Chapter 247: The Blooming Flower of Malice (4)
A few days before Ketal met the Mercenary King, right around the time he was making his way to Ferderica’s devastated sanctuary, a different, fateful scene unfolded elsewhere on the continent.
There, on the edge of civilization, stood the holy land of another god: Lupesiana, the Goddess of Harmony. Compared to the other great faiths, Lupesiana’s Church was quiet and unassuming. They rarely found themselves the subject of rumors or controversy. Neither powerful nor ambitious, they survived by fostering cooperation with neighboring powers and adapting to the turbulent times, seeking no trouble and bringing none.
In fact, most viewed them kindly. The church’s peaceful ways and willingness to work with others had earned them a rare measure of respect even in a world so torn by conflict. However, on this day, something changed.
An old man appeared before their gates. He was a small, stooped figure, someone a person might dismiss at a glance as weak or even feeble. The old man walked directly up to the holy land’s entrance, where a holy knight stood on guard, watching him with a gentle, courteous gaze.
“Greetings, traveler,” the knight said with a welcoming nod. “What brings you to the holy land of Lupesiana?”
The old man paused, looking up at the towering spires beyond the gates. “This is the holy land of Lupesiana, is it not?”
“Yes, that’s right,” the knight replied, a little puzzled.
“Good. I’ve come to the right place. It’s been a hard journey.” The old man patted his crooked back, as if to knock loose some of the aches of travel. Then, quite unexpectedly, he spoke again, his tone casual but chilling. “Hand it over.”
“I’m sorry?” The knight blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt demand.
He never finished his next thought.
The old man simply raised his hand. In an instant, a wave of overwhelming demonic energy surged forth, so powerful and malignant that the knight’s eyes widened in sheer terror.
“Dem—” was all he managed before he was engulfed. The blast swallowed him whole, reducing his body to dust.