Chapter 66: Chapter 255

✠

"Well done, Ailette Rodeline."

Reed smiled from far away as he watched everything go according to his plan.

✠

There was no time to wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I immediately summoned Liv Lily, the Cross Flory Lily Scythe of the Holy Demon, and imbued it with aura. Its white glow repelled the darkness and restored my vision. The Demon Lord was standing about fifteen steps away at my two o'clock.

"How dare you drag me down into this filthy pit?"

Inferinos' long hair spread out like a fan and whipped about her head violently, while her eyes turned red, flashing in the darkness. The third-ranked demon in the Demon Realm gradually revealed her true demonic energy and power, making the thick air at the bottom of the pit even harder to breathe.

I inhaled deeply as I pushed back against the mounting pressure that was fighting to buckle my knees and squeeze the oxygen from my lungs.

"Let me clean up the pit before we begin, Executioner of Evil." Inferinos then raised her arms to shoulder level through the storm of her own demonic energy. "Lowly minions! Offer your flesh and soul, and you shall have the honor of becoming a part of me!"

Whoosh!

Strands of energy shot out in all directions from her claw-like hands and scoured the bottom of the pit for prey. It was clear that she meant to kill all her minions to absorb their abilities according to the rule of solitude.

«Ailette!»

Agnes' voice made me tense up in alarm. I was about to release divine power in preparation to fight against Inferinos, but then something unexpected happened.

"Minions...?"

The strands of demonic energy the Demon Lord released, which were seeking sacrifices, had failed to find any at all. Only then did I realize we were the only beings alive within the pit.

What happened to all the other demons that she sent down here? But there was no time to answer my question.

"Ugh!" I shouted as I felt a terrible burning sensation scorch my back.

What's going on? The shock of it all made a cold sweat form over my body. The TM gods were kind enough to check what was happening to my back.

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls says something is inscribing multiple stigmata over your back.⟭

The system took over and explained further.

⟬«System» As the replacement for [Tesilid Argente], the 10,256th sacrifice, you gain all stigmata he has collected so far.⟭

⟬«System» Displaying a list of skills acquired through stigmata.⟭

Whoa! My brain couldn't keep up with the flurry of information that flashed before me.

⟬«Skill» [Calm Breath]⟭

⟬«Skill» [A Second of Foresight]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Tyrant's Hand Gesture]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Rule of Might]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Vanguard of the End of Times]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Supreme Martial Arts]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Army of the Holy Spirit]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Full Moon Ritual]⟭

⟬«Skill» [Queen's Charm]⟭

The list continued on and on. I groaned in pain as the burning sensation spread all over my back and shoulders.

⟬«System» Sorting stigmata according to class levels. Transcendent (3 found), Ultimate (8 found), Advanced (58 found), Ordinary (171 found), Skill Boost (2,877 found), Incompatible or Inaccessible (7,138 found).⟭

⟬«System» A total of 10,255 stigmata identified. Transferring 3,117 stigmata available for usage.⟭

What? A total of 10,255 stigmata? The sum was only one less than Tesilid's number as a sacrifice, which could only mean one thing.

"Did the silver stigma bearer slaughter all my minions?!"

Inferinos saved me the trouble of having to explain what happened. The scorching heat over my back cooled down while the Demon Lord tried in vain to contain her shock.

⟬«System» Transfer completed!⟭

Whoa! My mind started processing and making sense of the countless skills that had just been forced into my memory. Soon, I realized I knew each of them by heart and required no description to start using them. I let out a long sigh.

All the skills were now mine to control. The advantage left behind by the last man standing in this bloody battlefield had just been transferred to me in its entirety.

Thanks, Tez. I can handle the rest now. I straightened myself up and stared at Inferinos, who now stood some distance from me. Her powers and demonic energy could no longer crush me through pressure, thanks to a passive skill I gained a moment ago.

⟬«Skill» [Vanguard of the End of Times (Passive)]

You are brave in the face of any fight, on the front lines against the enemy who seeks the destruction of the world. May you be blessed with iron will and unshakeable virtue to stand tall before any foe.⟭

Clack.

I clutched Liv Lily and took my stance.

Inferinos finally came to terms with reality at this point. "It matters not. You are only human. It will... make... no... difference."

Her speech slurred, and her tone changed as she finished the sentence, becoming a deep, breathy growl that reverberated around us in a resounding echo as if we were in a cave. Soon, her monstrous voice boomed and revealed its demonic nature.

"You will curse the day you challenged me in the pits of hell!"

Whoosh!

The Demon Lord's blond hair, blue at the ends, stretched out long and wide behind her. Her tresses writhed about as if they had a mind of their own, much like Medusa's, but instead of snakes she was surrounded by strands of blue sapphires.

Her court gown flung open and turned into a cape with black fur, revealing elaborate leather armor underneath. Demon Lord Inferinos was now ready for battle.

⟬«System» The Protection of Chaos and Evil changes the battlefield.⟭

⟬«System» The [Pit of Solitude] has turned into the [Coliseum of Thrones].⟭

The walls around us restructured themselves into the stands of a gigantic arena worthy of the new location's name. But that was hardly the end of it.

⟬«System» The battlefield is lifted into the Human Realm.⟭

Rumble!

I was taken aback by the abrupt change in scenery. I planted my feet firmly for support as the ground beneath us started rising. The pitch black ceiling of darkness cleared up to reveal the night sky, the three moons hovering above, indicating our return to the human world.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World informs you that a dungeon burst has occurred in the area.⟭

Reed had initiated a dungeon burst over the [Coliseum of Thrones].

"I shall be victorious with the great Chaos and Evil's blessings." The Demon Lord rejoiced as the dungeon burst boosted her power in the Human Realm.

Whoosh!

The three moons slowly started drawing closer from above. I kept my eyes on my enemy through the noise and tremors that traveled through my body and rattled my skull. The implication was clear. If I lose this battle, Demon Lord Inferinos will be unleashed onto the world.

✠

On the Litennial Plains, in the vicinity of the holy kingdom's capital city, four nations of the Serentran continent rallied together their aura, divine power and magic users to defeat the Demon Lord prophesied to appear by the dark mage knight. There were only about twenty thousand people who fit those qualifications among the billions of people living on the continent, and only a handful of them were powerful enough to face a battle against a Demon Lord.

In fact, one could literally count who would lead the battle with one hand. Grand Duke Aaron Jake Heathfenrir, an aura master and deacon. Marchioness Romina Lecandro, an aura master and knight. Fleagel Night, the guild master of the Nighthawk assassins. Moriphys Marcellion, the infamous Chimera Researcher. And Muriel Phylise, the saintess of the holy kingdom. There were only five humans alive with the abilities needed. One had to be an aura master, a Tier 8 grand mage, or a Tier 8 saintess to be of any use in a battle against a Demon Lord. Needless to say, the fate of the Serentran continent was in their hands.

Unbeknownst to them at this point, those five were also responsible for sealing Reed at the end of Loop One Hundred in the original story.

"Do you think a Demon Lord would really appear here?" Marchioness Lecandro asked with a tense look on her face.

The large military force had been rallied to the plains based on the words of the dark mage knight alone, but the tranquil scenery over the plains made one question if it had been the right decision to trust his prophecy. Or perhaps the marchioness simply hoped they wouldn't have to face the foretold catastrophe.

"The dark mage knight..." It was Saintess Muriel who answered the marchioness after a moment of solemn silence. "He didn't strike me as someone who'd waste his breath on meaningless words. The three moons that still shine over us prove that."

The saintess had authority on this matter, so the marchioness decided to abandon the small amount of hope she had held.

"I agree."

The others nodded their heads.

Muriel's mysterious eyes of green and gold turned downward. "We will most likely be facing Inferinos, the Rule Enforcer. She is said to be a cunning demon who uses the voice in battle, but we must not lose hope since she is the weakest of the three Demon Lords."

The three moons in the sky signified the great catastrophe of doomsday was yet to be over. Therefore, it was reasonable to think Inferinos would be responsible for any dungeon bursts, along with the dungeon sink that already occurred. They were already informed about the Demon Lord responsible from the citizens of the holy kingdom who had been taken to the courthouse before safely returning to the Litennial Plains.

"The dungeon survivors helped us form our battle strategy against Inferinos. This shows how the Strict Order and Goodness watches over us and blesses our victory from above," the saintess cried out, trying to boost the morale of the troops.

But Marchioness Lecandro couldn't help but feel something was amiss.

No, this is not the work of God. The strategy was only made possible through human sacrifice. The victims who had escaped Inferinos' grasp made it clear that Tesilid Argente had given his life to save everyone else.

Why does the saintess give glory to God when she clearly heard what had taken place? There was a stark contrast between the supposed morale booster and the Divine Emissary. Speaking of which, the Divine Emissary was nowhere to be seen on the plains.

It was clear that she was still in the Demon Lord's territory. She had probably refused to sacrifice Tesilid for her own survival. There she was, risking her life to save one who sacrificed himself, while the other saintess refused to acknowledge what he did for others. The irony was not lost on the marchioness.

Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, "I hope the same God would watch over His Highness and Her Eminence."

Muriel flinched when she caught the implication in Marchioness Lecandro's words.