Chapter 174

Just as Abalam descended.

Far away in the Vatican, the Church stirred.

The Pope, clad in crimson and gold robes, his venerable eyes appearing solemn and divine, gazed toward a certain direction, as if sensing something, murmuring softly, “The third…”

Moments later, he walked to the front, where the solemn church, bathed in sunlight, radiated holiness.

Especially when the elderly Pope sat high upon his throne, clutching the scepter of authority, while the archbishops below stood in unison, chanting “Hallelujah,” an inexplicable awe and sanctity enveloped the place.

Rows of cardinals stood at the front, with many solemn-faced figures behind them.

Anyone familiar with the inner workings of the Vatican would be utterly stunned by this sight.

For since the last dark resurgence a century ago, the Vatican had not gathered so many high-ranking Church figures in a hundred years.

Not even during a papal succession had it been this complete!

Looking down at the dozens of Church elites, skilled priests, and virtuous nuns who had come from around the world, the Pope’s aged face suddenly opened his eyes.

As this supreme earthly representative of divine authority opened his eyes, all sound ceased, replaced only by countless reverent gazes.

“Darkness has returned.”

And as soon as the Pope spoke, he did not disappoint their “expectations”—he delivered a seismic shock.

Darkness has returned?

For since the last dark resurgence a century ago, traces of darkness had vanished from the world; even when they appeared, they were trivial, insignificant disturbances—yet now this supreme figure told them darkness had returned?

The countless witch hunts and demon slayings of the Middle Ages, the modern battles against vampires, werewolves, giants, evil elves, and malevolent spirits—all recorded, all horrific—now they were returning?

“Your Holiness, what kind of darkness is this?”

Yes, “darkness” was merely a general term—there were many subdivisions: were these the disgraced monster races unwilling to perish? Or demons from Hell? The difference was immense.

“Demons.”

Then the Pope delivered another crushing blow.

“Just now, I received a divine revelation, a prophecy: Hell is gradually invading the mortal realm; the surviving aberrant races are stirring in tandem with the demons’ movements—from lowly snow beasts and Wendigos, to the three bloodline branches of vampires and werewolves.”

“Even ancient deities and demons long eradicated will reappear now.”

At that moment, every face grew grim. Divine revelation!

This alone was enough to show that this crisis would be unprecedented in scale and difficulty.

But these people, having lived in peace for a century, lacked the strength of their ancestors!

To be blunt, even their faith no longer felt pure.

The Pope seated upon his throne could see every expression—here, he saw much fear and hesitation, yet thankfully, none of the worst outcomes he had feared emerged.

Especially when he spotted the flicker of determination on the face of a sturdy old man below, his heart instantly eased.

Thank goodness, the Church had not yet fallen.

“Your Holiness, has the Almighty granted any further revelations?” someone asked.

“No.”

The Pope replied.

He spoke the truth—God had revealed nothing more to him, only the divine vision and warning in his dream, which vaguely foretold the arrival of countless demons.

“What do we do?”

“If the Lord gives no further instruction, shall we act on our own?”

“This is demon invasion—we lack manpower. How many of your priests can expel demons? Just being able to exorcise spirits is already impressive.”

“Many priests and nuns today lack true faith; many are merely using the Church’s name to earn a living, especially those in big cities.”

“Then what do we do? This doesn’t sound small.”

“Oh, you’re asking me? How should I know?”

“Ah! I have a plan—we could ally with secular nations, like America’s Bureau. Don’t we already cooperate with them? Use their network…”

“Fuck! Don’t mention that damn Bureau—do you know what they’re doing? A bunch of blasphemers who dabble in evil forces! If we cooperate with them, we’ll be the ones destroyed first!”

“Then what do you suggest?!”

“...”

Below, voices buzzed chaotically.

Despite being high-ranking Church figures, they were no different from ordinary people.

“Cough. Cough.”

The noise fell silent again.

“Do not panic.”

The Pope tapped his throne. “The divine prophecy indicates these demons will erupt over the next few years, but not continuously—they are more like the vanguard of some colossal entity in Hell.”

“According to the prophecy, that colossal entity’s arrival may not occur until after the millennium—we still have time to prepare.”

“The demons’ primary invasion points are in the Americas—in fact, they have already begun descending.”

The Pope’s gaze gradually whitened as he stared toward a direction—the very spot where Louis and Abalam fought.

The next moment, his gaze shifted to the direction of Saint Katharina Monastery.

A city in California, USA… a prison in Florida… Ohio…

Common demons… great demons… the strong among great demons—the demonic god rank…

And various strange races, such as… vampires!

Too many. Too, too many.

So many he could not discern their exact arrival locations or times.

Flash!

The Pope abruptly shut his eyes.

Moments later.

“Establish the Exorcism Academy immediately. Reopen the formation of the Holy Knights. Lower the licensing standards for wild mediums and exorcists. Increase the proportion of true priests drawn from secular clergy…”

“Shepherds of God, prepare yourselves—the war has begun!”

All high-ranking officials and virtuous clergy made the sign of the cross before their chests.

…

Far away in California, Louis, locked in battle with Abalam, had no idea that Abalam’s appearance was the third true demonic incarnation to descend.

And that this had triggered a violent reaction from the Vatican Church.

He would soon feel the changes—but for now, he was still focused on countering Abalam.

The golden light faded.

Louis remained unharmed; the Ten Thousand Illusions Robe rustled softly, and within the seals, the Mo God’s illusion appeared slightly damaged.

Before him, the monstrous Abalam was immobilized, his body rotting, burning, and melting as if doused in concentrated sulfuric acid.

The magma-like blood within dripped continuously, corroding a vast patch of ground.

The magma-like blood inside continuously dripped, corroding a large patch of ground.

It struggled to utter the word.

Bang!

The claw swinging toward Louis fell from midair; with its fall, Abalam forcibly broke free from the paralysis—and just before Louis’s Blood River Pearl struck, he shifted into a flame state.

The claw swinging at Louis fell straight from the air; with its fall, it forcibly broke free from the paralysis, entering a flame state just before Louis’s Blood River Pearl struck.

The Blood River Pearl pierced through; the massive flame rippled but suffered no fatal damage.

The Blood River Pearl was primarily a physical weapon; though enhanced by magic power, its effect on spiritual entities was clearly insufficient.

Seeing Abalam, now transformed into a flame spirit mere feet away, Louis’s eyes hardened—this was his chance!

Looking at Abalam, now transformed into a flame spirit mere inches away, Louis’s eyes hardened—this was the opportunity!

From his inner coat pocket, twenty emerald-green crystal shards dissolved simultaneously.

Inside the inner pocket of his coat, twenty emerald-green crystal shards melted simultaneously.

A wave of emerald-green flame erupted within the red flame—fire within fire, utterly inconceivable.

This was why Louis dared let Abalam be summoned—even allow his true form to descend: Poison Flame Art, the demon’s bane—double suppression!

This was why Louis dared let Abalam be summoned, even allow his true form to descend—the Poison Flame Spell, a demon’s bane! Double suppression!

A deafening, earth-shattering roar drove every bird from the sky, even forming sonic waves that uprooted surrounding trees.

The people on the ground who had rushed forward to offer sacrifices were instantly killed, their eardrums ruptured.

Only Father Cotton, who had tumbled into the fissure while wrestling with Father Manley, escaped unharmed.

Seeing the aged Father Manley’s twisted, monstrous expression, and remembering the demon above, Cotton made up his mind—he picked up a stone and smashed it down with all his strength.

Seeing the elderly Father Manli’s face twisted with fury, and thinking of the demon above, Cotton made up his mind, picked up a stone, and smashed it down hard.

Red and white splattered into a bloody mess.

Pfft!

At the same moment, Father Manley’s dagger, with his last strength, plunged into Cotton’s abdomen; bright red blood gushed out, soaking his clothes.

“You lambs… will not succeed… the great Abalam… will resurrect us… Demons forever!”

Manley’s eyes burned with fanaticism as he took his final breath.

Cotton staggered to his feet, only to find his ears ringing, dizziness overwhelming him. He painfully crawled out of the massive fissure—only to see the war between god and demon still raging.

In the sky, the colossal red flame shaped like a demon burned from within with emerald-green fire—and those emerald flames were growing stronger, now reaching seven or eight meters tall, with faint images flickering around it.

All of them were Abalam’s evil deeds throughout history.

All of them are the evil deeds Abaram has committed since ancient times.

Rape, plunder, countless murders, seducing young girls into falling and killing their own kin, luring young girls to entice their stepfathers into killing their stepsons, collecting the severed heads of these fallen girls to build its nest in Hell…

Each image now turned to fuel, fed into the ink-green flame.

Making it burn hotter and hotter.

In this state, an invisible mental force seemed to forcibly restrain its flame body, preventing any movement—it could only stand there and endure the burning, unable to escape!

“Damn humans, my… power… my power is incomplete… otherwise I… aah!”

Abalam glared at Louis with a monstrous expression, as if determined to memorize Louis’s face.

The flame this opponent used was excruciating—it could judge sin. This was clearly the ability of fire or justice deities who had perished or fallen into demonhood.

Never expected that after so long, I’d encounter this disgusting thing again.

But it doesn’t matter—I have experience, my portal still exists. Once I return to Hell, cross through space, this flame will naturally die out and won’t kill me.

It was just unbearable.

This time I’ve been defeated; I don’t know when I’ll be summoned again by my true form. Most importantly, the Demon King’s order… I’ll probably miss the Demon King’s feast.

That was what made it most resentful.

But there’s nothing to be done now—a witch who can restrain it, a heretical priest who can harm it—its incomplete power truly cannot prevail.

Fine, I’ll come again next time.

As Abalam thought this, it idly glanced back.

!!!

A man drenched in blood was raising a dagger to stab the offering on the stone altar.

(End of Chapter)