Dr. Malek simply laughed, a hollow sound that reverberated through the wrecked chamber. "You think you can beat me with brute force? How naive."

"Not brute force," Sero shook his head, "You're gonna willingly help me."

With that, Sero casted an empowered Charm and Dominate, overpowering Dr. Malek's will with a sickening crunch of the green sphere. The Pillar's eyes glazed over, his smug grin slipping into a blank look of obedience.

"Now, tell me where the other Pillars of Culling are hiding," Sero demanded, his voice firm as he tightened his grip on the doctor's mind. Surprisingly, even with Sero's multiple buffs powering his skills, the doctor's resistance was substantial. It was clear that the man had been in the presence of powerful magic for a long time.

"Why... should... I?" Dr. Malek's voice was strained, his eyes fluttering as he tried to resist Sero's mental domination.

"Champion... his will is extremely concrete," Aphiel's voice carried a worried tone in his mind. "Your dominance may not hold for long."

"Fine," Sero scowled. "Then I'll use a different approach."

Before the goddess could protest, Sero casted Mind Search, enabling him to delve within Dr. Malek's memories. However, the doctor's will was indeed as strong as Aphiel had warned. It was like trying to break into a fortress made of pure malice. Sero's eyes narrowed in concentration as he dug deeper, his mana straining under the immense mental effort.

Pushing past the recent memories, Sero tried to look for any clues in the vast darkness. A slight fear began to bubble up within him, which couldn't be eased with his Rationality. The further he traveled, the more his apprehension grew. It was like trying to see how far he could bend a stick without it snapping in half.

Or rather, it was more like venturing out into a dark forest alone without any light. Sero didn't know what he would find through Dr. Malek's memories, but he was beginning to doubt his choice of mind reading. The main reason? It felt like there was another presence there with Dr. Malek and him.

Suddenly, Sero felt like he couldn't breathe as he hit what felt like the most dreadful, twisted, and absolutely evil energy he had ever felt. In fact, it was so intense that it caused him to double over in pain. The energy wasn't a part of Dr. Malek; the sheer force reminded Sero of Aphiel's presence except... corrupted.

The darkness seemed to sense Sero's intrusion, reaching out to him like a virus. Before it could touch his mind, Sero quickly began to pull back. He feared that he had stumbled upon something that he shouldn't have messed with. In fact, the darkness hadn't actually touched his psyche, but the sheer pressure and aura emanating from it inside Dr. Malek's mind was enough to send Sero into a full-blown panic.

Realizing it was too much, Sero desperately pulled his consciousness out of Dr. Malek's mind, gasping for air as he stumbled back. The doctor took the opportunity to break free from his binds, a look of shock and horror etched on his face as he saw the depths of his own thoughts and something not entirely human reflected in Sero's red eyes.

"What have you done?" the doctor whispered before a raging black flame suddenly engulfed him.

Sero watched in horror as Dr. Malek screamed with pain, his body contorting and growing grotesque as the black aura consumed him. His clothes tattered away, revealing a form that was no longer human. In his place stood a monstrous creature, its body a twisted mass of shadows and decay.

"Champion, run!" Aphiel screamed in his head. "I sense the energy of a banished god!"

Sero's eyes widened as he took in the monstrosity before him. He had never seen anything like it, not even in the depths of his darkest imagination. The creature that was once Dr. Malek stood tall, towering over him, with limbs that stretched unnaturally and green eyes that burned with a fiery hatred. The stench of decay and despair filled the air, and Sero's knees threatened to buckle under the sheer weight of the malevolence.

"Ugh... while this vessel is less than subpar... I suppose it will do," the creature that was once Dr. Malek spoke in a deep, grating voice that seemed to come from every corner of the room. Sero's grip on his mana tightened as he took a step back, his mind racing with fear and confusion.

At no point did he feel as if he would meet a more evil creature than Apep, but he unfortunately was wrong. The creature before him was a monster that made the Catastrophe look like a toddler. Sero couldn't even collect his thoughts- that's how incredibly overwhelming the presence was.

The darkness began to refine itself, shaping the creature into a more coherent form. The room trembled as it grew, the very air around it crackling with power. Sero knew that he was no match for this being, and his instincts screamed at him to flee. Yet his body wouldn't respond to his commands.

"Ascendant..." the man spoke after the shadows finished swirling around him. His new form, while taken on the appearance of a handsome man, was terrifying to behold, as if every dark thought and desire had been woven into his very being. "I must say, this would not have been possible if not for you."

Sero's mind raced, trying to piece together what was happening. This creature, this god, had used Dr. Malek as a vessel? He had to be stopped, but how? Sero's heart pounded in his chest, his body begging for him to retreat, but he couldn't move. His eyes remained locked with the creature's, a silent battle of wills playing out between them.

"Crom Cruach..." Aphiel whispered fearfully in Sero's mind.

The banished god sneered, as if the mere mention of his name brought him pleasure. "Divine goddess," Crom Cruach spat with hatred, "How nice of you to send your loyal dogs in place of yourselves."

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Sero's eyes widened. This... banished god was able to hear Aphiel? It did make sense, considering both Aphiel and the creature called Crom Cruach were considered deities.

In a flash of light, Aphiel's goddess projection materialized in front of Sero, her gentle eyes now filled with a fiery resolve. "Crom Cruach, you dare to show your face in this realm again!"

This was the first time Sero had ever seen Aphiel so angry, so... divine-like. It was also the first time she had materialized herself in front of others, though that may have been more due to her learning the magic to do so compared to back then.

Crom Cruach clicked his tongue with disapproval. "Careful, goddess. While my presence enables you to step in as well, your divinity is weakened because it seems like you only have one 'champion'."

Aphiel's eyes narrowed. "What have you done to that man whose body you now possess?"

The banished god laughed, a chilling sound that seemed to echo through the very fabric of the room. "You think I coerced that worm into making a contract with me? He did that out of his own volition. Many others like him cut deals with my kind. But, it was only due to your 'champion' over there that the seal was broken, enabling me to take control."

Sero felt a mix of anger and disgust at the revelation. He had unknowingly been a catalyst in bringing the banished god over. His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden realization that the creature was goading Aphiel. "We don't have time for this," he muttered under his breath, trying to gather his courage to face the creature. The others would arrive soon to help, and Sero was concerned that he had lost the only lead he had on the whereabouts of the Culling Pillars.

Aphiel, however, remained unfazed by Crom Cruach's taunts. Her eyes burned with a fiery determination that Sero hadn't seen before. "You may have a new host, but you will not win," she declared, her voice a mix of authority and defiance. "We will find a way to send you back to your prison, no matter the cost."

"Sure," Crom Cruach waved a hand, casually dispersing Aphiel's projection. She barely had time to yelp in surprise before it was just Sero and the banished god again. "It's not like this vessel isn't going to crumble regardless."

Sero's stomach churned at the thought of the doctor's fate. He had to do something, and fast. The creature was too powerful, too ancient, and had too much experience with this world's rules to be defeated by brute force. The room felt smaller, the air thicker with malice. At least against Apep, Sero had the reassurance of being out in the open and near other Ascendants, even if they were incapacitated. Here in the basement of the hospital with no backup, he was on his own.

Moss and Lime appeared in front of him, growling at the banished god. Even Sting had forcefully summoned herself, poising her rapier at Crom Cruach. Despite his familiars standing guard, Sero knew that this was a battle that could only end one way.

Gathering his mana and energy, Sero tried to muster up the courage to fight. But Crom Cruach's presence was overwhelming, the air thick with the stench of decay and power. The creature's eyes narrowed, amused by Sero's feeble attempts to resist. It didn't help that he couldn't sense Aphiel's presence either.

"Why do you bother?" Crom Cruach's voice was a chilling whisper that seemed to echo in Sero's very soul. "You are but a mere mortal playing with the fires of the divine. I am the end of your kind's world."

He couldn't even bring himself to look directly at Crom Cruach's eyes, let alone speak. His body was shaking, but he had to do something. "What... what do you want from me?" he managed to stutter out, his voice pathetically weak. He had been terrified facing off against Apep, but against a banished god, even one that was simply using a vessel to project his divinity, was beyond his scope of understanding.

The creature chuckled, a sound that seemed to resonate through the very fabric of the room. "You? I have no need for you, mortal. But I will enjoy watching you squirm and fail in your futile attempts to stop us. Your kind always does."

Crom Cruach took a step forward, which triggered Sero to unleash everything he had onto the man. Fire blasts, freezing water, bolts of lightning and earth, pure magic, demonic energy... Sero threw everything at the man that used to be Dr. Malek, hoping that the sheer quantity of spells would overwhelm the god.

His familiars joined the fray, with Sero conjuring up his face card court and the reptilian army. The entire basement level shook with the roars of his summons and spells. He even tried to summon a Carnal Seven Sin to no avail, hinting to Sero that even creatures of pure instinct didn't want to face Crom Cruach.

Finally, Sero's assault began to wane, his mana reserves depleted and his body screaming for rest. He panted heavily, his eyes never leaving Crom Cruach, who remained untouched by the onslaught. The god's amusement was palpable, and it only served to enrage Sero further. But as he looked, he saw something that gave him hope—Dr. Malek's body was showing signs of strain and decay. He could at least stall for time.

Unfortunately, it seemed as though Crom Cruach also noticed this, but the banished god didn't seem bothered. In fact, he seemed to be growing more amused by the second. "You know, for a mere mortal, you put up quite the entertaining fight," he said, his deep voice echoing through the basement. "But you're wasting your time. You cannot hope to defeat me, not even with your stolen powers. I've heard so many rumors of the Scholar, yet I'm disappointed finally facing the legend itself."

The room grew cold as Crom Cruach began to laugh, the sound sending shivers down Sero's spine. The creature's form grew larger, the air around him thickening with malevolence. Sero's mind raced, trying to think of anything that could give him an advantage. He emulated Lawbreak, desperately willing a way out. But nothing happened.

The banished god's eyes illuminated with a green fire as he gathered wisps of dark jade haze into his hands. Sero's body buzzed, but he was unable to copy the skill, let alone learn what it was. Frozen in fear and all of his familiars gone, Sero felt as if his time had come.

"I see you recognize your insignificance now," Crom Cruach cackled, his voice echoing through the ruined hallways of the hospital basement. "You are but a mere ant, a fleeting spark in the grand tapestry of the cosmos."

Although he was scared shitless, Sero had to agree. He was only a human, who had quickly met people stronger than he was and encountered beings from different realms that were vastly stronger than them. Forget his overpowered skills, they were nothing if they couldn't reach beings like Apep or Crom Cruach.

But, Sero was stubborn. He had come this far, survived this much, and there was no way he was going to die here in this basement, especially not at the hands of a god that talked too much. He had lost and gained too much to just give up.

Summoning every ounce of courage and spite, Sero glared at the looming figure of Crom Cruach. "Is that all you've got? Insults and fancy lights?"

Instead of responding, the banished god chuckled darkly, sending the green haze spiraling around his hands into the air. "Your spirit is amusing, little Scholar," he mused. "But it's time to put an end to your tale."

Sero's body buzzed, but he found himself unable to copy or learn what the skill was. Probably because it was a god's skill, despite him being banished.

That was still the least of Sero's worry as Crom Cruach fired a volley of the green haze at him. Sero braced for impact, but to his surprise, the haze stopped just before it could hit him. The air thickened, and a soft glow enveloped him, a gentle warmth that was at odds with the malevolent energy that had filled the room moments ago.

"Sweetheart, I swear if you ever put me under mind control again, I will inject you with so many unknown substances that you'll be wishing that man had hit you with that attack," Madison scolded Sero as she appeared from behind.