Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 591: A new day, a new battle

Chapter 591: A new day, a new battle

Nadia hadn’t slept the whole night, her nerves too tense to allow her slumber as she sat within the tunnel below Albanum.

Which was why she was among the first to react when the divine wave came crashing down without mercy.

The sonic boom that followed, a result of Antimagic forcibly canceling out divinity, helped to let her know that the battle had begun.

Lucia, who had accompanied her through the nightly vigil, was already prepared to make a move as she watched Nadia pull out the painting she had carried all this while.

Taking a deep breath, she channeled her Will into the painting and as though it were alive, it rippled before proceeding to suck her in.

Lucia followed a moment after.

Meanwhile, above, Charles and Robert stepped out of their sleeping spot to confront the Archbishop.

"I didn’t know you were so violent." Charles joked as he hefted his great sword, placing it over his shoulder.

Benedict didn’t respond immediately as he scrutinized the two, quickly noticing the mechanical appendages they now had.

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

Indeed, it is as I suspected. What woes has Zion gone through in recent years that have caused even its greatest defenders to appear like so?

"Been through a lot, actually; if you are willing, I’d be more than happy to fill you in on the details," Robert replied with Benedict smirking.

Are you trying to buy time?... If you are, then you need to put in more effort.

"Don’t feel like it," Robert remarked with a shrug.

Benedict chuckled.

Tell me, where is the Devil Wheel Mystic?... Is she here or has she already made her way over to the Basilica?

Robert and Charles’ expression shifted for the first time as they seemed to not have expected Benedict to have deduced their plans.

What?... Don’t tell me you believed that your plan was foolproof?... Oh come on, you Warriors are supposed to be smarter than that. I mean, it was quite easy to figure out.

"If you know we are here to destroy the Basilica, then why are you here?" Charles questioned.

Because I am not the only Daemon in Kastarus, my dear friends. In any case, what is a meager Occultist of the Devil Wheel and a Monarch going to do to the Lord’s holy place?

"So that’s how it is," Robert muttered as he exchanged looks with Charles.

Now come, my friends, I will give you a chance to survive. As long as you join the Church, becoming loyal servants for the Only One God, then I shall spare you. Failure to do so shall end in a swift death.

Instead of a response, Robert raised his bow and drew back its string while Charles took an offensive stance.

Benedict shook his head with a disappointed look on his face.

Foolish.

Their attacks came a moment later.

***

Nadia and Lucia found themselves before a grand city, one that resembled the painting they had entered.

At the city center, stood a grand structure that was made of pure marble and seemed poised to pierce the heavens.

"Saint Hadrian’s Basilica," Lucia muttered in slight awe. "It is truly as great as they claim."

"It is also as secure. Even from here, I can already feel the enchantments covering it."

"Are we sure we would be able to take it down?"

"I don’t..."

Before Nadia could complete her statement, she froze, along with Lucia.

Before they could figure out what was happening, a black dot appeared in the distance before moving towards them at a ridiculously fast pace.

Within seconds it had arrived, quickly revealing the dot to be a person.

But it was not just any person as this particular individual was clothed in armor made out of black steel and was wielding a pike.

His very presence radiated divinity, marking him out as a divine being, enough to instill fear in the hearts of both ladies.

The individual’s eyes scanned them briefly before coldly remarking.

Die.

None could do anything as steel rods manifested from the ground to pierce their hearts.

But just as it came close, the ladies disappeared, as though erased only to appear in a different location.

The armored fellow was about to suppress them once more only to pause as he sensed a divine presence similar to his own.

He glanced to the side just in time to watch as copious amounts of colorful ink emerged from where Nadia and Lucia had once stood, quickly reforming into the figure of the Goddess, Hena.

Apologies, but I cannot let you kill those girls.

***

Benedict’s expression shifted as he dodged the attacks of both Robert and Charles.

So you received the help of that heretical deity, Hena. No wonder you believe you have a chance. But you must know, there is a qualitative difference between a Daemon and a Demigod. The Basilica is safe.

"Anyone ever told you that you talk a lot?... It could come back to bite you." Charles remarked as he made to attack again.

Benedict snorted.

Then allow me to finish this now.

Immediately after, his form changed, transforming into a massive stone giant with a hunched back, almost like it was weighed down by a heavy load.

Gravity in the area multiplied to the extent that neither Charles nor Robert were able to move quickly enough to dodge what came next.

It was a ball of compressed gravity, one that was sure to disintegrate them should it make contact.

Seeing this, Charles didn’t hesitate to make a move as he raised his hand with immense difficulty, calling down forces from the sky and indeed, something heeded his call.

Benedict didn’t even get a chance to react as an anvil the size of a skyscraper, fell from above and onto Benedict’s back, sending him crashing to his knees.

Meanwhile, Robert drew back his bow, even as his bones screamed at him to stop before proceeding to let loose the arrow he had forged.

It whistled through the air with a vengeance.