Divine Authorities Unleashed

"Whoa!"

A gasp of awe slipped out of me unbidden at the six authorities revealed by the status window. These must all be the powers granted to me as Michael's apostle. Every single one was incredible.

I naturally peeked at my status. The auxiliary battery held over 1.6 million HP. The healing I'd just used on Liandel and Levy must have been Divine Radiance, drawn from my blood through Hemomancy, right?

If all this insane blood gets converted to holy power...

"Phew, am I not way too strong now?"

The words slipped out in a murmur. Level over 300, a dazzling skill set. And now Michael's apostle on top? I felt practically invincible. Even the flame lion Frostia-sama once caught—I could probably take it down with the ace quartet. Of course, Frostia-sama and Nis-sama were still on another level! Heehee!

"Lady Ricoris, is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, just learned about my new powers."

"Besides those light arrows from earlier?"

Levy's eyes sparkled as she asked.

"Yeah... like that healing you guys felt, plus judgment, blessing, truth sight, blood-to-holy-power conversion, and death mark stuff."

"All classic domains of Michael. Though the blood conversion and death mark... I'm not familiar with those."

Liandel murmured thoughtfully.

"That's 'cause you all misunderstood Michael-sama so much! She's also the goddess of war, you know!"

"Understood..."

Then the quartet swarmed me. Miel flitted over my hair, Cecilia flickered her flames on my shoulder. Lote orbited faster around me, and Glessia edged a bit closer than usual.

"Oh? You guys want blessings too? Alright, here you go!"

I cast Divine Radiance on the quartet. Light arrows burst from my palm, piercing each in turn.

Miel's wingbeats quickened, her blue glow sharpening. Cecilia's flame wings blazed like tiny suns. Lote floated higher, buoyed by stronger levitation. Glessia... her eyes sparkled briefly, then she slumped back to lazy mode.

Checking the status again, the HP battery had dipped slightly.

Roughly 500 HP per one. This was Hemomancy! With endless blood, infinite use!

I itched to test the others, especially Lux Purificatio. Washing away curses and unclean energies—purification power, sounded perfect.

"Liandel, hold still a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sec."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

He froze with a puzzled look. I focused on purifying intent, extending my hand. Soft light enveloped him.

Unlike Divine Radiance, no visible change.

"Huh, nothing happened?"

"What power was that, Lady Ricoris?"

He patted himself down, asking.

"Lux Purificatio. Cleans curses and foul energies. Guess you're pure!"

I grinned and tried on Levy too. Light wrapped her—no change. Miel, Cecilia, Glessia, Lote—same result. No one bore curses or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠corruption.

"Bummer. Wanted to see it in action..."

But I reconsidered. No curses meant everyone was fine—great news.

What about Oculus Veritas?

Truth-piercing, nullifying illusions and lies. Curious how it'd work. My gaze drifted to our oddest being: Lote, Nis-sama's metal spider upgrade, still orbiting.

"Oculus Veritas..."

I stared hard, activating it. Nothing. Lote remained Lote—no shift, no hidden reveal.

"Hmm... not an illusion, so no effect?"

A bit disappointing, but other powers needed the right foes. Sanctus Judicium for sinners, Deathmark for runners. Reassuring to have them anyway!

"Lady Ricoris... shall we press on?"

Liandel asked as I pondered.

"Yup! Gotta reach Frostia-sama ASAP!"

Thanks to Liandel's magic map etched with his crystal staff, we blazed the fastest path—possible only because I'd cleared all monsters yesterday.

Soon night fell again. Under cold starlight in the canyon, we spotted a large cave carved into an ice wall.

"Lady Ricoris, shall we rest here?"

"Huh? Doesn't one blessing wipe fatigue?"

"It... heals the body, but mental exhaustion lingers. A short nap would help."

"Aha, got it."

Faint human memories resurfaced. Right, even perfect body needed mental rest.

"Okay, let's crash here."

We entered. Warmer than outside, but chilly air lingered. Liandel and Levy unpacked sleeping bags, lit a small magic fire.

Humans need sleep... maybe revert to flower?

Polymorphing back, Miel and Glessia dove into my corolla center. Ticklish wings and legs.

Sigh, you honey addicts.

I churned out nectar for them. Miel guzzled with frantic blue wings; Glessia slurped heaps with her hefty proboscis. Cecilia nibbled petal edges.

Come to think, Lote hadn't eaten since the labyrinth. Still hovering blankly, watching us.

Poor Lote...

Domain radar scan: no ores in the cave for Lote. Just solid ice and rock.

In the kingdom... buy gold or something?

Worrying over Lote's meals, Liandel and Levy already snored deeply, breaths echoing softly.

Miel, Cecilia, Glessia rested nearby in their ways. Night passed quietly.

In a basement somewhere in Jenes Kingdom.

Candle flames flickered dimly amid blood-drawn esoteric patterns on the floor. Sinuous lines hinted at forms beyond human comprehension, designed to evade mortal cognition.

From blackened brick walls and ceiling, thin streams dripped ceaselessly. Not water—viscous, red blood.

Amid twelve pillars in a circle, black-robed figures shuffled slowly. Hoods hid faces, but their low chants clung like spiderwebs.

"Great Abraksas, we await your descent..."

At the circle's center stood an altar. Bound atop it: a man in bloodied noble finery. Chest rose steadily, but eyes stared vacantly upward, unconscious.

"Abraksas shall awaken from the Demon Realm and reveal his glory to this world..."

One robe stepped forward—taller, more imposing. In hand: a dagger etched with strange runes. Blade like clear glass, swirling black smoke within.

"Accept our loyalty. Accept our sacrifice."

Several robes gathered round the altar, lowering hoods to reveal aristocratic faces—clearly highborn of Jenes Kingdom. Eyes gleamed with madness.

"The ritual proceeds as planned, Count Walter."

"Good. Seven more sacrifices before the blood moon rises."

"What of rumors from the Empire? Strange omens at the sun temple..."

Another noble asked worriedly.

"Nonsense. Gods have been silent for millennia. No reason to stir now."

Walter replied firmly.

"When our great Abraksas descends from the Demon Realm to this land, no god shall wield power before him."

He raised the dagger high. The man atop lay still.

"Great Abraksas, grant us strength. The power to open the gate for your passage to this world. We are your faithful servants..."

The blade plunged swift. Piercing the noble's chest, all candles flared into massive crimson-black flames.

Blood flowed from his body into altar grooves, seeping into floor patterns. They glowed red.

Then darkness swirled before the altar—like space tearing.

"Great Abraksas, hear our voices. Send us your servant."

Within the vortex, a form coalesced—from faint outline to sharp detail. Humanoid, yet utterly alien.

"The ritual succeeds."

Walter said satisfied.

"Abraksas's apostle stands before us. With seven more sacrifices, the gate shall open for the great Abraksas to descend from the Demon Realm to this world."

Other nobles gazed in awe at the vortex entity.

"Next ritual in four days. Prepare more sacrifices."

All candles extinguished at once. Darkness swallowed everything.