"We just caught wind of it. I don’t know how he managed to corrupt so many city guards."
Outside a massive stone building situated deep within one of the wealthiest districts of the city, the warden spoke with a grim expression as he led Ethan and the rest of the Punishment Hall through the tightly formed encirclement.
The entire street had already been sealed off.
Hundreds of guards stood shoulder to shoulder, forming layer after layer of barricades that prevented anyone from entering or leaving the area. None of the surrounding nobles dared step outside their estates. Every window overlooking the mansion had long since been shut, while servants peeked nervously through tiny cracks in their curtains before quickly retreating.
An eerie silence hung over the district.
Only the metallic clatter of armored boots and the occasional snort of restless war beasts disturbed the suffocating stillness.
In the early hours of the morning, citizens had begun reporting an unbearable stench drifting through the surrounding streets.
At first, most assumed a sewer line had collapsed or livestock had died somewhere nearby.
But as dawn broke, the smell only worsened.
It was the unmistakable odor of rotting flesh.
Dead corpses.
The scent had become so overwhelming that even experienced city guards struggled to approach the estate without covering their noses. According to witnesses, a lavish banquet had taken place inside the mansion the previous night.
Music had echoed through the district until late into the night.
Bright lights illuminated every window. Guests entered continuously despite the city’s strict curfew. Normally, such an event would have been shut down immediately.
Yet no one questioned it.
The reason was simple.
The mansion had been surrounded by city guards from beginning to end.
Seeing official soldiers protecting the estate, nearby residents naturally assumed permission had been granted from higher authorities.No one dared interfere. No one suspected anything.
Only after sunrise, when the nauseating odor spread throughout the district, did everyone realize something had gone horribly wrong.
And by then...
It was already too late.
"From what I can determine, the Demigod evolution ritual was successfully completed sometime yesterday."The voice interrupted everyone’s thoughts. Ethan instinctively looked toward the center of the gathered experts.
Standing there were Kang and the other Punishment Elders. Their expressions were darker than Ethan had ever seen.
"The target of interest bypassed the normal evolution requirements through a backdoor created by the ritual."
Silence followed.The words settled heavily over everyone present.
A Demigod.
There was already a Demigod inside the building. Even among the assembled elites, several people’s breathing became noticeably heavier. No one underestimated what those two words represented.
A being that stood above Tier Eight. A monster capable of slaughtering entire armies.
"We have already contacted another Demigod stationed nearby," one of the elders continued calmly. "She should arrive shortly."
Almost as if responding to his words—
ROARRRR!!
A deafening dragon’s roar exploded across the heavens.The clouds themselves seemed to tremble. Everyone instinctively raised their heads. Far above the city, an enormous shadow circled through the sky.
Only portions of its massive body became visible as it passed through the sea of clouds, yet each glimpse was enough to leave countless guards speechless.
Its scales reflected the morning sunlight like molten gold.
Every beat of its wings stirred violent winds that swept across the rooftops below.
An overwhelming aura descended upon the district.
Even before it landed...Everyone knew. The city’s reinforcement had arrived.
Kang’s gaze shifted away from the dragon before settling upon Ethan and the members of the Punishment Hall.
His usually stern expression had become unusually solemn.
"Our mission has nothing to do with the Demigod."
His words caused everyone to freeze.
"Nor whoever controls it."
His voice lowered.
"It concerns something far more dangerous."
For the first time since joining the organization, Ethan saw genuine concern within Kang’s eyes.
Concern.
It immediately sent a chill crawling down his spine.
Kang slowly drew a deep breath.
"The Blood Serpent God is attempting to descend upon this city."
The sentence struck everyone like lightning.
"It used the evolution ritual as the inner circle of a far larger sacrificial formation."
He paused briefly.
"If the ritual completes... every living creature inside this city will become the sacrifice necessary for its true descent."
Silence.
Absolute silence. Several guards unconsciously tightened their grip around their weapons.
Some swallowed nervously. Others simply stared blankly.
A god.
A true descent.
Something no one present had ever imagined witnessing.
"We’re going inside." Kang’s voice remained steady.
"We kill everyone in that building."
No one spoke.
"None of them are human anymore."
The atmosphere immediately became suffocating.
Even Ethan felt his heartbeat quicken.
"Do not despair."
Kang’s sharp voice cut through everyone’s thoughts.
"The creatures inside have only just completed their transformation."
"They’re still roughly equivalent to ordinary Tier Eights."
A few people visibly relaxed.
Then Kang continued.
"However... a handful among them are exceptionally dangerous." His hand slowly rested upon the hilt of his sword.
"I’ll handle those personally."
His gaze swept across everyone.
"Your only responsibility..." He pulled the blade free. The clear sound of steel echoed across the street.
"...is surviving."
Kang slowly nodded.
"Move."
The enormous doors of the estate stood directly before them.
Just as the first group prepared to advance—
ROARRRR!!
Another earth-shaking dragon roar erupted overhead. A colossal figure descended from the clouds like a falling star.
BOOOOOOM!!
The dragon crashed directly through the roof of the mansion.Stone exploded in every direction.
Timber shattered. Dust erupted into the sky.The entire building trembled violently beneath the impact.
Without hesitation—
Dozens upon dozens of experts charged forward simultaneously.
Some burst through the main entrance. Others smashed through windows. Several leaped over the surrounding walls.
Steel flashed. Spells ignited. The massacre began.
...
"To think... you were once respected."
A calm feminine voice echoed throughout the ruined grand hall.
"Only to fall before an evil god."
"How disappointing."
Standing atop a gigantic dragon engulfed in blazing flames, the woman overlooked the carnage beneath her with indifferent eyes. The once luxurious banquet hall had transformed into a nightmare.Broken tables lay scattered everywhere.
Golden chandeliers had collapsed onto pools of blood. Bodies littered the marble floor. Not a single corpse remained intact. More horrifying than the dead, however...Were the webs.Countless crimson threads stretched from wall to wall.
Across the ceiling, Around every pillar. The enormous web pulsed rhythmically like the veins of some living organism. With each pulse...Fresh blood flowed through its countless strands.
The aura surrounding it was overwhelmingly sinister.One glance was enough to understand. This formation had not been created overnight. It had been absorbing lives for years.
Perhaps even decades.
"I was a Royal Hand."
The elderly man seated upon the elevated platform finally spoke.
His voice remained strangely calm.
"I protected the royal family. I safeguarded the kingdom For years."
His fingers slowly tightened around his throne.
"And what did I receive? Nothing. I earned neither Karth’s favor... nor Bark’s."
A bitter smile appeared on his aged face.
"What choice did I have? To grow old? To die?"
His eyes gradually became bloodshot.
"What about my children? What about my descendants? Who would protect them after I was gone?"
The woman merely looked down at him.
No sympathy appeared in her eyes.
"Your children?"
A mocking smile crossed her lips.
"You already killed them."
The old man remained motionless.
"My... children?"
"They were among the first sacrifices.You slaughtered your wife, Your sons, Your daughters, Every last one."
The dragon beneath her released a low growl.
"When has an evil god ever honored its promises?"
Silence.
The old man’s expression froze.
Confusion slowly spread across his face.
His pupils trembled.
His breathing became uneven.
He shook his head once.
Then again.
"No..."
His lips quivered.
"No..."
His hands gripped the throne tightly enough for the wood to crack.
Then, without warning—
"YOU LIAR!!"
The roar exploded through the hall.
"My family is alive!"
"They’re waiting for me!"
"You liar!"
The veins across his face bulged violently.
His eyes became completely bloodshot.
The calmness he had maintained until now shattered instantly.
Replacing it...
Was madness.
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