CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 279- WORST ONE

Juggler couldn’t kill Adrian anymore—he had been ordered to spare him. Adrian was needed for the future, for the Cult’s plans. And since Juggler owed a debt, he had no choice but to follow through.

But sparing Adrian’s life didn’t mean sparing his soul. No—if he couldn’t destroy the man’s body, he would crush his heart. He would make Adrian watch as the very people he saved with his own blood turned against the woman he cared for most.

Not by Juggler’s hand. Not by an Acolyte’s blade.

But by theirs—his so-called "rescued."

Juggler’s voice rang out, mocking and cruel.

"Choose now! Do you want to die here, or kill that woman and walk free? In my eyes, there’s nothing to think about. End her life, and go home."

Ruby clenched her fists, her teeth grinding as her eyes darted around.

The people—they were broken. Shaken. Terrified. Twice already they had brushed against death, and now Juggler had shown them just how powerless they truly were. For them, the thought of escape was everything.

Aries’s voice cracked with disbelief. "Are... are they really thinking of trusting that bastard?"

The whispers grew louder, rippling through the survivors like a rising tide. One by one, their gazes turned toward Ariana.

The silence that followed was heavier than chains.

And then—Adrian moved. He stepped in front of Ariana, his shadow falling over her like a shield. His voice was steady, but his eyes... his eyes burned with ice-cold fury.

"If that’s what you believe is the answer... if you dare believe his lies..." His mana surged without him meaning to, spilling into the air like a storm about to break.

"...then let me make it clear."

The ground quivered under his presence as his killing intent pressed down on everyone.

"Anyone who takes a step toward her—dies. I don’t care who it is. I will not spare a single one."

Utter silence followed Adrian’s words.

There was no doubt, no hesitation. He meant every syllable.

Then—movement.

Elana stepped forward first, Ruby right behind her.

Allen, Aries, and Altia followed. And Brendon was the last to follow.

Together, they formed a ring around Ariana, weapons drawn, their eyes unwavering.

The crowd faltered.

If they obeyed Juggler, Adrian would slaughter them.

If they defied him, those Acolytes won’t spare them.

They were trapped.

Juggler exhaled a long, weary sigh. "Guess I have no choice then."

Before anyone could blink, beams of light tore through the air—skulls cracked, bodies dropped. Screams erupted.

More beams followed, piercing heads, necks, chests—merciless, precise. Panic took hold.

Some survivors tried to flee, but a wall of flame erupted around them, sealing every path.

Within heartbeats, the square was drenched in fire, smoke, and blood.

"ATTACK THEM OR WE’RE DEAD!" someone from the mob shrieked.

That cry ignited the rest.

More than twenty desperate figures rushed toward Adrian’s group, their faces twisted with terror and rage.

Juggler’s grin spread wide, splitting his face into something grotesque. He could almost taste it—the chaos, the despair, the ugliness about to bloom.

’Yes... this is perfect. Show them your inhuman side, Adrian. Let your students see the truth—that for your woman, you’d sacrifice them all. Let the world see how monstrous you really are—’

But then... he stopped.

The grin froze, his lips parting, his head tilting in disbelief.

Because in Adrian’s hand... was something impossible.

Something Juggler had only seen in ancient illustrations, whispered about in forbidden texts.

The weapon once wielded by the Dark Lord.

The tool the Cult had been hunting for generations now.

And now—it was here.

Adrian raised it. Calmly. Without theatrics. He simply tapped the staff against the ground.

A blinding radiance burst forth, swallowing the square whole.

"Ah!" Juggler shrieked, stumbling back. "STOP HIM! Don’t let him—!"

He turned to the two acolytes behind him, but the light was unbearable. They shielded their eyes, their spells faltering, unable to aim.

"SHIT! He’s going to run awa—" Juggler’s scream cut off mid-word.

The brilliance dimmed.

And standing in its wake was one man—Adrian.

Juggler’s mind raced...the reason why he was so important for the cult was, "Y-You...can use independent magic...despite being a non-believer you can use magic!" If not for him seeing it with his own eyes, Juggler would have never believed that a person not following the Fallen Deity could use independent magic.

But here he was, right before him. the exception. The anomaly.

"PHAHAHAH-and I thought I have uncovered all your mysteries." Juggler laughed as he got back down on the ground.

The other two Acolytes also stepped forward—their gaze locked on Adrian.

"Now that you know my secret, I can’t let you three live." Adrian forced the words out through ragged breaths, his chest rising and falling like a man already on the edge of death.

Juggler snickered, his grin sharp and merciless. "You should have fled with the others. To think you could kill us in that state... you’re more foolish than I thought."

And he wasn’t wrong. Adrian’s stomach churned from the overdose of potions. His body screamed in fatigue from pushing the gauntlet beyond its limits—Forgelet had warned him about this. His mana was nearly gone after using teleportation, and even pulling the trigger on himself now would achieve nothing.

He had reached his limit. His end.

But Adrian still smiled. Weak, pale, and trembling, his lips curled upward. "You said I’m going to kill you myself?"

The chill in his voice made the air tighten. A shiver crawled up the spines of the three.

RUMBLE

The heavens split open. Clouds twisted into a whirl, lightning tearing across the blackened sky. Thunder roared like a furious beast, shaking the ground beneath them.

Juggler’s smirk faltered. He knew that sound. That presence. The last person he wanted to see.

From above, she descended.

Her hair floated in the storm’s wrath, her gaze colder than steel, colder than death itself. In both her hands, she carried her formless blade, its edge wrapped in snarling thunder that crackled like chained beasts yearning to be freed.

The two Acolytes froze. Fear strangled their movements. Just seeing her face was enough. Their instincts screamed—Run.

"Don’t you fucking run away!" Juggler roared, but his voice was drowned out.

RUMBLE!

Bolts of thunder ripped down from the heavens, blinding and merciless. They slammed into the two fleeing Acolytes before their screams could even rise. The storm devoured them whole, flesh bursting apart, blood sizzling on scorched ground.

When the light faded, nothing remained but a twisted heap of burned flesh and blood.

Juggler stared at the sight in disbelief.

Just then, "You."

"Hiick!" He fell on his butt as Annabelle appeared right before him.

Looking down at him, the strongest Warden spoke, "There are several ways to die, but you chose the worst one by hurting my darling."

Juggler’s mask slipped, revealing the burnt face of a man who looked pale as a sheet.

"D-Don’t...please..." he begged.

But nothing in the world could have stopped her at the moment.

°°°°°°°°°°°

AN:- Thanks for reading.