The priest chanted a war and slaughter prayer from the Gospel of Creation as he pulled the trigger:
"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; I come against you in the Godly Name of the Lord of Thousands Armies.
Joshua did not withdraw the short gun in his hand until he had exterminated all the inhabitants of Ai City!"
Holy Light burst forth from his body. The light, which should have been pure and stainless, was tinged with iron-blooded crimson on him and the firearm in his hand. Clergy excel in different chapters, and the Holy Armed Forces Cathedral is undoubtedly one of the branches with the most potent killing aura. Believing in physical transcendence and violent exorcism, they had long been the mainstay of the Old Continent's exorcists.
BOOM!
Governor Velazquez of Havana, seemingly confused by the Penance Noose, failed to dodge in time and was shot through the heart by a scorching steel ball. Out of years of cautious exorcism, the priest drew a signature Gun Sword from his back, its muzzle fixed with a chilling sword blade, and lunged forward in a Thrust. The iron-blooded Holy Light above his head coalesced into an iron-rust colored Cross, his black robe billowing, while the silver crucifix around his neck shone even brighter.
"Kill!"
The Gun Sword transformed into a meteor, instantly blasting Velazquez's head apart, like a watermelon plummeting from a great height.
Sister Teresa, with a noose hanging around her neck, clasped her hands and began to pray:
"The power enjoyed by the Governor of the Colonies can only affect people's bodies and property. These things are external and visible; they cannot last forever in this world and are destined for destruction.
"The power we Clergy exercise is dominion over the immortal souls of people.
"The value of each one of us Clergy is greater than anything in the world—be it gold, silver, or jewels. It is even greater than the heavens we see from here."
If punishment was exacted directly by the noose, it would intensify the wearer's guilt, making her suicidal tendencies grow stronger.
Although I am a merciful Nun, not only to believers but even when facing cattle, dogs, and Alien Races, I do not forget to spread the Lord's glory and mercy. My mercy is without blemish and completely free of any sin. Though my life is insignificant and not worth wasting on a sinner.
Having fought side-by-side for a long time, she was well aware of her comrade's capabilities. Normally, there was no chance of surviving a direct hit from this "War Prayer" at close range.
However, the unexpected happened.
Velazquez's Corpse suddenly turned into an illusory shadow and slowly dissipated, replaced by a golden card. Depicted on it was the Bone Gnawing God: riding a warhorse, wielding an Obsidian saw-sword, clad in a deerskin cloak—a bloody and filthy figure.
A line of small print followed:
"Curse Spirit, Bone Gnawing God;
For a single, unique Double Eagle Gold Coin from the founding days of The Holy Silver Empire, exchange for the collateral of the debtor, the Bone Gnawing God: the Undying Body.
Foreclosure condition: The debtor's first Death.
If there is no explicit opposition, the terms are considered accepted.
The contract is set, no regrets needed!
Current status: The trading partner has met the precondition of first Death. The collateral cannot be redeemed; foreclosure is absolute."
Thereupon, the shadow on the ground, which had completely dissipated, quietly rose again, transforming back into the unharmed Governor Velazquez. He casually pinched the card in his hand. His face was somber, and not a hint of piety remained. Evidently, even the abnormal state of repentance induced by the Penance Noose had vanished without a trace. Now, he dared not look at that sinister Sacred Relic anymore.
The Undying Body I acquired from the Bone Gnawing God through Contract Fraud is surprisingly effective. Unfortunately, while this method might significantly extend my life, my Human Nature decays with every moment this card possesses me. While gaining immortality, I might soon degenerate into a Curse Spirit like the Bone Gnawing God and lose myself. My Anchor is not yet strong enough. Instead, I've grafted the Undying Body onto my shadow. Using the Undying Body indirectly through Shadow Magic, as a Death Replacement and to clear negative statuses, is highly practical.
He closed his eyes, his right hand forming a snake head, and made a biting gesture towards his opponents.
"My turn now! Shadow Spell: Shadow Serpent's Breath, arrows unleashed!"
His shadow, which normally existed only in two dimensions, instantly swelled, transforming into hundreds, even thousands, of three-dimensional, raised arrowheads. Then, like a Siege Crossbow unleashing a volley, they surged toward the Remit People's treasure-hunting team.
HISS HISS HISS...
Countless sharp arrowheads pierced the air, emitting an eerie, snake-like hiss.
Seeing the grave danger, Herman, the Doppler Swordsman, the melee specialist of their 'iron triangle,' immediately stepped in front of his two companions. Drawing his peculiar Miracle, the Mare's Leg Collector, he bellowed, "Adept the study, young gallant; Love's goddess revered, by this labor valiant; In battle stand, a hero triumphant!"
His muscles tensed, and his clothes ripped apart instantly, revealing the verses of the original manuscript of Johannes Lichtenauer's poetry collection etched all over his body. He received a one hundred percent ability boost from the poetry.
CLANG CLANG CLANG...
The clash of blades and arrowheads generated a thunderous din, like a blacksmith's forge, echoing far through the labyrinth. Although the opposing "Shadow Serpent's Breath" attack was like a relentless tide, not a single arrowhead penetrated his defensive perimeter.
Indeed, even 'Flow State' is merely foundational for a Sword Saint. In the various schools of swordsmanship, one must at least reach the second realm, 'Divine Sight,' to be called a Sword Saint without inviting ridicule from experts. With the aid of a Sword Saint's Sacred Relic, Herman's swordsmanship was constantly improving; he was now clearly on the verge of reaching the 'Divine Sight' threshold. In terms of pure swordsmanship, not even Byron, nor anyone else in the labyrinth—including Andrew, the 'Storm Admiral'—could match him.
A defensive move specifically designed to 'break arrows' allowed him to flawlessly protect Teresa and Brendan from Velazquez's wide-area attack.
However, the Remit People standing with them were not so fortunate. Aside from their leader, Third Order Knight Commander Marlin Bishop, who survived by using a Miracle shield, the few remaining members of his squad were killed on the spot by this barrage.
"You...you..."
The last Knight Commander gazed at the corpses strewn across the ground, wanting to cry but finding no tears.
No matter how he calculated it, more of his men had been killed directly by their three supposed bodyguards, or as collateral damage, than had died to the island's other dangers! Lord, could the rumors be true? That the Creator has always been committed to annihilating us through various tribulations? Is the only reason we've survived this long because He hasn't managed to wipe us out completely over millennia? True or not, I always feel especially unlucky whenever I encounter Clergy.
Just as their side caught its breath and prepared to counterattack—they still had four Third Order members, including Herman, a Quasi-Sword Saint virtually invincible in close combat among Third Orders—it should have been more than enough to take down Velazquez, who was also Third Order.
But Velazquez's subsequent attack was already hot on their heels.
Another golden card appeared in his palm. It displayed the image of a set of scales, with the number three marked in the upper right corner.
There was only a very simple line of small text:
"First-Class Sacred Relic: Dominating Scales (Usage Rights x3).
The symbol of the Tribunal Sequence—the Scales of Justice—originates from this Dominating Scales Sacred Relic.
Although it ostensibly symbolizes the fairness of law, in reality, the laws of any kingdom on the Old Continent essentially serve to maintain the interests of the monarchy and the ruling class. These ruling classes simply differ from one another.
There has never been a case where a Prince was subject to the same laws as a commoner.
In the minds of law enforcers in every country, there is always a scale to weigh who is more important based on status."
This was the right to use the scales, for which Velazquez had mortgaged half his family fortune to the Havana Cathedral (as mentioned in Chapter 219). If the spoils from his adventure were insufficient to pay the 'rental fee,' half of his family fortune would automatically be forfeit to the Havana Cathedral.
The card in his hand vanished in a flash of light, reappearing as a massive golden scale. The two pans of the great golden scale settled above the heads of Governor Velazquez and Quasi-Sword Saint Herman respectively. An authoritative voice resounded in both their minds: "Dominating Scales Rule: Based on secular status, forcibly determine fealty. The one of higher status shall possess complete dominion over the one of lower status and may issue three absolute commands (excluding suicide), effective for one day."
Velazquez's side of the scale began to descend while Herman's side rose, clearly indicating the former carried more weight. After all, Velazquez's secular status was that of the plenipotentiary Governor of the Kingdom of Castile for the Bantaan Archipelago; he represented the Kingdom of Castile itself. The population and territory he governed were second to none among all colonies. It was nearly impossible to find anyone in the entire Bantaan Archipelago comparable to him in status.
In contrast, although Herman possessed extraordinary combat prowess and had been promoted by the Empire to Flag Bearer of the Doppler Swordsman Corps after years of campaigning, this was the pinnacle of his military career. Naturally, it could not compare to the Governor of Havana.
The judgment of the Dominating Scales was complete in an instant. A phantom image of golden scales appeared deep within Herman's eyes, and he involuntarily lowered his sword tip.
At this point, the others were still in the dark. The last Knight Commander, Marlin Bishop, still hoping to cling to this non-Church Clergy member to save his life, cautiously asked, "Mr. Herman, what's wrong with you?"
WHOOSH!
With the sound of whistling air beside his ear, his vision was filled with a flash of sword light, and then he knew no more. Caught by surprise, the last of the Remit People was decapitated with a single sword stroke. The book in his hand, the 'Universal Travelogue'—said to carve paths through mountains and bridge waters—was snatched away.
"Run!"
The remaining priest and Nun, though unsure what had befallen their companion, knew that if they didn't retreat now, they would not only fail to save Herman but would also perish here. The priest smashed a specially made smoke grenade onto the ground. As a thick cloud of smoke billowed up, the two vanished instantly.
When Velazquez waved away the acrid, eye-stinging smoke, only Herman remained, standing there, stripped of his gear.
He shook his head, somewhat dissatisfied. Of the three, Teresa's value is likely the highest. It's not due to her personal combat strength, but her background, hailing from a powerful department like 'The Great Cathedral of the Holy Mother's Mercy.' Currently, the Religious Tribunal not only fails to capture the Mad Hunt but also recklessly casts 'Detect Evil' throughout the various colonies, causing widespread anger and resentment. They can't maintain this for long. Under pressure from various nations, the Council of the Divine Presence will soon recall those lawless individuals to the Old Continent. In the future, Teresa and her peers, ostensibly as external support, are more likely to be stationed permanently in the Bantaan Archipelago as representatives of the Church, overseeing the purification of faith here. Their potential influence will undoubtedly increase substantially. If any faction can firmly secure this Third Order 'Glorious Sacrifice,' it's tantamount to holding the banner of righteousness, with endless benefits to reap. It wouldn't be difficult to raise their banner and rally the support of various nations. Even if the absolute dominion lasts only for a day—no, even just ten minutes, or three—it would be enough for me to firmly grasp her vulnerabilities.
Of course, for the immediate combat power most needed in the labyrinth, a Third Order Quasi-Sword Saint is also highly valuable.
He gestured grandly toward the Quasi-Sword Saint. "Let's go, Mr. Herman. Join me in killing. Kill your comrades, kill everyone else in this labyrinth, and present all the treasures of the island to me!"
Just as he was about to set off, his ears twitched. He turned to look into the pitch-black labyrinth behind him. He thought he had just heard a sigh, one that felt vaguely familiar.
"Sigh..."
But when he tried to listen more carefully, he could no longer detect it. Dismissing it as an illusion, he shook his head, picked up the 'Universal Travelogue,' and strode off with his new subordinate, heading deeper toward the third level of the labyrinth.