Chapter 77:

Chapter 77:

“Pathetic...”

Blood Knight growled as he raised his whip. At that moment, he felt a strange tremor in the air. It was a low bass that, although inaudible, vibrated to the bone.

Blood Knight shivered and looked around.

However, the ghastly sound was not coming from just one place. Blood Knight instinctively realized that the noise originated from something as big as a mountain, vibrating through the air. Something was writhing in the darkness beyond.

Belatedly, Blood Knight deduced that Isaac was summoning something and hastily lashed out with his whip. In an instant, Isaac seemed to clench Blood Knight’s body and legs with his fingers.

Crack.

A gust swept through as if the atmosphere itself had shattered. From the colored mist beyond, tentacles as thick as a torso emerged and coiled around Blood Knight’s body and legs.

Blood Knight’s eyes widened as he saw the tentacles crush his armor and flesh in moments.

“Wait...”

Blood Knight tried to say something in desperation, but Isaac mercilessly spread his arms wide.

The sound was horrifying.

Blood Knight screamed, in resistance or agony, it was unclear.

Suddenly, trolls appeared from above the valley. Isaac recognized them as the trolls once controlled by Hesabel.

Now, effectively stripped of her authority, the trolls were being manipulated by the more powerfully controlling Blood Knight.

‘It seems they were lying in ambush to attack all at once.’

But the situation became urgent, leaving no choice but to summon them. The trolls charged at Isaac all at once.

Isaac slightly twisted his finger.

Boom, the sound was like a bursting water balloon. Giant tentacles twisted and shredded Blood Knight’s body into pieces. Fragments of armor and flesh were scattered around the valley.

As Isaac waved his finger, the tentacles swiftly swept the surroundings.

Unlike Blood Knight, the trolls couldn’t withstand even for a moment. Instead of bursting upon impact, they were torn apart by the teeth and thorns on the tentacles and disappeared. Only the tragic remnants of battle and bloodstains were left everywhere.

The tentacles devoured the remaining flesh and disappeared into the colors beyond.

[‘Blood Knight’ has been devoured.]

[‘Intestines of a Dead God’ perk increases consumption efficiency.]

[Health recovery ability has increased.]

[Stamina recovery ability has increased.]

[Blessing lasts until digested.]

It seemed to be a mere physical force monster, hence no special ability was obtained. However, Isaac felt his depleted strength rapidly returning after using his power just now.

‘Such insane power.’

Isaac looked at the remains of Blood Knight, expression incredulous.

The ability Isaac had just used was a result of synthesizing ‘Touch of Chaos’ with ‘Colors Beyond’, a reward for defeating the Prophet of Red Flesh.

This led to the acquisition of the skill ‘Grasp of the Abyss’.

[Grasp of the Abyss (S)]

[Summons the Grasp of the Abyss from the colors beyond. The thickness, length, and number of tentacles summoned depend on the user’s satiety consumption. Observers receive mental shock proportional to the duration of exposure.]

‘This was a technique originally usable only by high priests of chaos, wasn’t it?’

Moreover, as a monster-specific skill, players couldn’t use it. True to its monster-specific nature, it boasted an insane level of power without concern for balance.

Of course, eating the red flesh and receiving the sanctuary buff might have further enhanced its power. The downside was the enormous amount of satiety consumed by such a powerful technique. Even after devouring Blood Knight, Isaac momentarily felt hungry.

Isaac thought that if he had this ability when facing the Prophet of Red Flesh, it would have been much easier.

‘Though I can’t exactly use this in front of others...’

Isaac mused with a bitter smile. Still, he felt he had gained enough ability to deceive and influence those around him. Even the bishop considered canonizing him a saint. The Duke was eager to have him on his side as well.

‘Well, as long as no witnesses are left, it’s fine.’

A shocking thought, but Isaac considered it calmly as he walked on.

The remains of Blood Knight turned to ash upon contact with sunlight, just as the human hunters had. However, the marks of battle remained vividly. Isaac, examining the site where Blood Knight died, discovered something.

It was the saddle and tack of a Phantom Steed.

[Phantom Steed’s Tack (A)]

Suddenly, Isaac realized he had spent too much time here. Priests would soon arrive. If they discovered this, things would become complicated, as the former Lord Hendrake had feared.

Then, an idea struck Isaac.

Adding this fallen angel to his already laid plans seemed like it would make things proceed more smoothly.

“Stay put until I return,” he joked, tapping the fossilized angel with his finger.

***

The priests, inquisitors, and paladins who arrived later were horrified by the carnage spread across the valley.

The remnants of the Blood Knight, just as those from the fight against the Wallachia vampires, turned to ash and disappeared over time. However, the debris from trolls, broken trees, and shattered stones did not.

“It was a formidable enemy.”

Isaac’s testimony was plain.

His appearance was as neat as his testimony, yet one paladin had returned dead and another was critically injured. Moreover, Duchess Delia, who had accompanied them, was babbling about the horrific enemy they had faced.

Actions speak louder than words.

The paladins praised Isaac for defeating yet another terrifying monster.

Back at the castle, Isaac began his report.

“It seems he was the source of the curse.”

Bishop Juan glanced at the inquisitor, who nodded in agreement.

“We found no trace of the curse in the castle, and besides the curse, there was no reason for the Blood Knight to appear. Moreover, the testimonies of Duchess Delia and several knights align, so we believe Sir Isaac, the Grail Knight, is correct.”

“Well done. A commendable achievement.”

Juan smiled, pleased. The obstacles to canonizing Isaac as a saint were now virtually nonexistent.

Then, Isaac knelt before Juan.

“I have a request, Bishop Juan.”

“A request? You could demand a reward.”

“I’m not in a position to receive rewards. It was merely a victory picked up thanks to the heroic efforts of two paladins before I even fought. Please send the fallen paladin to the Paladin Monastery to honor his valor, and I also request maximum medical support and rewards for the injured paladin.”

Though one had been ambushed and killed and the other had been battered, Isaac deliberately embellished their contributions. It was a preparatory step for the next phase. Bishop Juan smiled, pleased with Isaac’s humble and victory-yielding demeanor.

A true asset needed by the scripture of light.

“That should be the Order’s responsibility, not a request.”

“And there’s one more thing. I only drove away the Blood Knight; I haven’t completely eradicated the curse.”

“You mean you failed to banish it?”

“Yes.”

Bishop Juan and the inquisitors were puzzled, unsure how to react. They had succeeded against an angel, but not against the seemingly lesser Blood Knight? Of course, the Blood Knight was no easy foe, but not comparable to an angel.

Bishop Juan asked Isaac,

“Do you mean he escaped?”

“No. While investigating the place where he appeared, I found something profane.”

“Profane?”

Isaac hesitated as if it were too sacred to utter, intentionally building suspense. As Bishop Juan was about to press further, Isaac spoke.

“A fallen angel.”

Murmurs spread. A fallen angel was not a common find. Even if one were discovered, the Order usually dealt with it secretly, so it remained hidden from the public. Before the commotion could settle, Isaac quickly continued, silencing the murmurs with his voice.

“I suspect that the Prophet of Red Flesh was also attempting to use this fallen angel. If so, the origin of the curse might lie with the fallen angel, and we don’t know what harm a being that has blasphemed against the scripture of light could bring to the territory... Please allow the Order’s power to suppress the curse.”

Isaac requested as if he were a devout paladin, but the implication was clear. The members of the Order immediately understood what he was suggesting.

The most common way for the Order to suppress evil emanating from the land was well known.

“Are you suggesting we establish a monastery?”

“No!”

Before Juan could finish, Duchess Delia, as if provoked, stood up and shouted.

“This land was granted by the Emperor to your vassal! The Order cannot just do as it pleases!”

Watching the parties raise their voices against each other, Isaac secretly curled the corners of his lips.

Now, let them fight it out.