Chapter 35 – Archdemon Scarver

Kaiser visited the Sanctuary Cathedral before leaving the Weiman Direct Domain.

– Sanctuary Contamination Level: 86%

It was a faster speed than expected.

Soon it would reach 90%, and if that happened, he would be unable to leave the Weiman Direct Domain.

With bad luck, he would be trapped forever.

“Cleric. I dropped by for a moment before leaving.”

Kaiser sought out Rashid, and thought as he looked at the chaotic surroundings.

‘Is it a summoning ritual? I wondered why the progress had quickened, and it turns out that was the cause.’

The clerics were pouring wild beasts’ and monsters’ blood along the pre-marked symbols.

A nauseating stench pricked the tip of their noses, and an ordinary person would have expressed doubt.

Asking what on earth they were doing.

However, Kaiser knew.

What that action meant and what was being prepared here.

“Did you deliberately quicken the progress?”

Rashid responded.

“Yes, because there is no need to wait. Time is gold.”

“Time is gold…”

“Rather than that, are you leaving?”

Looking outside, he saw the vehicle Kaiser had arrived in.

“Yes, because it looks dangerous. There is no reason to remain here while taking such risks. So I dropped by for a moment before leaving.”

Kaiser’s gaze, which had been scanning here and there, shifted to Rashid.

“As long as you have the Holy Blood Spear and the inquisitor of the Jaeger family, you will be able to block the Archdemon Scarver without any trouble. And there is a demonic sword he leaves behind. If possible, make sure to obtain it. It will be extremely useful. I also covet it, but as you can see, I am not a combat character.”

“It is exactly like the strategy guide. Are you perhaps the person who read that strategy guide, or the one who wrote it yourself?”

Kaiser smiled faintly.

“If I said I wrote that strategy guide, would you believe me? Since more than one or two people must have seen it, I am probably just one of the people who read that guide. Just like you.”

Before turning his steps, Kaiser recalled the conversation they had previously and continued to speak to him.

“You asked me if I knew the end of this world, right? Honestly, I do not. As you know, there is only one person who saw the end of this world. Guppy Master. The only user who wrote the ending strategy guide.”

Guppy Master.

He was a named user, just like wlwhs1988.

“Since there are so many variables, even if one acted according to the strategy guide he wrote, it would not be easy to see the ending. If he is possessed into this world, perhaps he might stop the coming ruin. Since he is the only one who saw the end of this world.”

The conversation ended with that.

“Then, I wish you luck.”

Right at that moment, someone happened to enter Kaiser’s sight.

She was walking out of the cathedral entrance, a named character who would only be unlocked after clearing the Weiman Direct Domain.

“The Dark Blood Ghost Executioner. Ah, that woman was here too.”

Kaiser recognized her immediately, and Rashid suddenly had something he wanted to ask him.

“Have you perhaps cleared this place before? I have not.”

“Do you mean Weiman?”

“Yes.”

Kaiser did not feel the need to hide it.

“Yes, I have multiple times. So I know that woman too. The Dark Blood Ghost Executioner. She is the only named character among the Heresy Inquisitors. She is also a character who is unlocked only when you save this Weiman Direct Domain.”

“The Dark Blood Ghost Executioner?”

“Keep that woman alive if possible. Most people do not know. But that woman will catch two Lazarus Villains later.”

As the unexpected words came out, a small light flickered in Rashid’s indifferent eyes.

“She catches two villains?”

“Yes, regardless of the player, she catches two villains on her own. Because it is a region that is usually ignored, everyone is unaware, but in my memory of clearing this place, I remember her as a quite useful named character.”

“Who are those two?”

“Saintess Mariel Credo.”

She was the person Rashid had caught earlier.

Upon hearing that name, Rashid thought.

‘That makes sense. If she became an inquisitor, Mariel, who wore the guise of a saintess, would have been good prey.’

“Who is the other one?”

The words that followed were a bit unexpected.

“Vane Sanctum. He has not been incorporated into Lazarus yet, but he will be soon, and the one who kills him will be her, who is called the Dark Blood Ghost Executioner.”

“Vane Sanctum?”

“So it would be better to keep her alive if possible. Unless you plan to catch him yourself, that Dark Blood Ghost will hunt him on her own.”

The conversation ended with that.

“If you escape from here safely, we will probably have a chance to meet again later. Well then.”

Ignoring the departing Kaiser,

Rashid’s gaze remained fixed on her as she lingered outside the cathedral for a while.

‘He probably did not tell a lie. If so, it means that woman will catch Vane Sanctum…’

Did Kaiser also know that she was Vane Sanctum’s biological younger sister?

By the time he thought to ask again, Kaiser had already departed.

‘Rather than a risk factor to be eliminated… was she a sword to catch villains?’

Rashid suddenly had such a thought.

* * *

– Sanctuary Contamination Level: 97%

At the same time the summoning magic circle drawn around the cathedral was completed, the Sanctuary Contamination Level exceeded 90% and quickly soared to 97%.

Since all preparations were finished, it was a natural progression, and the bishop, who had become somewhat rushed in his mind, came to find Rashid.

“Lord Arkan’s manifestation timing has drawn near.”

For the manifestation timing of an archangel, the dark sky filled with thunderclouds was unusual from the start.

It felt as if the timing of the archdemon’s descent was right before their eyes.

“Indeed, is the Holy Blood Spear ready?”

The Holy Blood Spear, which the craftsmen of various workshops had poured their hearts into making by drawing the blood of the Jaeger family, was already completed.

Its form was maintained by the mana stone embedded in its core, and since it was forged with the blood of the Jaeger family, it was not lacking to be called a decisive weapon against the archdemon.

“Yes, it is ready.”

“Then I will personally manifest Lord Arkan. Go to the inquisitor.”

The bishop’s expression was quite chilling.

“Kill him. He is a person who interferes with Lord Arkan’s manifestation. I will take all responsibility for killing the inquisitor, so do not worry at all. You just need to kill the inquisitor.”

“Yes, then I will go and clean up the inquisitor.”

“I am counting only on you.”

Rashid departed, and the bishop remained in place, looking at the summoning magic circle drawn in blood across the entire sanctuary.

“Finally, Lord Arkan, the Archangel who will subjugate the archdemon, manifests. Only Lord Arkan can save this contaminated sanctuary and easily defeat the Archdemon Scarver! Worship Him! Archangel Lord Arkan!”

All the believers who were with the bishop knelt down on one knee in unison to show respect, waiting for the archangel who would manifest soon.

Only one.

Aria Sanctum alone stood in place, quietly staring only at the bishop.

Seeing her even licking her lips, it seemed the bishop looked quite delicious to her.

– Sanctuary Contamination Level: 98%

‘It gets faster toward the end. It will be 100% soon.’

Rashid went to the room where Ludrick was imprisoned and handed two guns to the inquisitor who was sitting there quietly.

“Inquisitor. The time has come.”

“I was waiting for you to come. Soon, the archdemon will descend upon this sanctuary.”

“Do you feel it?”

“My body feels it. My blood is boiling.”

“I will be waiting outside. When you are ready, let’s go together.”

While Rashid waited outside,

Ludrick put on his inquisitor uniform and checked the two guns.

They were two pistols specialized for hunting demons, loaded with magic bullets.

“Let us go.”

As Ludrick, who had finished his preparations, came out, Rashid took the lead and guided him outside.

On the way out,

the clerics who were enveloped in thick demonic energy saw them and showed hostility.

Ludrick pulled the trigger without hesitation against those who rushed at them recklessly.

“You have no hesitation.”

Rashid said, looking at the corpses of the clerics strewn on the floor.

“Do not hesitate. An inquisitor is not a shield that protects the order, but an iron hammer that purges the corruption of the order. If they are judged to be corrupt, you may kill them immediately. That is the power possessed by the inquisitor, and it is summary judgment.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Rashid also drew his sword, and as the two swept through like a bulldozer, they before long stood at the entrance of the cathedral.

The outside of the cathedral looked chaotic due to the noisy summoning ritual.

– Sanctuary Contamination Level: 99%

“He will descend soon.”

“So it seems.”

“First, wait here. I have a gift to deliver to the descending archdemon.”

“Is it the Holy Blood Spear?”

“If we are lucky, I might be able to end it with my own hands.”

“Do not let your guard down. He is an archdemon. He will not be taken down easily.”

Walking out of the cathedral alone, Rashid saw the swirling gale and the magic circle of the entire sanctuary shining red.

As if possessed,

the bishop, who was passionately praising the heavens, and the hundreds of clerics, who bowed their heads and chanted prayers, were creating quite a spectacle in their own way.

‘It is absolute chaos.’

Rashid walked to the place where the Holy Blood Spear was prepared, and picked up the Holy Blood Spear without hesitation.

At that, the sharp gaze of the bishop reached him.

“What are you doing? Lord Arkan will manifest soon.”

“I want to personally deliver this Holy Blood Spear to Lord Arkan. Would that be alright?”

“Did you finish off the inquisitor?”

“The inquisitor will no longer interfere with Lord Arkan’s manifestation.”

“Oh, you are a treasure. Very well. Deliver the Holy Blood Spear yourself. Lord Arkan will manifest soon.”

– Sanctuary Contamination Level: 100%

At the same time as achieving 100% contamination level, beneath the summoning magic circle gigantically projected in the sky, an archangel wrapped in radiance slowly began to reveal his form.

In contrast to being impurely summoned,

the manner of descent appeared as the manifestation of an archangel.

“O great Archangel of Radiance, Lord Arkan!”

An archangel with white light and multiple wings.

As the false Arkan showed his form, the bishop’s praise reached an extreme, and the clerics chanting the prayer bowed their heads in unison, worshiping the manifested Arkan.

‘Is it my time now?’

Rashid approached the archangel who was descending, leaving afterimages of light.

It looked as if he was delivering the Holy Blood Spear,

but his inner thoughts were different.

‘Tricks are simply countered with tricks.’

At the same time the Arkan who hid his expression with excessive light tore the corners of his mouth, the expression of Rashid, who had approached right next to him, completely changed.

Tearing time,

Rashid plunged the Holy Blood Spear into the archangel’s chest without hesitation.

‘This is my small gift for you!’

Instantly, everyone who was watching froze.

The bishop, who had stopped mid-gesture of drawing the holy sign, and the clerics, whose faces had turned pale white, were visible.

Arkan’s startled gaze reached Rashid, and Arkan, no, Scarver, saw it clearly.

He saw him, who had stabbed him, smiling faintly.

The reason he could not even counterattack immediately was that the weapon that stabbed him was the Holy Blood Spear.

As the time of eternal sleep that even the archdemon could not escape approached, Scarver grabbed his demonic sword.

Next, time regressed.

Scarver went back up to the sky along the afterimage he had left, and Rashid, who had attacked him, also found his previous position in accordance with the regressing time.

The time was when Scarver was descending under the guise of the archangel.

The Archangel of Radiance, who was coming down from the sky, glared fiercely at Rashid, who was approaching him.

“O Archangel!”

The bishop, who knew nothing, was busy praising Scarver descending from the sky, and the clerics chanted their prayers, having forgotten the previous event.

The radiant light that Scarver held shattered with a crash, and the hideous archdemon residing within revealed his form.

An archdemon in the form of a clown.

Scarver had revealed his true form.

“Lord Arkan…?”

The bewildered bishop and the buzzing clerics looked at the archdemon descending from the sky.

The astonishment filled them, but only for a moment.

Scarver targeted Rashid by flying dozens of daggers.

Responding to this, Rashid tore through time and fled.

Why did he attack all of a sudden?

Rashid figured out the reason without difficulty.

‘I see he spent one charge.’

He possessed a demonic sword that regressed time.

If the attack had succeeded in a timeline he did not know, the behavior the guy was showing now was a very natural reaction.

‘Are there two charges left now?’

Since he had blown away one of the total three opportunities,

it could be seen that they had occupied a somewhat advantageous position in the battle against the archdemon.

‘The one catching him is not me anyway.’

Among them, there was someone who possessed absolute power specifically against archdemons.

The inquisitor, who rushed out aggressively from the entrance of the cathedral, fired a barrage of magic bullets at Scarver, who stood in the air.

The startled Scarver immediately recognized the inquisitor of the Jaeger family who was attacking him.

Although he had not a speck of intention to leave him alive, because of his nature of liking playfulness, he was a person he had left alive while risking danger.

Scarver, who barely dodged the magic bullets, glared at Rashid, who was hiding far away.

How dare he toy with him!

That gaze was extremely chilling and filled with hatred, but

that was all.

Scarver could not ignore the demon hunter who closed the distance in an instant and attacked.

Sensing a crisis, Scarver tore open a gap in the air and fled, and Ludrick, who was firing magic bullets, threw his body through the gap he had torn without hesitation.

In the place where the archdemon and the inquisitor chasing him had vanished,

there were the bewildered bishop and hundreds of clerics who had fallen into a state of panic.

“L-Lord Arkan…”

Behind that bishop, a shadow was cast,

and she, wearing her mana armor, slammed down on him with her halberd.

“Summoning an archdemon is”

Before her,

the man who was once called the bishop had transformed hideously beyond what words could express.

“a grave crime, Your Excellency Bishop.”