How the Cult Saves the World-Chapter 152

Four Demon God's Children appeared from four of the five rifts opened above Holden's estate. Each of them was a Child ranking in tens and were quite powerful.

'But...'

It's still manageable.

I thought that and immediately made used the communication channel. Much faster than the senior members could contact me, to the three people who had enough power to face the Demon God's Children.

"Grandmother, Chester, Troy."

I called out to the three of them and spoke softly.

"Demon God's Children have appeared from the rifts in each direction. For now, please confront the ones closest to you. I will quickly deal with one of them and then go to you."

Excluding my grandmother, who is currently in Rovel, Chester and Troy should be nearby. And the closest rift to Rovel, where my grandmother is, is to the south. In other words, to avoid wasting time, the place I need to go is to the west.

Having finished all the calculations in my head, I hurriedly rushed toward the western rift.

***

Near the dark Holden territory.

Terdius, brushing his wet hair aside, was still glaring at the demon god's barrier that was blocking the entrance into Holden Estate.

Despite the pouring rain soaking his entire body, he was still circling around the estate blocked by the Demon God's barrier, with a small hope that there might be a gap to get inside.

"Are you alright, Leviathan... With this level of energy, Holden Estate could fall today."

This was because, since the rain began, he could sense a strong energy belonging to the Demon God from inside.

Although he couldn't see what was happening due to the barrier blocking his view, just the energy alone made it clear that something serious was happening.

'What on earth is going on in the Kyros Church?'

He couldn't help but feel anxiety and impatience. But no matter how much he searched, since any possible passage he could find would be invisible anyway, and since he couldn't even go inside, his frustration only grew.

"Hmm, what exactly are you doing here? Third Apostle."

It was at that moment that a familiar voice was heard. When Terdius looked up, he saw a half-naked man hanging upside down from a large tree. His half-wet purple hair and the unusual gleaming look in his eyes today, which he didn't like, belonged to the Fifth Apostle, Khalid.

At his appearance, Terdius's gaze calmly cooled. At the same time, his previously worried expression hardened into a cold one.

"Fifth Apostle, what brings you here?"

He was sure that when he left the headquarters, he had heard that Khalid had been given a mission.

However, it seemed like Khalid had come to find Terdius as if he had nothing to do.

At Terdius's cold voice, Khalid snorted. He rubbed his nose while still hanging upside down from the tree.

"Well, of course, I came to see the pretty one."

At the mention of the Kyros Church's leader, Leviathan, Terdius's eyebrow twitched. However, Khalid landed casually from the tree and continued speaking.

"But, what's going on here? Why does it smell like the Demon God's energy is wafting from here?"

Khalid approached Terdius and examined the Demon God's barrier that surrounded Holden's estate.

He could touch it,but he could not see the situation inside because the barrier had turned black.

Even more surprising was that only they could perceive the Demon God's barrier.

Occasionally, ordinary people would pass by the area, but they seemed unaware of the changes in Holden Estate, as if there had never been a road to that place to begin with, unable to notice or recognize what had happened to Holden estate.

In other words, this was such a major event that only high-ranking members of the Diego Church, like the apostles, would notice.

"But you know, Third Apostle, with this level of energy, don't you think it's worth trying to break through?"

Khalid, who had been touching the barrier, suddenly said with a smile.

At the unnervingly vile smile, Terdius's eyes narrowed.

"Don't even think about trying something."

"Trying something? Come on. It looks pretty solid, but I just feel I could break through as long as I just do what I have so far."

At Khalid's words, Terdius frowned.

'What I've done before.'

It referred to the method Khalid often used, sacrificing human lives. However, Terdius had no desire to engage in such acts, not even in the slightest.

Whether he knew Terdius's feelings or not, Khalid kept rambling on endlessly.

"Wouldn't it be simple to sacrifice a human with enough power to break through this kind of energy?"

At Khalid's words, filled with sincerity, Terdius's gaze grew even colder. He then stared at Khalid with a look of disdain and spoke coldly.

"Fifth Apostle, don't speak nonsense in front of me. I could tear that mouth of yours apart without anyone noticing."

"Hey, why so serious all of a sudden? I'm just saying that's one way to do it."

Unfazed, Khalid shrugged. He then quickly climbed up a nearby massive tree.

He then lay down on a tree branch as if preparing to sleep.

"Well, if you change your mind, just let me know."

Khalid winked at Terdius with one eye closed, then closed his eyes as if trying to fall asleep. Seeing this, Terdius let out a quiet sigh.

'At least if I knew what was happening inside, I wouldn't be so uncomfortable.'

At that moment, an even stronger energy burst forth from inside. It was enough to make even Khalid, who was about to fall asleep, open his eyes wide.

"This is...!"

At that moment, Terdius could instinctively feel it. The fact that Demon God's Children had appeared inside, in Holden Estate. And they weren't just one or two.

"It looks like the Kyros Church is gonna disappear after today."

Khalid, who was also shocked along with Terdius, said with a bitter smile. Terdius then glared at him.

"Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions, Fifth Apostle."

"But Third Apostle, you felt it too, didn't you? At least the energy felt inside suggests that four of the Demon God's Children ranking in the tens are here. What do you think that means?"

Before long, Khalid had descended from the tree and approached Terdius. He then gave Terdius's shoulder a light tap.

"Even though Holden Estate is from a distinguished martial family, it's just a borderland estate at best. If it's only that small an estate, it means there will be no humans left alive inside here by tonight. You know that well, don't you?"

Terdius's face instantly hardened.

Terdius wanted to refute Khalid's words, but no counterargument came to mind. Khalid's words were almost undeniably true.

"...Well, I guess it's too bad."

Khalid looked at Holden Estate with a bitter expression before turning his body away.

"Weren't you going to wait here?"

Terdius's low voice reached Khalid as he turned around. But Khalid didn't look back, he just waved his hand.

"I was going to...but now there's no point in doing that."

Khalid said that and then quickly disappeared from sight.

Only Terdius, left alone, struggled as he looked at the dark Holden Estate. He looked inside, deep in thought. Was it right for him to keep waiting here?

'But...'

Why? Despite thinking in his head that no human would survive here tonight, just like Khalid said, a feeling kept nagging at him.

Once again, it felt as though Leviathan would accomplish something.

"The only human who can survive in a place like hell is you, Leviathan."

Terdius murmured this as he gazed at the barrier. And then, he made up his mind.

Until this barrier is lifted, he decided to stay there.

"...Perhaps, even if there's the slightest possibility..."

Because there's a chance there might be.

***

I quickly ran toward the western rift.

The one in charge here was originally Alphius. It was the very place where battles were fought against large harpies, which are intermediate-level monsters.

I was on my way there after having considered where others would move.

"Ch-Church Leader!"

As I was quickly running toward the western rift, a familiar voice called out to me from behind. When I turned my head, I saw Fanatic and his troops.

'Why are they here?'

Could it be that they were following me?

"Brother Fanatic, and the knights. Please stop following me."

"We will help you! Our Lord, Count Holden, also wishes to assist you, Church Leader."

I knew that my mother was still busy giving combat orders to the knights nearby. However, it seemed that she had noticed the appearance of the Demon God's Children.

But I didn't need help from Fanatic or my mother. On the contrary, I was planning to drive out the knights guarding the west and even Alphius.

"I'm sure I told you this very clearly. We will handle the Demon God's children."

I coldly retorted. At that, Fanatic's face turned pale.

"I'm sorry to you, my brothers, but for this task, I intend to handle it on my own. So, if you want to keep your life, stop following me."

I said that and turned my body. Fortunately, my warning seemed to have worked, as no one followed me.

--Weren't you a bit too cold in your words, child? They just wanted to help...

'Lord Kyros, you must have felt it too, right? The power of the Demon God's Children that have stepped into the territory now.'

--That's true, but...

'If I don't handle this carefully, many lives could be lost here.'

After conveying only the necessary words to Kyros, I immediately communicated with Alphius.

"Alphius, right now, leave the west along with the knights who were guarding the area. Stay at least 50 meters away from that huge insect-like creature. Don't let anyone come near it."

[Understood, Church Leader!]

As I was nearing the western rift, even from about twenty meters away, the massive and grotesque Demon God's Child clearly came into view.

Four Demonic Children had been summoned. Among them, this one was the strongest and the most difficult to deal with among the Demon God's Children that had appeared.

'The 13th Demon God's Child, Maxworm.'

A massive caterpillar, its entire body stained black, made eye contact with me. At first glance, it seemed slow and dull-witted, like a simple bug. To those who didn't know much about this creature, it seemed like it would be very easy to deal with.

'...Disgusting.'

That was, until you noticed its many tentacle-like legs and its fangs dripping with poison.

I approached the creature and scanned the area. Fortunately, it seemed that Alphius had properly followed my orders, as there was not a single person in sight around me.

I lightly touched the mace I was holding in my hand and looked up at Maxworm.

Its size alone was easily around ten meters, and the large caterpillar was also staring at me with its enormous, translucent eyes.

'It seems this thing has realized that I'm the only living being around here.'

The only fortunate thing was that the area where I was standing, along with Maxworm, was a large plaza. Its massive body hadn't yet caused any damage to the surrounding buildings.

'I need to deal with this massive thing quickly before it starts rampaging.'

That was why I had come to confront it.

Because, Maxworm, the enormous caterpillar's main weapon...

"Keek!"

--were its tentacles and poison.

Ssssshh-!

With Maxworm's roar, dozens of its legs reached out toward me. Purple sap dripped from each of its legs, and every time it touched something, that area sizzled and corroded, melting. But there was no need to worry.

Because as soon as the fluid touched me,

[Hidden Item "Thousand-year-old Centipede Core" nullifies Maxworm's poison.]

It was neutralized.