Abyssal Chronicles

Chapter 605 - 606: Cruelty

As the fourth Apostle, Cardis might not have the raw power of the fifth or sixth Earth Apostles. His position was secured largely due to his skill at flattering and pleasing the leadership.

When he realized that the enemy appearing before them was the newly emerged demon king-level abyssal demon, Blood Butterfly, even with the indescribable terrifying pressure she exerted, Cardis felt a sense of relief. He strongly felt that the crisis had dissipated. After all, their Pop, blessed by the Goddess, had defeated the strongest abyssal demon, Higanbana.

Dealing with a newly born demon king should be effortless.

It is known that the strength of abyssal demons of the demon king level is proportional to their age. The older they are, the more powerful they become. Ancient abyssal demons like Higanbana and Sword Demon are so powerful that they drive people to despair, whereas facing newer ones like Deathwing, Nightmare, and Snow Devourer, people feel they have a fighting chance. Being a newly born demon king, Blood Butterfly’s strength must be inferior to Nightmare’s.

Since Snow devourer was defeated by the Apostle of Heaven, how could the Pop, who is even stronger, not easily defeat Blood Butterfly?

Realizing this,

Cardis eagerly positioned himself at the forefront of the group, attempting to show his brave and loyal side in front of the Pope. If Blood Butterfly really attacked him, the Pope would surely intervene.

Not only would he not be in any life-threatening danger, but he would also earn merit in the eyes of his leadership, a win-win situation.

Thinking this, Cardis allowed a slight smirk to form on his lips, unnoticed by his colleagues.

However,

At this moment, Cardis frowned, noticing that the black-haired girl who had been steadily approaching suddenly stopped. Although her face and expressions were hidden by the mask, the invisible pressure that had been diffused in the air seemed to suddenly concentrate on Kael after hearing Cardis’s words.

"It was you? You killed my child?"

"Hm?"

Hearing this voice that sounded like music from heaven, Cardis was momentarily stunned.

After all,

In his fixed perception, abyssal demons were supposed to be horrifying entities with repulsive faces and raspy, eerie voices. Hearing such a pleasant and melodic voice from a demon was genuinely surprising to Cardis.

After a moment of confusion, a re-focused Cardis immediately took a combative stance and roared defiantly:

"So what if he did?! Our Pope is divinely wise and mighty. How could Higanbana stand against him?! Not only did that monster lose to our Pop, but she was also gutted by him to extract her core! If you don’t want to end up like her, surrender now! Perhaps the Pope will show mercy and grant you a comfortable death!..."

Believing in the strength of their Pop, Cardis’s confidence grew, and his words showed no fear.

In that moment, he seemed to embody the fearless ’Apostle’, confronting the demon king without any sign of fear.

Confronted by Cardis’s aggressive behaver, Blood Butterfly not only stopped her approach but also began to lower her head as if subdued by his presence.

This delighted Cardis, and he couldn’t help but smile slightly.

If he could really intimidate Blood Butterfly with his presence, wouldn’t his reputation soar after this event was spread by his colleagues? With both Archbishops’ fates uncertain, might he even have a chance to become the new Archbishop?

Elated by this thought, Cardis grew more and more pleased with himself.

"What’s the matter? Not moving? Are you scared... Huh? Wait, what? What is this?"

However,

As he spoke, Cardis’s brow furrowed, sensing something was amiss.

Indeed, the black-haired girl had lowered her head and was shaking while clutching her chest. But it didn’t seem like fear; rather, it appeared she was trying to suppress some kind of urge. And the girl, head bowed, was whispering something repeatedly under her breath...

A chilling aura began to emanate from the girl, rapidly spreading outwards from her, soon enveloping everyone from the Church.

"Youlan is dead? She died, killed by him? He killed my daughter, he killed my daughter, he killed my daughter, he killed my daughter, he killed my daughter... That bastard... he killed my daughter... He dared?"

...

...

"Huh?"

Upon hearing the girl’s murmurs, Cardis shuddered. Her repetitive whispers, filled with madness, sickness, and intense murderous intent, eroded the sanity and courage of those who heard them, like a dirge from the underworld. The increasingly tangible dark aura around the girl sent a chill down Cardis’s spine, as if his very spirit was being corroded.

’Her daughter?’

’What about her daughter? Is she referring to Higanbana?’

...

The repetitive words of the black-haired girl undoubtedly perplexed Cardis, but as the fourth Apostle, he didn’t have time to dwell on this issue. He faced a far more terrifying reality: Blood Butterfly seemed to be suppressing something within her, yet whatever it was, it started to uncontrollably seep out from her body.

Was it some emotion?

Or some kind of power?

Sensing the growing strength of shadows around the girl and the rising pressure on her soul, Cardis looked really scared. He shook, sweat broke out on his forehead, and he got goosebumps all over. His heart beat fast with worry.

He had perhaps underestimated the situation.

His instincts, honed over many years, screamed at him to get out of there fast, or he was certain he wouldn’t make it.

’No, this can’t be! Something’s wrong!’

"This is all wrong!"

At this moment,

Under the stunned gaze of the Holy Knights, Cardis, who had just been boldly rebuking his subordinates and standing up to the demon king, involuntarily stepped back several paces, quickly turned his head, and looked towards Kael Korod:

"Pop! Please take action against her immediately! There’s something wrong with that demoness!"

However,

Upon looking at Kael Korod, Cardis was stunned again, his face showing disbelief. It felt like his heart was tied to a massive weight, dragging him into an endless abyss.

Instead of any approval for his ’bravery’, Kael’s face had turned incredibly dark, cold murderous intent seeping from his eyes. And that intent was not directed at Blood Butterfly, but at him…

Those eyes looked like they wanted to tear him apart.

’Had I done something wrong?’

"... Pop? What is the meaning of this..."

Feeling something was off and completely baffled, Cardis asked shakily.

However,

Kael didn’t respond to Cardis’s words. Instead, he snorted coldly and, surrounded by a swirl of dark red holy energy, leaped up and disappeared from Cardis’s sight.

’What?! What’s happening?!’

Cardis’s mind was filled with confusion, but it was quickly answered.

The next moment, a tremendous pressure suddenly invaded Cardis’s perceptual range!

Realizing something was terribly wrong, Cardis quickly turned to look behind him.

Then, the fourth Apostle’s expression changed dramatically, his eyes narrowed in extreme anger, fear, and regret, contorting his face into a grotesque and twisted expression.

In that moment,

A surge of crimson energy obscured everything, like a beast breaking free from its chains, roaring with a terrifying momentum to annihilate all in its path, rapidly expanding in Cardis’s vision.

So fast that Cardis couldn’t retreat or muster his power in time.

Realizing the inevitable, Cardis bit his lip and, with a resentful tone, uttered his last words:

"Kael Korod, I fucking curse you..."

But before he could finish, the violent crimson energy engulfed him and the other Holy Knights, turning them to ashes, annihilating even their souls...

Kael glanced down at the remains of Cardis and others, swallowed by the crimson wave, and muttered disdainfully from midair.

However,

His attention remained focused on the black-haired girl not far away.

Feeling the murderous intent fixed on him, Kael involuntarily gasped for air.

Faced with this intense pressure on his soul, Kael felt like his soul was being squashed into nothing, with a deep fear taking over his body. This force, much more powerful than Higanbana’s, made him unable to even think about fighting back.

’Now was not the time to confront her head-on; I must flee...’

’Flee to the Goddess...’

With this thought, Kael Korod made a split-second decision. His dark red holy energy erupted, enveloping him and transforming into a crimson meteor, shooting towards the main church! However, the instant Kael began his escape, a dark silhouette suddenly blocked his path.

’So fast…’

She completely evaded Kael’s perception, shocking the highest leader of the Church, his pupils trembling as if caught in a massive earthquake.

"Blood, Blood Butterfly?!"

Before he could finish,

The girl’s slender fingers rapidly enlarged in Kael’s eyes.

"Bad, this is so bad!!"

Realizing the danger, Kael quickly mobilized all his holy energy to face the black-haired girl.

However,

With a slight squeeze of the girl’s fingers, Kael’s surrounding holy energy abruptly dissipated. The powerful aura, enough to suffocate and despair an ordinary person, now shattered like a poorly made toy under her grip.

His long-accompanied divine weapon, ’Crimson Twin Swords,’ disintegrated into fragments after striking the girl’s body.

Crack~*

Not just the aura collapsed, and the divine weapon turned to dust.

The girl’s powerful grip brutally shattered Kael’s head into pieces...