[214] The Army of Dead Apostles

In the dark room, women lay on the ground, lifeless.

The original light in the room was almost nonexistent, making it impossible to discern their facial expressions. Their eyes were wide open, and there were holes beside their necks, indicating their motionless state.

They were... already dead.

"Lord Dio..."

A woman, completely devoted, with eyes full of love for the man in front of her, bypassed the lifeless bodies on the ground and approached the man who was reading a book.

Dio placed the book aside with a slight smile.

His fingers touched the woman's neck, then plunged into it.

Blood flowed into his body through his fingers.

The woman fell to the ground, life extinguished.

It seemed... she had no regrets judging by her expression—

Or one could say, all the bodies on the floor willingly sacrificed themselves for the man—Dio!

"Recovery... is quite refreshing." Dio Brando stood up and stretched his body.

The description "Vulnerable Left Side: D" on his attribute panel had disappeared...

He now had complete control over this body, and even his Stand had become stronger. The abilities he could use when he first became a vampire had also become more potent.

Or rather, it was when he regained control over himself.

Previously, the mismatch of the body made it a bit difficult to operate, but now it was different; he had fully adapted.

"Hehe... now, Jonathan's body is completely mine... Colin Kidd!"

"At—!"

The Dead Apostle half-knelt on the ground, bowing to Dio.

"How is it?"

"It's done, Lord Dio. Just as you commanded, a gathering of eighty dead apostles has taken place in this mansion. Among them, there is even one advanced dead apostle! All of them have submitted to your charm, Lord Dio!"

If one looked closely, behind Colin Kidd, there were other dead apostles also half-kneeling.

"Well done." Dio nodded and picked up a book, walking to a nearby bookshelf. "I can feel... the Holy Grail War is about to begin. The time is approaching, a Holy Grail War where we win on one side and reach the peaceful paradise on the other. In this world, too, we can be sure..."

Dio spoke, turning to the countless apostles with a smile. "Celebrate! It won't be long... Dio will create a heaven where we can all live peacefully forever. You... will no longer face the pursuit of the Holy Church and the Mage's Association. What do you want to do? Huh? Master... you're back?"

Dio spoke with a smile, but there was no trace of respect in his tone towards the Master, just treating him like any other dead apostle.

It was only natural.

How could Dio let someone else be his master!

"Ah... magnificent." Louis Schmidt looked at the countless dead apostles and clicked his tongue. "I didn't expect that in just over a year, so many dead apostles would gather..."

Louis Schmidt had a bit of a headache thinking about it. Was this the ability shown by the villain savior?

Without a doubt, all these dead apostles were all major evildoers.

Envious of Dio's power, they were also attracted by his charm.

More than half of them had the determination to sacrifice their lives for Dio...

And Dio achieved all this in just over a year.

"However, there is indeed information..." Louis Schmidt adjusted his face slightly and continued, "This time, the enemies are not to be underestimated."

"Oh, tell me about it." Dio said, as if floating, sitting on the bookshelf.

"Yes, this time, the enemies... first is the Mage's Association, led by the Queen of the Clock Tower, Barthomeloi Lorelei. She herself has a record of subjugating high-ranking dead apostles, and she also has a team of fifty called 'Clones.' I think most of you dead apostles have some understanding of them. Each member is a high-level magus, capable of defeating mid-level dead apostles, and several of them together can handle high-level dead apostles. And... there are fifty of them!"

"Go on."

"Well... then there's another team... Although nominally we're on the same side, it's only in name, after all... the other army is the Holy Church! An army of eighty. Each one is more dangerous to you than magus, and about half of them have undergone sanctification... perhaps you haven't heard of it?"

"No... I've heard of it." Isaac Barnes, a pale-faced dead apostle and currently the only high-level dead apostle under Dio, said, "I've encountered them before... each one is not easy to deal with."

"Well... let me reiterate." Louis Schmidt nodded and continued, "Those troops, called sanctification, are actually mechanization. Some of them cause damage to dead apostles... comparable to nuclear bombs or any chemical weapons. And the presence of such beings... about half of the eighty. In other words, around forty."

The scene remained quiet.

So quiet that Louis Schmidt didn't know what to say... Did these dead apostles not care about their lives? Were they really willing to give everything to Dio?

That guy... that guy... is handsome!!

"Continue."

"Sure." Louis Schmidt smiled and said, coughing a bit. "So let me continue. Although these people are nominally our allies, they are dead after all. When they see you guys, who are dead apostles, they will probably rush up without hesitation."

"I see..." Dio floated down from the bookshelf and said as he walked, "So, the current situation is that all three sides are each other's enemies... excluding the heroic spirit they will summon next..."

"Yes, that's right."

Dio laughed.

In reality, he couldn't act yet... because he hadn't truly connected with the Holy Grail. If he engaged in real combat now, before the Holy Grail War started, he would disappear. So... he had to wait a little longer.

"It's good—then let's just crush them like this, both the Holy Church and the Mage's Association... and then, I will make all of you obtain eternal peace."

"Lord Dio!"

"Lord Dio!"

"Lord Dio!"

"Lord Dio!"

Dio enjoyed the cheers, then turned to Louis Schmidt and said, "The Mage's Association's army is called 'Clone,' so what about the Holy Church? Do they have a name?"

"Yes... they do." Louis Schmidt's expression was somewhat strange as he continued, "The army formed by the Executors dispatched by the Holy Church is called... 'Iscariot.'"

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