Chapter 281: The Fallen

The leader of an extreme nationalist/racist organization is a foreigner—or even an outsider—sounds absurd, even ironic.

"But I somehow feel it's only natural."

The chaotic messes of his past life had made Li En unusually well-traveled in another sense; in another timeline, similar things were far too common.

On one hand, this might be the zeal of a convert—on a radical path, those of insufficiently pure "mongrel" blood become even more extreme, almost as if terrified others might doubt their purity. Such extreme radicalism easily becomes a banner.

"Another possibility: those local backwater cultists and extremists simply can't compete with transnational organizations and foreign powers. When it comes to scheming, running cults, internal power struggles, or bringing capital into the fold—they're professionals."

Li En sighed. This was an unexpected turn, yet entirely logical.

A domestic terrorist organization infiltrated and controlled by foreign transnational terror groups, ultimately becoming the mad puppet of an external force—isn't that only natural?

"A Great Horned Devil? No—it's mixed with some beast's power. A test subject?"

Devils are among the inhabitants of the Lower Planes; they rarely appear alone.

Wu Gu said he'd seen this man for years. That means they've been lurking in this city, in this kingdom, for years.

"When the nation is in peril, demons and monsters are everywhere."

Li En silently unleashed "Sunlight"—this Holy Knight's radiance ability was the natural enemy of all demons and monsters, especially Lower Plane devils and demons.

"Knight!! Gulp! Knight!"

The Black Dog Horned Devil was clearly a mutant—its two canines had protruded, its pupils were now bestial, and something twisted seemed to be writhing out from its shoulders.

Li En's Dragon Eyes observed it—there was still something else inside this monster. Perhaps this creature was a fusion of multiple "Beast" lifeforms.

The Black Dog Devil lacked the usual horns of a Horned Devil, but its hardened, demonic skin had already blocked Hela's sword wind.

Yet before Li En's "Sunlight"—the searing holy light that brought warmth and comfort to most living beings—its skin blackened and decayed.

The burns spread through its body: some parts carbonized, others showed no reaction—or perhaps this revealed its true nature as a stitched abomination.

"Knight!"

The enraged Horned Devil abandoned Hela, who blocked its path, and lunged straight at Li En.

Hela did not stand her ground—her fighting style wasn't suited for this. Having trained hundreds of times with Li En, she knew—

"Sword Art. Corroding Armor."

Li En stepped forward. How could a Holy Knight refuse the embrace of evil!

"Die, trash!" A blade of pure darkness erupted in response.

Even upon impact, the blade of darkness gave off no radiant light like other exorcism strikes.

Yet wherever the blade struck, the Horned Devil's flesh tore away in large chunks—Sul's ability, used for a first-strike kill, remained as effective as ever.

"Of course." Li En sighed again—he knew it wouldn't be this simple.

Rapid regeneration visible to the naked eye was standard for Deerfolk—but appearing on this devil? Something was deeply wrong.

Perhaps "Beasts" were mortal enemies to Beast-Touched humans—a path of misfortune, irreversible the moment touched.

But to other dominant species, they were also a resource to be exploited.

Yet this still didn't seem to be its full nature.

"%&@ (Mana Burst)!"

Sudden, infernal whispers echoed around them—a profane light slammed straight into Li En.

"Boom!"

This time, he couldn't dodge at all—Li En took the full force of the Mana Burst, the brutal power hurling him backward.

"Boom!"

The next instant, the impacted area detonated again in a secondary explosion.