Chapter 202
With Duvalkan, Van began leading Payne and Ashtel through a secret passageway.
“Excuse me, miss—what on earth is going on?”
“I’m not a maid. Just call me Ashtel.”
“Is… is that all right?”
“Yes, sure. You’re a human now anyway—urk!”
Suddenly, a monster burst through the wall, collapsing part of the building.
Payne shielded Ashtel, nearly getting crushed by falling bricks in the process.
“Sis Hela! Be careful!”
“Sue, you’re here?”
Hela’s bright red hair dangled through the gaping hole. She spotted Van, Duvalkan, and a dazed Payne, but fixed her gaze only on Ashtel.
“You’re wearing the barrier stone Carmen gave you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Be careful. You’re human now—you could actually die.”
“Got it! You be careful too!”
“Will do.”
And with that, Hela vanished just as quickly as she appeared.
Even while rushing through the chaos—earth trembling, sky cracking, human screams everywhere—cold sweat ran down their backs.
Payne swallowed hard and asked,
“Ashtel, just what did you do?”
“I called my sisters.”
“To break me out?”
“Yep.”
“Are you insane?”
“I guess I am for you.”
Normally she’d have winked playfully, but this time Ashtel simply smiled calmly.
For some reason, Payne’s heart skipped a beat. He looked away quickly and just followed her lead.
Throughout the temple, secret passageways were reserved for high-ranking priests.
As a vice-captain, Van knew about them and led Ashtel that way—but unfortunately, they weren’t the only ones with that idea.
“Payne…”
Pope Serena, Cardinal Prohmen, and a few bishops were already blocking the exit.
“So you were up to something. You came here right as the building fell—hardly a coincidence.”
“Sir Van, are you in on this too? What are you all up to?”
“Oh, honestly, you’re all so uptight. We’re just eloping for love, that’s all.”
Feigning nonchalance, Ashtel laced her fingers with Payne’s.
She was terrified he’d pull away, but to her surprise, Payne accepted her hand without protest.
When she stole a glance at him, his cheeks seemed to be turning red.
‘…Blushing?’
Why? She squeezed his hand just to check—she could feel the warmth of his skin now that she was human.
Payne’s shoulder gave a little jump.
Even from a distance, there was a sweet aura around them, leaving the pope and cardinal momentarily speechless.
It was Duvalkan, with some sanity left, who spoke.
“Your Holiness, Your Eminence, please let these two go. Van and I will stay to help fend off the demons.”
“But—”
“Man, you guys talk a lot!”
At that moment, Chacha stepped through a wall and tossed a round object their way.
It bounced harmlessly off the cardinal’s holy barrier, then rolled to the floor, apparently missing its mark. Unbothered, she called for Matys.
“Wow, so many humans! It’s a party!”
Smoke began to pour from Chacha’s ball, and meanwhile, Matys—who’d been waiting invisibly—started smashing the walls and floor with his huge muscles.
Rather than attack people directly, it looked like their aim was simply to force an evacuation.
“Sue, go! Now!”
“Hurry, get out!”
Both sisters made subtle gestures to Ashtel, who nodded, then bolted outside with Payne.
“Hah—”
As soon as they made it out, Duvalkan gasped.
A massive lightning bolt split the sky, and the sound of a dragon’s roar filled the air.
Suddenly, a projection of Sermedes came streaking down from above, striking the roof of the temple and collapsing the ceiling.
Now even Van turned ghostly pale with fear.
“Wow… Sis Seri is terrifying.”
A great demon’s true form could drive humans mad just by being seen.
Ashtel knew she should look away, but she was transfixed by Sermedes’ terrifying beauty.
It wasn’t until she realized the black curtain in the sky was actually the demon’s enormous cloak that—snap!—there was a sharp sound, and both Van and Duvalkan collapsed.
“What? Duval? Van?”
“Sue! You can’t let your mind wander!”
“Sis Nluie!”
Outside, Nluie and Juvia were casting spells on the humans.
Nluie, with her sleep powers, put all of Medialle’s people into a deep slumber, while Juvia ensured they wouldn’t wake until the following morning.
Van and Duvalkan, too, had been put to sleep—so they wouldn’t be overwhelmed by Sermedes’s terrifying presence.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.