After they saw that the monster that was Rory was removed, the members of the church forces all sigh in relief. However, they soon started to feel a sense of dread again. That was because they may have gotten rid of one monster, but a bigger monster remained.

It was the monster who took down the terrifying Rory, Serket.

“Who is that woman?”

Eleleth asked.

“She has a similar feeling to the Scorpion-men. She also seem to be able to use their anima style.”

Said Marut.

“The Scorpion Queen.”

Dumah suddenly said.

“?!”

The rest of the Aficionado were shocked when they heard that.

“You mean the comrade of the Human Sovereign? That’s her?”

Harut asked.

Dumah nodded.

“It’s not well known, but it’s believed that she’s the overseer of Pandemonium, and the guardian of the Devil King.”

“Really? That’s quite the resume.”

Said Eleleth.

Dumah suddenly stepped forward.

“I’ll take her on. You guys continue to lead our forces.”

He placed his hand on his mask and took it off in front of everyone.

He had a face that could only be described as heavenly. He had pale blue hair, and eyes which looked like it was made from the purest glass fragments.

“………”

Serket looked at him in silence.

‘This guy will be trouble. He’s not someone who can defeat me, but he’s not someone I can capture alive either.’

She thought.

She looked into his pale blue eyes, which looked like nothing could cause it to waver.

‘This guy, he’s a part of the Heavenly Order as well as a member of the Aficionado, meaning that his faith and determination is abnormal. I will have to kill him if I want to stop him. However, that would give the Sacred Army a reason to kill me. Yet, if I leave him alone he might slaughter most of our forces.’

She smiled.

“Looks like I have no choice.”

She suddenly appeared in front of Dumah.

“I’ll need you to leave this war immediately!”

*Bam!*

She slammed her palm on his chest.

“…..?!”

Dumah’s face was instantly covered in shock. Serket’s anima immediately started invading his body.

“Animus: Scorpion Lock!”

*Clang!*

The sound of metal colliding came from Dumah’s chest. He looked and the image of a scorpion design lock appeared there. Chains suddenly started rushing forth from the lock and wrapped themselves around Dumah.

“Boss!”

The other Aficionado members started rushing towards him. At that moment, Xavier intercepted them and blocked their path.

“I’ll have you stay away from my queen!”

He stomped the ground and pillars of metal erupted out of it, and formed a cage around them.

“Go!”

Serket smiled at her husband and quickly grabbed Dumah and leaped into the hair. In a second, she was already gone.

“You little!”

Harut destroyed the wall with a fist and charged forward.

“Give the boss back!”

Harut roared.

“No can do!”

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Xavier swung his fists with all of strength behind it.

*Bam!*

Harut blocked it with his hand, but he was blown back a little.

“None of you will past!”

Xavier shouted.

‘This is bad. Mother used the Scorpion Lock, now not only did she sealed that Aficionado member, she also did the same to herself. That’s the double sided power of her animus.’

Christi thought.

As the one who inherited his mother’s techniques, he had a good idea of his mother’s ability. Serket has many animus for various situations, she also possess a seal technique, the Scorpion Lock.

This technique is really a double edge sword, but it is a very powerful sealing technique.

‘She must’ve determined that their leader wasn’t someone who could be taken alive……Father, knew her situation and gave her an opportunity to escape.’

Liam thought.

“That’s good and everything, but now we lost both our strongest fighters. That’s why father step forward.”

He sighed.

“We were already greatly outnumbered too.”

A serious look appeared in his eyes.

“Looks like its time we get involve.”

He turned around and looked at those around him. Because they were shielded from Dumah’s flames by Serket, everyone who belonged to the royal faction was together. However, Liam didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

“You bastards!”

Harut roared and started approaching Xavier and the others. The pressure he gave off made them all feel like they were being crushed under an invisible foot.

“Calm down, Harut.”

At that point, Marut stood in front of him and blocked him.

“The boss will be fine. You should know his power already. If we wait, he’ll make his way back to us.”

He said.

“There’s no need to charge at them recklessly. Look!”

Marut turned around looked at Xavier.

“Even someone as insignificant as this is enough to hold you back. This is all because you lost yourself in your emotions.”

“Insignificant?”

Xavier smirked with an angry glare behind his mask.

“Your brother is right, Harut.”

Eleleth stepped forward and said. She then placed her hand on her mask and took it off.

“These people isn’t worth you getting worked up over.”

She said.

Her face was graceful as it was beautiful. She also had pale blue hair and eyes, and a beauty mark near her bottom lip.

“They’re just lambs ready for slaughter.”

She displayed a mischievous smile.

Harut and Marut also removed their masks. Just like Dumah and Eleleth, they had pale blue hair and eyes. This was the trademark characteristic of the Sacred Kin.

“This is bad.”

Amelia gripped her sword tightly as she stared at the Sacred trio.

“These three are incredibly strong.”

She muttered.

“This is really bad.”

Liam mumbled while looking at his comrades. They all looked scared stiff, and looked like they wanted to run.

‘Well, them wanting to run isn’t surprising. Other than these three, there’s an entire army behind them ready to sweep us away in an instant.’

He clicked his tongue.

“This couldn’t be any worst.”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“?!”

Liam quickly turned to his side when he heard a voice he didn’t expect to hear.

“Richard?”

He saw Richard standing beside him with a smile.

“Hm?”

The Aficionado also noticed his return.

“That guy, didn’t he leave with the Devil King?”

Richard started walking past everyone and headed towards them. They continued watching him until he stood in front of them.

“What’s up with this guy?”

Eleleth asked.

“Alright, it looks like your good enough.”

Richard suddenly said. He then turned around and looked at Amelia and Reina, before smiling. He then turned back around and looked at the Aficionado members.

“How about a bet?”

He asked.

“Huh? A bet?”

Richard nodded.

“It’s a simple bet. I’m betting that the four of you will died at the hands of the group behind me.”

“Hahahaha!”

Eleleth suddenly burst out laughing.

“Are you right in the head? Them beat us? And what’s this about a bet?”

“If you win then you can crush this country as you please.”

Richard ignored her and said.

“Such nonsense!”

Harut stood in front of him as if trying to intimidate him.

“We were going to cleanse this heretic country anyway. Why are you acting like this is all up to you?”

He asked.

“What? You’re unsatisfied?”

Richard however seemed unfazed by his pressure. He lifted a finger.

“Then how about I throw in Rory’s location as well?”

“?!”

His words shocked everyone there. He ignored them and continued.

“Rory is currently incapacitated. Even a child can kill him as the way he is. Isn’t this the perfect chance to get rid of an enemy?”

“What are you saying?!”

Amelia got flustered and shouted.

“Are you selling Rory out?!”

“Me? Whether he end up in their hands is up to all of you.”

Richard said without looking at her.

“If you lose, he dies. That’s it.”

“You…!”

Amelia looked furious.

“Hey. What makes you think that you that we’ll just agree to such a bet when we have the advantage?”

Marut asked.

“We can easily destroy this country as it is now. As for the Devil King’s location, we can just beat it out of you.”

He said.

“Advantage?”

Richard suddenly looked confused.

“Since when did you have the advantage?”

“Huh?”

The trio looked at each other confused.

“?!”

When they looked in front of them again, Richard was gone. He had moved away from them without them noticing.

*BOOM!*

They heard a loud explosion behind them and quickly turned around.

“?!”

They were once again shocked.

“Ugh….”

They saw countless corpses laying in a crater. Richard was seen standing at the edge of that crater. The soldiers all looked frightened as they stared at him. This alone was proof that he had killed their comrades.

“What did he do?”

Eleleth asked in shock.

“By advantage, were you perhaps taking about numbers?”

Richard looked at the trio and asked.

“If so, I can easily cut it down to make things even if you want.”

“…….”

Everyone was silent in response to his words. They all felt like he wasn’t bluffing. He could really even out the numbers if he wished.

“This guy is extremely dangerous.”

They all thought.

“So, what will you do?”

He asked.

“….Fine. We agree to the bet.”

Marut said.

“But first tell us what you get if we lose.”

“Your lives.”

Richard instantly answered with a smile.

“If you lose you die. It’s simple.”

He said.

“I see. Then it’s no different that what we originally wanted.”

Marut turned around and faced royal faction.

“Let’s see what you people can do.”

“Wait. He said four of us, didn’t he?”

Eleleth said.

“Who’s the fourth?”

*Swoosh!*

At that moment it felt like a blizzard appeared out of nowhere, as strong winds blew and the temperature started to fall rapidly. Snow and wind started concentrating between the church forces and the royal faction. They quickly took the form of a human that could only be described as cold.

“Oh?”

Marut smiled when he saw who it was.

“You’re late, Eis.”

He said.

Eis looked at everyone with a warm smile despite his cold presences.

“Sorry I’m late.”

He looked at the royal faction and spoke.

“Who do I kill?”