The light slowly began to fade, and its blinding brilliance gave way to the shattered battlefield.

Smoke and dust hung thick in the air, and the sky, which had been glowing moments ago, turned quiet and grey. The last bits of holy radiance drifted away like scattered sparks before they finally vanished completely.

When the glow disappeared, there was nothing left of Loan.

Not a single trace of any living nor any ashes.

Only a deep, cracked crater stretched across the ground where he had been standing. The earth looked torn open, and the edges scorched with divine energy that still sizzled faintly.

The shockwave from Ethan's attack had reached far. Rubble lay scattered everywhere.

Stones were shattered and even the ground at a distance looked damaged.

The smell of burned earth mixed with the smell of smoke, and the whole battlefield felt shaken to its core.

In Vancouver, where the knights and the people had been fighting desperately to stay alive, everything suddenly stopped for a moment.

Then a knight raised his arm and shouted, his voice shaking with shock and relief. "He's gone! The evil priest is dead!"

A roar followed instantly.

The people began cheering wildly. Knights who could barely stand lifted their swords high. Bruised and bleeding soldiers slammed their shields together. The sound echoed through the battered streets. "Sir Ethan! Sir Ethan!" they shouted, their voices filled with hope and pride.

Roen, watching from a distance with his sword still in hand, could not hold back anymore. He jumped once and pumped his fist in the air. His eyes were wide and shining with relief. "Yes! Killed… finally! One of them is dealt with! Quickly!" he shouted.

A grin spread across his face, and his voice cracked with emotion. For the first time in a long time, he felt the tide turning in their favor.

But on the other side, Kai and Bernard stood frozen. Their bodies tensed,and their expressions twisted. They stared in complete disbelief at the spot where their comrade had stood only seconds ago. Ethan had destroyed him in a blink. Just a few quick moves, and one of their powerful allies was gone.

There was not even a scream left behind.

Kai clenched his fists, his lips trembling as rage rippled through him. "Damn it!" he growled.

Bernard shook his head slowly, his face pale. "This... this shouldn't be happening," he muttered in shock. "Where did this monster come from?"

"Why was there no intel on this frightening man?"

A mage always overwhelms a knight but this guy oneshot killed a Master Rank Mage.

They never imagined someone like Ethan would appear in their way.

He was not part of the plan. They were supposed to control everything, to spread chaos and fear, and to make sacrifices at their own pace.

The Duchy of Salvos was meant to be the first step stone. They were going to feed the blood of Salvos to their dark gods. Then they would take over the Southern region and let the infection spread across the kingdom of Ruthiana. By the time anyone realized the truth, it would be too late.

But now everything has changed. Ethan's unexpected arrival had shattered their plans like glass. He was far too strong. If they did not kill him now, everything would fall apart.

Kai's voice grew cold and twisted. His eyes gleamed with madness. "We must get rid of this guy."

Bernard nodded quickly. "Yes. Or the ritual can't continue."

They looked at each other and gave a small nod. There was no hesitation left. Only fury and desperation.

The two priests, both at the Master rank, began casting together. They pulled at the darkest parts of their power. They did not care about the cost. They were ready to sacrifice whatever it took. Dark, forbidden energy crackled violently around them. It tore at the edges of the air as their chanting grew louder.

The sky darkened suddenly. Clouds twisted into a spiral overhead, forming a massive magical circle. Strange red symbols pulsed in the air like glowing wounds. The winds howled. Their cloaks flapped wildly as the magic built up.

Their voices grew louder and faster as they muttered in an ancient tongue,every word of which sounded like a curse.

They were using Crimson Storm, a forbidden ritual designed to harvest life by force.

The moment the spell activated, the zealots around them froze. Their crazed eyes widened and then fear returned to their faces. Blood started leaking from their eyes and ears and mouths. Their bodies trembled violently. Screams echoed across the field as the ritual took hold.

"What's going on?!"

"They're dying!"

One after another, the zombies exploded from within. Their bodies burst like sacks of rotten meat. Their blood rose into the sky in a thick red mist. It drifted upward as if being pulled into the spell. The air grew heavy. The temperature dropped suddenly. Even the most seasoned warriors felt a sharp shiver run through their spines.

"Step back! Run!" someone shouted desperately.

People began stepping back in panic. Their breaths came out uneven and scared. The entire field was filled with screams, confused voices, and collapsing bodies. Crimson light spread through the sky. Everything looked stained in red. The whole city began to feel like a furnace soaked in blood.

Emma's face turned grim as she sensed the overwhelming evil filling the air. She moved forward without hesitation, magic glowing behind her with power. She charged ahead to try and cut through the magic before the spell could finish.

But when her attack reached the sky, a massive blood-red shield appeared. It absorbed the strike completely. A low hum echoed across the battlefield as the shield pulsed and threw sparks into the air.

"Damn it!" Emma cursed, gritting her teeth. "This isn't normal defense magic. I can't break it without an opposite element, and I don't have that."

As she stared at the shield, helpless for a moment, darkness began spreading over the battlefield. It was not just shadows. It was a deep, suffocating blackness that made breathing hard. The crimson light grew even stronger inside that darkness. It flickered like a flame reflecting off steel. It looked beautiful in a sick and terrifying way.

Crimson Storm had fully activated.

The world felt like it was boiling. Hatred and madness seemed to rise from the ground itself. Red streaks slithered in the air like snakes. They swirled around people and crawled along their skin. Everyone felt it. This was not regular magic.

A curse formed from madness.

Kai laughed softly, but there was nothing normal about it. His smile was too wide and his eyes twitched. "Let's see how many of you can survive this. We will drown the city in blood."

Bernard smiled as well. His face looked pale and cold. His lips moved in rhythm with the spell.

The entire battlefield had become a nightmare. People covered their ears to block the screams. They stepped back from the red mist. They watched the sky in horror, and every single one of them felt the same thing.

…..

I need to boost up GT ranking so I am adding this.

[Target]

80 Golden Tickets:+1 Bonus chap

100 Golden Tickets:+1 Bonus Chap

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