"Everyone, raise up your pendants and pray to the goddess!"
The cultists' cries echoed through the cave, their voices blending in eerie synchrony. Moonlight reflected off the silver crescents they held aloft.
How do they plan to attack me by praying? I narrowed my eyes.
The cultists began chanting in a language I didn't understand—harsh syllables that scratched at the edges of my mind, old and weighty like some ancient curse.
"Tch. Seriously?" I muttered. "If you don't move, you'll die. Actually—scratch that. You're all going to die no matter what you do."
I stepped forward, but—
Why am I… getting sleepy?
My knees buckled slightly, and I had to steady myself against the cold rock wall.
I see. So that's what their prayers are doing. Putting me to sleep, huh? Spiritual fatigue inducement.
"He's still not down!" one of the cultists shouted, voice tinged with disbelief.
"Well," I said, cracking my neck and flicking my wrist. "Since you've made your move… it's time for mine."
"[Arts Switch: Ghost Yin Arts]."
Dark qi surged through me like a river of midnight oil. My skin prickled with cold as I transitioned into my yin alignment.
"Take him down!" another cultist commanded. "[Scripture of the Moon: Magnificent Fall]!"
Suddenly, an oppressive weight crushed down on me from above. It felt like gravity itself had turned traitor. My body grew heavy, and even the air tasted stale.
So this is the power of the moon's worshippers. Not bad… but not enough.
"[Ghost Yin Arts: Spiraling Chaos Soul Blades]."
Black blades—sharp, ethereal, and twisted like shadows caught in a cyclone—formed around me. They shot forward, piercing the chanting cultists through their hearts, silencing their prayers with cold finality. The ones outside the cave survived—for now.
With the cultists inside slain, I stepped into the moonlight filtering through the cave's opening. My eyes narrowed at the silhouettes approaching.
"Now that this part's done, I should deal with the rest outside... and leave one of you alive."
In a blur of motion and crimson sprays, I reduced the remaining cultists to corpses—except one.
The lone survivor trembled on his knees as I approached, drenched in the blood of his brethren.
"Now," I said calmly, "tell me where you took the people from this cave."
"Never," he spat. "You won't get anything from me!"
His jaw clenched, and with a sharp bite, he crushed the hidden pill in his mouth. Foam bubbled at his lips as he collapsed, his life fading.
"Hah... do you really think dying will stop me from getting the answers I want?"
I crouched beside him and placed my hand over his heart.
[Arts Switch: Heavenly Yang Arts].
[Heavenly Yang Arts: Advent of Life].
Golden light surged from my palm, burning with divine warmth. His body jerked violently, and color returned to his cheeks as his soul was forcibly pulled back.
[Heavenly Yang Arts—stolen from the Jade Emperor's top heavenly doctor. A power that denies death itself. Even Yama or Hades couldn't keep a soul from me.]
"W-what!? How am I… alive?" the cultist stammered, gasping in terror.
I grabbed his throat with enough force to make him flinch.
"If you have time to be dead, you have time to talk. Where did you take the people from this cave?"
"I… I'll never tell! Even if you torture me!"
I smiled.
"Fine. Let's test that conviction of yours. I created this technique in a game, inspired by Manasa's skill—the snake queen who could draw out the darkest truths from anyone."
I raised two fingers, and dark rings formed around my pupil.
"[Angel's Origin: Mortal Reign]."
The cultist's body stiffened, his eyes wide in horror.
"W-what's happening? I… I can't move!"
"You're under my control now," I said. "Every muscle. Every nerve. I could make you stab yourself, drown yourself, burn yourself alive—and bring you back just to do it again."
His terror swelled.
"Now… tell me where you took the people."
He shuddered. "T-the branch church… Deep in the forest. We took them to be sacrificed to the Goddess of the Night."
So they do have a branch church… Hopefully, some of the captives are still alive.
"You're no longer useful," I said, pulling a small knife from my belt. "You may go serve my servant now—Ghost Amaterasu."
I handed him the knife. "Kill yourself."
His trembling hand obeyed, and moments later, he lay still.
Now then… time to visit this branch church.
---
Deep within the forest
The scent of dried blood hung thick in the air. Moonlight barely pierced the thick canopy above, but I didn't need light. My chi perception had already mapped out the entire structure.
"Hey," I said to a patrolling guard. "Where do you take the bodies you use for sacrifices?"
He turned, shocked. "I-Intruder! An intru—khaak!"
A spike of stone pierced his throat before he could finish.
No time to play around.
"Chi Manipulation: Extend."
My awareness expanded, brushing over every surface and soul in the building.
Basement. And—wait… is that an elf?
I narrowed my eyes.
Better get down there.
With explosive force, I stormed the church. Alarms rang, but they silenced almost as quickly as they rose. Nothing survived my wrath as I descended into the depths.
---
In the dimly lit basement, I kicked open a rusted cell door. Prisoners—emaciated, terrified humans—gasped and shrank back.
"Who… who are you?" one of them asked.
"Me? I'm someone who slays celestial gods for fun."
They blinked. I waved dismissively.
"Relax. I've already taken care of the cultists. You're free now. Run."
The humans stumbled past me, their chains clattering against the floor. All but one.
She sat in the darkest corner. A child—small, thin, with pale green hair and long ears.
"You're not leaving?" I asked. "Is something stopping you?"
She looked up. "Even if I leave… they'll just throw me away again."
"Who would throw you away?"
"If I say… you might get hurt. I don't want you to get hurt, mister."
I stepped closer. My chi perception had painted her as blindingly bright earlier. Now, I saw why. Her chi was potent—far too potent for someone this young.
In 'Martial Road,' people like her would be snatched up as disciples. Here, she's just… discarded.
"Well then," I said, smiling. "If you're worried about being thrown away, how about sticking with me? I'll make you strong. So strong that no one in this world would dare throw you away."
She looked up, eyes shimmering.
"You… really mean that?"
I crouched beside her and offered my hand.
"Of course I do. Come on. From now on, you're walking the martial path—with me."