[Translator - Night]

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Chapter 268

It was at that moment that a signal began to sound from within Diablo’s robes.

A message from the Saintess.

“What is it, Saintess?”

—The Substitute… Lord… Revelation…

The heavily broken-up transmission made Diablo frown as he banged the artifact against the floor with a thud.

“The reception’s terrible. I should pay the supply management department a visit…”

The urgent message from Saintess Nadia wasn’t entirely clear, but he could roughly infer it had something to do with a revelation.

Without hesitation, Diablo tucked the crystal orb away and lightly stretched his body.

“Remiel. Since it’s come to this, why don’t you see it for yourself?”

At those words, the skies above the Holy Kingdom began to tear apart, and from those cracks, something began to manifest.

And at the same time—

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[Prepare for the Red Moon]

[A core has been implanted within the Holy See. Unless that core is destroyed, the Red Moon phenomenon will not stop.]

Leon, who was just racking his brain over how to cheer up Luna, grimaced sharply.

“Do they ever knock before barging in?”

* * *

It’s as if holes have been punched through the sky.

And through those crimson gaps, something began to pour down.

A red world.

It almost felt as if the world itself had turned red because of the crimson fractures in the sky.

Without a word, Diablo spread his hand, then moved a single arm.

Pabababack!!!

From the shadows that wavered around him, white lances of light shot forth like interceptor missiles, flying toward the monsters falling from the sky.

Dozens of monsters were torn to shreds before they even touched the ground, but considering the overwhelming number pouring in, it was a minimal effect.

“High Priest Diablo!!”

“Gather all Holy Knights. First Division will intercept the monsters, Second Division will assist the evacuation of refugees.”

“Y—Yes, sir!”

“And communications seem to be failing.”

“W-Well… it seems we’ve lost connection with the outside since a little while ago.”

“This is becoming troublesome.”

If they could contact Leon, they could summon overwhelming reinforcements, but without that, there was no way to relay the situation here.

Meanwhile, the monsters pouring in showed no signs of stopping.

The Holy Kingdom had recently gone through a major upheaval, leaving their current forces significantly weakened.

“The monster type… cloaked in the fires of purgatory… I see. Is it Cthugha…?”

Cthugha.

Though Leon was never informed, the being involved in this incident was a servant of the Outer Gods.

Cthugha, known to be quite unfriendly with Nyala.

All of Cthugha’s minions were known to be shrouded in purgatorial flames.

Cthugha.

Its origins were unknown, but according to Diablo’s information, it was an entity of the same class as Nyala.

Which meant this attack was essentially an invasion from the Outer Dimensions.

But why were they attacking this place?

Though questions formed, no answers came.

“Remiel, stay here. I’ll lead the Holy Knights and stop those things.”

“Don’t you need my help?”

“If you help, that would be appreciated… but I won’t force you. We can manage with the Holy Kingdom’s defense systems.”

The barrier that once stopped the Demon Dragon Baril’s attack was no longer fully functional.

However, aside from that, multiple defensive systems within the capital had already begun activating.

Since it had once been breached, preparations were more robust now.

Remiel let out a sigh, deep in thought, and remained silent.

As Diablo vanished like scattered shadows, Remiel, left alone, looked down at her own hands.

If she truly wished to oppose the Creator God, then siding with the Outer Gods would indeed be the most effective path.

“Why did you come to see me?”

She spoke without even turning her head to the figure who had appeared behind her.

A black suit.

A black top hat.

Every visible part of the body was like a black shadow, with bright white light shaped like eyes and a mouth where the face should be.

At a glance, it was a grotesque entity.

Remiel spoke calmly without looking back.

“Leave. I’m not in the mood.”

“I’m afraid I can’t. I caused this entire situation just to meet you. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to have broken free from the seal.”

Remiel didn’t reply.

Then the being pulled out a strange clock from within his coat.

Tick… Tick…

As the hands of the clock moved, it felt as if everything around them had frozen in time.

“My own subordinates don’t quite have the skills to cause something of this scale. So I borrowed a few from an acquaintance.”

Minions of the Outer God Cthugha.

However, the one who commanded them and appeared in person was a servant of the Outer God—Nyala.

Remiel silently gazed up at the red sky without saying a word.

“You resent the Creator God, don’t you? As cliché as it may sound, if you help me, I can help you achieve that goal.”

“And then you’ll devour this world?”

“Devour, you say? I’d prefer if you refrained from such barbaric language.”

Remiel scoffed in contempt.

Pretentious little hyenas.

She slowly closed her eyes in response to Nyala’s proposal.

“As you said, if I help you and join that abhorrent entity, perhaps we could bring down the Creator God.”

“In that case…”

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[Proofreader - Gun]

“But right now, I’m not in the mood for any of that. Get lost.”

Remiel lightly plucked the strings of the lyre in her hands.

Diriring…

With a beautiful tone, the air around her cracked like shattered glass.

“Oh my. You’re deciding far too quickly, I’m afraid.”

“I did think it through. But in the end, I realized I want nothing to do with your kind.”

“That won’t do. You must make a choice.”

As Nyala moved to press the button atop his clock—

Screeech!!

An invisible blade slashed through the air with a sharp sound, cleaving both his hand and the clock in two.

Ding...

With a faint melodic tone, a blade made of melody flew in.

The music was none other than Remiel's power and authority itself.

Her performance could be a blessing to some, a punishment to others.

Nyala stared blankly at his half-severed body.

Then, before long, the eye-shaped pattern made of pure white light twisted in a strange manner.

“What a shame. It was quite a precious item... But Remiel. There’s something you need to understand.”

Remiel gave no reply and instead brought her hand to the strings of her lyre once more.

A small spark flickered.

“Do you remember who it was that released your ancient seal? And what price was paid in return?”

“Guh!?”

The Archangel Remiel, her power suppressed, coughed up blood and staggered as black chains tore through the air and began binding her entire body.

“I've received support to ensure this plan goes uninterrupted. Failure is not an option.”

“After causing this much commotion?”

“Do you see that red veil surrounding this place? It’s a barrier made from divine authority. You can’t just brute force your way through it.”

“Damn it...”

With those words, her form vanished from that place.

In a pitch-black void, where nothing could be discerned, Remiel opened her eyes.

Her arms and legs were tightly bound by massive chains, leaving her unable to move in the slightest.

Her weapon—and an extension of her very being—the lyre, had likely been banished back as well.

It was nowhere to be seen.

The darkness was oppressive.

As if denying her the power of an archangel, it relentlessly gnawed away at her strength.

“Ugh...”

After a few futile struggles, she gave up and slumped down.

“What the hell did you do to my body?”

“A contract.”

A calm voice rang out as eyes and a mouth formed in the darkness, shaped from pure white light.

Like a grinning mask, the lips stretched unnaturally into a smile, accompanied by two eerie, glowing eyes.

Under Nyala’s gaze, she let out a chuckle.

“What contract?”

“In exchange for releasing your seal... I gained the right to control you once. Just once.”

“I’ve never agreed to that.”

“You’re right. It was never mentioned explicitly. But don’t worry. The demand isn’t so grand. I’m also bound by certain restrictions.”

Rendering an archangel powerless and abducting her wasn’t considered "grand"?

What a joke.

“I can’t turn you into a puppet who follows my every word, but this space—this realm—was long prepared specifically for someone like you.”

Her smile grew even wider.

“Shall we make a bet?”

“A bet?”

“To see whether or not you can endure. If you succeed, I’ll let you go. No regrets. Honestly, I care more about the thrill of the bet than the goals of the one I serve.”

“And if I don’t endure?”

“Then you’ll become the most vital hidden piece to kill Leon Cascadia.”

A mocking smile crept onto Remiel’s lips.

“That’s it? That’s your big plan?”

“Seems like you don’t understand. The one my master considers the greatest threat isn’t an archangel, a great demon, or even a god.”

Leon Cascadia.

The only variable.

As his face slowly faded away, black arms slithered toward her, wrapping themselves around her.

“Don’t you dare touch me, you filthy bastard.”

“Then sweet dreams.”

Nyala vanished like a shadow from the void, and Remiel desperately struggled to peel off the black arms constricting her.

* * *

“Lord Leon! The Holy See is—”

“I’m aware.”

Riding upon the great dragon Baril soaring through the sky, I received contact from the Saintess and looked far off into the distance—at the red sky and the enormous eye-shaped moon.

Was this the first time the red moon had appeared while I wasn’t present?

Currently, in the Holy Kingdom, there's not only the demon Diablo, but also the archangel Remiel.

However, Diablo is in a position where he can’t use a significant portion of his power, and Remiel’s strength is likely diminished due to a suppression formation.

To begin with, the chances of Remiel aiding us are slim.

Realistically speaking, the Holy Kingdom can’t be counted on for much at the moment.

They've already been through a major upheaval, and the protective barrier once maintained by Baril's presence has weakened.

Though the Holy Kingdom has finally begun activating various divine defensive mechanisms, just a glance reveals how dire the situation is.

Flame-wreathed beings poured out from the crimson rifts in the sky.

Upon seeing them, Luna spoke with icy clarity.

“Servants of Annihilation Flame.”

“Servants of Annihilation Flame?”

“Beings on the same level as that Nyala we saw before. Underling of Cthugha. If Nyala is involved, this was well within expectations.”

Luna clenched and then released her fist before rising from her seat.

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