Chapter 359 316: The Vengeful Angel's True Power
The night wind began to rise.
The incident subsided.
The Knights of the Order were gradually returning to their ships, preparing to withdraw from Savenxis.
Both Knight Commander Aiden and Order Think Tank member Amelia had spent their lives as Ascetics, secluded in the Cathedral of the Silent Saint serving the Divine Emperor, far from the political maelstrom of the Administrative Region.
But they were gradually realizing that this arrest operation was bizarre in every way, utterly different from any other they had ever participated in.
First, the Judgment Court had uncharacteristically broadcasted Reinhardt's crimes far and wide.
Then came the closed-door meeting with the Order's Shepherd Leader.
Finally, here on Savenxis, not only did they fail to find the traitor who had desecrated the Divine Emperor's majesty as expected, but even a Judge had been thoroughly humiliated by the target of their arrest in a Holy Duel.
Judge Bloddy hoisted his unconscious colleague over his shoulder, his expression exceptionally grim. As he retreated to the ship, his silhouette seemed to be shrouded in darkness, heavy and oppressive.
The failure of the arrest operation meant that they would certainly be held accountable and dealt with upon their return to the Judgment Court.
But at this point, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't win in a contest of raw strength. Even if he tried to provoke Reinhardt into killing him, it was unlikely that this man—who seemed brave and reckless but was actually exceptionally cunning and adept at swaying people—would actually do it.
In other words, the prey had no right to decide its own life or death in front of the predator.
While boarding the ship, Order Think Tank member Amelia used an encrypted spiritual communication to speak with Knight Commander Aiden. 'Sir, are we really going back just like this? How will we explain this to the Shepherd Leader and the Judgment Court?'
Knight Commander Aiden's Silver Heavy Armor looked solemn and majestic under the ship's spotlights. Every pattern on its surface was filled with mysterious religious elements.
'This matter is far more complicated than we imagined. I will personally explain it to the Shepherd Leader when we return.'
Despite his words, neither of them looked pleased.
As Ascetics who served their faith, they and the Order should never have been involved in such a vortex of power struggles. This violated the Order's precepts and traditions.
Taking it a step further, it was clear the Shepherd Leader had used them as pawns, throwing them into this power struggle for his own personal gain.
Naturally, both Aiden and Amelia felt discontent and anger in their hearts.
'This is utter blasphemy and betrayal!'
However, the moment Amelia's right foot touched the boarding ramp, a wicked and bizarre Void Power began to seep into the Real Cosmos, appearing silently within her Spiritual Perception.
She whipped her head around.
In her line of sight, like a cornered beast, stood Judge Kavol, alone amidst the wild grass in the dark. The muscles on his cheeks were twisting continuously, transforming into grotesque, fleshy tendrils.
His human eyes were also gradually turning bestial.
The Demon Suppression Holy Emblem hanging on his Judge's uniform burned and cracked, only to be submerged beneath dark black feathers.
At the same time, Koller's eyes flew wide with fury. His furious roar, wrapped in Spiritual Power, instantly exploded across the battlefield!
"Reinhardt! Look out—!"
The next moment, Judge Kavol, having fully embraced the Void Realm, let out a frenzied, inhuman laugh. "You forced me to do this... You forced me to do this...
HAHAHAHA—!"
Then, he stared at Reinhardt's back and let out a hysterical roar.
"I want you dead! Reinhardt—!"
Order Think Tank member Amelia's expression changed drastically. She never would have dreamed that in the end, Judge Kavol would turn out to be the true Desecrator hidden among them!
She was both shocked and enraged. She ripped the shining silver faceplate from her helmet, her expression one of utter disbelief, her voice filled with extreme fury!
Raising her right hand—clad in a black glove and a classical silver-white steel gauntlet—she pointed directly at the mutated Kavol who had embraced the Void Realm and shouted, "This was a despicable sham! Kavol deceived us! He's the real Desecrator!"
Her words sent shockwaves through the crowd!
All the Knights of the Order turned to look at Kavol in utter shock. Even his two fellow Judges looked as if they had seen a ghost.
They never would have dreamed that the bastard Kavor Spencer had made a deal with a Demon behind their backs and the back of the Judgment Court!
Due to the nature of their profession, Judges inevitably had to deal with Demons for extended periods. They even resorted to illegal methods that walked a gray line, such as extracting evidence from a Demon's mouth or secretly mastering some evil sacrificial Magic.
'But to save his own skin, has that bastard Kavol really fallen this far?!'
Seeing Kavol's body begin to mutate, Bloddy's pupils contracted. A rush of hot blood surged to his head as he bellowed, "Kavol! You bastard! Stop the deal you made with that Demon! Do you have any idea what you're doing?!"
Kavol let out a maniacal laugh. "Shut up, Bloddy, you useless piece of trash! Of course I know what I'm doing! It's all because they forced my hand! They forced me—!
The holy mission given to me by the Divine Emperor and the Empire isn't finished! I can't die... I can't die yet!"
Seeing his former colleague completely lost to madness, Bloddy's face turned pale. 'That bastard...'
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
As Urus's elementalized body vanished from its spot.
As Koller's Spiritual Storm blasted toward the treacherous Judge.
As Kavol, completely immersed in the Mighty Power he gained from embracing the Void Realm, crouched down, attempting to use his new strength to kill Reinhardt and seize a sliver of hope in the cracks of this power struggle.
A Knightly Aura, filled with the power of blood and slaughter, transformed into a Destructive Suppression and crashed down upon the battlefield!
The next moment, just as Kavol was about to make his move, he sensed a colossal shadow fall over him. When he looked up, he saw Reinhardt, standing before him without any warning!
If the pressure of facing Reinhardt before was merely the psychological fear of a superior being, then now, that terrifying feeling of suffocation—as if his heart were being crushed and a mountain pressed upon his chest—had become completely real!
In the dead of night.
Kavol tilted his head back, staring in terror at the Imperial Knight before him. He was like an Abyssal Great Demon, the overwhelming aura of bloodlust behind him twisting into the magnificent phantom of an Angel.
His mouth opened slightly, as if he wanted to say something.
But Reinhardt's condescending, deathly gaze made him finally realize just how feeble and powerless his resistance was before him.
'No...'
'And those bastards pulling the strings behind the scenes...'
'Their plan to eliminate this man now seemed so laughably naive.'
Kavol finally understood that all the rumors they had heard were true. Because the legendary "Emperor's Vengeful Angel" was standing right in front of him!