[78] Stepping IV

Ash fully understood that this world operated in an era reminiscent of the medieval times, where criminal acts often transcended the boundaries of humanity. The crimes committed here were not limited to murder but included brutal actions that could make a modern person's stomach churn and their head shake in disbelief.

As he crawled along the narrow corridor, passing creaking wooden doors and descending steep, dim staircases, Ash activated Gabriel's Sight—a magical observation ability that made his eyes glow with a golden light, granting him the power to detect hidden signs and the presence of magic around him.

After navigating the labyrinth of this vast underground complex, Ash arrived at a door that appeared more significant than the others. He approached, concealing his presence in the shadows, and peeked through a slightly ajar gap in the door. The scene that greeted him was a large hall, illuminated by flickering torchlight, creating a tense and eerie atmosphere.

In the centre of the hall, atop a grand stage, stood a man dressed in white robes adorned with the sacred emblem of the Milis Church. This man was no stranger to Ash—he was Jeremy, a Cardinal and also a nobleman of significant influence in the Milis Kingdom. During his half-year stay in this holy city, Ash had carefully studied the power structure and recognised several high-ranking church officials, including Jeremy.

With a loud and authoritative voice, Cardinal Jeremy began the horrifying ceremony. "Ladies and gentlemen! Today, we shall offer a sacred sacrifice to our god!"

Jeremy's voice echoed throughout the hall, followed by the wild shouts of fanatical followers who filled the space below the stage. "Kill the demons!" they cried in unison. "Destroy the heretic!"

Ash felt his blood boil as he witnessed the horrifying scene. His gaze fixed on a large box in the centre of the stage, covered by a thick black cloth. When the cloth was roughly pulled away, it revealed a small child, terrified and helpless, with physical characteristics that marked them as non-human.

The child looked around with wide eyes, their body trembling helplessly, surrounded by fanatics who cruelly prepared to sacrifice their life. The aura of fear emanating from the child was so strong that it created an atmosphere of utter despair within the room.

[Master, are you aware?]

Ciel's calm and familiar voice echoed in Ash's mind, like an echo from a deep chasm. This voice usually provided guidance and logical assessments in complex situations, but this time, Ciel's tone seemed filled with concern. Ash, whose face was hidden in the shadows, felt a new and unfamiliar emotion take hold of him—something more than just anger or fear.

In philosophy, this feeling is known as nausea—a deep response to the awareness of existential horror. It was as if the world suddenly revealed itself in all its brutality, exposing the rot that lay beneath the facade of civilisation. This feeling stirred memories of Ash's modern world's dark history, where similar atrocities had occurred, recorded in history books as humanity's darkest chapters.

This horror was a reflection of the deepest darkness within the human soul, and Ash felt it with full intensity. The child's helpless gaze, the hateful cries of the fanatical followers, and the vile ritual about to be performed—all of this ignited an unshakeable resolve within Ash. He knew he could not allow this to happen. The nausea that filled him was not a sign of weakness but a driving force to act with all the power and ability he possessed.

[But, Master Ash. You must accept this reality.]

Ciel's voice returned, trying to balance Ash's emotions with rational judgement. However, Ash had already made his decision. This was no longer about analysing or weighing options—it was about stopping this horror, no matter the risk.

Ash felt his body move almost unconsciously, approaching the door of the hall with determined steps. His decision was firm, and nothing could stop him now. His anger had reached a point where words were no longer necessary—only action could release the burning weight within him.

Soon after, the hall transformed into a brutal hellscape. Screams and cries echoed throughout the room, only to be drowned in a terrifying silence.

---

The hall, once filled with fanatical followers, was now surrounded by disfigured corpses. The brutal acts that had occurred there could only be described as a massacre. Mangled bodies lay strewn everywhere, and filthy blood flowed like a river on the cold stone floor. Gugnir, Ash's legendary spear, was now tainted with the blood of the merciless fanatics.

Ash's eyes glowed with a menacing golden light, but it did not radiate life or hope. Instead, his gaze was empty, like a bottomless abyss emitting darkness and despair. In that gaze, there was no mercy, no doubt—only a terrifying void. He looked at Jeremy, the Cardinal now helplessly crawling on the floor with the remnants of his shattered life. Both his legs had been cruelly severed, and blood poured from his wounds, forming a red pool beneath his trembling body.

Unlike the other fanatics who met their end quickly, Ash treated Jeremy in a far more terrifying manner. Every movement he made demonstrated deep anger and contempt. Ash inflicted agonising pain, not only wounding Jeremy's body but also breaking his spirit. Every scream of pain from Jeremy did not move Ash's heart in the slightest; instead, it only strengthened his resolve to destroy every form of corruption represented by the man before him.

In an instant, the hall turned into a ghastly scene, a tragic monument to the savagery that Ash was forced to unleash in the name of justice. However, this justice was not shrouded in warmth or light—it was enveloped in the dark shadows that now cloaked Ash's heart, turning him into a figure who no longer recognised the boundaries between right and wrong in his mission to stop evil.

"P-Please... spare me..." Jeremy's voice was faint and stammering, reflecting a fear so profound that it rendered his voice almost inaudible. His trembling eyes could not bring themselves to look up at Ash's expression, as if fear had shackled him.

[Master... Please, think this through with a clear head.]

Ciel's voice echoed in Ash's mind, filled with concern and hope that Ash could control himself. However, that plea was entirely ignored. Ash was no longer acting based on logic or rational thought; he was driven by the intense feelings burning within his heart. Anger, hatred, and disgust at the atrocities he had witnessed had taken over him, causing his body to move without full conscious control. Even though Ash was known for his strength and vast knowledge, this moment showed that even he, with all his power and wisdom, was not entirely immune to the emotional impact of the vile acts before him.

Ash extended his hand, a gesture that in Jeremy's mind seemed like the end of everything. Jeremy, who was already on the brink of death, saw something that made his mind spin in confusion. As Ash reached out his hand, Jeremy saw flames beginning to form in Ash's palm. But more shockingly, in Jeremy's blurred perspective between reality and hallucination, he saw a pair of wings emerging from Ash's back. These wings resembled those of an angel, though Jeremy himself did not know what an angel was, as in the teachings of the Milis religion, there was no concept or knowledge of such sacred beings.

However, the stunning beauty of those wings soon turned into a horrific sight. Ash's body suddenly appeared to be covered with numerous eyes, all of them staring at Jeremy with disdain and hatred. Those eyes seemed to strip his soul bare, judging and condemning every sin he had committed. In unspeakable terror, Jeremy let out a horrifying scream.

"AAAAAAAAH!" His scream echoed throughout the room, filled with indescribable fear. The flames in Ash's hand then enveloped Jeremy's body, burning him in a blaze that not only consumed his flesh but also tortured his soul. The sight marked a gruesome end for Jeremy, while Ash stood motionless, watching the flames devour the man who had once wielded power and influence, now reduced to ashes.