Daniel and Drael looked up at the sky.

The sky above the Crimson Temple cracked open. From the dense, sticky darkness that spread like a wound across the heavens, shadows with twisted, inhuman faces crawled out.

Their bodies were half-human, half-beast , horns, wings, and black-and-red skin that gleamed under the moonlight.

Their leader was the largest of them all. His face was skeletal, and his red eyes burned like twin flames. With a whispering voice, he said:

"The Crimson Temple… the false root of light. Tonight, it turns to ashes."

At that moment, a long howl tore through the air. Dozens of creatures burst out of the crack and dove toward the temple like lightning. The golden walls of the temple shook with every impact.

Priests rushed out from inside the temple. Their golden spells lit up, and halos of light filled the battlefield.

"In the name of God, vanish!"

[Holy Ray Barrage], Hundreds of golden beams fell from the sky, engulfing the monsters in burning light.

Their screams and howls filled the air. But soon, they emerged again from the smoke.

Their flesh was burned, but their eyes still shone with fury.

"You thought your light could burn us? We are soldiers of Evil!!" their leader roared.

He spread his arms, and a mist of darkness poured out of his body.

[Abyssal Chains], Chains of darkness twisted across the sky and slammed dozens of priests into the ground.

The sound of breaking bones and screams filled the air around the temple.

People in the city below screamed in terror. Houses collapsed one after another under the shockwaves of energy.

Golden and black flames intertwined, turning the city into a blazing hell.

The priests tried to fight back.

[Divine Wall]

A massive golden shield appeared, but within seconds, the claws of darkness tore through it.

[Purification Strike]

Swords of light rose from the ground, shattering several monsters instantly.

But at that moment, a wave of darkness surged from their leader, and the destroyed corpses reformed.

The battle spilled into the city. Buildings collapsed, people fled. They were terrified, where had these monsters even come from?

And unlike the last time such an attack occurred, this time the monsters were targeting civilians too, not just the temple.

Why were the people being attacked this time?

The priests fell one after another. The leader of the monsters laughed, his heavy, mocking voice echoing through the sky.

"See? Your light is rotten… Evil never loses!"

Then, a voice rang out from above the heavens, deep, calm, fearless, and filled with confidence and authority.

"There is no place for Evil in this city."

All the monsters froze. Even their leader looked up for a moment.

A golden aura descended from above the temple, and within it appeared the Grand Priest. His robe shone, and his eyes glowed brighter than the flames around him.

"Dogs of Evil… you made a mistake coming here." He stepped forward as he spoke.

"Look! The Grand Priest has come!" the people shouted in excitement as they saw him appear.

"The Grand Priest came to save us! Haha, I knew it! He's the true hero!"

"Old man, you can't stop us. Today will be your death day!" the monster leader sneered.

The Grand Priest laughed softly, but full of confidence.

"True believers of God never fall."

The sky exploded.

[Heavenly Descent]

A pillar of light crashed down from the heavens, swallowing the ranks of monsters. The ground beneath them split open.

Their leader growled and answered with a wave of darkness.

[Abyss Howl]

A voice from the depths of darkness that shattered even the light itself.

Light and darkness collided, merging together. Explosions tore the sky apart piece by piece.

The shockwave was so strong that energy waves rose from the ground, shattering nearby buildings.

The Grand Priest shouted again and activated another skill.

[Judgement Flame]

White flames that burned through everything.

But the monster leader caught them with his hands and crushed them in the air.

[Corrupted Sphere]

The holy flames turned black in his grip and were thrown like a spear toward the Grand Priest.

The Grand Priest raised his golden shield, but the strike sent him flying backward.

Blood ran from his ears.

Even so, he still stood firm.

He whispered under his breath, and a golden ring rose from around his body

[Light Requiem].

A flash of pure light filled everything.

The monsters screamed. Their bodies dissolved into the radiance, their flesh turning to smoke.

Their leader roared and tore open space with his claws, creating a rift to retreat.

"This isn't over! We'll return with Evil himself!" he shouted.

Then, along with the remaining monsters, he entered the darkness, and the crack in the sky closed.

"Hmph, worthless demons," the Grand Priest scoffed as he watched them flee. He suddenly coughed up a few drops of blood, raised his hands, and all the fires and explosions consuming the city vanished.

A powerful healing force spread out, mending the wounds of the injured citizens.

When people looked at him, their eyes were filled with gratitude, relief, and guilt. They had truly doubted their real hero.

Naturally, Daniel and Drael had seen everything as well, their faces tense with frowns. Where did these monsters even come from?

"I'm sorry… I came too late to save you. Evil used the rift it created between us to launch this attack. I was conducting the research I promised you, and I couldn't respond in time." The Grand Priest spoke in a regretful tone, blaming himself for the innocent lives lost, and sighed deeply.

Hearing his words, the people's guilt and shame only grew heavier. Wasn't it their fault in the end, for doubting him and even thinking he was a fraud?

It was their sin… their blasphemy.

They lowered their heads, unable to meet the Grand Priest's eyes.

None of them realized that, deep in his eyes, amusement, mockery, and a hint of playfulness were glimmering.

Sometimes, he couldn't help but laugh at how stupid these people were.

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