Chapter 40: The Evil Descends (4)

Hayes thought she knew Ketal well enough. Having cleared two Dungeons together, she believed she had a grasp of what kind of person he was.

He was peculiar and highly curious, but fundamentally, he was a good person. He showed consideration for others and carried himself with courtesy. Deep down, she had assumed the barbarian was a unique yet ordinary being surviving in this world.

However, something felt off right now. There was an alien quality to him. He was not someone who shared her values. She realized this unsettling truth. Hayes suddenly felt that the barbarian had grown distant.

Boom!

Amidst these thoughts, the battle raged on. Light and darkness clashed, their shockwaves sweeping across the battlefield.

Clang!

Ashetiaar violently struck her hammer against Aquaz’s shield and staggered back. Her hammer had the remnants of the golden divine light, which she shook off swiftly.

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

As expected of the dog of the gods,

Ashetiaar thought.

She knew her power was superior to Aquaz. The gap between them was undeniable—so big that she would win all one hundred times if they fought that many battles. Yet, their compatibility wasn’t favorable. In this world, magic could never overcome the power of the gods.

Moreover, Aquaz could recite scriptures.

The scriptures were the words of the gods, and reading them allowed one to channel divine power more directly. At this rate, the battle would stretch on endlessly, and there was even a chance she could lose.

Ashetiaar needed to seize the upper hand. She swung her hammer, confusing Aquaz for a moment, as she wasn’t the target. However, her expression quickly shifted.

With a thunderous stomp, Aquaz surged forward, raising her shield before the others.

Boom!

Darkness collided with her shield and exploded. Screams erupted from the mercenaries and the guards behind her. Had she failed to block Ashetiaar’s attack, they would have been torn apart by the darkness.

“You vile creature,” Aquaz said.

“Did you honestly expect fairness from a demon?” Ashetiaar mocked her.

Aquaz’s expression didn’t falter. No demon would have allowed others into their domain just to let them spectate the battle. Attacking the others was clearly a ploy to hinder her.

Knowing this, Aquaz spoke calmly. “Material, Chapter 1, Verse 1. The radiant domain of gold is born.”

A golden sanctuary unfolded—a divine domain no evil could penetrate.

“Everyone! Come here,” she commanded.

“Ah, thank you, Lady Aquaz!”

The people scrambled into the protective zone Aquaz had created.

Ashetiaar laughed mockingly. “Are you sure you can afford to waste such a precious scripture?”

“Shut up,” Aquaz snapped, charging at her fiercely.

Ashetiaar retaliated with her hammer.

Boom!

The battle took a sharp turn. Aquaz’s divine aura began to wane, and she could no longer perfectly block Ashetiaar’s attacks.

The scriptures embodied the words of the gods. Reciting them granted overwhelming power, but the cost was equally steep. It wasn’t a force one could wield freely. Aquaz’s disadvantage quickly became evident. Watching her struggle, Ashetiaar cackled. “How foolish. Sacrificing your strength and heading toward defeat just to save a handful of insignificant mortals. Pathetic.”

Aquaz didn’t respond, instead swinging her mace. Ashetiaar intercepted the blow with her hammer. The Sun God’s divine energy no longer corroded her weapon.

Clang!

As their bodies closed in, Ashetiaar whispered coldly, “Death means nothing. It’s just death. No one will remember your noble sacrifice.”

If Aquaz lost here, everyone trapped in the domain of darkness would die. And Ashetiaar would reveal herself to the world. Aquaz’s defeat would be known, and with it, the shame of her god.

“The first dog of the Sun God is going to die here. You will tarnish both your own and your god’s honor. But if you strike me down, everyone will sing your praises, and your god’s influence will grow.”

For that to happen, Aquaz would need to give her all, which meant abandoning the people here.

Ashetiaar smiled faintly. “It’s very simple. Withdraw the sanctuary protecting them. They’re non-believers who don’t worship your god—heretics.”

Aquaz was an inquisitor, one who judged heretics.

“If taking their lives troubles you, don’t worry. Leave it to me. All you have to do is close your eyes and block your ears,” Ashetiaar continued.

“Shut up.” As if the words weren’t worth acknowledging, Aquaz gripped her shield tightly and charged. The ground shattered, sending Ashetiaar flying.

Ashetiaar smirked. “Are you choosing to die here and insult your god?”

Instead of replying, Aquaz slammed her foot down and swung her glowing mace.

Clang!

Ashetiaar blocked it but was visibly startled. Usually, humans cornered to this extent would give up on those they protected. They would utter hollow promises of vengeance for the fallen. Ahsetiaar enjoyed mocking their contradictions, their selfish desire to survive. However, Aquaz was genuinely unwilling to abandon the people.

Ashetiaar’s gaze flickered. “Is that virtue what captivated your god? Then die as a martyr.”

Boom!

Ashetiaar’s attacks intensified, darkness enveloping Aquaz. Her overwhelming speed disoriented Aquaz, throwing her off balance.

“Material, Chapter 3, Verse 12! The luminous sanctuary shall drive away—”

“Enough.” Before Aquaz could finish, Ashetiaar clamped her hand over her mouth. “I’ve heard enough of your god’s words.”

Boom!

She slammed Aquaz into the ground and raised her hammer for a final strike. Aquaz barely managed to lift her shied.

Crash!

The hammer shattered the shield. With a snap of Ashetiaar’s fingers, darkness engulfed Aquaz entirely.

“Ugh...,” Aquaz stammered.

The battle was over. The golden sanctuary protecting the people vanished.

“No... no!”

Despairing cries erupted. The inquisitor had lost to the demon. They were all doomed.

Ashetiaar reveled in their screams. “I’ll savor you as dessert later. But first, let’s see what the Sun God’s precious dog tastes like.” She opened her mouth, revealing sharp, shark-like teeth.

Aquaz didn’t close her eyes. With unwavering resolve, she glared at the evil threatening her.

Annoyed, Ashetiaar sneered. “Such pretty eyes. I want to see them twisted in agony.”

As she leaned in to bite, a voice interrupted. “That’s far enough.”

Ketal had seized Ashetiaar’s shoulder.

“What...?” She was stunned.

How?

Ashetiaar thought. She hadn’t sensed any movement. Before she could process it, an immense force flung her backward. She collided with her own barrier.

Boom!

“That was an interesting fight,” Ketal remarked casually, brushing his hands off. “But she is my friend. I won’t let her die.”

He extended a hand toward the fallen Aquaz and said, “Are you alright?”

Aquaz stared at him blankly.

***

Aquaz had used every means at her disposal, yet she was defeated. She had resigned herself to death. Because of this, she had momentarily forgotten Ketal’s existence.

He was the one who had defeated Swordmaster Kain—a Transcendent swordsman. He possessed the ability to intervene in their battle and change the course of the fight.

“You...,” Ashetiaar, who had been slammed into her own barrier, staggered to her feet. Her expression portrayed her irritation, as though someone had ruined their feast. “You insolent barbarian. How dare you interrupt my meal?”

“My apologies, but she is my friend. I cannot let her die,” Ketal replied calmly.

“I was planning to let you live, even as a toy,” Ashetiaar sneered.

“Unfortunately, I have no intention of being used by anyone.”

“Is that so?” Ashetiaar smirked as darkness coalesced, forming a hammer in her hands. “In that case, you will die here today!”

“Step back!” Aquaz exclaimed, struggling to her feet. “You cannot defeat a demon.”

“I think I’m stronger than you might think,” Ketal said with a nonchalant shrug.

“No,” Aquaz insisted, her voice resolute. “Anyone who does no wield divine power cannot defeat a demon.”

It wasn’t a matter of strength. Only divine power could banish a named demon from this world. Any other force would be futile. This was a law established since the beginning, when gods and demons came into existence.

Moreover, this was the demon’s domain. No stroke of luck could be expected. The barbarian stood no chance of defeating the demon.

At Aquaz’s words, Ketal stroked his chin thoughtfully, as if intrigued. “So, only gods can stand against demons? What an interesting concept.”

“Step aside, I will handle this,” Aquaz insisted.

“Even if you say that,” Ketal replied, glancing at her,” you don’t look like you’re in any condition to fight.”

Her once-golden armor had been tainted and corroded by the darkness. Her shield was shattered, and the hand holding her mace trembled uncontrollably.

The outcome was clear: Aquaz had lost. And yet, the inquisitor’s eyes still burned with determination.

“This is my duty. I serve the Sun God. It is my purpose to stand against evil...,” she said. But no matter her resolve, her body betrayed her, swaying unsteadily.

“So, this is what it means to be a believer. Impressive.”Ketal grinned, amused. He was satisfied about what he had witnessed today. This inquisitor truly possessed the faith and heart worthy of one who served the god. “I’ve seen something remarkable from you.”

With those words, Ketal gently leaned Aquaz’s frail body against the broken pillar of a ruined hose. Aquaz staggered but managed to steady herself against the support.

“But leave the rest to me. I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like to fight a demon,” Ketal said with a faint smile.

“You foolish barbarian! You don’t understand, do you? You cannot defeat me!” Ashetiaar mocked. “Judging by that strength earlier, you’re strong. I’ll give you that. But that’s it. You cannot wield divine power, so you will never be able to bring me down.”

“Shall we put that to the test?” Ketal asked, smiling serenely.

Ashetiaar’s grin turned sadistic. One of her greatest joys was breaking those who overestimated their own strength and devouring them afterward.

“I want to see your eyes contort in agony,” Ashetiaar said. As soon as the words left her lips, she vanished. Darkness parted as she reappeared directly in front of Ketal.

It was a leap through space, not a simple movement, leaving no time for reaction. Even Aquaz, with her divine sense, wouldn’t have been able to detect the attack in time.

Shadow silently reached for Ketal’s neck.

“No...,” Aquaz whispered weakly, envisioning Ketal’s broken form in her mind.

However, something very different had happened.

Crack.

Ashetiaar’s head shattered.