts!!!

Thud.

Unable to land on both legs due to his injured ankle, he rolled on the hard floor to lessen the impact. Carmen, who had rushed over, grabbed Sajitas hand and helped him up. Your leg! Is it okay?

The transparent needle remained lodged in his ankle. Seeing the wound that clearly wasnt okay, Sajita responded silently. Sort of. - I said it huuuuuurts!!!

All the soldiers have retreated. Lets get out of here while that monster struggles with pain!!!

At Carmens words, Sajita nodded swiftly. However, before they could take more than a few steps, an enormous surge of divinity erupted from the monsters body.

Threads of power, as thick as a human forearm, writhed like living worms, extending towards all passages in the underground arena, including Carmen and Sajita.

W-What is this?! Aaaaaaaaaah!!!

Let go! Let me go!!! Hey!! Cut it now!!! Cut off my leg!!!

The transparent threads pierced and began to consume the Ilechs agents who were chasing Lady Dachia through the escape exit, the human corpses they had killed, and the spectators who couldnt escape.

Swoosh!

A pure white sword sliced through one thread. Carmen pushed Sajita behind him and swung his sword relentlessly.

A single thread was severed in one blow and vanished. Carmen continued his onslaught, his sword swinging without pause.

His muscles screamed for respite. Sweat poured down his face. The plate armor he wore felt increasingly heavy, to the point where he wanted to discard it immediately. Clenching his teeth, Carmen swung his sword again and again.

He sliced, hacked, and cleaved. Carmens sword, dedicated solely to cutting, danced in the air. Fragments of transparent threads rained down.

But it wasnt enough. More threads than Carmen could handle surged towards them.

Crash!

The ragged monster, growing uncontrollably, finally shattered the ceiling and emerged from the ground. - KYEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

The monstrous roar of the ragged beast reverberated throughout the capital of the northern kingdom.

Clank!

Carmen, drained of strength, dropped his sword. Suddenly, a black knight emerged from the ground.

The knight was clad in black armor that covered his entire body, and in his hands, he held two swords of different sizes. The jet-black sword in his left hand was an ordinary long sword. However, the great sword in his right hand was so enormous that it seemed to defy practicality.

The black knight effortlessly swung the massive sword, as long as two adult males standing side by side, as if it were a mere toy.

- Kyeeeeeh . . .

Swoosh.

The ragged giants head fell. The black knight quickly scanned his surroundings, paying no mind to the miraculous sight he had just created.

Soon, his gaze fell upon Carmen, entangled in transparent threads.

A flash of light glinted through the hole in the dark helmet.

Black Wolf Ensis Baltas dashed towards Carmen, wielding his left-handed sword, Fangs. The blade followed a unique trajectory, seeming to consume everything it encountered. It cut through all the transparent threads that bound Carmen and Sajita. The severed threads immediately lost their shape and dissipated.

Thud.

The black knight landed lightly on the ground, lifting his visor.

A handsome man with robust features was unveiled. Carmen couldnt help but express joy upon seeing the man, who would have appeared to be in his twenties if not for his scruffy beard.

Father!

Ensis glanced at Carmen and Sajita, who were in a sorry state, and spoke tersely.

Can you walk?

Yes.

Ensis silently nodded, turned away from the pair, and murmured softly.

Then go. Ill kill that monster. At that moment.

Boooom!!!

Another monster, a demon, appeared with an explosive sound. The demon glared at the ragged monster and screamed. - Give it to me now!!! You fucking thief!!!

***

Dachia, casting a glance at Master, stealthily approached me and asked in a hushed tone.

Whats our next move? Should we just escape? Weve already secured the holy relic.

Indeed, as she mentioned, Writhing Curiosity had confirmed my well-being and had prematurely handed over the holy relic. However, I hadnt released it yet due to the Divinity of Corruption that would seep out upon breaking the seal.

Kill!!!

Mother had urged us to abscond with the holy relic without the womans awareness. I responded to Dachia, gently patting Mother.

Its probably best to...

Before I could complete my sentence, a solitary voice pierced my ear. - Help me!

It was the voice of Writhing Curiosity. I was the only one who could hear it.

- Please!

Sigh.

I drew a short breath and smiled.

Master.

Master Pridiya cocked her head at my call.

Why are you calling me? Disciple? Have you finally decided to go back with me?

Can you help me?

Her two blue eyes flickered with curiosity.

What do you need from me?