Not That Kind of Cult
The Abyss Star Cult. Just to be clear upfront, it's not that kind of cult—the one people whisper about when they hear the word for certain reproductive activities. The name does have a rather suggestive ring to it, though.
Those who chase the stars of the abyss. They are a fanatical organization on a scale that makes the Shadow Remnants I dealt with before look like child's play.
They crave the power of the Outer Gods, yet lack the qualifications those entities demand and so remain unchosen heretics.
Instead, they wander the world hunting for stellar byproducts shed by avatars from another realm. Avatars strong enough to rival them directly are rare, but... In a different sense, these people are incredibly irritating.
Where the avatars exert raw force head-on, these bastards weave schemes and obstructions, constantly harassing the protagonist's party. If anything unpleasant popped up in Dust Saga, pointing at these guys would be a safe bet.
At least they're mostly wiped out by part 1.5, which is a relief. Part 1.5 of Dust Saga covers the full-scale war against the Abyss Star Cult. Thanks to that, in part 2 their presence is minimal—nothing but the occasional scattered remnant. I didn't expect to run into them this early, though.
They're called weak compared to the avatars, but that doesn't mean they're actually weak. True, they never received power directly from the Outer Gods and only absorbed the residual traces the avatars left behind. Even so, it's still power from another world. They're more than strong enough to serve as the main villain faction of part 1.5, so that tells you everything.
But after facing one in person, my honest impression was...
"Hmm. Is this the extent of it?"
To be frank, it was disappointing. After all, this guy hadn't even properly gauged my strength yet and was still strutting around with that arrogant look on his face.
"Excuse me, Grandpa."
"Hm? What is it? Are you not going to fight?"
"What's your rank in the Abyss Cult?"
"It's not the Abyss Cult, it's the Abyss Star—"
"Just call it the Abyss Cult."
No matter what, saying the full name every single time sounded far too perverted.
The old man in the robe flashed a smile overflowing with confidence and raised one hand. A gray flame bloomed above his palm, radiating an eerie glow.
"My position, you ask? Why are you curious about that?"
"You're not a Remaining Light Bearer or a Devourer, are you?"
At my question the old man's expression stiffened. He tilted his head at a grotesque angle.
"...How do you know those names?"
"Hmm. So you're neither, I take it?"
That meant he was a nobody. In the Abyss Star Cult there were only two types worth watching out for: the Remaining Light Bearers and the Devourers. Those who had successfully absorbed the otherworldly remnants. Everyone else was basically mob-tier. There were occasional users of otherworldly spells, but...
"I should just clean this up quickly."
Even they weren't at a level that required special caution.
I drew the sword from my waist with a soft rasp. The old man immediately swung his flame. I thought it was an attack, but the fire didn't travel far before it was sucked straight into the ground.
"Huh?"
While I stood there confused, something began rising from the earth—undead warriors armed with swords and shields.
"Oh, so you're a necromancer?"
This was my first time meeting a true spell-caster. Come to think of it, I'd never faced an enemy who used magic before. Deciding this was the perfect chance, I stabbed the sword I'd drawn deep into the ground.
The martial art of frigid hands and feet—Pale Hand Demonic Art.
In the blink of an eye my already pale hands turned even whiter. A dark-blue chill rippled across them like cold fire. Sosu Manyeo's version had been a brighter shade; the color must have shifted slightly under the influence of magi.
"...What the?"
This was honestly a little shocking. After learning the basics through Sosu Manyeo's brutal practical compression course, I hadn't done any extra training or practice at all.
Why did it get stronger?
My attainment had risen on its own—from first stage to second stage. Was that even possible?
I didn't have time to dwell on it. The undead the old man had summoned were already charging straight at me.
"Kill her!"
At the old man's shout the first skeleton soldier reached me and swung its blade. A fast, lethal strike aimed clearly at my neck. It was hard to believe a corpse could move with such precision.
I remember that mastering Sosu Magong makes your hands and forearms impervious to blades, right?
Might as well test it. I swung my hand toward the incoming sword, intending to try the empty-hand-enters-white-blade technique.
Clang!
"Eh..."
Before my hand even made contact the blade began to freeze. The instant it touched my palm it shattered like glass.
So this is why people rave about demonic arts.
I'd heard that demonic arts usually progressed quickly and possessed terrifying, domineering power, but...
I hadn't expected it to be this overwhelming.
Then how about this?
Feeling bold, I slowly reached out again. The skeleton tried to block with its shield, but my hand crushed the shield as easily as dry leaves and kept going.
Crunch!
It pulverized the skeleton's skull too. I hadn't even used much force.
"Is this for real?"
If it was going to be this easy I should have started learning from Sosu Manyeo right away. At this rate, what was even the point of Gongsimi existing?
Sign here. The Emperor's Sword Form is nothing but a flashy, empty martial art full of pretense.
But it wasn't over yet. More than four undead still remained. Meanwhile the old man was sweating buckets yet still wore that confident expression.
"Oh dear...! You seem more skilled than I expected. However, your power cannot reach me!"
I ignored his desperate denial and strode forward boldly. Regina Power Walking. At the same time I swept my hand through the empty air and released my energy.
Crack!
The undead blocking my path were instantly reduced to scattered fragments.
"Wow."
Impressed by my own strength, I kept walking until I stood right in front of the old man. By then his face had gone deathly pale. Even while trembling he began to spout nonsense.
"This is the hand that freezes all things...! This lowly one failed to recognize the great Remaining Light Bearer and has committed a grave offense...!"
"Me?"
I'm not a Remaining Light Bearer. And I have zero interest in becoming one.
"Please, have mercy..."
There was no value in listening any longer. These were the kind of people who whined and offered meaningless human sacrifices to Outer Gods that never answered.
I pressed my hand to the old man's face. His skin slowly began to freeze over.
"Aaaah...! Please...!"
"Yup."
I gave the slightest push. The old man's head shattered like a cookie with a crisp crunch. Maybe the cold had penetrated all the way inside and frozen every drop of blood?
"Nice that no blood gets on my hands."
Demonic arts really are the strongest and most invincible. I pulled the sword from the ground, sheathed it, and returned to the others. Leona's side had already finished as well.
"Lady Regina. Where did you go?"
"To take a shit. Everything wrapped up here?"
"Yes. As you can see, they were all members of the Abyss Star Cult."
"Got it."
I gave the corpses Leona and Rian had dealt with a quick once-over. Each had only a single sword wound. They'd all been finished in one clean strike.
"Looks like you didn't have any trouble."
"Dealing with them is something I'm used to."
"Ah, right. You were an inquisitor."
"Yes."
The job of an inquisitor was to handle heretics and cults, after all. They must have clashed with the Abyss Star Cult quite often.
That aside...
The old man earlier had been so ridiculously weak that the fight left me feeling unsatisfied. Watching Leona smoothly sheathe her sword made me swallow involuntarily.
Come to think of it, I still haven't peeled away Leona's Hosin Ganggi...
Would a light sparring match for warm-up be acceptable?
"Hey, Leona."
"Speak."
"Wanna have a go?"
"...I can't hear you very well."
"A round of sparring?"
"It must be combat aftereffects. I keep hearing strange noises."
No, you can hear me just fine.
When I tried to meet her eyes she kept dodging my gaze. Like someone afraid of something.
"Are you scared of me?"
"Yes."
The answer flew out with zero hesitation. My senses, which had begun stepping into the absolute realm, told me the words were completely sincere.
"No, why?"
"...There's no reason I should answer that."
Why is she acting like this for real?
"This is the place."
Leona guided Regina and the rest of the party into the village. It was the last nameless settlement they could visit before reaching the Heavenly Star Furnace. The group headed straight for the lodging and secured a room. One large room was enough. They had originally planned to take two because Rian was a man, but...
"Dragon-fucker probably isn't interested in people anyway..."
"If it's fine with you, miss, I don't mind."
Though they couldn't understand Regina's words, both she and Bella said sharing one room was perfectly fine. Since Leona also saw Rian as something close to family, there was no reason to refuse. Money was better saved whenever possible.
The moment they entered the room, Regina leaped onto the bed.
"Ooh! How many days has it been since I last saw a bed!"
"It's only been two days, miss."
"So fluffy!"
After bouncing on the mattress for a while, Regina flopped down and...
"Zzz..."
Fell asleep instantly.
The remaining three quietly unpacked their belongings so as not to wake her, then each settled into their own spot.
Leona wasn't usually one to fall into deep sleep. Yet for some reason, today she slipped into slumber almost the instant she closed her eyes.
"......?"
Her mind felt hazy, but... it seemed she had met Regina inside the dream.
"Woohoo! If I can't see Leona's bare skin in reality, I can just do it in the dream!"
Regina was saying things that were hard to understand.
"Hehehe, come here! I'll dissect your Hosin Ganggi piece by piece and reveal every inch of your bare skin!"
"Please, if you're a lady, at least act like one."
"Why? This lady finds it only lovely."
"Old demoness, be quiet."
There were people she'd never seen before, yet every single one of them was an expert of rare caliber.
What on earth is this...?
The situation was an utter mess, but by the time Leona woke up shortly afterward she could barely remember any of the dream.
Did I have a nightmare because I was tired...?
She decided to simply write it off as a bad dream. Her senses told her it had felt somewhat different from an ordinary nightmare... but believing that was probably better for her mental health.