Ch.199199. Secret Cult (3)

Shortly after, the five agents who had finished cleaning the interior of the mansion were all frowning beneath their masks, as if they had planned it together.

Hisssssss…

Partly because of the revolting stench that arose when they sprayed the corpse-dissolving chemicals on the bodies. But more than that…

What truly disturbed their emotions were the various objects they discovered while exploring this mansion.

All sorts of luxury items that looked expensive at a glance were being used as everyday items, and the excessive decoration with precious metals made everything look rather gaudy and tasteless.

Throughout the mansion were decorative items engraved with the Revenge Cult’s symbols, most of which were not only in poor condition—but distorted in their very form.

The traces of amateurish craftsmanship were so obvious that to devotees who had memorized the doctrine, these would appear as comprehensive sets of blasphemy.

The agents, not even attempting to hide their contempt, glared at the squelching, melting corpses with disgust before—

They soon made their way to the deepest part of the mansion, where they could sense the most powerful magical energy—the cult leader’s power.

Perhaps he considered himself the head of an organization. The mansion was filled with numerous traps, but…

Most of the traps were dismantled by the agents without even buying the minimum amount of time.

After cutting, slicing, stabbing, and throwing multiple times.

Noticing that the traps had gradually begun to decrease at some point, the agents realized he must be nearby and prepared for the assassination.

The objective was to kill with a single strike—somehow decapitate him with one blow and then quickly subdue any civilians in the vicinity.

The mansion’s study, with its carpet of seemingly burning red color.

Sensing the strongest magical energy in the building coming from inside, they were certain the cult leader was in the study—and used a magical tool on the wall.

A so-called wall-penetration device. A special nail-shaped equipment that temporarily removes the physical substance of a wall, allowing brief passage through it.

Using this to create an invisible hole in the wall, the five agents passed through the now visible but non-existent wall without hesitation, and—

””’……?!!”””

What lay before them was a horrific scene that genuinely shocked the agents—who by principle never display emotions that might interfere with combat during missions—enough to fill them with murderous intent.

Corpses. There were corpses everywhere.

Dismembered, smashed, destroyed and horribly mangled corpses, naked corpses.

What reflected in the agents’ eyes were bodies damaged beyond description, broken into countless pieces scattered across the floor.

Judging by the number of skulls, there must have been at least 80 victims, with not a single intact body—all shattered and strewn across the floor.

But what truly shocked them was something else. It was a circle completely devoid of any traces—in stark contrast to the corpses covering the floor.

No, to be precise, it wasn’t just a circle.

In this circular space seemingly blocked by an invisible membrane where no corpses lay, there was a massive magic circle drawn in blood, featuring an impressive hexagram. And at its center—

In the middle of the hexagram stood the cult leader, laughing with insane, manic glee, holding something like a red dagger that emitted ominous magical energy.

‘……This is bad!’

Seeing this scene that clearly should not be left unattended, the startled agents raised their weapons and attempted to assassinate the cult leader, but—

—Squelch!

The cult leader was faster, raising the dagger and stabbing it into his own heart.

KWAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

And at that very moment.

From the cult leader who had stabbed the dagger into his heart came magical waves similar to those from the dagger, but incomparably more concentrated.

Moreover, this wasn’t the only change.

The corpses scattered around suddenly began to glow and gather toward the center of the now-illuminated magic circle, attaching themselves to the cult leader’s body and gradually beginning to fuse.

Crack! Crunch!!

While sounds of bones breaking and flesh tearing echoed from the cult leader, the agents who should have intervened were paralyzed by the overwhelmingly powerful magical waves.

They could adapt and attack after a few minutes, but the problem was that those few minutes would be enough time for that thing’s transformation to complete.

So as the helpless agents watched with hateful eyes, the cult leader, fusing with the corpses, began to take on a specific form—

[“……Oh, quite a good condition.”]

Immediately after, the monster before them, fundamentally transformed from its former mortal self, spoke with satisfaction in a voice that made mortal souls tremble.

This massive beast, about 5 meters tall with black scales, was clearly a bizarre, alien biped monster with an uncanny body.

Its legs had a muscular, reverse-jointed structure with hooves like a bull’s, and its skin was covered in black scales reminiscent of crocodilian reptiles.

Massive bat-like wings extended from its back, and between its legs hung a long, robust tail similar to a lizard’s.

Its distinctive head, based on a human but mixed with elements of wild boar, bear, and bull, had a prominently visible skull with three pairs of horns growing from it.

What it wore could hardly be called clothing—just a blood-red cloth, shoulder armor covering its shoulders, and metal armor wrapping around the sides of its thighs.

It also had chains hanging all over its body and held a sword with red flames flickering in one hand, but…

What truly instilled fear in the assassins was the pressure—the transformed oppressive aura—that this massive demon exuded.

To put it metaphorically, it was as if the very density of its existence was on a higher level, flaunting such an atmosphere in all directions.

Moreover, the influence of the demonic energy emitted by the “demon” extended beyond affecting just the assassins—it greatly impacted the surrounding environment.

Red flames like those flickering from the sword spread in all directions, and the floor and furniture were randomly transformed by the demonic energy.

Ivory-like horns grew, flesh spread and covered surfaces, beast-like mouths formed, and tentacles writhed, asserting their presence.

And after witnessing these changes—mutations—with their own eyes, the five agents could immediately deduce the identity of the being before them.

A native creature of the demon realm that parasitizes the real world by feeding on human malice.

“……..A demon?!!”

It was undoubtedly a demon—a servant of the Demon Lords and their vanguard, created from the very concept of evil.

[“Oh? You… know of demons?”]

Meanwhile, the demon seemed somehow pleased by the whisper-like sound that one of the agents had inadvertently uttered, and smiled with satisfaction.

[“That’s right. I am a demon, servant of the great Demon Lord of Wrath, Satan. I am Bea’Tuna, a ‘High Demon.'”]

Having proudly introduced himself, the High Demon Bea’Tuna declared to them in an arrogant yet resolute voice, as if doing them a favor.

[“Humans, I will give you one chance. Swear allegiance to Him. Then your kind will be able to live again, and wealth will fill your path.”]

Bea’Tuna’s voice seemed to seep into the depths of their souls, and his words contained tremendous charm that could shake people’s hearts, but…

……Shing.

The five assassins, thoroughly fortified with steadfast faith, silently answered by drawing weapons from their robes.

[“YOU—DAAAARE—!! You dare reject my offer—!!!”]

Suddenly losing his composure, Bea’Tuna roared in extreme anger, raised his empty left hand, and concentrated his power—

—Crack!

In the next moment, a dagger infused with aura, thrown by an agent who had concealed his presence, interrupted the special ability Bea’Tuna was trying to cast.

[“YOU—LITTLE—INSECTS—!!”]

This must have severely irritated the demon Bea’Tuna. With a roar filled with rage that felt like it was boiling over—

—Whoosh!!

The “boiling rage” manifested not as a metaphor but in physical form, as heat gradually rose and Bea’Tuna’s black body began to turn red.

However, before his body could heat up enough to emit light—

Thunk!!

—Consecrated daggers flying from all directions penetrated the perfect gaps between his scales.