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“…”
Anthonyus continued walking.
As he entered the depths of the Vatican, the shrine where the Sacred Maiden resided came into view.
Anthonyus walked barefoot and entered the shrine.
At the highest altar within the shrine, the Sacred Maiden welcomed Anthonyus with an aura more noble and holy than anyone else’s.
The Sacred Maiden greeted her brother with a warm smile and prepared to bestow blessings according to the rites.
The Sacred Maiden’s glow enveloping Anthonyus was nothing but gentle.
“…”
Anthonyus stared at the Sacred Maiden, pondering one last time.
Then, he reflected again on the whisper Ray had conveyed.
[You’re the one who needs to confirm it.]
…That’s right.
Those words were correct.
There was no need to hesitate and worry in place.
All it would take was for him to confirm it himself.
To verify, and then regretfully accept any fitting consequences for having been foolishly misled by Ray’s lies—that was all there was to it.
Why was he afraid of something as simple as that?
Having made his decision, Anthonyus extended his hand to the side.
KWAH!!
The Sacred Sword, which had been entrusted to another, accelerated alone and reached Anthonyus’s grasp.
With the Sacred Sword in hand, Anthonyus approached the altar where the Sacred Maiden sat.
Though the Sacred Maiden was close to Anthonyus, she was not someone whose space he could easily intrude upon.
The place where the Sacred Maiden sat was the most glorious, sacred, and safest spot in the world.
The most powerful, sturdy, and infinitely layered divine barriers protected only her in this world.
Even if a meteor were to fall on the Vatican and everything else evaporated, the Sacred Maiden would remain unharmed.
Even if a Swordmaster came here wielding a blade, it would take them quite some time to break through the divine barriers.
Any mighty warrior would have to invest long and arduous hours to harm the Sacred Maiden.
But the Sacred Sword in Anthonyus’s hand…
Displayed absolute resistance against all techniques based on divine power.
Anthonyus swung the Sacred Sword.
KAGAGH!!!
The sound of shattering glass echoed as countless layers of divine barriers tore apart.
Scattered fragments of the barrier flew everywhere while Anthonyus stepped through the rift he had created.
Behind the barriers stood the Sacred Maiden—his sister. His only family hidden behind thick veils was finally truly reunited with Anthonyus after so long.
“…”
He saw the familiar face of his sister.
And covering that familiar face were countless boils.
The blister-like swellings covered not just her face but her entire body.
As Anthonyus stopped and stared at his sister, even while he watched…
Her skin continued to dissolve when touched by some flowing liquid, only to regenerate repeatedly under the brilliant glow transmitted from El-Lam.
It was a cycle. A ceaseless loop of collapse and regeneration that would continue until her physical form met its end.
Twisted joints returning to their original shape, a bloated abdomen deflating and inflating—all these were parts of the endless cycle.
Collapse and regenerate. Collapse and regenerate. Collapse and regenerate…
Amidst the repeating cycle,
His sister’s face looked peaceful.
“…Danny.”
Danny. Such a common name.
It was also the affectionate nickname his sister used to call him before Anthonyus received the divine name “Anthonyus.”
Despite her voice cracking and splitting due to the inability to modulate beautifully, his sister spoke to her brother.
“You got… quite a shock, didn’t you?”
She emitted a metallic sound trying to laugh and then asked her brother,
“Is… something wrong…?”
“…”
A fleeting memory crossed Anthonyus’s mind.
When he was younger, Anthonyus often threw unnecessary tantrums at his sister.
Every day was filled with too much pain, difficulty, hunger, and irritation… leading him to constantly fuss at his sister.
Whenever Anthonyus acted so immaturely, his sister never scolded him but instead asked what troubled him.
Yes, those were old memories.
Only after peeling away all those barriers could Anthonyus confront the regressing mind and memories of his sister.
Anthonyus’s lips quivered up and down.
After putting in great effort, Anthonyus managed to give his sister a warm smile.
“No. It’s fine. There’s no problem.”
Anthonyus replied brightly.
Then, still holding his sister who continued the endless cycle, he lifted her into his arms.
“There’s… no problem.”
With his sister cradled in his arms, Anthonyus began to walk out of the space where the Sacred Maiden resided.
After passing through the shattered barriers and taking two steps,
His sister spoke again.
“Danny… I feel a bit… in pain.”
His sister had never carelessly mentioned feeling pain in front of him.
She avoided showing weakness in front of her brother at all costs.
Seeing her say she was in pain now meant she must be in tremendous agony.
Yes, she must be in excruciating pain. Very much so.
Her body, subjected to repeated damage and regeneration over such a long period, could no longer sustain itself without the miracles bestowed by El-Lam.
Only the radiant light given by El-Lam could make her forget the pain.
To prolong her life even a little, he should turn back.
He needed to return to the space where the Sacred Maiden resided.
If he did, she could live much longer than expected.
But Anthonyus did not turn back.
Instead, he raised the Sacred Sword.
“It’s okay.”
Anthonyus gave his sister one last smile.
“Soon… everything will be alright, Sister.”
There was hesitation.
His grip trembled uncontrollably.
But knowing that this hesitation would cause his sister even more pain…
Anthonyus moved the Sacred Sword towards his sister’s neck.
The momentary sensation of slicing flesh traveled through the Sacred Sword and into his hands.
That fleeting touch became an eternal mark imprinted on Anthonyus.
THUD!
The Sacred Sword flew out of Anthonyus’s grasp.
It was a phenomenon caused by Anthonyus losing his qualification to hold the Sacred Sword.
The sound of the Sacred Sword rolling on the floor resonated heavily in Anthonyus’s ears.
“…”
Anthonyus slowly placed his sister’s body down and tried to cradle her head in his arms.
But it wouldn’t work.
His sister’s body, which had endlessly collapsed and regenerated, could no longer maintain its form after her breath left, beginning to flow out viscously.
Though Anthonyus spread his hands wide to catch her head, his sister slipped through his grasp.
By then,
The Templars’ swords pierced into Anthonyus’s body.
The Templars, who were delayed in intervening while breaking through the barriers Anthonyus erected using the Sacred Sword, forcefully plunged and twisted their blades into his flesh.
KRICKD!!
Sharp metal shredded his internal organs.
Still, Anthonyus quietly stared at his sister slipping through his hands.
As his sister flowed away, the divine power that once filled Anthonyus’s body began to fade.
Everything that formed Anthonyus’s existence scattered away.
Anthonyus looked up at the ceiling and smiled faintly.
He smiled toward the sky beyond the ceiling and all living beings thriving under the blue sky.
“I…”
Anthonyus lost everything.
“Will not…”
Now, the only thing left for Anthonyus was…
“Forgive you.”
Pure malice.
CHAAK!!
The Templars violently pulled the swords they twisted tightly.
The sharp edges carved Anthonyus’s body in various directions, and chunks of his organs spilled out along with the blood.
Still, Anthonyus stood on both legs, gripping the hand that let his sister slip away.
The Templars momentarily guarded against the Sacred Sword, but it showed no reaction to Anthonyus.
However, in place of the Sacred Sword,
A violet aura took form in Anthonyus’s clenched fist.
The shape that formed was…
A sword known in the world as the Command Blade.
The blood gushing from his torn flesh reversed direction, climbing back up Anthonyus’s body.
Simultaneously, a violet aura erupted from Anthonyus.
KWAANG!!!
“!!!!!”
The Templars were astonished.
The unholy aura wrapping around Anthonyus was clearly demonic.
Their astonishment quickly turned into anger and hostility.
Not just them; the elite forces of the Holy Order stationed near the Vatican sensed the unholy aura emanating from the depths of the Vatican and rushed in like a flood.
In front of the increasingly concentrated radiant light, Anthonyus appeared infinitely small and weak.
The Command Blade, which had passed through the hands of Carinus and Benedict, consuming too much power, couldn’t grant Anthonyus immense abilities.
The ominous malice that seemed fierce at first soon fizzled out like a wet match.
The approaching clerics judged Anthonyus’s limits and immediately prepared to strike.
However, this was the heart of the Vatican.
The Vatican was the center of the Holy Order and…
Also a sealing ground where countless unholy artifacts were locked away.
The seals imprisoning the artifacts were strong and secure.
But due to the sudden loss of the Sacred Maiden’s influence, the firmly maintained seals weakened for a brief moment.
Through that brief crack,
The pitch-black malice that had infiltrated the Command Blade seeped in.
BOOM—
A forgotten pulse echoed underground.
Unholy artifacts that had lost their influence in ancient times… resonated in response to Anthonyus’s malice.
The reverberation growing louder underground continued to expand.
A single human’s malice had drawn forth this enormous resonance.
BOOOM—
The pitch-black malice began devouring all the artifacts that resonated.
The dormant demonic power within the artifacts awakened.
Not only that, the excessively dark malice reversed control in an instant, forcibly initiating contracts with the artifacts.
Sensing the ominousness, the clerics poured out divine power to crush Anthonyus.
A wave of blazing divine power surged to engulf Anthonyus.
But just before that, the “contract” was sealed.
CRACKKK!!!!!
Artifacts breaking free from their seals appeared before Anthonyus.
Numerous artifacts began fusing with Anthonyus’s body as they pierced into him.
Simultaneously, the pitch-black malice emanating from Anthonyus rapidly intensified.
Covering his body with countless evil artifacts,
Anthonyus recalled Ray’s voice one last time.
[Anthonyus… You… You are…]
Radiant light clashed with the malice, filling the interior of the Vatican.
[Their…]
The darkness split open all the radiant light.
[End.]
The Demon King (8) -完-
