Chapter 306: The Descent of Angels (III)
South Forest of Haddonfield
The moonlight was dim, smothered by clouds. Not even crows dared perch on the treetops.
"Clack… clack…"
The sound of mechanical gears turning broke the silence.
More than a dozen men in uniform white robes gathered around a generator. Most stood guard, tense and alert—only the three closest to the machine appeared calm.
"Lord Calvis, the hundred-year relics have been exhausted, yet the bulb still hasn't lit. It seems we've found the right one," an elderly white-haired priest said with visible excitement.
"Then continue. Don't waste time," said Calvis, his expression as cold and composed as ever.
"Yes… of course."
The old priest hurriedly opened a bag at his feet. Inside were six or seven relics—all of them a hundred years old.
He took out an amulet and slotted it into the generator.
The machine began to draw divine power—but a small formation on its surface resisted, redirecting the energy into internal components.
Haggai Isaac frowned.
"What exactly are we searching for?"
"According to the records we've gathered, the Ten Commandments Tablet lies beyond the final gate," he continued.
"With the Wings of Vengeance interfering, we can't deploy ancient arrays. We should conserve these relics and find a way out first."
Calvis turned to him.
"You're right, Isaac."
"Not only that—the Scavenger is still watching us. We could die at any moment."
Haggai's frown deepened.
"Then… why are we still—"
"Do you know why the council sent you?" Calvis interrupted.
"…To identify the Tablet?"
Calvis let out a faint scoff.
"As a Sacred Family member, ancient script is basic knowledge. We don't need you for that."
Haggai clenched his fists.
"Then… enlighten me."
"The Church needs the vast holy power within you."
"…I don't understand."
"You've heard of—"
Calvis suddenly stopped mid-sentence and turned.
Haggai followed his gaze—and his heart skipped.
A tall figure stood silently beside a tree.
Dark worker's clothes. A white mask. A long knife in hand.
It had been there… watching them.
"The one from the town!" the old priest cried. "If it watches you long enough, the next strike puts you straight into a dying state!"
"Father William," Calvis said calmly, "your job isn't to panic."
The old priest forced himself to turn away.
Calvis pointed at another man—the one closest to the Scavenger.
"Your negligence allowed the enemy to approach this close. You know what to do."
"I understand… Lord Calvis."
The man bowed deeply and walked toward the masked killer.
He tried to lure it away.
It didn't move.
Then—
A slow, rhythmic piano melody filled the air.
Red light flooded the ground.
The masked Scavenger raised its blade.
Haggai swallowed hard.
Behind him, Calvis remained focused on the generator—as if none of this mattered.
"Should we…?" Haggai whispered.
"Shhk—"
A wet slicing sound answered him.
The man stood with arms spread wide—blocking the Scavenger.
A deep wound tore across his shoulder.
"What are you doing?!" Haggai shouted.
No response.
Another strike.
"Bang!"
The man collapsed—then was hoisted onto the killer's shoulder.
Both vanished into the mist.
Calvis spoke calmly:
"Good. That buys us more time."
Haggai felt dizzy. Something inside him—something he believed in—cracked.
"Negligence must be punished. Remember that," Calvis said, his voice rising.
"Yes, Lord."
Everyone answered in unison.
"…Shouldn't we follow the Lord's mercy?" Haggai finally asked.
Calvis looked down at him.
"The Sacred Families are the will of God on earth. Our lives stand above all else."
"Did Lord Jacob never teach you that?"
Haggai's mind flashed back—
The day he was deemed spiritually unawakened.
The disappointment in his grandfather's eyes.
And the silence that followed ever since.
"Lord Calvis, we found it!" the old priest suddenly called out.
He held up a fragment of metal etched with symbols.
Calvis took it.
His eyes lit up—for the first time.
"Excellent."
Haggai stared.
He had never seen such an object.
Calvis held it before him.
"This is your true mission."
"…I still don't understand."
"The Tablet is only one goal. What the Sacred Families seek… is the Book of the World."
Haggai froze.
The Book of the World.
A legend.
A manifestation of the world's will itself.
Whoever controlled it… could wield part of that will.
"I thought it was just a myth…"
"This secret is reserved for core members," Calvis said.
"You're here because restoring it requires immense holy power."
Understanding dawned.
Haggai was never chosen for skill—
He was fuel.
His shoulders slumped.
"Now that we have it, we move. We find Rolcie."
"But… she may still be collecting—"
"She understands her position," Calvis said coldly.
"And without her, we can't bypass the ritual barrier set by the Wings of Vengeance."
They moved into the forest.
---
Outside the Barrier
A crimson barrier spread across the forest like a dome.
At its edge—
Samael knelt within a pentagram.
Dark green slime coated his body. Crimson threads linked it to the formation.
Around him lay shriveled corpses—church members, drained to husks.
"Hypocrites," Samael muttered.
"They're ruthless—even to their own."
He seemed to know everything happening inside.
"…But the Book of the World…"
He frowned.
"If only Abraham were here."
In the eastern marsh—
A man was bound to a stake.
A young nun stood nearby.
"Abaddon, I'm ready," Abraham said calmly, adjusting his glasses.
From the fog, Abaddon emerged—dragging a corpse.
A Scavenger.
Dead.
"I waited. It came. I killed it."
The bound man trembled.
"What do you want?! Let us go—I'll do anything!"
"Is she important to you?" Abraham asked, glancing at the nun.
"…Yes."
"Perfect."
The man's heart sank.
"Please—don't hurt her—"
"Rip."
Blood splattered.
The nun's arm—flayed clean of skin.
Her scream tore through the swamp.
The man convulsed in horror.
"Excellent…" Abraham murmured.
He stepped forward, blade glowing faintly—
—and began cutting into the man's brain.
Without him even realizing.
---
Meanwhile…
Deep in the forest—
Olivia raised her fist.
Everyone stopped.
"What is it?" Bettice asked.
"That path…" Olivia pointed.
"The grass is too dense."
Two paths lay ahead.
One was covered in thick vegetation—perfect for hiding.
The other was muddy, exposed.
Bettice frowned.
"That's safer though…"
"No," Olivia said firmly.
"Look closer. That path used to have plants too. Something cleared them."
"…A trap?" Carolyn whispered.
"Exactly. Someone is guiding us."
After a moment, Bettice nodded.
"We trust her."
They changed direction.
Moments later—
From the dense grass—
A silver creature slowly emerged.
Watching.
Waiting.
The creature had a narrow, elongated head and a massive tail.
After sniffing the air for a moment, it turned—and began tracking in the direction Olivia and the others had gone.
---
"Here—take this. If something happens, use it immediately."
Bettice handed a rune-inscribed seal to a nun.
"Thank you…"
Nearby, Hugh frowned deeply.
"If she keeps handing things out like this, the relics and seals we collected will run out fast."
"They were collected by Gideon," Caroline corrected bluntly.
"We're just holding onto them."
Hugh's expression stiffened, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. He turned toward Olivia.
Olivia shrugged.
"I'm just an outsider. You're the ones on the same team."
She knew Bettice came from a church under Archbishop Matthew—someone who never lacked relics. It was only natural her sense of "conservation" was… loose.
But that didn't make it entirely a bad thing.
"This group is temporary," Olivia continued.
"If a Scavenger appears, these people might scatter and run for themselves."
"The Holy War Zone requires teamwork. What Bettice's doing actually helps build trust."
Hugh froze slightly.
A moment later, he picked up a bag of stone seals—and walked toward the crowd.
Olivia blinked, surprised.
"Your brother is… changing?"
"He just wants people to support him," Caroline said mercilessly.
Sure enough, after handing out supplies, Hugh stepped into the center of the group.
"Everyone," he began loudly,
"As a member of the Medici family, I, Hugh, have a duty to lead you out of here. We are all under the Lord's protection—"
The three nuns sighed in unison.
---
"Hey, Heath Roger! Over here!" Caroline waved.
The blond boy quickly ran over.
"Don't learn from him," she said, pointing at Hugh.
"But… I think Father Hugh is very responsible," Heath Roger replied earnestly.
He had deep blue eyes and a straight, elegant posture—refined, almost noble.
He'd been rescued from two Scavengers earlier by Bettice's group. Since then, he'd been tending to the wounded.
Whenever someone despaired, Heath Roger would patiently encourage them until they recovered.
Even Hugh liked him.
"Hey! Don't get fooled!" Caroline poked his forehead.
"Heath Roger!" Hugh called out.
"Come here—I have something for you to handle."
"Coming!" The boy gave the nuns an apologetic smile before jogging off.
Caroline puffed her cheeks.
"That guy…"
---
A moment later, noise erupted in the crowd.
"Look! What is that?"
"Is that a relic?!"
Olivia pushed forward—and froze.
A cross lay on the ground.
Its surface shimmered with golden light.
"…A hundred-year relic!" she breathed.
But—
Why was something like that just lying there?
Holy power was sealed. Even lost relics required generators to activate.
Something was wrong.
A trap.
"Don't go near it!" Olivia shouted immediately.
But in the next instant—
"Thump… thump… THUMP…"
A rapid heartbeat echoed in everyone's ears.
Olivia turned.
A silver beast stood behind them.
From the grass on the other side, a tall woman emerged.
She wore ragged tribal clothing, stained with yellowish-brown slime. In her hand, she carried an old lantern.
"Sc-Scavenger!!"
Panic exploded through the group.
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