As Karlo emerged from the shimmering veil of light, a wave of violent, malevolent energy surged forth, overwhelming everyone. At that very moment, the Cardinals' divine spell, long in the making, was finally ready.
Four Cardinals had devoted an immense amount of time to chanting and praying, and the power they summoned was nothing short of extraordinary. For a fleeting moment, the night was transformed into day as beams of pure white light coalesced in the air. Sacred and immense, this radiant aura banished the stench of blood and evil from the battlefield.
The black-armored knights fell to their knees, eyes ablaze with fervent devotion.
Above Karlo's head, a massive sword of incandescent light hung, gleaming with holy brilliance.
"In the name of the Holy Light, the Father of Saints, and the Archangel, I condemn you for your monstrous crimes."
The lead Cardinal, pale as death but exuding boundless authority, locked eyes with Karlo, unflinching in his resolve.
Karlo's temper flared. The sword of judgment had fixed itself upon him, no matter where he moved. There was no escape.
Damn that celestial power! Karlo lashed out, his claws slicing through the Cardinal’s chest like a hot knife through butter, ripping out his still-beating heart.
The old Cardinal, blood foaming at his mouth, managed a grim smile. "You can't escape..."
Under the control of the remaining Cardinals, the sword of judgment fell swiftly, a radiant guillotine aimed straight at Karlo.
Sindra, gripped by terror, screamed uncontrollably. Karlo snarled, hurling her aside as he braced himself for the blow, roaring defiantly at the oncoming sword of light.
BOOM! The thunderous explosion shattered the night sky. The flash of white light was so intense that no one could bear to keep their eyes open.
When the dust finally settled, a massive crater lay before them, its edges charred and smoldering. The sacred light had completely vanished, and the suffocating aura of evil was purged from the air.
Had the demon truly been defeated?
For a brief moment, the battlefield was still, then an overwhelming sense of relief washed over the survivors, their eyes bright with elation.
The three Cardinals collapsed, utterly drained, whispering in unison, "Praise be to the Light..."
But their joy was fleeting.
A few keen ears picked up a faint rustling sound. Soon, others noticed it too. It was the rhythmic beating of countless wings, rising from every direction, growing louder, more frenzied, until the air itself buzzed with ominous anticipation.
“Look! What is that?!” someone shouted, pointing skyward.
Everyone turned to see—a vast swarm of blood-red bats had emerged from the shadows, a crimson tide sweeping over the land.
The first scream pierced the air, followed quickly by another, and another...
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The bloodthirsty swarm tore through the ranks of the black-armored knights, their razor-sharp fangs sinking into flesh, draining the life from their victims in moments.
When the bats finally dispersed, they left behind a gruesome field of withered corpses, grotesquely twisted in death.
Sated, the swarm gathered, forming a writhing mass. One by one, the bats burst into black mist, and from that dark cloud, a towering figure took shape.
Karlo stood tall, greedily devouring one Sin Fruit after another, their juices splattering across his lips. His face was pale—the Blood Bat Technique had allowed him to escape, but the cost was staggering. Half of his power had been drained.
Damn it. How many more Sin Fruits would it take to recover?
The demon... he still lived.
He had evaded the Holy Light's judgment!
A tide of terror and despair swept through the crowd. The remaining Cardinals stood frozen, their faith shattered, unable to comprehend what they had just witnessed.
Karlo had no desire to waste more time. Sin Fruit juice dripped from his lips, mingling with blood.
His face contorted in a grim snarl, and like a shadow, he lunged forward.
The screams resumed...
Half a month later, the Holy Church proclaimed the arrival of the "Demon Catastrophe." The news of the complete annihilation of the Holy Light Knights and the five Cardinals reverberated across the continent.
The mighty Kingdom of Oraton, heeding the Holy Pope’s decree, joined forces with numerous smaller kingdoms to combat the demonic invasion and the rapidly swelling army of ghouls ravaging the land.
The entire continent was plunged into endless war.
In the dimly lit palace, torches flickered, casting eerie shadows on the blackened walls. The grand hall was steeped in an atmosphere of dark mystery.
On the wide throne, Karlo lay fully reclined in his demonic form, with Sophia and Sindra draped across his chest, their bodies supple and their eyes filled with adoration.
Since his ascension, Karlo found it harder to control his demonic urges—the insatiable desire for destruction, the thirst for blood, and his most primal cravings.
Half a month earlier, he had taken the first nights of both women, and now his nights were filled with endless debauchery.
Talia stood at his side, expressionless, her eyes devoid of emotion. Yet Karlo gazed upon her with open admiration.
Compared to Sophia and Sindra, who were mere playthings, Talia was a valuable subordinate, his most trusted servant.
After narrowly escaping death, Karlo had only kept track of Talia’s survival through their soul bond, never paying her much attention. But she had delivered him a most pleasant surprise.
In just two weeks, she had raised an army of tens of thousands of ghouls, with more joining their ranks every day.
To ascend to a mid-tier demon required 100,000 experience points. At this rate, it wouldn’t be long.
Talia had been rewarded for her loyalty, mastering all basic demonic magic and receiving a Sin Fruit.
“A recently fallen kingdom,” Talia reported softly, pulling a glass jar from her cloak. Inside, a small frog wearing a tiny crown floated. “Its prince was cursed from birth to live as a frog. I went to great lengths to capture him for you, my master.”
Talia knelt, offering the glass jar to Karlo.
Karlo seized the jar, inspecting the absurd little frog prince within. The heat radiating from his arm lifted his spirits.
“Well done, Talia,” Karlo praised her. “Now, what reward do you seek?”
Talia kissed his foot, humbly replying, “I wish only to serve you, my master.”
Karlo tilted her chin with one grotesque finger, gazing at her monstrous face as though admiring the most exquisite artwork. “Do you not wish to regain your beauty?”
Talia remained silent.
Karlo smirked, pulling her into a kiss, their lips meeting with fervor until a hint of shyness flickered in her eyes.
Releasing the now limp Talia, Karlo turned his attention to the frog in the jar.
“Little one, open your heart and let the darkness embrace you.”
The frog croaked wildly, leaping frantically inside the glass. “Get away from me, you demon! I’m waiting for my princess! Get away!”
CRACK! With a casual flick of his wrist, Karlo crushed the jar into blood-stained shards. “If you won’t accept, then so be it.”
He wiped the blood from his hands. There was an entire continent of souls awaiting harvest, and he had no time to waste on a single cursed frog. Still, killing it would net him a thousand experience points.
“Such a pitiful little creature...” Sophia giggled, her body writhing seductively in his arms, reigniting his hunger.
This madwoman had once sacrificed an entire city to feed Talia’s ghoul army.
“Restless again, are we...?”
Karlo's growl echoed through the hall, followed by soft gasps. His massive bat wings enveloped the throne.
And Talia was pulled into the darkness with them...