Chapter 1 The Vatican Cathedral of the Holy See, Rome, the First Episcopal State of the Cross Alliance.
The newly appointed young hero, the Holy Maiden of the Papal Court, the Elven Priestess, and the Captain of the Sacred Flame Knights followed the Cardinal into the Golden Papal Palace.
The stained-glass windows and the dome frescoes of the Papal Palace calmly recounted to every worshipper the accounts of creation, the crucifixion of Jesus, the preaching of the saints, the end of the world, and the scenes of heaven and hell as described in the Bible.
Beneath the white statue of Jesus and the golden cross, a marble chair stood on a high platform, and a kind old man dressed in white robes with golden patterns was smiling at the four, including the hero.
"You've worked hard, Lawler. Go find Maria. She seems to have something to tell you," the Pope said.
The Cardinal nodded and turned to leave the Golden Papal Palace.
"My children, I am very happy to see you as you are now," the Pope maintained his amiable smile. "Full of vigor, brimming with youth, your eyes filled with curiosity and confidence about the world... I have called you here today to discuss matters concerning the Holy Roman Empire, the Second Episcopal State."
"Unfortunately, two-fifths of the Elector Princes in that fertile land have betrayed their faith in my Lord along with their subjects. More than the damage to the Papal Court's dignity, it is the fact that hundreds of thousands of believers have lost their connection with the Lord and are unable to receive His gospel that causes me greater anxiety." 筷書閣
"Therefore, I wish for you to liquidate the Marquises on this list one by one. This will be your final examination. With my token, you will receive assistance from the nearest church in each fief. And Afte Lang," the Pope looked at the tall Dragon Person youth, "you may take a squad of ten men from the Sacred Flame Knights to assist you."
After assigning their tasks and receiving the loyalty of the four, the Pope stood up from the marble chair alone.
Several magical array lights flashed, and a dark passage gradually appeared behind the golden cross and the white stone statue of Jesus.
The Pope slowly walked in, if crawling with the tentacles beneath his wide robe could be considered walking...
...
Neon, Tokyo, Imperial Palace.
Tojo Kiyosuke placed the body of Prince Xuande aside and then grasped the Amaterasu Sword suspended in mid-air.
As expected.
The same surging spiritual energy poured into Tojo Kiyosuke's body. Amidst the rapidly rising spiritual energy, Tojo Kiyosuke felt as if he had touched that unattainable realm – Ninth Tier.
That's right! His strength was increasing! His domain was becoming more real! His flesh and blood were no longer fragile!
Tojo Kiyosuke laughed wildly, his twisted laughter echoing throughout the Imperial Palace, yet no one could hear it.
However, no one could remind him that tentacles, which certainly could not grow on a primate, were beginning to sprout from his body...
Meanwhile, Tojo Momoyama heard the distant wails. She frowned slightly at the demonic energy spreading in Heian Street and wanted to report back to Tojo Kiyosuke.
But as soon as she turned around, she felt an even stronger aura of evil slowly emanating from the inner court of the Imperial Palace.
As an assassin, Tojo Momoyama's intuition told her that whatever was inside was definitely more dangerous than the Hyakki Yagyō outside.
But... the family head and that prince were still inside...
Remembering her strict adherence to Bushido, Tojo Momoyama drew her silver blade, leaped over the palace wall, and cautiously approached the inner court of the Imperial Palace, treading on the green tiles with a bent waist.
Through the screen painted with pine forests and flowing water, Tojo Momoyama saw the blood overflowing in the sleeping chambers, several fallen corpses, and...
Tojo Kiyosuke holding a strange object.
Tojo Kiyosuke held what seemed to be the skull of some animal, no, perhaps not an animal, in one hand, and a bone sword entwined with blood vessels, fascia, and a beating heart in the other, his face contorted in a twisted smile.
Seeing Tojo Kiyosuke's strange appearance, Tojo Momoyama was clearly terrified. She slowly retreated, wanting to leave without attracting Tojo Kiyosuke's attention.
But things did not go as planned.
After absorbing the spiritual energy of the "Amaterasu Sword" and the "Yasakani Jewel," Tojo Kiyosuke's perception of flesh and blood living beings greatly increased.
"Someone's there!" Tojo Kiyosuke's blood-red eyes glared in Tojo Momoyama's direction. "Are you here to snatch the divine artifacts too? I won't let you have them. They can only be mine! Hahahahaha..."
Amidst a series of chilling laughter, Tojo Kiyosuke activated his supernatural ability – a fully armored samurai general, whom he ordered to take a naginata and go after Tojo Momoyama.
Tojo Momoyama, looking at the skeletal general with barely any flesh left on its face, had no intention of resisting. After dodging a few rounds of attacks, she turned and fled the inner court.
"Come back! The [Unseen and Unheard] will be angry!" Tojo Kiyosuke began to babble incoherently. He scratched his face and neck until blood flowed, and followed his supernatural ability towards Heian Street.
...
The procession of demons advanced towards the Imperial Palace, but strangely, although Mokawa had reached this point, he still had not received any news from the Tengu crows.
The entire Imperial Palace was like a dead city, with no sign of any rebels or demonic creatures.
Mokawa gave a look, and Shuten Doji, seeing this, stopped the胧车 (Ōkuruma), and the procession of demons also halted not far from the entrance of the outer court of the Imperial Palace.
Just as Mokawa was about to send a demon to investigate, he saw a slender figure rush out of the outer court and sprint to Heian Street in a few steps.
Behind her, something emitting a more peculiar and sinister aura than Mokawa's demonic energy and deathly aura was pursuing her.
Mokawa said, "Haruko, go and see."
Shuten Doji quickly condensed demonic energy in her gourd and imbued it into her right fist. She exerted force with her legs, leaped from the Ōkuruma, and smashed into the pursuing evil entity like a meteor.
However, as the dust settled, Shuten Doji looked around but found nothing.
"Dissipated into spiritual energy? Could it be a supernatural ability?" Shuten Doji looked very confused – after all, the aura just now was almost linked to the projection of some evil god. It was unlikely for a human to possess and wield such power.
Just as Shuten Doji was in a daze, another somewhat large figure rushed out of the Imperial Palace and attacked Shuten Doji, who was standing in the pit.
This aura... it was even more severe than the previous one!
Shuten Doji's pupils constricted, and she instantly tried to condense demonic energy for defense.
But before the figure could touch Shuten Doji, a dark green grappling hook ensnared Shuten Doji's waist, pulling her towards the Ōkuruma behind her.
Mokawa had made his move.
Although the system had not analyzed what the thing just now was, in his previous life on Blue Star, Mokawa had learned about things similar to this "person" before him.
Twisted tentacles, rotting flesh, weapons forged from bones...
Isn't this a Cthulhu-style warrior...