Chapter 230: Descent
Chapter 230: Descent
In a civilian house not far from Baron Elliott's manor, Archdeacon Rudolf and six fully-armed Holy Templar Knights were waiting, observing a golden compass-like object.
As the silver conch medal on Ren's chest vibrated, the golden compass also responded with a corresponding tremor.
Seeing the extent of the golden compass's vibration, Rudolf's usually calm expression turned solemn.
"This disturbance is stronger than we imagined. It seems this place is likely an important stronghold of the Black Flame Cult!"
"Let's go! We must support Baron Ren immediately."
"Yes, Your Eminence!" the Templar Knights responded in unison.
"I heard you're quite formidable, and you even killed Giovanni. Let's have some fun." The high priest smiled, his eyes narrowed.
The high priest glanced at Ren with narrowed eyes, feeling quite surprised.
As the high priest spoke, Ren swiftly drew his bow and fired an arrow without hesitation.
These foolish nobles had colluded with the cult, and it was only a matter of time before they faced backlash, in Ren's opinion.
"Ren, this time you're doomed! Now, you only have three arrows left, right?" A sinister voice echoed. Unbeknownst to Ren, Lamar had already led over a dozen Black Flame Adepts to surround him in a fan-shaped formation.
"Great Hunting God, a humble and devout believer seeks your blessing."
Before Alonso could rejoice at Ren losing his warhammer, a massive dog suddenly dashed to Ren's side.
If they survived, they would be transformed by a strand of the Hunting God's will after the ceremony, becoming the best henchmen.
At this moment, the high priest decided to personally deal with this young man instead of wasting more of his underlings.
Ren glanced at Lamar indifferently and said, "So what if this is their lair?"
This was Cookie, the Lurcher that Ren had left in the carriage, waiting for his master's call. Lamar and the other Black Flame Adepts stared in disbelief at the sudden appearance of the enormous dog.
"Whoosh!"
Seeing this scene, Rudolf was shocked. "Is this the lair of the Black Flame Cult?"
Ren observed the scene without a trace of sympathy.
Although these cultists were like scallions to him, it wouldn't be long before he could absorb another batch of followers.
As the high priest stood nearby, Lamar finally calmed down, having been genuinely startled by Ren.
"Yes, Your Eminence," Rudolf nodded solemnly and quickly briefed him on the situation.
"But unfortunately, you've chosen the wrong location!"
Ren knew that these ordinary Black Flame cultists might not be as simple as they appeared.
However, one thing was certain: their eyes had lost their spark. Within seconds, including Ramal, their bodies began to collapse unevenly and rapidly on the ground, and streams of blood flowed out from their mouths and other body cavities. The obese Black Flame High Priest narrowed his small eyes, clearly seeing that his subordinates' bones and internal organs had been completely shattered by Ren's hammer strike on the ground just now.
The current result made the High Priest slightly annoyed, causing him to rein in his playful attitude a bit.
At this moment, Michele, Alonso's steward, suddenly came out of the manor. Seeing Rudolf, he smiled and approached.
"Excellent! Excellent! Alonso has become a Divine Blood noble under His Lordship. It seems the rumors about the Habsburg family having the bloodline of the Cali Bird are indeed true!"
"Hurry! Speed up!"
Seeing a few people falling from the top of the hall, the bulky silhouette slowly turned around and glanced at them.
However, the current battle situation was still detrimental to the High Priest's dignity!
"Perhaps the prayer ceremony can offer one more sacrificial offering that will please my Lord."
In an instant, thirty to forty cultists, as if under mental control, rushed towards Ren with hideous expressions. As they ran, they took off their shirts and shouted, "Praise the great God of Hunting!"
The burly man with the shield looked at Rudolf and the Temple Knight's attire, then at the manor steward and the guards blocking their way, and immediately understood.
Michele and the manor steward stared at each other, momentarily at a loss. They knew that this matter had become serious! They had certainly heard of the formidable reputation of the Imperial Swordmasters. At this moment, they dared not obstruct them at all, bidding farewell as they watched the two Swordmasters and Rudolf's group enter.
"Unfortunately, you only have three arrows left now. It seems..."
At this moment, this wave of suicidal attacks by the Black Flame cultists had all been killed by Ren.
However, Ren's quiver also had only three arrows left.
Instantly, seven or eight thick black fire pillars erupted from the open mouths of the cultists, sweeping towards the High Priest. If it weren't for Ren's quick dodge, he would have been hit. Although Ren possessed the innate ability 'Basic Steel Body,' he didn't want to experience the sensation of being scorched by black flames.
Ren wasn't the least bit surprised. After all, as the High Priest of the Black Flame Church, it would be strange if he were killed by a hammer strike. Ren circled the obese High Priest, attacking from various angles with his hammer, the intense clanging of metal resounding continuously. The High Priest didn't block every strike, but the dark energy protection surrounding him was incredibly strong, absorbing most of the impact from Ren's heavy hammer. The remaining force was absorbed by the High Priest's thick layers of fat.
The High Priest waved his hand, and two Black Flame cultists struggled to lift a heavy two-meter-long giant scythe and handed it to him.
Additionally, through the previous battle, Ren sensed that the High Priest wasn't a Peak Knight but a Grand Knight. So, this was the source of your confidence! However, suddenly, a smile appeared on the High Priest's fat face, and he said, "Interesting, interesting. It seems we can have some fun now!"
But now, Alonso felt a stinging sensation as he approached the burning black flames at the edge of the hall, meaning he couldn't leave even if he wanted to.
Immediately, the group rushed towards Baron Elliott's manor.
The High Priest had previously received information about Ren and knew he was skilled in using a two-handed war hammer and a greatsword, but when did Ren become proficient with a bow?
At this moment, they were chanting something in low voices, their expressions focused and fervent. Additionally, a particularly noticeable large and bulky silhouette was standing tall, loudly reciting a prayer.
He had originally thought there was plenty of time and was planning to inform the magistrate of this county town, but now it seemed there wasn't enough time.
Without waiting for Ren to speak, he snapped his fingers. "Snap!"
Finally, he understood why the church's previous actions against Ren had all ended in failure.
Even their nerves were shattered into powder. That's why they were currently unresponsive, lying on the ground like dead snakes, not even twitching. Such power... The obese High Priest's small eyes widened in surprise, exclaiming, "You... You've truly mastered the Ultimate Technique!"
At this moment, a smile appeared on the High Priest's fat face, and he said, "Young man, your archery skills are impressive."
This left Ren completely baffled.
The burly man took out an emblem from his chest and showed it to the group, saying, "Please cooperate immediately. When the Swordmasters are handling matters, not only you but even your master must cooperate. If not, we have the right to kill you on the spot!"
"Clang!!!"
As a steel arrow struck a Black Flame cultist, a "Pfft" sound was heard, and the cultist's chest and abdomen were pierced. The cultist cried out in agony, lowering his head to look at the hole in his chest with a terrified and dazed expression.
"Move aside!"
At this moment, Ren had already focused his attention on the tall and bulky High Priest. A sense of unease filled the air, and his Level 3 Danger Sense went off like an alarm. High Priest?
The burly man approached Rudolf and said, "This is the Archdeacon of the Goddess of Wind and Sea Church, who also handles matters related to heretical sects?"
"The steel arrow, like a silver lightning bolt, shot towards the High Priest with astonishing speed!
Upon seeing Michelle there, Rudolf couldn't help but be taken aback. He was well aware that Alonso was the eldest son of Count Habsburg, and at that moment, he was quickly weighing his options. But the next second, he realized that Ren might be in danger, and if he continued to stall here, who knew how long it would take.
'We've detected a leakage of evil energy in this manor, and it requires immediate inspection!' Rudolf declared in a stern voice.
Ren, with a calm expression, said, 'So, this is the one you've been relying on.'
The Black Flame Cultist exploded like a bomb, splattering blood and flesh along with the smell of charred flesh. A surge of black flames suddenly spread out.
Apparently, it was due to the ongoing ritual, and it seemed that the ceremony was nearing its conclusion.
First, a raptor delivered a war bow, and now a dog brought Ren a weapon. This was truly unbelievable!
At that moment, Ramal, feeling rather self-satisfied, glanced at Ren and said, 'If this weren't our lair, you might have turned the tables on us once again!'
Just as he was about to rebuke Ramal, a high-pitched and majestic cry sounded from the sky.
'What? The evil energy fluctuation is so strong. Has the cult's ritual already begun?'
Oh heavens! This young man is even more talented than Clara! Alonso couldn't help but regret not recruiting this young man from the start and instead treating him with arrogance, considering him as insignificant as an ant.
A massive dog, the size of a small horse, carrying a huge hammer and a greatsword on its back, rushed into the encirclement with a gust of wind, stopping beside Ren.
Good heavens! Would there be a horse as well? Ren grabbed the pitch-black pig-headed hammer and spun around, turning his back to the High Priest and facing Ramal and the other Black Flame Adepts.
Alonso, on the other hand, was hit by the evil energy wave and started wailing. He began tearing at his clothes, soon becoming completely naked. Feathers sprouted from his skin, and his shoulder blades extended into wings, quickly growing to their full size.
This time, the thick layer of fat on the High Priest's body was shattered by Ren's hammer blow. The High Priest roared in pain as his black robe tore open, revealing his true form.
As the griffin landed, two figures leaped down from its back.
The High Priest, seeing Alonso's current state, was quite satisfied.
Soon, he realized that this place wasn't actually a cave.
Of course, the focus was on the obstacles presented by the steward and the others.
It seemed they had encountered a big fish.
The arrow, about thirty centimeters away from the High Priest's corpulent body, was blocked by a shield of black flames. The arrow's tip trembled slightly, struggling to break through the circle of black flames surrounding the High Priest. 'Black Flame Protection!' Ren narrowed his eyes, recalling his previous encounter with a Black Flame Guardian and the evil technique he had witnessed.
Although the High Priest remained unharmed, the look of disdain in his small eyes towards Ren had vanished.
Ren tapped his toes, causing the ground to shatter, and the powerful recoil propelled him forward rapidly. Simultaneously, he raised his war hammer high and slammed it into the ground with force. 'Shockwave!'
The High Priest's body was enveloped in black flames, and he firmly withstood Ren's hammer blow.
'Shockwave!'
'Griffin!' Rudolf, with his vast knowledge, instantly recognized the creature before him.
Ren quickly removed the pig-headed hammer and hung the war bow on the lurcher. He patted the dog, and it swiftly moved away from the center, wandering at the edge of the area.
Just as Alonso thought the ritual was complete and Ren wouldn't last three seconds, a wave of energy suddenly surged towards them.
Most people would have a backup plan, but this young man unexpectedly had three or four! Alonso, standing beside him, was even more astonished.
The eight faces on the High Priest's body suddenly opened their mouths.
'This is...'
The shield-bearing strongman, gazing at the illuminated Maister County City, snapped the reins, and the griffin let out a high-pitched cry, changing direction and flying swiftly towards the source of the evil energy.
At that moment, Ramal, his face filled with terror, rushed to the corpulent body's side and pointed at Ren, shouting anxiously, 'High Priest, this is Ren!'
In the center of the magic array lay a pile of corpses several meters high, surrounded by over a dozen Black Flame Adepts, and even more Black Flame Cultists, nearly a hundred of them, crawling in a circular formation.
Alonso, having transformed into a bird-like creature, had his strength skyrocketed to the level of a Great Knight. His eyes turned pitch black, as if the whites had been devoured, and with a flap of his wings, he rapidly charged towards Ren.
In the center of the hall, a massive magic array shone with black light.
'After consuming the Divine Blood, it's showing its effects!'
In an instant, a terrifying presence descended. — A few minutes ago.
The ground where the war hammer made contact shattered, and the Black Flame Adepts within the area, whose strength was equivalent to that of veteran knights, became immobile. Even their expressions of horror before death remained unchanged.
However, just as the hammer was about to hit its target, a dull 'boom' sounded.
At that moment, the evil energy fluctuation of the magic array reached its peak. 'Perfect!'
As Rudolf and his party walked through the corridor, they felt the ground tremble, even without the aid of the 'Golden Compass'. A surge of evil energy, like a flood, erupted, causing Rudolf and all the Holy Templar Knights to turn pale. 'The ritual is almost complete!'
The griffin, second only to the dragon as a flying mount in the Dragon Empire, was reserved for the highest nobility and top-tier special departments.
"The prayer ritual has finally succeeded!" Zhang Wei exclaimed in his heart.
As he witnessed Leon's terrifying strike, Zhang Wei's eyes widened, his mouth agape, and his expression became rigid. At this moment, he could no longer contain his laughter. Moreover, what had he just heard? Had Leon become a Great Knight and mastered the Ultimate Technique?
"At your age, you are not only a Great Knight but have also mastered the Ultimate Technique."
In an instant, the black-robed man, who had been kneeling fervently around the ritual, suddenly stood up.
When the group rushed to the conference room, they saw a giant hole in the wall, with a black energy shield shaped like an upside-down bowl covering it. Below, a massive witch array was visible, and the sounds of intense combat could be heard.
When Archdeacon Rudolf and his elite Holy Templar Knights arrived at Baron Elliott's manor, they were stopped by the estate steward and a team of fully armed guards.
"Baron Alonso is also inside. The dark energy you mentioned must be a mistake. With so many of us here, we don't sense anything amiss!" Michelle explained.
Below the conference room was a vast underground hall, covering an area of at least seven or eight hundred square meters.
"Archdeacon Rudolf, what brings you here?"
Zhang Wei saw that the high priest was about to take action himself, and his heart raced with excitement. High Priest! High Priest!
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Lai Maer's voice grew increasingly high-pitched, and his entire face began to twist into a hideous and somewhat crazed expression, whether due to the influence of the ritual or the realization that victory was within his grasp.
"To the guests from the Goddess of Wind and Sea Church, I apologize, but this is a private noble manor. Without an invitation, I will need to inform the master of the house first."
Don't let me down again! The fat high priest moved swiftly, but not slowly, and when he was still twenty meters away from Leon, he swung his giant scythe diagonally, unleashing a torrent of black flames that coiled like a giant fire snake toward Leon.
Leon's body had seven or eight closed eyes and double the number of arms. At this moment, although Leon's war hammer had smashed a basin-sized hole in the high priest's body, he was also grabbed by the multiple withered arms on the high priest's body. As Leon tried to pull back his war hammer, a warning bell rang in his mind.
He must be on the same level as the bishop of the Goddess Church.
Leon narrowed his eyes, drew his bow, and fired arrows with lightning-fast fingers, rapidly shooting.
Leon's eyes sparkled as he witnessed this scene. These Black Flame cultists were carrying out a 'suicide bombing'!
As the battle raged on, the bodies of the fallen nobles, including the dead Black Flame adepts, were quickly carried by some Black Flame cultists to the central pile of corpses in the witch array.
Each of Leon's arrows found their mark.
In fact, for the Black Flame Church, whether these nobles were alive or dead, they had all consumed divine blood. If they died, their bodies would become the best 'nutrients,' thus enhancing the prayer ritual's effectiveness.
The steward immediately recognized Archdeacon Rudolf and the Holy Templar Knights due to their distinctive attire.
At this moment, the entire underground hall was enveloped in an evil energy, turning it into an inescapable cage. The tall and obese high priest stared at Leon with his small eyes, examining him carefully, and then said with interest, "So you're Leon. It's good to finally meet you!"
As the Ultimate Technique 'Shockwave' was unleashed, a strange wave rapidly spread from Leon's war hammer, sweeping through a large fan-shaped area in front of him, affecting all living and dead things.
Initially, he had thought that if Leon used close-range weapons like swords or hammers, he would be severely injured by the cultists' suicide attacks.
Seizing the opportunity, Leon took advantage of the Black Flame high priest's inability to block his attack and smashed through the Black Flame Protection, striking the priest's fat-laden abdomen with his war hammer.
Almost simultaneously, Leon fell into the cave, and the surroundings immediately darkened. However, with his dark vision, he quickly adapted to the dim cave, landing steadily.
"This is earlier than expected!"
At this moment, Zhang Wei, standing beside Leon, already regretted his decision.
Archdeacon Rudolf immediately realized why the dark energy fluctuations were so intense here.
It was better not to watch and put himself in such danger and disarray.
It turned out that this was not just an important Black Flame Cult stronghold but their lair!
Archdeacon Rudolf immediately turned to a Holy Templar Knight beside him and said, "Go report to Bishop Sean immediately and inform him that we've discovered the Black Flame Cult's lair!"
As Archdeacon Rudolf quickly took out a high-level divine technique scroll, intending to break through the black energy shield, suddenly, an indescribable fear spread through everyone's hearts. "This... this is the will of the gods."
"It's too late! Leon is finished!"
(End of Chapter)
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