Chapter 78: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Final Battle (4)
Chapter 78: Sanctuary of Restful Purification — Final Battle (4)
The temporary altar was completed quickly.
I had done this so many times that I could probably set it up with my eyes closed.
“What comes next?”
Seraphina, kneeling beside me, glanced at the mana cores inside the box.
“Do I simply stack those inside?”
“Before that, they need some preparation.”
“Preparation?”
“The Evil Gods complain endlessly if you offer sacrifices as they are. They say the taste is bland, or that they are bored of it. So the offerings must be refined to make them as delicious as possible.”
《Objection: Perhaps the filthy Sue’je or the gloomy Leria complain, but the wise one does not whine about offerings!》
Sorry, but Lady Lidni is by far the worst.
If we described her taste in human terms, the wise one possessed the picky eating habits and side-dish complaints of a five-year-old child.
“Where is the dignity of divinity in that? An Evil God without authority or majesty hardly seems worthy of worship.”
At the Saint’s calm remark, I could not argue.
Silently, I began placing the mana cores one by one.
I had already planned today’s menu.
“Saint, please crush the mana cores into pieces about the size of peanuts. Then scatter them on the altar.”
“Understood.”
Crunch!
Each time Seraphina clenched and opened her hand, a mana core shattered into fragments.
For a priest, her strength was excessive.
But it was common sense that a Saint must be strong if she wished to protect the innocent.
Fwoosh!
While my assistant chef prepared the ingredients, I began roasting the heads of patients afflicted with Head Proliferation Syndrome using [Death · Flame · Transformation].
The Watcher of Lonely Silence.
The Silent One preferred offerings that were roasted directly over flame and brimming with vitality.
Now comes the important part….
If I simply roasted them randomly, Leria would reject the offering.
The outside had to be burned completely black while the inside remained properly cooked.
Fortunately, that was not difficult for me.
《Stop!》
The moment Truth gave the signal, I stopped the flames.
I lifted one completely blackened head.
One side had turned a perfect golden brown.
“Thanks. You’re the perfect kitchen timer.”
《I do not understand what you mean, but it does not sound like praise. >:(》
If I went deeper into the details, I would even have to consider the type of flame and which species tasted best when roasted.
But since this was the Silent One’s first offering in a long time, this would satisfy her.
“I have crushed them all.”
Inside the temporary stone altar, the fragments of mana cores were piled high.
The high priest’s kitchen assistant was quite competent.
“I will pay you generously today.”
“Thank you, head chef.”
I neatly arranged the charred heads atop the bed of mana cores.
“Saint.”
There was one final ingredient to add before the ritual.
“Please wrap the offering in divine power. As thinly as possible.”
Seraphina nodded and wrapped the offering in a faint white aura.
It acted like wrapping paper—and garnish.
Not only did it look elegant, it also served as the key seasoning for an Evil God who felt intense pleasure when consuming something noble.
“It is complete.”
Recipe name.
Flame-Roasted Head with Mana Core Crumble.
A human head roasted crisp with smoky flavor, topped with bursting mana cores that released energy when bitten.
Everything was ready.
I placed my hand on the offering and began the prayer.
“I speak to the darkness born of chaos and immersed in stillness. I long for your supreme darkness to burn my body as a gentle flame that subjugates the order of all things.”
If the sacrifice tasted good, formalities could usually be ignored.
But the Silent One was picky, so the proper prayer had to be recited.
“To the one who watches the twilight that burns the living and the inevitable death that covers the earth, a living sacrifice has been prepared. Grant us the honor of witnessing your dusk.”
At last, a hearty offering had been prepared.
“Leria.”
I stepped back from the altar.
“Your meal is ready.”
Saaaa—!
The snake tattoo on my left arm turned into a thin dark mist.
Not much—about the thickness of cigarette smoke.
Though weak due to the lack of divine power, its appetite for offerings rivaled that of any Evil God.
The mist formed a black cobra and flew into the offering.
Soon—
The roasted heads melted like vapor and flowed together.
The cobra devoured them eagerly.
【D-Delicious…!!!】
It was the ecstatic cry of an Evil God tasting an offering for the first time in thousands of years.
“…She seems excited.”
Even Seraphina, witnessing a ritual for the first time, could feel the overwhelming joy.
【K-Kar…!】
Her voice echoed in my mind, more excited than ever.
Still quiet, though.
【It is unfortunate that it is not a sentient being, but the taste is truly supreme… my tongue dances…!】
“Is it that delicious?”
【Why… why could none of the others do this like you! If they had, I would have regained my former glory long ago…!】
The cobra-shaped mist devoured the offering happily.
That snake was merely a terminal connected to the great divinity itself.
Which meant the bright smile reflected exactly how Leria felt.
【Kar, I had great expectations of you… yet you have given me a flavor beyond imagination… hehehe—ah!】
Leria suddenly stopped and hurriedly added another oracle.
【That laughter came because our oldest believer said something amusing. Do not misunderstand…】
I knew she simply lacked a sense of humor.
But pointing that out to a god would be foolish.
Crackle.
“Sue’je, please do not act spiteful when I perform rituals for another god. If you continue like this, I will wear proper clothes forever.”
Zap!
She immediately begged for forgiveness.
The lightning hurt enough that I had to press my hand to the tattoo near my collarbone to calm the current.
Soon the cobra mist returned to my arm, becoming a small snake tattoo again.
【K-Kar… now tell me what reward you desire. I shall grant anything…!】
The Silent One hesitated.
【J-just… do not ask for something that requires too much divine power….】
I never planned to ask for something excessive.
It was better to rob the rich than the poor.
“Then please grant me the mystic [Life · Reverse · Action].”
【That is easy! A good choice, since you can develop it yourself…】
The one advantage of the cultist of Lonely Silence.
Not only the basic mystic [Death · Flame · Transformation], but all mystics were growth-type.
Because Leria possessed so little faith.
Every mystic began at Rank 1 and could grow toward its original rank.
And [Life · Reverse · Action] originally reached Rank 8.
【Receive it…!】
Warm heat spread through the snake tattoo on my left arm.
When I rolled up my sleeve, a small black circle had appeared on the snake’s head.
【…Ugh, I feel dizzy. I shall withdraw now. Please do not abandon me and continue your faith…!】
Leria’s faint presence faded.
I stood up slowly, pressing my aching head.
Several messages appeared.
《Rank-1 (Growth-Type) Mystic [Life · Reverse · Action] has taken root in your body.》
At last.
I had obtained the core mystic of the Immortal Cultist build.
Seraphina leaned slightly closer, studying the tattoo on my arm.
“You received a mystic. Is the ritual finished?”
“Yes.”
“Then you should rest.”
She grabbed my clothes and forced me to stand.
“The enemies will begin their assault early tomorrow morning. Sleep and recover.”
“…You’re right.”
My eyelids were growing heavy.
Just as I was about to leave the camp, gently stroking the snake tattoo—
Buzz.
The danger warning of [Insight that Sees Chaos] activated.
“…Saint!! High-rank wide-area defensive mystic!”
Seraphina reacted instantly.
A white aura spread outward.
BOOOOOM—!!
A thunderous explosion shook heaven and earth.
The deafening blast lasted nearly ten seconds.
When the sound faded, Seraphina caught me as I staggered.
“It seems the variable we feared has appeared.”
“So it seems.”
Supporting me as we walked, she grabbed her spear relic and buckler.
“Come. Let us protect the innocent.”
We stepped outside.
The temple was surrounded by a shining white barrier.
A simple yet exceptional Rank-9 mystic, [Unpolluted Firmament], which created a large-scale protective shield.
The Saint’s quick casting had stopped the night raid.
But the real trial was just beginning.
“…Saint.”
The commander of Torch of Purification approached with a grim face.
He pointed northeast.
Beyond the barrier, five colossal golems—each as large as the King of the Dead—were approaching.
《Gigantic Destruction Golem (Level 8)》
《Their exact capabilities are unclear due to the level difference, but they are terrifying war golems armed with powerful magic. Even under Immaculate Earth, only the Saint or the commander of Torch of Purification could defeat one alone!》
Originally, these Level-8 monsters appeared on the fourth day.
…So it came to this.
The labyrinth had been strengthened.
A desperate crisis had arrived.
Still, unlike in the Nightmare World, we had prepared for this possibility.
“Saint. Those are all Level 8.”
“…I see.”
As Seraphina bit her lip, a peacock-type golem appeared alongside the giants and spoke in an oddly cheerful tone.
—Listen, pitiful sentient beings trapped in weak bodies!
Even now, that tone…
—If you surrender now, those with high levels will not be used as biological materials! You may serve as slaves instead!
In the game, monsters never spoke.
Apparently the mage who created this cheerful golem series was someone extraordinary.
“What shall we do?”
The commander asked cautiously.
But he already knew the answer.
Anyone who knew Seraphina did.
“We must endure until reinforcements arrive.”
If we could not defeat those giant golems, we would die.
The problem was that the other enemies would not politely wait.
《Not only those Gigantic Destruction Golems, but the average level of the other golems and puppets has increased.》
After hearing my report, Seraphina lowered the visor of her helmet.
“Everyone, we stand before a cliff!”
Her voice, amplified with divine power, echoed across the temple.
“If we fail to overcome this trial, not only we—but the innocent patients—will be trampled by the monster army!”
She raised her spear high.
“Protect the innocent! For Arteine!”
The Holy Knights gathered and roared.
“For Arteine!”
“For the protector of all!”
Holy Knights shone brightest when there was someone to protect.
Even before overwhelming enemies, their fighting spirit burned fiercely.
“I will take three of the giant golems! Commander, take one! The rest of you hold back the enemies on the ground!”
Then Seraphina turned to me.
“We cannot stop all five alone. Please handle the last one. Can you do it?”
It would not be easy.
But I had to.
A C-Rank labyrinth was not suitable as my grave.
“Leave it to me. I will defeat it.”
“Thank you.”
There was no time for dramatic exchanges.
Seraphina immediately rushed forward with spear and buckler.
“Eternal glory to Arteine!”