Chapter 1435 - 18: Blood Battle

The Demon Hunter panted, watching the figure entangled in battle with the Demon. He still remembered Anthony’s teachings: as a new generation of Demon Hunters, they were not bound by the Silver Binding Bolt’s restrictions, so they had to control themselves. At moments not steeped in despair, they absolutely should not step into the forbidden realm.

Is this the moment of despair?

The Demon Hunter himself was unsure, but one thing he knew clearly—he was hesitant and feared the presence in the darkness, which was why he hadn’t crossed the threshold, resulting in his current poor condition.

As long as he stepped into the darkness, these wounds would heal quickly, and he would gain greater strength to eliminate all these Demons...

Countless whispers echoed by his ear until suddenly, a hand grabbed him forcefully.

"Are you okay!"

Anthony, wielding a blood-soaked Nail Sword, shouted at the Demon Hunter.

The shout woke the Demon Hunter from the whispers, and he nodded stiffly, appearing caught off guard.

"You’re injured! Get out of here first!"

Anthony continued to shout, as it seemed yelling was the only way to drown out the Evil Anomaly’s music.

Amidst flames and dust, sounds of slaughter resounded around the Gate of the Celestial Kingdom. Saint Nalos Cathedral had already become a blood-soaked battlefield.

Countless shadows ran, the situation appeared perilous, but for now, Saint Nalos Cathedral was still under the New Order’s control.

Anthony jostled the Demon Hunter, and then a few Holy Hall Knights hurried over from behind, carrying the wounded Demon Hunter away from the scene temporarily.

The Demon Hunter could only watch Anthony’s silhouette gradually disappear into the smoke-filled chaos. Heavy knocking sounds came from within, followed by intense flames erupting from the darkness, overturning several figures once more.

Ordinary Soldiers and Holy Hall Knights died instantly, but the Demon Hunter’s resilience allowed him to withstand the strike. Yet, with the Secret Blood not fully released, such heavy blows were still uncomfortable for them.

The gray walls were completely covered in scarlet blood, and blood stained the towering statues. Corpses lay amidst the merciful Virgin, with fresh blood flowing down from her eyes.

The Demon Hunter watched all this fade away until leaving Saint Nalos Cathedral. The faintly red night sky filled his vision as the bright moonlight fell, bringing a chilling coldness.

"Doctor!"

The Holy Hall Knights placed the Demon Hunter aside and shouted loudly. Soon, a doctor covered in blood hurriedly rushed over from the corner, pouncing on the Demon Hunter.

"This will make you feel better."

The doctor stood against the light, obscuring his appearance, but the Demon Hunter could sense his rapid breathing and the fear hidden in his words.

"What is this?"

The Demon Hunter asked with difficulty.

"Hallucinogen... probably, anyway, it’ll help you temporarily forget the pain."

The doctor said as he injected the serum along the Demon Hunter’s neck, then moved to his fractured ankle.

"Are you planning to operate on me? This isn’t the best time for such delicate surgery."

The Demon Hunter lifted his head with effort, gasping slightly.

The surroundings looked completely different from the familiar scene he remembered; fierce flames burned within the Seven Hills. Demon Hunters battled inside Saint Nalos Cathedral, while outside, Holy Hall Knights were fighting Demons in the city.

Ultimately, a few fanatics hid within the city, affected by the spreading corruption, transforming into gruesome Demons.

As he observed all this, a booming explosion sounded from behind in Saint Nalos Cathedral. The violent tremor shook the ground, shattering the stained glass, and the curtains were whisked outside by the fierce wind, like wildly dancing arms.

The Demon Hunter gazed at the magnificent cathedral as flames burst from within, seeping through the windows like burning decay, edging towards collapse.

"This really isn’t suited for delicate surgery, but in fact, you Demon Hunters don’t need it."

The doctor cut open the Demon Hunter’s trousers, revealing his bloody and mangled right leg.

"Bear with it."

The doctor said as he pulled out his tools, including blood-stained pliers and a hammer... and many other things the Demon Hunter couldn’t discern. If not for knowing the doctor’s identity, the Demon Hunter might have thought the doctor was torturing him.

Clenching his teeth, the doctor cut into his right leg, the process of removal was arduous; the Demon Hunter’s Secret Blood never ceased, as flesh and blood struggled and healed themselves.

The doctor felt like he was cutting into some unknown, extremely vigorous creature; without a layer of Holy Silver plated on his scalpel beforehand, the wound would likely have healed before he finished the surgery, with flesh being exceptionally tough, armed with compressing force.

Cleaning the shattered bone and repositioning the twisted skeleton, the doctor paid no mind to matters like stopping bleeding, nor did he sew up the wound.

"Activate the Secret Blood, and leave the rest to your Demon Hunters’ Self-Healing!"

The doctor instructed the Demon Hunter.

Special targets, special treatment—the Demon Hunters weren’t delicate porcelain dolls; the doctor didn’t need to take meticulous care of them. For them, the Secret Blood was the best physician; the doctor merely needed to expedite his Self-Healing.

The Demon Hunter nodded. After the doctor helped reposition his bones, he could heal faster, preventing rampant flesh growth that would deform his ankle.

He breathed heavily, and in this brief time, another group of Demon Hunters charged into Saint Nalos Cathedral. More Holy Hall Knights approached; while they couldn’t face the monsters from below directly, they could provide some assistance on the battlefield.

The bright radiance in his eyes flickered uncontrollably, and the Demon Hunter could feel his flesh Self-Healing. He tried to rise when another explosion echoed.

This explosion was even more powerful than before, the shockwave raising dust, then flinging them into the streets with force.

The Demon Hunter let out a groan, but fortunately, the buildings impeded the shock, unlike earlier, so he didn’t sustain much more injury.

"Doctor!"

The Demon Hunter called out, faintly hearing a whimpering response.

Looking toward the sound, he found the doctor fallen by the steps, with half his head caved in, caught against the edge of the step, blood pouring out continuously, yet he wasn’t dead, letting out whimpering sounds.

The Demon Hunter’s gaze was momentarily dull, but this dullness lasted only a moment.

He arduously crawled over, picked up the scalpel scattered aside, and stabbed into the doctor’s twisted neck.

"Sorry."

The Demon Hunter said mercilessly, ending his pain, severing the neck, and mashing the heart, eliminating any chance of him being controlled by corrosion.

Thick smoke billowed upwards, the noise of slaughter echoing from all directions. The Demon Hunter had no idea how long this battle would last or whether he would survive; he barely stood up and then gazed towards the fiery depths of Saint Nalos Cathedral.

Such a magnificent building, the outer edge carved from bottom to top, depicting the flames of Hell and Demons, the warring mortal world, and finally, the holy glowing Celestial Kingdom.

Under continuous explosions and impacts, the building’s fa?ade cracked in countless places, with cracks filled with bloodstains and flames turning the Hell and the mortal world to ruins, now advancing triumphantly towards the Celestial Kingdom.

The Demon Hunter’s sight followed the cracks upwards, finally leaving the building itself and rising into the night sky.

The stars dimmed, the dark night sky tinged crimson by the flames of war.

The Demon Hunter stood there for a long time, and after what felt like ages, he tried to step forward. Though his steps were staggering and shaky, with unbearable pain, this time, he didn’t fall.

He picked up the blood-stained hammer, wiped his face, and once more stepped onto the stairs, heading towards the depths of Saint Nalos Cathedral.