Following Sister Agatha, Lucas was led to the very center of the hall. A complex magic array had already been drawn there, and at its center lay a blood-red book, resting quietly.
It was the Blood Book.
Unlike before, it had returned to its original appearance, no longer dark and blackened.
"That book… isn't that—"
The other three, who had also stepped closer, recognized it at once.
"That's right," Sister Agatha said. "It is the Blood Book. It has now been fully activated and awaits only the chosen vessel of Lord Amon to open it."
She guided Lucas to the very heart of the array.
"Open the Blood Book, Lucas. You will receive Amon's favor. You will become the one and only king of this world. You will possess everything!"
Her expression was fanatical as she knelt before him, as though praying.
At the same time, all the nuns dropped to their knees in unison, gazing at Lucas with devout reverence.
At last, everything became clear.
The reason they had been brought here—it was all a trap. Amon required a perfect vessel to descend into the world, and that vessel…
Was Lucas.
"Archbishop, how long are you planning to hide?" Lucas said calmly, turning toward a shadowed corner. "You're the one behind all this, aren't you?"
In that corner lingered a dense demonic aura—along with a presence Lucas knew all too well.
As his words fell, a figure stepped forward.
It was the archbishop, dressed in his purple robes.
"Heh… I have to say, you're very perceptive, Lucas," the archbishop said with a smile. "It seems Lord Amon made the right choice."
Not a trace of injury remained on his body, as if he had never been wounded at all.
"So you were the mastermind all along," Elsa demanded coldly. "Was everything from the beginning a lie? How can you face your faith? How can you face your God?"
"Faith? God?"
The archbishop suddenly burst into laughter.
"Let Him rot in hell!"
His eyes burned crimson as he stared at Elsa.
"I devoted my entire life to Him. I gave Him my body and soul, treated Him as my one and only truth. But when I was dying—when I was struck with a terminal illness—did He answer my prayers? No. He turned a blind eye to His most loyal servant! What use is such a God?!"
His voice grew increasingly hysterical as he gestured wildly.
"When I was at my lowest, only Lord Amon responded. He gave me life again. He gave me a healthy body."
"So you abandoned God?" Daimon said coldly. "Abandoned a lifetime of belief? And for that, you slaughtered innocents?"
Even as a demon himself, Daimon despised demons above all else.
"Abandoned God?" the archbishop roared. "He abandoned me first!"
He stepped up to the array and looked straight at Lucas.
"Do you know why I chose you?"
Lucas met his gaze without fear, his expression calm and unreadable.
"Because of your strength. Your presence during the Battle of New York was unforgettable. That primal power within you perfectly matches Lord Amon. Being chosen as His vessel is your honor."
The archbishop's eyes turned completely black as demonic energy surged violently around him.
"And you three are just as indispensable to the ritual."
He pointed at Daimon.
"You—son of Satan—possess an innate, immense demonic aura, capable of guiding Lord Amon's true spirit so He may descend accurately into this vessel."
Then his gaze shifted to Elsa.
"And the Bloodstone on your chest will allow Lord Amon to adapt more quickly to His new body."
Finally, he looked at Wong.
"As for you, sorcerer of Kamar-Taj—you can veil the dimensional web, ensuring Lord Amon's spirit reaches Earth without interference."
The archbishop spread his arms wide. A tidal wave of demonic energy erupted as Amon's sigil appeared on his forehead.
"Bring the girl."
At his command, a nun stepped forward carrying the unconscious Jenny, placing her beside the Blood Book.
"She was the first to be possessed by Amon. Her blood is the catalyst that activates the Blood Book."
Excitement filled the archbishop's face as he reached toward Jenny's wrist.
Just as his nails were about to pierce her skin, Lucas spoke.
"What happened to the Knights Templar stationed outside?"
The archbishop paused.
"You're still concerned about them?" he sneered. "They've already become Lord Amon's meal."
One sentence sealed their fate.
"Well then," Lucas said casually, "since you've explained everything, there's nothing left to discuss. Wong—did you record all of this?"
He turned his head.
On Wong's chest was a tiny camera, no larger than a pearl.
A product of S.H.I.E.L.D. technology. After the New York incident, Skye had "borrowed" quite a few useful gadgets, and this camera was one of them. Everything it recorded would be stored internally.
Wong flashed an OK sign.
Before coming here, Lucas had given him the camera so the entire process could be documented as evidence for the Vatican. Otherwise, no one would believe that an entire monastery had fallen to demonic corruption.
The archbishop waved dismissively.
"There's no need. Today, all of you will kneel at Lord Amon's feet and become His most faithful followers!"
As he spoke, he moved to slash Jenny's wrist.
Suddenly—
Lucas seized the archbishop's arm.
"Now that everything's clear, you can rest in peace," Lucas said coldly. "Go worship your Amon in hell."
The Judicator appeared in his hand in an instant, the muzzle pressed under the archbishop's chin.
Bang!
The archbishop's head exploded, dissolving into a pool of blood.
"ROAR—!!"
Seeing this, Sister Agatha let out a furious howl. Demonic energy surged from her body as razor-sharp claws extended from her hands, and grotesque wings burst from her back.
"Kill them!"
At her command, every nun transformed into a demon and charged toward the other three.
Lucas couldn't help but feel confused. He had merely killed the archbishop—so why would these demons abandon Amon's grand plan and attack him directly? Was the ritual impossible without the archbishop?
There was no time to think.
Agatha's claws were already upon him.
Clang!
Lucas raised his arm. A pair of blazing crimson wings unfurled instantly, blocking her strike.
He dismissed the Judicator as the Ultimate Divine Weapon appeared in his grasp.
Three slashes.
Three arcs of blazing sword energy tore through the air, striking Agatha squarely in the chest and cleaving her body into four pieces.
With Agatha's death, the remaining demons grew even more frenzied.
Wong had already deployed a magical shield, punching through demons one after another. Despite being known as "melee mages," the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj were anything but weak—Wong's shield strikes landed with crushing force, every blow a devastating impact.
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