Altar

The altar is surrounded by twelve high towers, and these towers are connected to the altar by an intricate corridor called the "outer gallery". The entire gallery is in a gray tone and is filled with the architectural style of the divine era. Although you can see things outside from the specially treated gallery, things inside the gallery cannot be seen or heard from the outside.

There is a main path marked by the priests in the gallery, as well as numerous complex and maze-like paths without markings. These are defense measures set up to protect the high towers. Of course, only during the prayer rain ceremony are marks made for people who are not normally allowed to enter here to use.

There are also special measures here that interfere with people's cognitive abilities. When the black-haired man and Eve entered here and wanted to understand the markings of the maze structure, the mark he made was no longer visible when he returned to it using his hook lock. Because it was a return using the same route, this was undoubtedly the original location, but the mark had disappeared. However, when he touched the spot with his hand, he could clearly feel the "mark" left by the short knife on the wall.

"It seems that we can't use these paths as an escape route."

Because of the special measures, you can see outside from the gallery, but not inside from the outside. This made it easier for the black-haired man to approach the back of the altar. It seems that the guards of the Holy See also do not like to stand in this special "maze", and they did not encounter any enemies on this journey.

However, it's not entirely a good thing. There are no hidden places here. When the group of bishops and "Eda" return the same way after the prayer rain ceremony ends, they will have to face them head on...

In any case, let's observe the situation first. The black-haired man and the young girl accompanying him stood in the hallway behind the altar. According to the principle of this corridor, people outside cannot see him, but he can observe the movements of others.

At that moment, the Saint "Harlan" standing on the left side of "Eda" turned back as if he noticed something, and locked eyes with the black-haired man in the hallway for about three seconds. Then he smiled slightly and pretended as if nothing happened, turning his head back around.

"It should be said that he is truly the strongest man. His perception is astonishing."

It seems that they need to prepare to retreat. Since they have already been discovered, launching an attack here will most likely result in a direct confrontation with the Saint, which is too dangerous. It is better to follow them to the Holy See and then carry out the "attack."

There is no chance of winning a head-on battle with him, with Harlan, one of the "Seven Heroes." Even though the black-haired man is truly a monster, he has no chance. However, the situation doesn't seem to be going in the worst direction. The black-haired man, who hasn't left yet, slowly retreats while keeping his gaze on the center of the altar.

The Prayer for Rain Festival has ended, but the Saint seems to have started a conversation with the "Holy King," the most powerful figure in the Holy See. Many knights stayed behind to be wary of the Saint "Harlan," who is not aligned with the Holy King. The only two knights who walked towards the hallway to protect "Eda" were two menacing black knights.

While talking to the Holy King, Harlan used his left hand, which was mostly covered by a red cloak, to make a few gestures - seven minutes. The gestures he made conveyed the message that an assassin would understand. The black-haired man, who had some contact in this area before, quickly understood the meaning of the Saint's gestures: "Unknown 'assassin,' the opportunity has been left to you."

The black-haired man had no difficulty in realizing the presence of the other man with black hair. Although he had the opportunity to attack him, he chose to help him instead. While his intentions were unclear to the other man, he knew that he had a chance to act. Even if he had no chance of winning, he had prepared himself to fight for his life. This mindset had been ingrained in him for eight years.

The black-haired man laughed coldly and threw his hook-shaped weapon into the air, which latched onto the wall. He then used it to swing to the right. He released a lock containing black powder, which fell to the ground due to gravity. He had already reached the top of the corridor, and at the same time, two black knights entered the corridor.

As soon as they entered, they noticed the silver-haired girl standing nearby. Since she wasn't wearing the attire of the church, they immediately identified her as an enemy and drew their swords. However, before they could attack, the black-haired man kicked the package containing black powder with great force, creating a gust of wind that knocked the girl to the ground. The black iron powder scattered around her.

Using his magic, the black-haired man created a black sword named "Emperor's Edge" and used it to attack one of the black knights. He swung the sword like the scythe of the Grim Reaper and cut off the knight's armor and head in one swift motion.

"After the knight's head was cut off by the cross sword, the wound on his neck burst into a bloody mess, constantly entering his armor. Within the blood mist, a black figure quickly approached another black knight.

"Cut." Although he had successfully taken the life of the second black knight, the knight was still an elite of the church. As his body was destroyed by the demon sword Dielfeng, he also thrust his one-handed sword into the chest of the black-haired man. The powerful force caused the entire sword to penetrate the chest and the guard of the sword handle was stuck in the man's ribs.

"Seven seconds." There was no screaming, and both black knights were deprived of their lives in an instant. Even the black-haired man, whose heart had been pierced by the long sword, did not make any noise.

He tightly grasped the guard of the sword with both hands and quickly pulled out the long sword. The blood from the exposed heart gushed out like a fountain...

But he couldn't be called a person, he was a monster.

Merely piercing his heart and losing a lot of blood could not kill him: "(Activate the second composition, target - human body, magic - Type Five), Body Magic · Physical Repair."

At this point, his whites of his eyes turned black and his black pupils turned red. Under the effect of magic, the terrifying wound on his chest healed at a visible speed in a short time.

This was not a simple healing magic. "Physical Repair" magic restored the basic elements that make up his body. No matter how strong the attack was, the substance that makes up the body would not change. As long as it was restored and returned to its normal "position", it was as if there had been no injury.

After a few seconds of completing the fatal injury repair, his eyes gradually returned to their original color.

"Eda Terry, is there anything you want to say before you die?" The black-haired man said emotionlessly, overlooking the blue-haired girl who had fallen to the ground just seconds ago.

Eve also quietly walked to the side of the black-haired man.

Even now, the girl, whose body was dyed red with blood, still looked so beautiful.

...

After giving a signal to the unnamed black-haired man, Saint Harlan successfully deceived the Holy King and his subordinates with a "lie" and led them to another location.

Watching their hurried departure, he couldn't help but laugh.

"I didn't really deceive you, you know. Something big did happen, but I, who have no talent for navigation, habitually pointed in the opposite direction."

--It seems that the black-haired man is even more capable than he imagined, and...he recalls the scene where the black-haired man quickly took out two veteran black knights.

"This is so interesting. Physical regeneration. I didn't expect to see this forbidden magic, which cannot be proficiently used without tens of thousands of human body experiments, here, in this young man."

"Can't Harlan-sama easily do this kind of 'magic'?"

At this moment, the figure of a strange girl suddenly appeared behind the Saint. The girl possessed stunning beauty, but...except for a plain cloak, she was not wearing any clothing, reportedly due to her fighting style. However, even with only the cloak to cover her body, at least when she fell just now, the cloak didn't do its job.

"Don't exaggerate my abilities like that. Even I can only do a little better than ordinary 'healing magic'. Complete 'physical regeneration' requires a profound understanding of human structure and cell composition to achieve."

The old monster who had survived for thousands of years seemed to have no interest in the girl's body.

"Now that this man's mission is complete, do you need me to kill him, Harlan-sama?"

The girl without clothes turned around and looked at the blue-haired girl whom the magic sword Deirfeng pointed to, and spoke naturally with a terrible word.

"I was curious before, with his black hair color and a pseudo-god artifact imbued with magic, he's likely the one, how could we just kill him? Moreover, you are not his opponent."

The Saint pinched the cheek of the girl beside him. He casually uttered the merciless words that "hurt" the girl and looked meaningfully at the black-haired man. The special measures that shielded the corridor's visual perception seemed to have no effect on them at all. His face showed a joyful expression that was usually never seen.

--How many years has it been since he last encountered something so interesting?

"..."

Watching Harlan's expression beside her, the naked girl bit her lip. Even she, who had accompanied him for so long, had never seen him so interested...

She lightly wiped away the tiny raindrops that blocked her vision on her eyelashes.

That man...

He should be killed after all...