Chapter 928: Anathema (2)

Lennok’s assertion that the Guido Cult had unleashed their minions and invaded Etanoc simultaneous with the start of the ritual.

The Guileless, who had been hesitating, clutched his spear shaft hard enough to shatter it and muttered,

“I can’t believe it. A cult launching an attack of this scale in a satellite city not far from Vulcan…”

“Oshuto’s death is also highly likely connected to this situation. His head was pierced through, killing him instantly, without anyone even noticing.”

“…”

“The attendees of the summit must be warned. You have to go to deliver this information.”

Lennok, the master of the Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Formation, had to guard this place until the ritual ended, and Peshia was a half-superhuman bound by an oath.

The only one here with relative freedom of movement was The Guileless.

At the very least, he had to inform the organizers of the situation unfolding here so that others could prepare.

The Guileless, understanding Lennok’s words, nodded with a grim expression.

“…Understood. I’ll return as quickly as possible.”

Whoosh!

The Guileless’s form, gripping his spear, flickered indistinctly and vanished after taking a few steps.

Listening to the commotion Peshia was causing on the runway, Lennok reached out and felt for Oshuto’s pulse.

‘No use.’

Instant death the moment his brain stem was pierced.

All vital functions had ceased, leaving no possibility of revival.

Not long had passed since his death, so blood still flowed, but soon his body would stiffen, and rigor mortis would set in.

But Lennok wasn’t pondering Oshuto’s death for any other reason.

“The skill to kill a rider instantly without leaving any trace on the mechanical spider, and without anyone noticing…”

A bizarre death, as if an invisible gun had been pressed to his head and the trigger pulled.

More than anything, the coin-sized hole in Oshuto’s forehead made Lennok recall a certain possibility.

Could the murderer of the Duris Workshop’s Meister have been the Magic Gunner Lennok knew?

But Lennok, even after considering that much, retreated without firm conviction.

‘…I don’t know.’

For the Director, killing someone in this manner wouldn’t be difficult.

But the Director Lennok knew wasn’t someone who would operate this way, precisely because of that.

Hadn’t the Director even refined their innate Magic Gunner talent, elevating it to a miracle akin to an ‘Authority’?

But how well did Lennok truly know the Director to say they wouldn’t resort to such methods?

Even now, he was merely reflecting on what he, Lennok, would do in the Director’s shoes, not the Director themselves.

Even while thinking it wasn’t them, he couldn’t shake off the suspicion.

The immediate course of action was to inform the other attendees and prevent further damage.

Thwack!

Lennok, closing the deceased Oshuto’s eyes and covering the mechanical spider’s cockpit, reached into his coat.

Pulling out a sleek, glowing sniper rifle, he instantly ascended to the control tower’s rooftop.

“[Screech!!]”

Without even glancing at the flesh monsters surging towards Etanoc with unpleasant shrieks, he raised his rifle.

The muzzle wasn’t aimed at the monsters rampaging near the airport, but at the hordes pressing in from far outside the city.

Clack!

Peshia would handle the monsters that had already entered the airport facilities anyway.

In that case, Lennok’s job was to reduce the number of monsters approaching the city through ultra-long-range support fire.

The Eye of the Wellspring, attached to the scope’s lens, scanned a radius of several thousand meters from his position, capturing everything alive and moving.

Immediately after, it filtered out only the non-humanoid monsters, automatically re-calibrating its targets.

Kiiiiing!!!

As he drew upon his magical power, he simultaneously chanted supportive magic for his shot.

“[Aim Correction: Level 6]”

“[Trajectory Guidance: Level 4]”

“[Targeted Shot: Level 4]”

“[Trigger Acceleration: Level 2]”

“[Impact Enhancement: Level 4]”

…

“[Large Caliber Round Loaded]”

Over the rifle’s sleek barrel, he layered dozens of supportive spells, chanting them in rapid succession.

Simultaneously, the Eye of the Wellspring, serving as the scope’s lens, began to spin violently.

Kiiigigiig!!!

The moment the glowing white eye simultaneously detected and aimed at hundreds of flesh monsters surging outside the city.

The instant Lennok pulled the trigger, dazzling light erupted from the rifle’s muzzle.

Creation-type Unique Magic: Applied Alchemy

Multifold Synthesis (多重合成)

“[Iron-Armored Fury (鐵鉀重猖)]”

“[Myriad-Net Demonic Bullets (萬羅魔彈)]”

Taaang!!!

The explosive gunshot, a mixture of gunpowder and magic, was singular.

But myriad fragments of magical power, splitting and dividing in the air, spread out beyond the satellite city, piercing through the monsters.

They caused the flesh monsters’ bodies to burst like balloons on the spot, spilling their contents onto the desert.

Pubububumb!!!!

The city’s outer perimeter, extending beyond the runway, was dyed crimson with blood.

The faint, metallic scent of blood drifted from afar, along with a hot, unpleasant air that still carried residual heat.

But Lennok didn’t stop there, continuously drawing on his magic and re-aiming the rifle.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With each pull of the trigger, unpleasant presences felt at the city’s outskirts vanished in clumps, leaving only the intensifying smell of blood.

Lennok, kneeling on the control tower and peering through the scope, fell into thought as he surveyed the urban area.

‘They’re just heading towards the city center, not attempting to invade in a specific direction. The situation must be similar elsewhere.’

Given that the flesh monsters’ destination was presumed to be the ritual site in Etanoc’s center, it was clear that Anathema’s Incarnation Ritual had triggered this anomaly.

It was highly probable that similar events were unfolding along the other seven directional axes of the formation.

But it wasn’t just the presence of these grotesque flesh monsters that captivated Lennok’s attention.

“Hey, Adamant Thunder!!”

At that moment, Peshia’s sharp shout erupted from below the control tower.

The fearsome spear user, drenched head to toe in red blood, glared at Lennok with glistening eyes.

“What the f*ck are you doing!!!”

“I’ll explain.”

Lennok lowered his rifle, jumped down from the control tower, and replied.

Clack!

Lennok discarded the magazine, pulled out one filled with armor-piercing rounds from his coat, reloaded the rifle, and said,

“External forces intervened during the Incarnation Ritual. It seems to be the result of human sacrifice—”

“Why did you kill all the bugs I was supposed to kill?!”

“…So that was it?”

Peshia’s face, glaring at Lennok while breathing heavily, seemed to have already entered a state of frenzy, as if she wasn’t in her right mind.

Come to think of it, this was probably the first time she had killed someone with her own hands since being taken captive by Olivera.

Considering Peshia’s fearsome disposition and abilities, it was natural for her to be eagerly searching for things to kill right now.

But Lennok ignored Peshia’s complaints and quickly explained the situation.

“Oshuto Duris is dead. Someone made their move as soon as the ritual began.”

“Oh, that old geezer who was trying to leech off you?”

Peshia exhaled roughly and grinned.

“What a hothead. I was planning to deal with him later anyway, but did you already kill him?”

“I didn’t kill him.”

Lennok shook his head.

“Someone knew the cult would intervene the moment the ritual began. Knowing that, they took advantage of the chaos to kill Oshuto.”

“So, you did it then.”

“You’re impossible to reason with.”

Lennok gave up on persuasion and looked back at the axis of the Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Formation, where the ritual was progressing.

Paaaat!!

The pillar of light, extending into the night sky, bent and poured down onto the ritual site.

A waterfall of light, far more intense than when the ritual first began.

“The ritual will end soon. Anathema’s physical body will now manifest upon the altar of the ritual site.”

Lennok, who had silently observed the ritual’s progression with his eyes closed, spoke.

“The problem is that more attendees of the summit might die in the interim. Perhaps superhumans who aren’t as combat-proficient as Oshuto are the targets.”

“Why is that a problem? What’s the big deal if the traitors attending the summit die?”

Peshia flashed a chilling smile.

“I’d rather they all just die here. You, the Kabahim Knight Commander, Sybrid Echo’s Captain Seven. I’d be so relieved if those annoying bastards disappeared.”

“I’m not particularly worried about the safety of the other attendees either. The problem is that those orchestrating this situation are likely the cult.”

Lennok replied.

“If the cult kills more Level 8 extreme-ability users or secures their bodies, things will get troublesome. They’re seasoned experts at turning superhuman bodies into forbidden armaments.”

But Peshia listened to Lennok’s words with an indifferent expression.

“The cult, they’re just fanatics who worship Outer Gods, not even good enough for a snack. These monsters mean nothing.”

“Indeed. What’s important isn’t the cult’s strength, but the very fact of their involvement.”

Lennok said.

“The fact that they launched an attack simultaneously with the ritual’s start is proof they knew about the summit’s content and purpose. There’s an insider among the attendees.”

“Oho, now that’s an interesting story.”

Only then did Peshia’s eyes gleam with strong murderous intent.

“Among those traitorous bastards gathered in Vulcan, there’s one who sold their soul to the Outer Sea?”

“I sent Krod Azlan to the ritual site. He’ll inform them of the situation and the presence of an insider.”

“No, what are you talking about? If things are like this, isn’t it obvious there’s an insider among the organizers?”

Peshia, perhaps regaining her reason through conversation with Lennok, raised a seemingly valid question.

“If they knew the summit’s content and stabbed us in the back, it would be impossible without prior notification, wouldn’t it?”

The blood-dripping spear tip pointed alternately at Lennok and herself.

“You and I, who just heard about The Veil today, Duris who just died. Excluding the other idiots who were just frozen, of course that dog Slain is the culprit.”

“…”

“Or it could even involve Olinic, the Single Brain of Gisusingung, or the former Knight Commander. I’d actually prefer that, wouldn’t you?”

For Peshia, who seemed to bear considerable resentment towards Kiriya, it was a welcome hypothesis.

But Lennok shook his head, even after hearing Peshia’s words.

“I can’t be certain that Slain or the other summit organizers are colluding with the cult. Too many things can’t be explained by that premise alone.”

“What?”

“If the organizers wanted to collude with the cult to kill Level 8 ability users, they would have had plenty of time to prepare. Why did they only prepare this much force, when it wouldn’t even be enough if they brought high-ranking Apostles?”

“…”

“The circumstances of Oshuto Duris’s murder are also highly suspicious. If the cult had the ability to secretly kill Oshuto, there would be no reason to release these monsters to divert attention.”

The flesh monsters that attacked the satellite city were literally immense in number, but individually, their strength didn’t reach that of high-level superhumans.

Even Peshia, whose hierarchy was broken, could slaughter the flesh monsters, so while annoying, they could hardly be considered dangerous opponents.

Furthermore, it was incomprehensible that whoever had the ability to kill Oshuto Duris without a trace also allowed Lennok to immediately notice it.

There were far too many aspects that couldn’t be clearly explained by a single reason or situation.

“F*cking hell… My head hurts.”

Peshia, raking her blood-covered hands through her disheveled hair, asked,

“So, what are you trying to say?”

“The cult’s intervention is a trigger to divert attention. The assassinations of Oshuto and other Level 8s are someone’s personal deviation, predicted amidst this chaos.”

Lennok’s eyes shone sharply.

“The perpetrators of these two incidents are different people. Two distinct forces are vying for control in this satellite city. And their objective is—”

Whoosh!

At that moment, the pillar of light illuminating the night sky dimmed and rapidly faded.

The Incarnation Ritual using the Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Formation had completely ended, and a colossal presence erupted from Etanoc’s center.

The instant Peshia realized that this signified the manifestation of someone who hadn’t existed until now, and twisted her lips.

Lennok raised his rifle’s muzzle and said,

“It must lie in the very existence of Anathema, who manifested through the ritual. We need to go confirm Anathema’s condition right now.”

Whoosh!

A hot wind, mixed with the scent of blood, swept through the streets.

White sand was stained sticky crimson with fresh blood, and the grotesquely dead flesh monsters formed mountains of corpses.

“[Squeal!!]”

“[Screech, screech…!!]”

Dudududududu!!!

Thousands of flesh monsters were already pouring into the urban area near the ritual site.

Their numbers were so vast that they not only filled the streets but were even bursting apart from pushing and fighting among themselves.

Unlike Lennok and Peshia, other areas must not have been able to completely prevent the flesh monsters’ invasion.

Thud!

Evading the rampaging monsters on the ground, Lennok climbed onto a nearby building, leaned on his staff, and turned around.

“If Azlan understood my words, he’d be waiting at a spot where he could first witness Anathema’s manifestation.”

“Since the ritual’s over anyway, everyone will rush to see Anathema.”

Peshia gripped her spear tighter, a cold smile on her face.

“I’ll just ram my spear through their throats and ask who recited the cult’s doctrines. It’s not a difficult task, is it?”

“You talk big for someone who can’t even start a fight because of Olivera’s binding.”

“!!”

“More importantly, the problem we need to focus on is elsewhere.”

Lennok ignored Peshia, who was muttering incomprehensible curses, and said.

His eyes, gazing at the urban area buried in sand near the ritual site, grew cold.

“Others must have noticed the attack on Etanoc, yet there’s almost no presence felt near the ritual site.”

“…”

“They must have a reason they can’t return immediately, even knowing about the anomaly. They might still be fighting the flesh monsters, but in the worst case—”

“They might have already discarded their decorum and started killing each other.”

Thud!

Someone interrupted Lennok, slowly walking out onto the rooftop of a building on the opposite side of the urban area.

A red-haired man, bearing a massive greatsword. He wore an old mask covering his eyes, and a sparse beard framed his lips as he whistled.

With each step, bells embedded between the greatsword’s blades jingled with a clear sound.

“I, on the other hand, think that possibility is far higher.”

“…”

Instead of replying, Lennok silently watched something being dragged along in the man’s hand.

It was a gigantic, non-humanoid baby-like figure. Covered in blood, it showed no signs of life.

The moment he realized it was the black wizard Tillian’s corpse, the man noticed Lennok’s gaze and shrugged.

“Ah, this? I saw it on the way here and killed it. Its way of talking was rather irritating.”

“…”

“It convulsed and resisted, so I thought maybe, but as expected, it’s not the main body.”

The man, tossing Tillian’s corpse aside after dragging it all this way, said,

“I don’t know what methods it used, but it’s clearly a substitute. Every time I meet one, I’m struck by how devious they are.”

“Are you planning to disrupt the manifestation?”

“The young one’s got a short fuse. Why do you keep asking things you already know?”

The man grinned.

“From the moment Slain started spewing nonsense about imitating The Veil, I knew at least half wouldn’t agree.”

“…”

“Since the game’s already messed up, what’s wrong with me trying to mold it to my liking?”

Was this a faction that had merely been holding back due to the summit’s atmosphere, having never agreed with the plan itself?

Given that not everyone gathered at the summit was of a moderate disposition to begin with, this might have been a predestined conflict.

As the man, having said that, lifted the greatsword from his shoulder, the bells hanging from its blade jingled.

Chiring, chiring…!!

Following the sound of the bells, strange, formless vengeful spirits gathered beneath the greatsword’s shadow.

Even Lennok, who had faced countless military spirits in the Military Spirit City, couldn’t discern the origin of these vengeful spirits.

“Hey, get lost, you’re in the way.”

Just as Lennok narrowed his eyes and began to draw on his magic, Peshia clicked her tongue, gripped her spear, and stepped forward.

“It’s obvious he’s not smart enough to side with the cult. I’ll take care of him.”

“…I’m so grateful I could cry.”

Lennok chuckled at Peshia’s utterly unexpected offer.

“I never imagined you’d try to help me at this point.”

“That’s an Executioner.”

Peshia ignored Lennok’s words and muttered.

Gripping her spear shaft, she painstakingly drew upon her magic and nodded her head.

“It’s a term for unruly rascals, but it’s a dog-like ability that lets them command those they’ve killed as subordinates.”

“…”

“Unless it’s my Ancestral Spirit, it’ll be difficult to inflict significant damage. So, you go down to the ritual site and check on Anathema’s condition.”

Peshia glanced at the ritual site and said,

“If that stiff noble bastard has finally crawled out, he’ll be the most useful against those cult bastards.”

She had never let on before, but did Peshia also know Armas von Anathema?

Indeed, as a participant in the civil war herself, she couldn’t have been unaware of Anathema.

However, Peshia’s assertion that Anathema would be most helpful against the cult was quite intriguing.

Could there be a talent or ability among the Ars Nova nobles that was antithetical to the cult?

If so, it also strengthened the possibility that the cult’s goal itself lay in Anathema’s manifestation.

“…Understood.”

Lennok, having quickly made his decision, nodded and turned away.

“You can die fighting him moderately well. I permit it.”

“F*ck off.”

Leaving Peshia’s profanity-laced reply behind, Lennok immediately headed towards the ritual site.

The remnants of monsters lay haphazardly piled up all around the ramp leading to the ritual site.

Was it just his imagination that their appearance strangely overlapped with the human sacrifice scenes carved into the ramp’s murals?

Reaching the end of the ramp and turning his head, he saw the ritual site, where grotesque stone statues stood clustered together.

In the ritual site with its wide-open ceiling, a cascade of pure white light descended, creating a magnificent spectacle.

Gooooooo…!!!

And at the center of the ritual site, the altar.

At the heart of the beautifully radiating light, someone lay curled up as if an infant in a cradle, asleep.

“…”

A young man with blue scales all over his body.

His face, curled up on the altar with eyes closed, seemed utterly peaceful.

“…That’s.”

A bizarre appearance, as if only the characteristics of a dragon and a human had been extracted and combined.

Yet, his presence was impeccably pure and clear, as if a transparent pool of water lay before him.

The cool, refreshing sensation emanating from his soul was so vivid it felt somewhat jarring.

“Adamant Thunder. You’re late.”

Slain was observing the blue-scaled human curled up on the altar.

The moment Lennok, having confirmed The Guileless was not in the ritual site, drew upon his magic and was about to say something.

Slain raised a hand, interrupting Lennok.

“Nothing.”

“…”

“Don’t say anything.”

Slain, not averting his gaze from the light descending onto the altar, said,

“For now, just observe this moment.”

“…”

“The sight of Anathema manifesting in this world for the seventh time.”

The noble of Ars Nova. The transcendent Dragon Sorcerer who reached Level 8. The hero of the civil war.

The Six Heavenly Tribulations (六天迲), who manifested in this world for the seventh time, surpassing six previous incarnations.

Armas von Anathema opened his eyes.