Down below the cruel blasphemous church, Logan fought his way through the acolytes of the high priest. Heretical sea spirits forcibly coalesced with the unwilling pious. These mutants sacrificed themselves to buy the high priest valuable milliseconds. Already Logan’s knife had been dulled with the blood and guts of dozens. The seal on his chest itched more than ever as he unleashed wave after wave of light. Yet, even as he slew them with light and knife, he couldn’t get rid of his regret.

If he hadn’t fallen, he would perhaps be convened among the high council arguing for the need of a wall instead of a faithful township. However, from the perspective of a high inquisitor, the trade was obvious. Doubtless, the council didn’t convene to discuss the trade they convened to put on a show for the nobles.

What was he fighting for now? Killing the high priest wouldn’t get him what he wanted, and it wouldn’t make the world a better place. On the other hand, if the high priest succeeded, the triad would have a powerful weapon against the archdemons. If this was about logic, then escaping would be the most prudent option.

The light within him burned with his conviction as he set his course. Logic didn’t matter. The high priest doomed hundreds of thousands to a death that could be avoided; it didn’t matter. The high council throwing away lives when they could have quickly built a wall by treating the nobles didn’t matter. But no one touched his people.

Logan could feel his conviction awakening the light inside of him even as the seal itched so terribly. If not for the seal, Logan could have already torn the priest apart and perhaps even subdued the infant king of kings.

Crack!

The sound was more a spiritual thing than physical. Waves of chaotic spiritual power blasted into the world, screaming king of kings. A power awoke from an egg created by a madman ready to throw the world into chaos. Yet still, he couldn’t feel the seraphs in the air or the approach of the Prophet’s legions. Not even a regiment of the skull guards approached. It was only two inquisitors against the inevitable.

Roland charged into the mass of mutant clergy with Logan hot on his heels. Escape wasn’t possible after the first crack. If they didn’t find the safe room, then they’d die with the rest of the city.

“Get down,” Logan ordered and blasted the crowd with a True Gleam of The Prophet. Then, his majority realm spell tore through the crowd ripping through bodies and biting through the stone. In a moment, hundreds of the mutants fell to a single spell.

Their bodies melted down into blue crystal before shattering into dust. He knew they’d feed the king of kings and hasten its awakening.

Logan gnashed his teeth and ignored the sudden weakness and pain from the seal. If he was at full power, this would have been so much easier.

“Sir, I think I found it.” Roland gripped a heavy iron wheel and turned it. A hole in the ground opened up, revealing a red interior. “Do you think it’s a trap?” Roland asked.

Logan grabbed a still twitching mutant and tossed him inside. When he wasn’t burned to a crisp, aged a millennia, or exploding with boils, Logan assumed it wasn’t a trap.

He struck the side of the shelter with his own light and nodded when it remained unharmed. “If it is a trap, then it’s a clever one.” Logan felt a gripping pain in his chest. He’d already used too much qi, and the seal grew.

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…

Roland resealed the chamber, cutting them off spiritually from the outside world. “Well, that’s one problem solved now; all we have to do is take care of the priest,” Roland said.

“I like your optimism,” Logan said.

Not for into the bunker, groups of humanoid tentacle monsters constructed from crimson letters ambushed them. Roland blasted them with lightning while Logan finished them with his combat knife. He needed to save his qi for the fight ahead.

The bunker shook, and Logan knew the process had begun. First, an entire town and most of the county would be swallowed up by the King of Kings’ aura. Then, if left to its own devices, the spirit would enter the Gemini River forming a ghost empire. He hoped Red and Emily were already far from here.

“They made it have a little faith,” Roland said as if reading his mind. “The Prophet protects,” Roland said.

Logan frowned and scratched the seal on his chest. He wasn’t sure that the Prophet cared to protect anyone, not anymore. Then, they came upon another iron wheel and opened the door within. It swung open, revealing the high priest, Abel, and Felicity.

“Ah, so you did survive.” The high priest said.

Logan drew his sidearm and pointed it at the priest’s head. “Before I send you to the Prophet, answer me. Why did you do it?” Logan asked.

“The Prophet has lied to us about the archdemons, heretical spirits, and cultivation itself. Don’t you think it's odd that there are only three stages? Just as a triangle has three sides. Only the triad doesn’t have three sides. Our holy symbol has twelve sides and twelve points.” When Logan said nothing, the priest went on. “Demons aren’t mad; they have techniques that are different from our own built for non-human spirits. And archdemons are the biggest lie of all.” The high priest’s brains splattered across the two tied-up nobles.

Logan turned to see Roland holding his smoking gun. “Sorry about that, I know it's our way to let them confess before the end, but I can only take so much heresy. How long do you think the awakening process will last?” Roland asked as if he hadn’t just silenced a confession. But, of course, such a thing wasn’t done.

He gripped his chest as he felt the mark begin to grow out of control. After the battle down here, he no longer had the qi to contain the mark.

“The council sent you to silence the truth,” Logan said.

“Obviously, what are you frowning about? I’m sure you’ve sent the occasional wet work specialist to tie a nasty loose end.” Roland shook his head. “I’ll admit, getting stuck down here wasn’t a part of the plan. But the council needs this mess to cause quite a stink; otherwise, the royals might be stingy with the emergency powers.” Roland said.

The darkness continued to spread, and he could feel it tainting his qi. “So, all of this was orchestrated by the inquisition; it was never the demon sects,” Logan said.

Roland shook his head and tipped up the brim of his hat. “Ah, you’re a true believer. No wonder you were given the brand. I bet it hurts like hell.” Roland smiled. “You have my sympathies. Not many true believers become high inquisitors without being censured. You’re a strong one too. Not many can resist the call to darkness.” Roland said.

He looked around, nodding to himself. “This is an interesting setup. He planned to split the serpent’s power between the brother and sister and give them demon sect cultivation techniques. They might have even broken through the Prophet’s majority barrier with the serpent spirit. We can’t have that.” Roland raised his gun and blew Felicity’s brains out.

The boy Abel screamed at the sight of his sister’s death. “Mortals are such fragile things, don’t you agree. Ah, wet work, I never understood the turn of phrase. For me, while it may be wet, I can hardly call it work.” Roland said.

Logan pushed himself up to his feet. “Have you no decency?” Logan growled.

Roland pulled the trigger killing the other boy. “You’re right; we might be here for days. Killing the girl could have waited until last. Well, if you want to rape her corpse, I’ll turn a blind eye. Besides the exit wound, she’s cute.”

Logan raised his hand before Roland winked at him. Then from his seal, the darkness invaded his body. He screamed as something terrible corrupted his soul.

He fought it with every fiber of his being. The darkness pushed at his light from all directions. What little power remained couldn’t hold out.

Roland cut the boy free and tossed his corpse on the high priest. Then the inquisitor spun the chair around to sit in. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, really I am. Killing my colleagues when they fall to the dark is the worst part of my job.” Roland said before his eyes widened.

The inquisitor threw himself to the side as a dark encased tentacle lashed out. “First, I’d like to say thank you. No one would trust me if I gained a reputation for killing my allies. Unfortunately, I was only too late to save them, but the plan must go on. If only I’d noticed you a little sooner, Abel and Felicity could have used their blood connection and the ritual placed on the serpent to divide its spirit between them.” Ula said before flashing a hidden inquisitor badge.

Roland raised his revolver before blinking. “You’re a double agent. I thought it was weird that an exiled high inquisitor ended up here.” Roland stared at his daughter, and he struggled to move and put himself between them. “Interesting, so high inquisitor Logan is your proof of commitment. So now it all makes sense. Well, in that case, have at him. Just don’t get any blood on my shoes.” Roland said.

Logan clutched his chest and stared up at his monstrous daughter. He could see it now; he had been betrayed by the inquisition, the light, and the Prophet. At that moment, he let go of his control and let the dark have its way with him.