Sebastian dashed straight toward Ipsilas, his hammer swinging, ready to bash. Ipsilas laughed—he could feel anger emanating from Sebastian. He pointed his rapier toward the sky and thrust it into the ground, breaking Sebastian’s attack. Meanwhile, Valentinus gathered unholy power into a ball and shot it into the sky. A continuous rain of destruction fell onto the battlefield. The earth shattered and trembled as these three superhumans fought with terrifying ferocity.

  Ipsilas bashed Sebastian’s head with his knee, sending him flying to the side. He then dashed toward Valentinus with his rapier ready to thrust. A sound echoed as Ipsilas’ rapier was countered by Valentinus’ hand. Suddenly, multiple purple balls appeared around them. The purple orbs shot devastating rays, melting the ground as they aimed for Ipsilas. He dodged the attacks with insane speed.

  Trying to catch Valentinus off guard, Sebastian jumped forward, his hammer ready to strike. Valentinus noticed Sebastian aiming at him and raised his hand, unleashing a barrage of purple bullets. Sebastian quickly stopped his movement and struck the ground with his hammer, sending thousands of stone pellets flying to counter Valentinus’ attack.

  Suddenly, a purple ray pierced through the chaos, aiming straight for Sebastian’s skull. He managed to evade just in time. He watched the purple ray graze the tip of his nose before it shot past him.

  Ipsilas moved even faster now. His speed was so inhuman, so unreal, it seemed like a blur. In a split second, noticing that Valentinus’ attention was elsewhere, Ipsilas jumped straight at him and stabbed his shoulder—nearly severing it.

  Finally, the first blood was shed on the battlefield. Valentinus’ roar echoed through the surrounding forest, sending every monster who heard it into a frenzied state.

  “YOU LOWLY HUMAN! HOW DARE YOU?!”

  Valentinus kicked Ipsilas away with terrifying power, causing a small earthquake around him. He pulled out the rapier from his shoulder and hurled it at Ipsilas with ungodly force.

  With masterful technique, Ipsilas spun the rapier to deplete its momentum and caught it midair with ease. Valentinus glared at Ipsilas with unbridled hatred. Ipsilas just smiled and pointed to Valentinus’ side.

  Sebastian appeared with a glowing hammer, out of Valentinus’ sight, and smashed his skull with such force that a shockwave erupted.

  Sebastian thought he had finally killed Valentinus.

  However, a surprise uppercut sent him flying into the sky. Valentinus straightened his broken head and reattached his dangling shoulder.

  Then, he opened his mouth wide.

  The world itself trembled as Valentinus began to absorb life from his surroundings. Gravity distorted, and the space around him bent, flowing toward his mouth.

  Sebastian felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

  It was the most disgusting and terrifying thing he had ever seen.

  Whatever Valentinus was doing—it had to stop before it was too late.

  “What do we do now?” Ipsilas said, smiling with bloodlust.

  Without hesitation, Sebastian used the air to propel himself downward toward Valentinus. His hammer shone even brighter, like the sun itself descending upon the world. This was all the power he had left. He couldn’t let Valentinus complete his madness, or he would regret it forever.

  Valentinus glanced at the blinding light above him, stretching his hand upward to defend.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “YHWH! CURSE YOU AND YOUR SAINT! I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!”

  “IN THE NAME OF GOD, YOU ARE BANISHED! HEAVEN’S WRATH!”

  The sky lit up as if it were midday.

  A catastrophic explosion erupted as light clashed against darkness.

  Valentinus felt a massive pressure crush his body. Before he knew it, a hammer decapitated him, obliterating his head into the ground.

  A massive shockwave swept across the entire area with immense force.

  Trees were uprooted, and unlucky monsters and humans alike were shredded to pieces by the fast-moving debris.

  Ipsilas watched the destruction with excitement and lust. He could feel his body trembling with euphoria.

  “Beautiful. Simply beautiful,” Ipsilas said as he defended against the godly attack.

  The aftermath was devastating.

  A quarter of the city was gone in an instant.

  A huge crater sat where the church had once stood.

  Monsters fled from the surrounding forest and the city of Isildus. The city guard was in shambles as they tried to evacuate survivors and rescue anyone they could find.

  The sun began to rise on the horizon. As its first rays hit the ground, they bathed the ruins in warm light.

  A single strand of grass sprouted in the crater. Another soon followed. Before long, the crater was full of flourishing plants. Flowers rose and bloomed beautifully, their petals carried away by a gentle breeze into the blue sky.

  In the middle of the crater sat Sebastian, his hammer deeply embedded in the ground. He struggled to pull it out.

  As he lifted his hammer, his eyes fell on the Heart of Fear, glowing as if the attack had meant nothing to it.

  Sebastian reached down toward the relic, about to pick it up—when he heard footsteps approaching.

  Ipsilas stood tall, smiling as always. He mockingly waved at Sebastian, showing that he was fine and healthy.

  “What a crazy show. Can’t believe you took down Valentinus just like that. At least let him transform first. Well, that’s what I think he was going to do anyway.”

  Sebastian tightened his grip. With Ipsilas still around, the fight wasn’t over. Not yet.

  Without a word, Sebastian dashed forward, ready to fight.

  Ipsilas noticed something—the power Sebastian had before was beginning to wane. However, for Ipsilas, it was good enough.

  A stale dessert was better than nothing.

  Sebastian launched a flurry of attacks toward Ipsilas. His speed and strength were fading, but they were still full of energy—of anger and hatred. Ipsilas could feel the strong emotion radiating from Sebastian.

  Ipsilas smiled. He had found the perfect role for Sebastian to play.

  Whether he liked it or not.

  “Can you see, Golden Boy? Your God is on my side!”

  “SHUT UP!”

  “He blessed me today with such abundance, yet here you are—left struggling.”

  “MY GOD IS WITH ME! FOR I AM HIS BLESSED FOLLOWER!”

  Ipsilas knocked Sebastian’s skull with ease and kicked him to the ground, sending him tumbling.

  Sebastian’s head felt like it was spinning inside a tornado. He tried to get up, but his body felt like it was turning to liquid.

  Ipsilas approached slowly, towering over him with his rapier pressed to Sebastian’s neck.

  “Follow me, Golden Boy. With our strength, we can kill every fox and snake in Latinum.”

  “You... bastard!”

  Sebastian struggled to rise. Even with holy magic healing him, his dizziness wouldn’t subside.

  “Wasn’t it Valentinus who killed your parents with the relic? If it wasn’t for that unholy thing, you’d still have your old life back.”

  “YOU KILLED MY MENTOR!”

  “Your ‘mentor’ worked for Valentinus behind my back.”

  “LIES!”

  “THINK, SON! THINK! VALENTINUS HAD THE RELIC TO CONTROL THE STAMPEDE! I COOPERATED WITH HIM JUST TO GET DUKE KLEON TO SAFETY! THIS WHOLE THING IS A CHURCH CONSPIRACY—PLAIN AND SIMPLE!”

  Ipsilas laughed maniacally inside.

  The lies he planted in Sebastian’s mind would blossom beautifully.

  As Ipsilas looked down at Sebastian, who was trying too hard to contain his emotions, a chill ran down his spine.

  He knew this feeling.

  This was the gaze of someone powerful.

  Bloodlust.

  Not wild, but contained.

  Ipsilas smiled and glanced back at the source.

  Standing at the top of the crater was his old friend—the only person who had ever stood on his level.

  “Hello, Ipsilas.”

  At the top of the crater stood ten people in beautiful silver armor. The flag of the Latinum Diocese swayed gently in the wind.

  Among the church knights, one man stood out.

  His silver armor was lined with golden patterns. On his back sat a long spear—the symbol of their order.

  “GOOD MORNING, DEMETRIUS! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU’RE HERE!”

  “I received a letter from a friend here. However, it seems there’s something more pressing now.”

  Demetrius jumped down toward Sebastian and shoved Ipsilas aside as if he were nothing.

  Ipsilas itched for a fight, but the nine knights above were ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

  Fighting Demetrius now would be foolish.

  Ipsilas knew there would be a time for their fight.

  But not today.

  Today, the seeds he planted inside Sebastian’s mind were enough.