Chapter 69

“We need to hurry back! I can’t have the city fall on my watch!” said Yuji as he was leading the invading army back towards Altier kingdom. A messenger arrived a few hours ago that updated the command chain of the current events. The capital was under attack by a strong entity, riding on a dragon and commanding an army from hell. Something that was hard to believe at first, until the hero got a quest notification, asking him to come to the aid of the besieged city.

The army rode through the forest abandoning their task of pursuing the retreating force of the demon-kin, the safety of their kingdom comes first.

The chain of command of the human army was composed of a general commander and two factions that were under him, the knights and the priests, though they were different in number with the knights having more than twenty thousand strong, the five thousand priests and mages are strong enough to pose a similar threat.

The ride back home would take at least one day, with the help of the priests empowering magic and buffs less than that time. However, knowing that the army from hell is composed of more than sixty thousand monsters, it would still be impossible. Yet that will not be the case, the cities that are close to the capital have been called for aid, so a number that is similar or even more will be at the capital’s gate in less than a day, further increasing the chances of the humans over the invaders.

However, if they arrive late, there will be no point in defending a burnt city, so everyone is doing their best to arrive as fast as they can. There is no time to waste and no reason to do so.

“Do you think we can win this?” said Renji who was riding on a black stallion next to Yuji.

“I don’t know, but I will be damned to let someone take away the capital from me, after all the work we did and all that trouble we went through, our chance at a luxurious life is compromised. We cannot let them take down the city, we need it.”

“The messenger said the the Herald is there, asking for the heroes, I really don’t think it is a wise idea even while we ride with an army, it is too much of a risk to take.” Replied Renji.

“Herald or whatever, I don’t really give a fuck, I am the Hero for god´s sake! And I need to act the role, we need to save those people even if we don’t want to, after all, what else can we do? Once the human kingdom falls, where will we go to? Seach refuge with the demons? They will kill us and skin us alive if they see us, the elves? No one knows where their hometown is, the desert dwellers would be an option if it wasn´t too hot there and too fucking far. This is not the earth, this is our new home and we need to save it, if not, we will die alone.”

Renji could answer no more as he understood the severity of the situation after all losing the kingdom means wandering alone in this world, where nothing is friendly and everything wants their head. A dangerous decision indeed, either die fighting for a chance at survival or die alone in a strange world. However, the choice was needless of thought, they need to fight. Like it or not, the army is reliant on them and the church is forcing their hand, if they try to desert the army, they will be chased down, hunted and killed. They know full well the ruthlessness of the church, so not matter what the decision, only fighting and more will be the result.

“The borders are nearby, pick up the pace!” ordered the commander of the army.

At this rate, the army will arrive in the middle of the night, a very bad time to do any fighting, but still, better than arriving at dawn to find it all burnt to ash.

Yuji however, despite all of this was only thinking about one thing, Daiki, that name, the man that died a year and some ago, his name was brought up again, though a name that was not very rare back in their world, to have someone else having the same name was a bit disturbing, the thought of him being alive passed by Yuji’s head for a second but was instantly dismissed, after all, he saw his very body disintegrating to ash. Not even necromancy can bring that back to life.

Yet, doubt remains. doubt, a dangerous and most un-comforting feeling one could have, doubt that a threat that he thought he had disposed of was back. And questions, too many of them.

The only questions that he had at the moment were, who is the Herald, and what does he want the heroes for.

The Herald is after him, asking for them, yet what did they ever do to suffer the wrath of one of such might? If only they knew… they would have run away, hidden away and trembled in fright and terror, because the entity that is asking for them, only wants one thing… Vengeance!

Daiki POV

“For someone of your age, you are quite rude, you know,” I chuckled as the pontiff shuddered from fear.

Aura of imposing pain was released and everyone in the room shook, some began to vomit from pain, and others just fell unconscious, their minds unable to stand the pressure.

The only one spared was the king, after all, I need a word with him and I need him sane.

“You wretched fiend!” roared the pontiff as the effect of the aura was lessened against him.

I inspected the man.

Salazar Rambaldi

Level 440

(Pontiff)

The blessed one

By the decree of the divine, this man has been granted purity and infallibility.

It seems that he cannot be harmed using debuffs.

“You shall know the wrath of the gods that you have crossed in daring to attack one under their protection!” said the man

“You seem to be mistaking something.” I said “I have yet to attack. If I did, you would be dead.”

“You dare threaten me?!” said the pontiff and approached pulling his right hand forward and trying to cast a spell. “I will show you the wrath of the divine, cursed blasphemer!”

Yet before he could cast the spell, his extended hand was already sprayed in a different direction.

I had already struck with the chain on my right hand, with enough speed and strength that it broke his hand from its elbow, causing it to bend back without him even realizing it.

He looked at his arm in a daze, unable to register the pain for a moment, then he dropped down, and began to cry and scream from the amount of agony surging through his hand.

“Didn’t they teach you to listen to others when they speak? This is the punishment for attacking me before I speak.”

“Cursed bastard!” Cried one of the priests that was barely able to stand. He approached and tried to attack using a light attribute spell that began to gather in his hand, but due to the pain surging through him, he couldn’t concentrate on his spell to cast it successfully. But I had to make an example out of one of them

I swung my right chain around the priest and commanded it to tighten around him.

“This shall be the fate of all that disobey or try to be foolish.”

And willed the chains to ignite, causing the man severe burns and pain, he screamed and screamed while his skin melted, his hair burnt and his clothes turned to ash, he screamed until the fire entered his lungs burning them from inside, and he kept trying to mimic screaming even after his vocal cords were charred. He screamed until he turned to black coal and fell down on the hard floor turning into a pile of burning ash.

The look of terror and fear, anger and wrath were painted on the faces of every one of those that still retained their consciousness, yet they knew that they can do nothing to stop me… they are all for naught if they dare defy me.

“What do you want cursed fiend?!” cried the pontiff, as he was using a healing spell to repair his broken arm, yet it seems that it will take a bit of time before it is fully recovered.

“Simple, I said it before and I will say it again, I want you to hand over some of the heroes. Yuji, Renji, and Haru to be specific. Also the knight captain Jarve, and the Cardinal that was overseeing the cathedral in the mountain of gods. Give them to me and you shall be spared. Should you, your followers and your kingdom, fail to do so, well, then even the gods will find it difficult to save you.”

Though I can get them myself, I need him to do it. this way he will prove that his allegiance to the divine is limited by his fear of his life.

“Never! The heroes are sent to us by the gods to help, I shall never give them to you!”

“So you would prefer death over complying.”

“Without hesitation, as I know that in death I shall be eternal, I shall live in heaven, blessed and rewarded eternally, while you shall perish in hell for all eternity.”

“Hell? Haha, I have been there, and I can tell you, it is not that eternal, While I still doubt that you shall visit heaven after I am done with you.” I said as I approached.

Haruka POV.

Daiki left us with his minions, though scary looking they didn’t try to do anything they were not ordered to do, they followed his instructions to the letter sparing any that didn’t attack them, and killing any fool that tried.

The girls around me looked disturbed, but the enemy had it coming. However, in all of this, why do I feel sad for their fates.

The heroes, However, It is true that they harmed him, they attacked and killed him, yet a part of me thinks they should not be killed, they were our friends… our classmates, people we knew, people that we shared our origin with.

The minions of hell began positioning themselves in a way that they formed two great lines stretching from the draw-bridge all the way to the wall of the second circle of the city.

The gate at that wall was long since broken, and people began walking toward the palace.

These people were civilians, normal men, and women that were caught, or urged to come here, they were people from all over the city, poor, rich noble and whatnot, they were ordered by the minions, and led here, to make a huge crowd.

Did Daiki order them to be gathered here?

About a few hundred thousand men, women, and children, knights without armor and priests, all followed and were guided forward, like sheep being led to a slaughterhouse.

The minions began to laugh and roar, bashing their weapons on their shields, and shouting, making the ‘hostages’ feel more agitated and afraid. Yet none dared to escape or attack. They knew full well that the very attempt will be futile… their eyes were void of hope… they all looked defeated.

A few minions grabbed long poles of wood and lumber, trees were uprooted and were put as a makeshift bridge to link the palace back to the land, as the old bridge was broken by Daiki.

Later on, Daiki exited the palace, however on his right shoulder he had a giant cross made of two enormous poles of wood.

There was a man crucified on the wooden cross, he was still moving, both his hands were pierced through with two swords pinning him to the cross, and his legs were one atop another and pierced through with another sword.

Daiki left, and the men and woman gasped at the sight.

“To do this to a servant of the church! What a blasphemous bastard!” Cried a man from the crowd.

His words agitated the crowd, they began whispering and probably were going to do something foolish if not stopped.

Nemu then flew atop the crowd, roaring loud for all to know of its presence, the very fact that a dragon was flying atop them was enough for everyone to shut up. Surrounded by monsters of hell and a black dragon, while the Herald was standing in front of them. not even I would dare speak or make myself visible.

Daiki moved forward, walking over the bridge made by his minions and getting close to us.

Haruna then said

“What are you trying to do Daiki?”

“Wait and see.”

Daiki then said while raising his voice using that strange ability of his

“Humans! You are being deceived, you follow a faith without reason, follow the divine without a motive, you are being pushed against your will by fear to gain what you should be given, what you should have a right to claim. The divine is deceiving you for their own agenda… and this man, who claims to be a messenger is nothing but a puppet to their schemes… open your eyes! Awake from this madness, there is no heaven for the pious! Only hell for all!”

“What do you want to say!” said a brave man

“What I want to say is, that the church is deceiving you, using your naiveness to fulfill the needs of the divine, worshipping them grants you nothing of the compassion, you are all going to burn in hell, whether you live your lives for good or bad, no one is spared.”

“Lies! We were promised heaven! Who are you to say otherwise!”

“You,” said Daiki aiming at the man that spoke, “you think that you deserve to be in heaven? Then what about this man? Isn't the pontiff it? shouldn’t he have more faith than you? Shouldn’t he be one close to his gods? Where are his gods now? the ones that promised him heaven! The ones that promised him a safety? Where are they?!”

No one answered

The crucified man or the pontiff as Daiki said could only grumble uncomprehensive words… I actually felt sorry for him

“They give not a single fuck about any of you! NONE OF YOU! You are all equal to them, you are all worth less than the dirt you stand on… Not even this man. and I can prove it, his gods have abandoned him and he claims he shall go to heaven. Let's see what they would”

Said Daiki then waved his free hand.

A vortex opened revealing an inflamed land, then a notification followed.

Hell’s gate was opened

All holy items will lose 50% of their potency, dark magic is 100% more potent.

Hell’s gate must be closed within 5 minutes, or its dwellers shall exit bringing demise to the world.

“You were promised heaven?!” roared Daiki, to the pontiff and the men and woman to hear. “THEN LET THE DIVINE SAVE YOU FROM HELL!” he added and dropped the crucifix where the pontiff was pinned to the fiery gate.

Silence prevailed the scene, everyone expected something to happen, even I did, I thought that no matter what, this man was a servant of the divine, that they would help him, save him or do something, but nothing happened, not a single sound was shed, not a single breath was taken, everyone could only stare.

Why did Daiki do this? Did he have something to prove?

“Like you all see, the divine only use your fear for their own benefit, there is no heaven, the only hell is your reward”

Men dropped to their knees feeling helplessness

“Why? Why is it like this? Why aren’t we rewarded for our deeds, why should we suffer in hell? We did nothing wrong, we tried our best to follow the church’s orders, we gave them money, gave them our services, time and even our lives… yet we are rewarded by this?” said a man

“Yes, and after all, your end shall be no different than this man, hell awaits all…”

“Why this injustice?!” said another woman

“The answer is simpler than you can imagine,” said Daiki, and paused for everyone to listen

“the answer is, Why not…” it seemed vague at first then Daiki explained saying, “You are worthless to them, but your prayer, your worship to them grants them power, so they use fear of hell to push you to worship them, they don’t need you, they need your worship, and if you do, they become stronger. Heaven is only for them, only for their Kin, and for the rest, it is nothing but an eternal torment within hell or an endless swim in the void. But fear not, I shall bring down the divine to their knees, I shall bring the requiem!”

The Herald has spoken!

The requiem is promised. Live to see it come true! Or die and wait for it to liberate you.

For that the Herald has promised, for that, the Herald had spoken, and for that, his word is a creed.

“Now go! Tell everyone! Stop with the blind faith, it gives no benefit to any of you.”

He said then the crowd began leaving after the minions disappeared from the world, they turned to dust and dissipated and the crowd began to thin out

“Is it true that there is no heaven for them? I find this cruel…” I said to Daiki.

“No, there actually is a heaven.” He said.

“Then why lie to them?” I asked

“I needed them to stop with their worshiping, it strengthens the divine, and if they stop, it will make my task easier…” he said then walked away.

To fool this many person into renouncing their faith… I could only hope that his mission is worth the fate of this many people if he fails… then they will be punished with eternal hell… they will curse him for his lies… yet I doubt that he will care for something like that… he suffered more than any of them had ever done…