Sacred Arts

The Holy Son’s brilliant smile, against the scorched earth and smoke, appeared extraordinarily ominous.

He seemed utterly immersed in his created “miracle,” ignoring Bishop Lester’s near-obsequious flattery and the growing suspicion and wariness in Anis’s eyes.

“Congratulations, Holy Son! You have completed your holy art and received the Lord’s grace! This is a sign of our Rhine Holy Church’s great prosperity!”

Bishop Lester nearly prostrated himself, praising the Holy Son with the most exaggerated tone, his face etched with “devout” fervor. Yet in the depths of his downcast eyes lurked extreme vigilance.

Anis stared fixedly at the motionless “angel” in the field, trying to find a trace of familiarity on that perfect yet cold face.

He searched for the shadow of the old Lucia—the one who had encouraged him, fought shoulder-to-shoulder as both friend and comrade.

But he found only void, a soul-shivering blankness.

This was no resurrection! Nor some simple heroic spirit descent—

This was… blasphemy!

In an instant, a fierce impulse surged in Anis’s mind; he nearly wanted to draw his holy sword and thrust it into this so-called Holy Son’s head!

“…Lord Charles, what exactly is going on? Please explain.”

Anis took a deep breath, fingers gripping his sword hilt tightly, suppressing the urge to draw, and questioned with a trace of anger.

“No rush, no rush—I understand your feelings upon witnessing such a miracle.”

The Holy Son, addressed by Anis as Charles, smiled, mistaking his slightly trembling voice for excitement. His gaze remained on the distant—

Special.

“The Lord’s gift, my holy art 【Divine Gift, Descent】 is complete, but far from over—Bishop, Hero.”

The Holy Son’s light shifted from the “angel” to Bishop Lester and Hero Anis.

His smile remained warm, voice clear and moving, as if discussing an artwork’s details, while proudly raising his right hand to display a holy ring upon it.

“With the Rhine relic 【Rhine Decalogue】, I can cast my holy art at minimal cost. My 【Divine Gift, Descent】 is the supreme summoning art; I can call the Lord’s mightiest warriors to aid, the most powerful angels to destroy all evil demons blocking humanity’s path!”

“Yet 【Divine Gift, Descent】 is not baseless; it requires the purest light source, the strongest ‘keystone’ to bear the Lord’s vast grace.”

He gently stroked the floating light tome beside him; pages turned without wind, flowing light forming ever-shifting patterns beyond mortal comprehension.

“Light source? Keystone?”

Bishop Lester feigned apt confusion, but his heart sank—an ominous premonition coiled like a viper.

“What do you mean?”

Anis’s face darkened, but clearly, Holy Son Charles noticed no subtle shift in expression.

“Yes.”

Charles nodded slightly, with near-indifferent calm.

“Ultimately, this remains an advancement of divine arts, sourced from the Lord’s power, but the descended spirit’s strength depends on lifetime graces received.”

“The stronger in life, the more favored, the mightier upon descent! Even surpassing Demon Lords, rivaling Demon Emperors! This is my exclusive holy art and gift! Power the Lord bestowed upon me!”

Charles grew more excited, turning with appreciative, almost possessive thrill.

“Descent arts usually demand great user cost, but with the relic, I can reuse it! This is my unique power and divine gift!”

Charles, exhilarated, pointed into the air at the motionless “angel.”

“Lady Lucia! Ah, the powerful, utterly admirable Daughter of Light! With such unparalleled gifts and strength in life! One closest to the Lord!”

“Yet she died so inexplicably—”

His tone suddenly carried apt regret and indignation, continuing.

“I sensed her holy soul’s intense ‘unwillingness’ and hatred for evil demons! So I came! I brought her back to the mortal world!”

“Her holy soul did not fully dissipate! Those fragments laden with vast holy light laws and combat instincts still wander the boundary of life and death! The Lord’s grace granted me resonance, guidance, anchoring, and reshaping!”

“【Divine Gift, Descent】! Or rather…”

He drew out the tone, face blooming with a brilliant yet spine-chilling smile.

“…【Lucia】! This is the perfect creation born of my holy art!”

“This is the Lord’s grace!”

As Charles’s words fell, Bishop Lester felt a chill race from spine to crown.

He understood! This was no heroic spirit summon; it was collecting and exploiting “soul shards” left after strong deaths!

“You blasphemer!”

Anis finally could hold back no longer, drawing his longsword and pointing it at Charles!

Fierce sword light and surging Hero power erupted, shaking away the dust around him! The tip aimed straight at Charles’s throat!

Yet Anis ultimately dared not slay him—for Charles was indeed the Rhine Holy Church’s genuine Holy Son! And one capable of highest-tier 【holy arts】! Truly deserved!

In the Rhine Holy Church, the sole factor for ascending to utmost power was wielding 【holy arts】; every user was vital, a key trump against demons! Invaluable!

Charles had just proven his art’s worth.

The summoned 【angel】 not only effortlessly shattered demon lines and fortress but nearly killed the 【Ashen】 Demon Lord!

Charles seemed to see through Anis’s reluctance to act, anticipating it, not even glancing at the sword inches from his throat, continuing in that pleasing yet hair-raising voice.

“No need for unease, Hero, and Bishop—”

His tone even carried “forgiveness,” as if understanding Anis’s lowly anger and doubt.

“This is not blasphemy, but… ascension!”

His words brimmed with twisted logic and grandiose excuses.

“Reforging unconscious fragments into more efficient, purer existence to fulfill unfinished ‘duty’—purifying darkness! Is this not the highest respect for the departed? And the Lord wills it, or how could I cast the art?”

“All is the Lord’s will!”

But hearing Charles, a word exploded in Anis’s mind, birthing an idea even he found hard to believe.

Exploitation!

And… trap!