Chapter 1437 - 19: Breach [Natsume and Madara’s Alliance Leader]_2

Experience from battling with demons allowed him to make a seasoned prediction at this moment. A dull thud was heard as the iron hammer in his hand precisely met the incoming demon. The two collided, and a fine cracking sound was heard, accompanied by the entire bone structure being shattered and still the heavy hammer continued its inward journey until it struck a noticeable bulge through the demon’s back.

Bounced off.

The iron hammer swung up, and smashed the demon mercilessly toward the charred wall. After a loud crash, the tottering wall collapsed, completely burying the heavily-damaged demon.

The Demon Hunter walked over the rubble, clutching the iron hammer as blood flowed down his arm, congealing on the hammerhead before dripping off.

Such powerful swings strained his arm, tearing the skin slightly apart to reveal the flesh beneath. But such injuries were no problem for him; under the blessing of Secret Blood, it would all heal quickly, not to mention his Secret Blood was turning increasingly fervent.

This crimson, scorching blood.

More commotion was heard from within the red smoke and dust. The Demon Hunter finally woke from his frenzy of slaughter. He moved quickly, picking up usable weapons along the way, tying them with his torn clothes, and carrying them on his back.

Fr. Anthony and the other Demon Hunters were still guarding the Gate of Celestial Kingdom. Judging by the current intensity of the incursion, it seemed the Static Holy Temple had truly become Hell itself, but they must hold the Gate of Celestial Kingdom at all costs.

Stepping over the stairs, the Demon Hunter gradually made sense of the distant figures through the dense smoke.

"Father!"

He shouted loudly, and then the thick smoke choked his throat, causing him to cough violently.

Among the chaotic figures, Anthony slaughtered a demon, turning towards the direction of the voice and seeing the Demon Hunter among the ruins, subsequently nodding in acknowledgment.

The Demon Hunter returned to his post where the Gate of Celestial Kingdom was in utter chaos, rubble and corpses scattered everywhere, flames raging, and the entire structure swaying violently as if it would collapse completely at any moment.

"How’s the situation?"

The Demon Hunter asked another Demon Hunter, who pulled the Nail Sword from the demon’s corpse, looked at him, and then said.

"Very bad, see for yourself!"

He gestured towards the front, and the Demon Hunter followed his finger, taking in the view of the Gate of Celestial Kingdom.

The once pristine and holy gate was now dilapidated, covered in cracks and gaps large enough for an average-sized adult to pass through. Beneath this gap was endless darkness, and from it seeped muddy black fog.

"The Gate of Celestial Kingdom hasn’t fallen, but it can no longer completely seal out everything like before."

The other Demon Hunter’s voice was somber, his body covered in blood, the extent of his fierce battles during the Demon Hunter’s absence unknown.

"Block the gate!"

Anthony swung his sword, directing the survivors.

The majority of the Demon Hunters survived the fierce battles, with the powerful Secret Blood being their best protection, but the Holy Hall Knights who accompanied them were different. Mere mortals found it difficult to endure in Hell, and they were nearly wiped out entirely, with only a few surviving under Anthony’s orders to withdraw from Saint Nalos Cathedral.

This was no longer a battle mortals could partake in; remaining here was simply a death sentence.

The sound of stones grinding echoed as the Demon Hunters struggled to move fallen pillars, attempting to block the collapse gap before the Gate of Celestial Kingdom.

"There shouldn’t be any demons appearing now, right?" The Demon Hunter, clutching the iron hammer, asked Anthony, "We’ve killed every living thing nearby!"

Anthony remained silent for a few seconds then spoke.

"Do not let your guard down, child. We’ve cleared the living things here, but what about there?"

He raised the mottled Nail Sword, pointing to the dark gap in the Gate of Celestial Kingdom.

The darkness grasped everyone’s attention, making their gaze difficult to avert.

The Demon Hunter froze, his boiling blood also halting, slowly cooling down. Darkness writhed, like countless squirming worms, soon followed by spreading black fog, heavy and clinging to the ground like some kind of liquid.

Then they heard it.

This sound did not come through the ears; it seemed to directly resonate inside their minds, as if thousands of demons were whispering evil curses and prophecies, carrying a slick, nauseating feel.

Hallucinations? Or...

The Demon Hunter’s gaze was vacant, and then within his dull eyes a ghastly white arm appeared, stretching out from the darkness, clutching the gap’s edge. Liquid akin to blood flowed from the white hand, but strangely its color was not bright red, rather a decayed gray-black like the discharge of a corpse.

Faced with this bizarre presence from the black mist, even Anthony was momentarily stunned. He was uncertain of the situation inside the Static Holy Temple yet knew the new Pope was guarding it.

"Your Holiness..."

He opened his mouth, struggling to utter the words, but before his voice fully emerged, a dazzling flame streaked across, directly hitting the gap.

"Demon!"

The Demon Hunter shouted, the flame exploding, instantly dispelling the black fog and illuminating the gap’s darkness.

No one expected his movements to be so quick; while others hesitated, the hammer in his hand had already fiercely struck the creature’s body, flames rolled over it, illuminating the newcomer.

"What... are you?"

The Demon Hunter gazed at the ghastly and unfamiliar face, his words tinged with confusion.

The Soul-Reviving Corpse smiled at him, a twisted and loathsome grin, and the next moment, similarly raging flames erupted, pushing the Demon Hunter away, tossing him upward.

Flames rampaged, illuminating everything.

At this time, even Anthony clearly saw the posture of the Soul-Reviving Corpse, its body riddled with scars, some ancient, some freshly inflicted, the most ferocious being a slash wound down its neck, leaving a huge gash on its chest from which poured gray-black liquid and slowly spreading black fog.

"Your Holiness, is this your doing?"

Anthony regained his composure, focusing on the scar on the Soul-Reviving Corpse’s chest, whispering.

The Static Holy Temple contained no such peculiarities, hence their origin seemingly pointed to one place only... the Well of Ascension.

Anthony was unsure of the whole incident, but he faintly sensed the complexity of it all and felt a moment of sorrow. Amidst such a critical situation, the Demon Hunters struggled, but what of the lone new Pope?

He dared not continue the thought, instead loudly commanding.

"Hold the Gate of Celestial Kingdom! Kill anything trying to escape!"

The command issued, the Demon Hunters charged toward the Soul-Reviving Corpse.

Flames splashed, swords clashed, and after waves of fire, the Demon Hunter swung his iron hammer, seizing the chance to deliver a heavy blow to the Soul-Reviving Corpse’s head, shattering it into countless pieces, then igniting the corpse with anger.

The Soul-Reviving Corpse staggered backward, retreating into the darkness under the watchful eyes of the Demon Hunters, who sighed with relief. Such eerie beings posed no real threat.

They were like Enhanced Demons, endowed with authority, but given the current level of engagement, they were not an imminent danger.

Unlike others, Anthony did not relax due to it, having faith in the new Pope and understanding his hesitation and warnings.

The others continued pushing the pillars, attempting to block the massive stones in the gap of the Gate of Celestial Kingdom, but unconsciously, dense black fog had already spread, evenly coating the ground. While thin, it indeed covered a considerable area.

Then Anthony saw it, in the darkness, more and more ghastly white hands extended, holding onto the gate gap, climbing out from the inky abyss.

One by one... two by three...

Countless Soul-Reviving Corpses squeezed through each other, struggling to breach the gap, fervently attempting to crawl out of the darkness into this mortal realm.