"......."

The silhouette of a figure seated high upon a divine throne, legs crossed, chin resting on one hand, gazed down at me.

The sense of unease, as if the attire were not of this world, only added to the awe.

I instinctively knew. That being was a god.

At that moment, the eyes of a human, now containing the visage of a god, were entirely blinded.

[Come out of that shell, the strict order and good.]

"......!"

The voice was as clear as the sky, yet as dark as the deep sea, combining the highest of melodies and the emptiness of the universe.

It was a resonance that carried both blessing and calamity.

The ears that dared hear the voice of a god—this price did not end merely with the loss of a physical organ.

The eardrum ruptured, and the brain itself trembled violently.

"──."

The collapsing body could not even scream.

The divine light consumed her body and soul completely. This was the moment when a human who had stolen divinity perished.✠"Huuuu..."

Her hair color returned to its original state as both feet landed firmly on the ground.

Having used the Divine Descent, there was something I needed to do. I reached into my inventory.

[ ‘Ultra-Powerful Fever-Reducing Potion’]

Legendary fever medicine so powerful it can cure even divine fever!

It’s in orange-flavored syrup form. A syrup spoon is included, so be sure to measure properly when taking it.]

This was the reward I received after completing the 'Prophet’s Mission 6th Stage' quest to prevent Doomsday.

As instructed by the system, I used the syrup spoon to sip the potion.

[‘The Scales of the Soul’ asks if that syrup spoon is something you use for giving medicine to children.]

‘Wow, it feels like a parenting moment, and it’s kind of nice.’

I carefully sealed the remaining potion and stored it in my inventory.

When I stood up again, my expression had turned serious.

"Let’s go, Agnes."

<Right.>

There was still a more secretive place than this sanctuary.

Following the map’s guidance, I searched for a hidden passage. After a while, I arrived at a bare room.

The ceiling above stretched endlessly. Soon, I could hear the sound of wind echoing from that direction.

"It’s not a ceiling. It’s the sky."

<What? Really?>

"Yes."

The sky was so distant it seemed small enough to cover with the palm of my hand.

As I called upon divine power, an updraft rose from the floor. My body began to float as though I were riding a massive balloon, rising in altitude.

[ Intermediate skill ‘Blessing of Protection’ activated.]

[ Ultimate skill ‘Peaceful Breath’ activated.]

.......As the sky drew nearer, the air pressure and temperature dropped.

The divine power skills wrapped around me, protecting my life.

After a long while, the suffocating sight of only stone walls finally changed.

My field of vision opened up.

"......."

The summit of a white snow-covered mountain greeted me. The extreme cold froze my lungs, and my blood vessels felt as though they might burst.

However, there was no violent blizzard howling around me.

It didn’t take long to realize why—because the air was flat on the ground.

The overwhelming pressure of this place was immediately felt. I turned my gaze to find the source.

"......."

"......."

Against the bent horizon, I saw the back of a man carrying the solitude of a thousand years.

His long black hair brushed softly, and as his beautiful face turned to look at me, he spoke.

"Hello, Ayleth Rodeline."

It was a strangely formal greeting, yet my retinas burned with pain.

I instinctively knew I would never forget this moment.

"I’ve missed you."

The final dark figure, the 100th cycle Tesilid Arzent.

He welcomed me with a smile so intense it felt like my heart was being crushed.

Chapter 47. Chaos Line

"Hello, Ayleth Rodeline. I’ve missed you."

In that moment, Reid was doing his best to smile. He too harbored a human desire—to have his last image be remembered beautifully.

On the other hand, Ayleth Rodeline, his Ayleth Rodeline, was beautiful without needing to force a smile.

Her pink hair, resembling cherry blossoms, fluttered alongside fractal flowers, and her spring-like green eyes gazed directly at him.

Her new white uniform seemed like a finely honed silver sword.

As Reid looked into her determined eyes, he thought to himself that he was glad.

Had he truly wanted to corrupt something so beautiful, to taint it with his own ugliness?

He was relieved it hadn’t worked.

Time was too precious to waste on such thoughts. He gathered all his focus on her, trying to gather any fragments of feelings she might have for him.

A firm expression, a subdued gaze. What would her voice be like?

He longed to hear it.

He wanted to hear her speak.

Any words would do.

Those lips would surely speak something sweet.

Soon, a steady voice rang out, clear and cold, reverberating through the frigid air.

"Hello, Reid."

"......."

"I came to kill you."

......Ah, indeed.

She was the only meaningful existence for him.

Without a doubt, it was the most intoxicating sentence in this world.✠The Sacred Sword’s master, Tesilid Arzent, along with the Holy Order, advanced rapidly toward their destination.

And at last, they arrived at the capital of the Elphenheim Church, Panel.

As expected of the place where the Demon King resided, the city had been severely demonized.

The Holy Order battled the demons, advancing toward the Holy Office. The Holy Office was practically the Demon King’s castle, so the demons guarding the area had grown exponentially stronger.

But thanks to the efforts of powerful figures from the Serentra [N O V E L I G H T] continent, such as Aaron Jake Hispenril, Romina Rekandro, Fliegel Knight, and Moriphis Marcelion, a path was slowly being carved through the defenses.

Amidst the fierce sounds of battle, someone shouted.

"Look ahead! The main gate of the Holy Office is within sight!"

"Wow! We’re almost there!"

"Let’s wipe them out and break through!"

As the knights chanted battle cries, their aura flared, slashing through the demons.

"All units! Spread out along the central road!"

"Spread out! Spread out!"

Romina Rekandro’s lion-like cry rang through the battlefield, and the knights echoed the orders, scattering in perfect unison.

Just as all of the allies in the front disappeared...

Swoooosh!

A massive light siege hammer pierced the air. It melted all enemies in its direct path, heading straight for the Holy Office’s main gate.

Clang! Clang!

Above the blackened arch, the Demon King’s defensive barrier activated. The light siege hammer, colliding with the barrier, spun in the air.

As its rotation speed increased, the siege hammer glowed white-hot for a moment.

Boom!

The black barrier shattered, and the siege hammer pierced the gate.

"Ugh."

"Ha!"

"Gulp!"

Even the allies were shocked at the power of the skill that tore through the enemy lines in a single blow.

It was clear who the owner of the siege hammer was.

The aura surrounding it was the purest, shining with the holy light—divine aura, to be precise.

All eyes turned toward the figure standing like a painted knight in the wind.

The silver-haired, handsome Tesilid Arzent, emanating holiness, adjusted the clasp of his Clamis cape and spoke.

"The Prophet has opened the way for us. We advance."

"Yes, Sir!"

His calm demeanor, despite his overwhelming strength, instilled unmatched confidence in the allies.

Some couldn’t help but mutter in admiration.

"Truly the man of the Holy Sword..."

"Mind your own business, Chez."

"Oh, Priest Hestio! Are you injured?"

"Did you understand right away?"

Of course, not all hearts were the same. Some others felt a bit melancholic.

"To have awakened divine aura, mastered aura, hold the Holy Sword, and even be a prince... I can’t compare at all..."

"Don’t lose your confidence, Ray."

The brief moment of idle chatter was the only rest they would get.

The demons began to swarm again, blocking the path, and they had to enter the Holy Office before the magical barriers could be restored.

The Holy Order pressed forward, moving in formation toward the main gate.

Passing through the black archway, carved with demonic angels rather than angels, they were greeted by a desolate courtyard.

The air, mixed with demonic energy, gripped their bodies with a cold touch.

Those who couldn’t help but inhale deeply were startled.

"This... this energy?!"

"Poisonous?! My body... Ugh!"

Their three great powers instinctively reacted, quickly circulating through their bodies to protect them.

"Hold your breath...!"

The crusaders thought the air was simply the result of the demonized land.

But it was something else entirely.

"Feel free to breathe. After all, it’s something you can’t avoid."

"Tesilid...?"

The demonized land followed the rules of the dungeon. And under the power of Abixsinus, the absolute law governing the Demon King’s realm was as follows:

"The demonic energy of the Demon King’s domain corrupts existence. As time passes, we will become monsters ourselves."

"Ugh!"

"Let’s hurry. Abixsinus is likely in the Grand Cathedral."

The Holy Office occupied by Abixsinus was, in fact, the Demon King’s Castle. Such a place wouldn’t easily allow intruders to pass.

Soon, the Holy Order began their advance once again, and the defense mechanisms kicked into gear.

<Unauthorized beings.......>

<You cannot pass.......>

From the ground, dark, viscous creatures began to rise, taking the forms of various monsters.

Giant skeletal reapers, horned bipedal goats, lizard-like creatures with spikes along their spines, and winged fallen angels glared with malevolent eyes.

The slimy, demonic energy filled the courtyard.

"Individual response!"

"Break through!"

Special privileges for the possessed.