Chapter 62: Thorns and Thunder

On this day, the central area of Avalon City was illuminated by a striking red glow in the sky, and the piercing alarm echoed endlessly, "High concentration of Dark Matter detected, a life-threatening disaster has formed! Repeat, high concentration of Dark Matter detected, a life-threatening disaster has formed!"

The Mass music played in the classical monastery sounded like ocean waves, and a man was splitting firewood in the courtyard, his chopping motions wide and heavy, each strike like a resounding drum beat.

Until the monastery's main gate was pushed open, and the city lord's secretary entered with a group of people.

"My lord."

Smith bowed in greeting, and outside the monastery gate were several hurriedly braking carriages. They were without exception members of the Smith family, each possessing high-ranking ecclesiastical credentials, holding important positions within the city, and maintaining the operation of the entire city system. Normally they exuded an aura of grandeur and profundity, but now they had rushed to this monastery in a state of panic.

"You don't need to tell me, I've already seen it," the city lord said, inserting the axe into the wooden post and wiping the sweat from his brow. "Aberrant arts, something we haven't seen in many years. Of course, those who pursue the path of the Sacred Sovereign are a group of lawless ruffians. Merely relying on the 'Sacred Messianic Covenant' is not enough to restrain him."

"Damn it, this guy is brazenly displaying aberrant art in public view! Is that something to be shown to people? This is the taboo of all taboos, he's completely insane!"

"He's always been this kind of fanatic. Have you all forgotten the tragedy from eight years ago? Back then, he was able to launch a massacre in the city for the sake of his sergeant and his comrades. And now that he doesn't have much time left, what else does he care about?"

"What I fear is that if the day of his death approaches, he might take us all down with him. If the potency of the drugs he uses is increased further, he might even be able to recover the level of a saint."

It was clear that the influential members of the Smith family were well aware of something.

"You have been marked..."

These words, Williams said to them.

The flickering flames at his fingertips were also lit for them to see.

Among those present, only Smith, the city lord's secretary, did not know what had happened eight years ago, as he was just a young student in the academy at that time.

But he had also reviewed some records, vaguely aware of what had occurred eight years prior.

Ever since the Long siblings entered the Holy Mountain, that forbidden land had frequently experienced terrible abnormalities, with large numbers of soldiers dying every year, which was a nightmare for the entire Avalon City.

It wasn't until the siblings entered the Holy Mountain that all the disturbances were finally quelled.

But at a terrible cost.

No one knew what had happened inside the Holy Mountain.

But since Williams had returned alive, he had begun a frenzied purge of Avalon City.

Many people had been reduced to ashes by his wrath.

This included the powerful Smith family.

Eight years had passed in the blink of an eye.

"Let him be," the city lord said calmly after a long while. "Regardless of what grudges this man may have had with us in the past, his abilities are undeniable. Since he refuses to destroy the underground ruins, he must have his reasons. It's fortunate that even we don't know what kind of place is hidden in the underground district, and if it can be preserved, we can conduct some research on it."

With this realization, the high-ranking members of the Smith family felt much more at ease.

At least they wouldn't be met with such fury.

But they still harbored fear.

"For a man like Williams, who is near the end of his life, each time he displays his power is one less time he can do so. He is indeed an uncontrollable threat, but he is also very useful."

The city lord concluded, "As for the Necro Cult matter, let him handle it. What we need to do is immediately intervene in military affairs, the aberrant tide outside the city... is coming."

The high-ranking officials' expressions changed drastically.

Yes, the high priest has run into trouble, and the holy light barrier outside the city has also disappeared!

In the deepest part of the underground ruins, accompanied by Matthew's fanatical cries, the blood-soaked holy statue released a pungent blood aura, and the terrifying energy fluctuations were like raging torrents.

The blood mist was even tinged with a horrifying high temperature.

"Hey, quickly run away, flee like a stray dog? Isn't the path to survival right here with me? Why bother with the others? You look like a newcomer cocoon breaker, you still don't understand the rules of this world. This is a vast dark jungle, where the weak can only be devoured by the strong. As long as you are strong enough, why bother with the weak?"

Matthew stumbled up the stone stairs, straining to push open the hidden door.

Although he was severely wounded, he laughed crazily and hoarsely.

His voice was like the low whisper of a demon.

But it had lost the usual playfulness.

Because Matthew saw an incredible scene.

Mike simply ignored him, just struggling to get up and stagger towards the holy statue, and the blood mist that rushed towards him immediately engulfed him.

"The core of the divine flesh and blood is inside."

Olivia's voice rang out behind him.

In an instant, Mike was burned by the scorching blood mist, especially the wounds that had been cut by the wind blade, which had even become charred.

He was like a cooked shrimp, completely reddened.

In Olivia's perception, except for those who are completely numb to pain due to pathological reasons, no one is truly fearless, only with different degrees of pain tolerance.

But the scene before her exceeded her understanding, as Mike walked through the thick blood mist, which was more painful than walking barefoot on a ground covered in shards of glass, more difficult than being in a furnace of high temperature, more torturous than being branded with a hot iron, yet he did not utter a single moan.

From his back, you couldn't even see his fear.

Only a fierce ferocity from the bottom of his heart.

This young man is only eighteen years old, not knowing how much suffering he has endured to be able to endure such intense agony and push forward despite the pain.

"It's still far from enough."

Mike lifted his head, revealing his charred blackened face, with a mocking smile.

The approaching Matthew on the stone stairs felt a huge sense of mockery!

Boom!

A massive energy fluctuation arose, and Mike was knocked back a step, dizzy.

"Don't be afraid, keep going forward."

She said softly, "I will protect you!"

Mike had no idea how she was going to protect him.

Except for that foolish Eric, this world had never promised him protection, and no matter what dire straits he faced, he could only rely on himself.

But this time, the holy light shone from his body.

The radiance was so warm as if it shielded him from the scorching blood mist.

Healing his battered body.

The cuts from the wind blades, the burns from the blood mist, all were repaired.

He raised his right hand and slammed it hard into a crack on the holy statue!

Bang!

The solid flesh and blood were pierced through, and the sharp claws tore outwards!

Bang!

The second punch smashed and expanded the hole in the holy statue.

The third punch, the fourth punch, up to the tenth punch.

The holy statue was finally smashed through, exposing a scarlet blood core embedded in the viscous flesh.

The eleventh punch!

Bang!

The fist with electric arcs slammed into the crystal, but it did not shatter it!

However, at that moment, the blood core flashed with scorching red light.

It was about to explode!

But it was too late, Mike's vision was covered by the searing red light.

His heart seemed to have stopped beating.

It was as if a deathly silence had descended, though it may have been just an illusion.

The dark world was illuminated by a sacred radiance, and the entire city heard that voice.

She said, "My Lord is merciful and loves the people of the world."

A miracle had descended, and time seemed to be completely frozen. The bloodstained aura permeating the underground relic was enveloped by the brilliant light as if it had congealed into countless crystalline blood-red gems, glistening and transparent.

Each crystal reflected the sacred spectral image.

It was a holy and noble woman, her figure graceful yet majestic, her radiance piercing through the surface and the underground, instilling a profound divine presence throughout the city.

"God!"

At this moment, even the flaming skeletal remains released by Williams felt the immense pressure. The six high priests before him knelt on the ground, uttering fervent prayers and calling out the name of God.

All the believers in the city trembled and knelt at this moment. The mass music in the church harmonized with their prayers, and as the solemn melody reached its crescendo, an endless radiance swept through the heavens and the earth, all emanating from the divine spectral image rising.

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom comes, you will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."

The sound of prayer carried by the wind echoed throughout every corner of the city, reverberating in the hearts of the civilians cowering in the underground ruins.

The light illuminated the faces of David and Amber, who were tightly embracing the few teenagers and children in their arms, bracing themselves for the next moment when they would be blown to smithereens.

Damon and Rose, along with a group of inquisitors, stood in front of them, and the bloodstained aura rushing towards them was frozen at this moment, the countless crimson crystal shards shining brilliantly like twinkling stars.

That pressure, those voices, enveloped every person in the city. Yet they did not reach Mike at all.

The only voice he heard was Olivia's:

"Mike, I know you also possess the aberrant art, but I will keep it a secret for you. The Sanctuary will also keep it secret, the High Priest will never let this matter be revealed."

Olivia's eyes reflected the divine spectral image towering to the heavens and the earth, and she softly said, "Give it your all."

Boom!

The thorns on Mike's right shoulder blade suddenly burst forth, emitting cracking sounds, and countless hard thorns began to crackle with violent electrical arcs, shining with a brilliant azure glow.

This was the first time he had combined the power of divination and Dark Matter.

Furthermore, the sacred radiance enveloped him, as if bestowing him with boundless power.

Countless thorns, accompanied by thunderous roars, surged towards the crimson blood core!

Boom.

The sacred image shattered, and the crimson blood core crumbled.