Chapter 318: The Book of the World (III)
"Cough..."
Using a Sacred Nail as support, Jolan struggled to remain upright and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"I... probably won't be leaving this place."
"Let's just hope the others can escape safely."
His chest heaved violently. He looked as though he had reached the absolute limit of his endurance.
"Hey... what's with that look?"
Jolan turned his head and found the living gate glaring at him from the corner of its eye.
"Don't tell me you're planning one of those grand self-sacrifice performances."
Valak's expression was full of disdain.
"With your current condition, you could still survive several more days as long as you stop fighting."
Jolan shook his head helplessly.
"For a demon, you certainly know how to ruin the mood."
"You humans are obsessed with meaningless sacrifices," Valak replied mercilessly.
"On that point, that annoying fellow is far superior to you."
"That much is true..."
A young face surfaced in Jolan's memory.
"With his personality, he's probably hiding somewhere right now."
Valak continued his analysis.
"Not long ago, you sacrificed a powerful holy relic to temporarily seal those 'villains.'"
"And the current situation is already far beyond your ability to handle."
"Even with my help, there's no way we can stand against a true angel for long."
"Don't forget—I'm a demon."
"The moment that fallen angel is fully unleashed, I'll abandon all of you without hesitation."
For a few bottles of holy water, it had made the unprecedented decision of violating its ancestral principles—
By telling the truth.
Jolan remained silent.
Of course he understood.
But the being before them absolutely could not be allowed into the mortal world.
Otherwise, civilization itself would perish.
That was why he had already made up his mind.
Even if it cost him his life, he would stop it.
"Mr. Demon, he isn't going to listen to you."
A voice suddenly echoed from within the mist.
Jolan's vigilance instantly rose.
"Huh."
Valak looked toward the fog with surprise.
"You actually allowed that kind of existence to use your body as a vessel."
"That certainly bypasses many restrictions."
"But your soul won't survive the strain."
A figure slowly emerged from the mist.
It was Lucifer.
His body was now divided into black and white halves, separated perfectly down the middle, as though darkness and holy light coexisted within him.
Behind his back unfurled wings of both colors.
"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Demon."
Lucifer smiled calmly.
"But every revolution requires sacrifice."
"Surely Archbishop Borha understands that better than anyone."
Jolan snorted.
"If you're looking for a kindred spirit, you've chosen the wrong person."
"Oh?"
Lucifer's mockery was undisguised.
"I assumed an Archbishop of the Holy See who was willing to cooperate with a demon might be capable of understanding."
Jolan turned away without answering.
But his expression grew even grimmer.
A seal fueled by ancestral souls...
And even that couldn't restrain him for long...
His heart sank.
"I smell despair."
Lucifer seemed capable of hearing his thoughts.
"You shouldn't blame yourself."
"As a servant of the Holy See, you are superior to the overwhelming majority of the Church's fools."
"They are slaves to power and desire."
"But you..."
"Even at the edge of destruction, your first thought is still to sacrifice yourself and change the outcome."
Jolan frowned.
"Trying to recruit me?"
Lucifer nodded with a smile.
"The transformation of the world is inevitable."
"Even without the flames of the Wings of Vengeance, the armies of the Demon Gods would eventually descend upon the mortal realm."
"The corruption of the Church is obvious to all."
"A talent like you is simply wasting his life there."
He snapped his fingers.
The surrounding mist parted.
Ten unconscious figures appeared.
The four members of the Holy Bloodline.
The priest squad.
Caroline and the others.
"All of them."
"How...?"
Jolan immediately looked toward Valak.
Valak frowned.
"Hey."
"I may be a demon."
"I enjoy lies and deception."
"I've broken more promises than I can count since the day I was born..."
Halfway through his defense, he realized he was only making himself sound worse.
Finally, he gave up.
"I didn't trick you."
"Mr. Demon fulfilled his promise."
Lucifer smiled.
"He transported them to safety."
"But before the majesty of a true god, all attempts at escape are meaningless."
Jolan narrowed his eyes.
"You intend to use their lives to threaten me?"
"Most of them aren't particularly important."
Lucifer crooked a finger.
One of the captives immediately floated toward him, carried by the mist.
"But this member of House David..."
"He is among the most promising candidates to inherit the papal throne."
"If anything happened to him, even a Servant of the Holy See would struggle to explain it."
"The Lord has already arranged our destinies."
A fierce light flashed through Jolan's eyes.
"They chose the path of the clergy."
"They knew this day might come."
Lucifer sighed softly.
"What a pity."
"I was actually looking forward to seeing what heights the Church might reach if you became Pope one day."
He snapped his fingers again.
"In that case..."
"Let your subordinates witness with their own eyes how you abandon them."
The instant his words ended, all ten captives awoke.
"Where are we?"
"I'm alive?"
"What happened to that monster?"
"Archbishop Borha! Your arm—!"
Voices erupted immediately.
Then everyone noticed the strange atmosphere surrounding them.
"Hey... quiet down."
Lucifer frowned.
The mist instantly wrapped around their throats.
No one could speak.
They could only stare at Jolan with widened eyes.
"I intended to let you leave."
"But your beloved Archbishop chose to sacrifice you instead."
Lucifer spread his arms.
"Fortunately, God is fair."
"So I shall give each of you an opportunity."
He slowly walked past them.
"Offer your souls to the True God."
"Kneel before the Wings of Vengeance."
"And you may leave this place alive."
The clergy exchanged uncertain looks.
Jolan secretly glanced toward Valak.
"I suggest you give up."
Lucifer smiled.
"Mr. Demon won't be able to help you anymore."
"Tch."
Valak clicked its tongue.
"This bastard is using angelic power to restrain me."
"Even if you wanted to run, it's already too late."
"Human stupidity really never changes."
"You people always waste time trying to salvage hopeless situations."
Though it continued grumbling, its gaze gradually became colder.
Jolan could only laugh bitterly to himself.
He understood.
His brief alliance with the demon had come to an end.
"Well then."
Lucifer stopped before Caroline.
"Let's move on to the main event."
Caroline trembled violently.
Despair filled her eyes.
"Don't be nervous, Sister."
Lucifer gently placed a hand on her face.
His fingers traced from her nose...
To her lips...
Down her neck...
Then suddenly tightened.
Sharp nails pierced her pale skin.
Thin streams of blood trickled down.
"Kh—!"
Caroline's face flushed red as she struggled for breath.
"I only need three volunteers."
"First come, first served."
Lucifer's voice remained calm.
"But if no one answers within ten seconds..."
"I'll crush her into paste."
He casually removed the restraints binding the others.
"Damn it..."
Jolan tried to stand.
A sword immediately appeared at his throat.
"I suggest you don't move."
A cold female voice sounded beside him.
Turning his head, Jolan saw a face both beautiful and merciless.
"Xila..."
His expression darkened.
At the same time, several other figures emerged from the mist.
Members of the Wings of Vengeance.
The very individuals Jolan had sealed earlier.
Clearly, they had regained their freedom.
Meanwhile, among the captives—
Calvis's eyes flickered constantly between Jolan and Hiss Roger.
Rolcie repeatedly attempted to gather holy power.
Haggai stared at the colossal silhouette within the mist, unable to conceal his shock.
Hiss Roger clenched his fists.
Faint golden runes appeared across his skin.
Among the priest squad, everyone except Innocent appeared fully prepared for death.
Innocent himself kept desperately pointing at his mouth, trying to speak.
But thanks to prior warnings from Abraham and the others, Lucifer had absolutely no intention of letting him.
Only Bettice and Hugh looked desperately toward Caroline.
"Is there really... no way out?"
Bettice scanned the surroundings, searching for a familiar figure.
Then suddenly—
Hugh raised a hand.
All eyes turned toward him.
Lucifer smiled and removed the seal on his voice.
"I... cough..."
"Please let her go."
"I'll tell you anything you want."
He rubbed his throat awkwardly.
Idiot.
Rolcie frowned inwardly.
Revealing your weakness immediately means surrendering all leverage.
"Oh?"
Lucifer looked between Hugh and Caroline with amusement.
"I thought the relationship between you siblings was terrible."
Hugh's gaze shifted slightly.
He knows a lot about the Church...
Has he been infiltrating it for years?
Outwardly, however, he forced himself to remain calm.
"I'm willing to betray them."
"I'll surrender my soul."
"But first, you have to release her."
Lucifer chuckled.
"Don't rush."
"You must first offer something of value."
"What?!"
"That wasn't part of the deal!"
Anger flashed across Hugh's face.
"You may be House Medici's legitimate heir in name..."
Lucifer deliberately left the sentence unfinished.
But Hugh clearly understood the contempt hidden beneath it.
A profound sense of frustration welled up inside him.
Even a villain looked down on him.
"I'm not important."
"I don't possess anything you would want."
He clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.
"All I have is my life."
"And I'm willing to wager it."
Tears streamed down Caroline's face as she desperately shook her head.
Lucifer smiled with genuine interest.
"Your honesty is admirable."
"The True God grants every lost soul an opportunity."
"How about this?"
"If you can endure my Lord's infusion of power..."
"I'll consider you worthy."
He licked the blood remaining on his fingertips.
"And you'll obtain strength beyond imagination."
"Don't be stupid!"
Jolan shouted immediately.
"He wants your body to serve as a vessel for that thing's power!"
"You'll collapse!"
Lucifer's smile widened.
"The choice is yours."
Hugh looked toward Jolan.
Then, forcing out a faint smile, he replied:
"I don't have the luxury of refusing."
Jolan's eyes widened.
For a moment, he found himself completely speechless.
Then Hugh spread his arms wide.
"Go ahead."
Valak suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, if this is a transaction, there should at least be a contract. A verbal promise carries absolutely no binding force."
Hearing that, Hugh's eyes flickered.
Of course he knew that as well.
The problem was that he had no leverage to negotiate.
Lucifer traced a cross over his chest.
"Certainly. I swear in the name of the Lord."
"And who exactly is this 'Lord' you're swearing by?" Valak replied disdainfully.
Lucifer's smile faded slightly.
"Are you questioning my integrity?"
"First of all, nobody here knows you," Valak rolled its eyes.
"So your so-called integrity means nothing."
"Second, you can't even provide something convincing, yet you expect others to serve you sincerely?"
"When it comes to tempting and manipulating people, demons are the real experts."
"And lastly—"
"Even a demon understands the principle of fair exchange."
"The way your organization operates... doesn't it seem a little amateurish?"
Lucifer chuckled.
"In that case, Mr. Demon, what would you suggest?"
A trace of killing intent flashed through his eyes.
Had he not been preoccupied with the Angel's liberation, he would have crushed the demon on the spot.
"Blegh..."
Valak spat out a lump of viscous fluid.
Mixed within it was a yellowed sheet of parchment.
"Simple."
"Sign a contract."
It continued lazily,
"And if you're planning to use the excuse that this item's origins are questionable, save your breath."
"You and I both know how fair these contracts are."
Valak grinned broadly, wearing an expression that practically said I've got you cornered.
I can only buy them this much time.
If they still don't make it here, then it's not my fault...
Lucifer laughed softly.
"A demon's cunning truly lives up to its reputation."
"Young man, you still have much to learn."
Valak refused to yield an inch.
For a brief moment, silence settled over the battlefield.
Eventually, Lucifer spoke again.
"Very well."
"I agree."
He glanced toward Xila.
She immediately switched positions with Abaddon, leaving the giant man to continue watching Jolan.
Picking up the parchment, Xila ignored the filth covering it.
After reading it briefly, she bit her fingertip and signed her name in blood.
Then she handed the contract to Hugh.
Hugh hesitated.
"What?"
Lucifer's voice remained calm.
"Xila is one of my most important companions."
Grinding his teeth, Hugh snatched the contract and signed his own name beneath hers.
The moment he finished, Lucifer raised a hand.
A bolt of crimson lightning wrapped in sinister energy burst from the mist and engulfed Hugh completely.
"AAAAAAAH!"
Hugh collapsed instantly, screaming in agony.
His skin turned bluish-purple.
Veins bulged grotesquely beneath the surface.
His entire body convulsed uncontrollably.
Anyone could tell at a glance—
He would not last much longer.
Yet Hugh stubbornly kept his head raised, staring directly at Lucifer with unwavering determination.
Moments later, blood began seeping from every pore.
The fabric across his back suddenly bulged outward.
Riiip—!
A black tumor burst from his spine.
The thing was coated in slick mucus and emitted a revolting stench.
Meanwhile, Hugh's face turned deathly pale.
His life force visibly dwindled.
"Live..."
His lips moved.
But no sound emerged.
Tears streamed down Caroline's cheeks.
For the first time in her life, she truly felt the meaning of family.
The others turned their heads away one after another, unwilling to watch such a suffocating scene unfold.
Just as Hugh's head began to droop lifelessly—
A sharp whistle cut through the air.
Something flew in from the distance.
A glass bottle.
It shot straight into Hugh's mouth.
Lucifer watched curiously.
For once, he made no attempt to interfere.
Crash!
The bottle shattered.
The liquid inside poured down Hugh's throat.
At the same time, an incomparably pure surge of holy power spread through the air.
"Cough! Gah—!"
Hugh's face twisted in pain as he vomited a massive pool of black sludge.
"Haah... haaah... it hurts!"
Tongue hanging out, he painstakingly picked shards of glass from his mouth.
What even Hugh himself failed to notice was that his vitality had begun recovering at astonishing speed.
The grotesque tumor on his back detached on its own and fell away.
Everyone stared in astonishment.
Even Lucifer's brows furrowed deeply.
He turned toward the direction from which the bottle had come.
Valak grinned.
"Hmph."
"About time."
The others followed his gaze.
Standing there was a young priest dressed in black robes.
The moment they recognized him, shock spread across their faces.
Gideon had arrived.
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