Gods could not die. Even if they fell, as long as their worshippers chanted their truenames day and night they would one day rise up from the astral plane, returning to their former glory.
Now, under the fervent chanting of the Poison Scorpion Church, the altar seemed to light up with a strange flame. Flesh and blood began to fuse together, revealing faces warped with pain.
âAlmighty Lord, the God of Scorpionsâ Chester Potter!â
âChester Potter!â âChester Potter!â The worshippers recited the name again and again, soon joined by the warped faces on the altar. Some mysterious force seemed to attract a conscient here, having it descend upon the place.
âOâ lord⌠Arise from your slumber!â Schliffâs hands and legs began to tremble with excitementâŚ
âThe false godâs ceremony has already started! Stop them!â The elites of the two churches had already reached the castle under Romeseâs lead, a large number of soldiers following behind them.
âA fallen demigod has no need to revive!â Romese unsheathed an icy blue sword at his waist, and an icy gale began to stir. âAll high-ranked Professionals follow me, the rest of you focus on the attack on the castle!â
No matter how tall and sturdy it was, a castle not protected by high-grade spells was but a joke to powerful Professionals. Romese wrapped his body with qi as the fight began, leaping upwards in a moment. He covered a dozen metres in a single jump, landing on the castle walls with a thud.
âKill him!â An exasperated voice sounded out, and many warriors with black armour began to surround him.
âKnow your place!â Romese harrumphed, and snow began to dance around his body. An icy gale instantly turned the apostles of the demigod into frozen statues, and they crashed down to the ground.
âAre you the baron of this castle?â Romese leapt again, flying past all obstacles to arrive before a man dressed in noble clothing. There was a sceptre in his hand, imprinted with a scorpion.
âYou vile watchdog!â Flames seemed to spew forth from the baronâs eyes as he rushed forward with the sceptre.
âNo traces of psychic spells or intelligence reductionâŚâ Romese shook his head, âYou are a true sinner, the apostle of a false god. Face your judgement!â
Blue light flashed, and the sword pierced through the baronâs chest. The man moaned painfully, looking at his chest in disbelief.
âHng! You think the identity of a noble is your amulet? How naive,â Romese said indifferently. However, as he looked towards the centre of the castle where the hall was, his brows furrowed.
A terrifying evil spirit had converged in that area, forming a powerful whirlpool.
âChester Potter! Chester Potter!â âYou are the Lord of Slaughter. In your left hand, you wield the Hammer of Annihilation, and in your right the Book of Judgment. Any enemies will turn into a quagmire of flesh and blood before your presence. You are the home for our souls, I am willing toâŚâ
The power of worship of the apostles and faces combined formed a crimson glow that converged atop the altar, landing on the throne of bones. The crimson energy engulfed Raike, entering him through his skin pores as the boy howled without end.
Raikeâs aura continually grew stronger and stronger, until eventually the energy beneath his skin began to surge and contort his body. It was like something was about to burst through his skin from the inside.
And still the boyâs body seemed like a bottomless pit, absorbing all the energy that came. The conscient couldnât enter the body.
âThere arenât enough apostles,â Schliff muttered as he looked towards the castle walls, âEven with the sacrificial formation and twenty thousand souls we cannot revive our LordâŚ
âHave they been breached already? They probably have some legendaries helping them!â Time had grown short.
âIt seems like thereâs no choice but to use thisâŚâ Schliff took out a golden crystal, shaped like a rhomboid. It was a gift from the Giant Serpent Church, but he didnât want to use it unless all else failed. That Giant Serpent was not a simple person. There was definitely something concealed within everything heâd given them.
However, the current circumstances left Schliff with no other choice. âLord! Please guide me and show the way!â He prayed for one last time, and his eyes filled with resolve. He then threw the crystal onto the floor.
*Bang!* The altar had a violent reaction to the golden crystal. A terrifying amount of power of faith and divine force was released, causing the whirlpool to spin a dozen timesâ no, a hundred times faster!
The crimson ball atop the altar suddenly blazed, melting off all the flesh and blood in the area to form layers of rippling energy.
âArgh!â Raikeâs screams rose a few octaves within the cage, and his body began to bloat.
âLord Chester Potter! Revive now!â Schliff roared in malevolence.
*Rumble!* The ground trembled, and the altar turned into a huge furnace as all the energy began to enter the throne of bones.
*Bang!* The cage above the white bones burst open to reveal Raikeâs figure. His body had grown a few times over, crimson energy filling every ounce of it. It suddenly seemed to light up on fire, as if something within had destroyed all of him.
âMy Lord!â Schliff was happy beyond tears. During the explosion, he had sensed an extremely familiar conscient overcome the obstacles of the astral plane to descend into the hall.
The crimson light ripped Raikeâs body apart, and a middle-aged man walked out from within.
âMy divine name is Chester Potter. I am the Lord of Scorpions, the Ruler of Slaughter!â Chester Potter waved his hands, and a surge of black gas formed robes that covered him. Blood red eyes opened up, and he roared towards the world, âHELM! Iâm back, and I wonât fail this time!â
Romese and Rafiniya had just arrived to witness this scene.
âBeing reborn from his own blood descendant and using the descendantâs life as a vessel, these false gods are so evil!â Rafiniya was extremely furious. She pulled out her sword, and holy brilliance filled the sky.
âI will purify you!â The light of the sword radiated out, carrying a shrill roar as it swung towards Chester Potter.
âA legendary paladin? You belong to Tyr?â Fear streaked past Chester Potterâs eyes, but more madness overcame it. He pointed his right hand forward, and a terrifying explosion occurred as it collided with the holy sword. Shockwaves rippled into the surroundings.
Meteor Strike!
âAnyone who opposes me must die!â Chester Potter issued his decree as light from a summoning spell glowed from his body.
Rank 9 Spellâ Extradimensional Summon!
*Chirp! Chirp! Chirp!* Many scorpion-shaped monsters moved out of a portal, their sheer number causing Rafiniya and Romese to change their expressions.
Romese moved between a variety of expressions, but he finally gritted his teeth and made a decision, âLetâs retreat first!â
Rafiniyaâs lips moved, but she did not voice an objection. They were two legendaries pit against a demigod. They werenât even on the same level.
Since the mission had failed, then protecting themselves would be the priority.
âHurry and leave! Iâll bear all responsibility!â Romeseâs blue sword released an icy power, forming walls of ice that blocked the advance of the scorpions. He roared at the scorpions behind his back.
Very soon, Rafiniya and the rest of the troops retreated to outside the castle walls. From this position, they could clearly see Chester Potter at the centre of the altar. Ominous crimson clouds circulated above him as the clouds seemed to form a funnel atop his head. The demigod gathered the flowing energy, his terrifying aura forming a malicious scorpion.
âAll of you⌠Donât think about leaving!â The malicious-looking scorpion chased after them, and the other summoned scorpions roared as they surged forth as well.
âMy worshippers, do not panic, and do not be lostâŚâ A gentle voice sounded out just then, carrying a mysterious soothing effect.
âItâs our Lord! Our Lord has descended!â Romese knelt in a certain direction, and Rafiniya bowed with respect as well. A strange rune in the form of an eye formed in mid-air, the void being ripped open as the avatar of a god walked out.
This avatar belonged to Helm, and it was the strongest power a god could muster in the prime material plane. With the ritual successful and Chester Potter revived, the God of Protection had descended to take care of the situation himself.
He first looked at the crimson clouds and the strange scorpion, and his expression turned solemn.
âA divine being obscured our prophecy, causing us to choose the wrong time. This was why Chester Potter could resurrect successfully.â Helmâs words sent shock through the hearts of the lawful.
âObscured? Our divination?â Romese muttered, and his heart turned frigid.
His experience told him how scary such an opponent could be. Not only was he hidden in the darkness, he was a poisonous snake waiting for an opportunity to deal deadly damage.