Another slash answered Jolan.
"BOOM!"
The backstage wall shattered, and Jolan's body shot out like a cannonball, smashing straight into the audience seating.
He rose without expression—
but imdiately frowned.
The auditorium was thick with evil miasma.
Grotesque monsters circled the area.
And the audience…
Every person stood facing the sa direction, motionless, unnaturally synchronized.
A disturbing sight.
"Summoned beasts… and ntal corruption."
Jolan's expression hardened.
"This is troubleso."
But not everyone was lost.
He quickly spotted several clergy mbers from St. Peter's Cathedral.
As a district-level cathedral, St. Peter's possessed the ability to forge high-grade sacred artifacts—enough to resist both the monsters and the psychic contamination.
In particular, Sister Bettice was still analyzing the monsters' weaknesses with calm precision.
Elsewhere in the venue, similar pockets of resistance remained:
Trinity Church — forr core mbers of the Sacred Academia, their priests were trying to decipher the corruption sigils.
Masonic Church — the oil-obsessed lunatics had already "purified" a dozen monsters with their bare hands, slathered in holy oil.
Jolan nodded internally.
Despite the ambush, things weren't hopeless.
His gaze t Archbishop Mattheus's from across the hall.
No words were exchanged—
but they both knew their roles.
"That old man probably has a high-grade sacred artifact on him," Jolan guessed.
"And if he hasn't appeared yet… he must be working on dismantling the ritual."
"Right now, the only real threat is that one cultist who was 'baptized' by demonic power."
He made his decision instantly.
At that mont, Jolan spotted a figure sneaking near the side entrance.
"Caroline.
Go after that person."
He flicked a silver dallion toward her.
A second later—
a terrifying pressure swept over him again.
Jolan didn't flinch.
He diverted the attack upward.
"Cultist," he said coldly, "which demon do you serve?"
From behind burning green flas, a woman's voice answered:
"My master… Xila."
---
City streets
Gideon sprinted across rooftops, Caroline slung over his shoulder, both of them flashing between the buildings like streaks of light.
"S-so… that's the situation."
Caroline tried to speak through the wind pressure.
Gideon narrowed his eyes.
"A Vatican archbishop asking , a re local priest, for help?"
"I also thought it was strange at first…
I even wondered if Archbishop Borha hit his head."
Caroline muttered.
But now—
watching the houses blur past, she was stunned.
Because Gideon wasn't running.
He was using Holy Step—
a movent technique only Silver Cross Exorcists were allowed to learn.
He's actually pretty impressive…
Caroline thought, bewildered.
They had left the hospital so ti ago.
After Samail's death, the police finally arrived.
As a key witness, Lorraine had to remain for questioning.
Gideon gave her several sacred items for protection, then took Caroline and headed first for the venue.
Along the way, he questioned the young sister about everything she knew.
Soon, he had a clear picture of the situation.
After a dozen minutes—
They reached the destination.
The entire city hall was now wrapped in a dark green barrier.
One side of the building had collapsed, rubble scattered across the pavent.
Outside the venue, crowds pressed forward, shocked and terrified by what they'd witnessed.
Firefighters and security personnel were desperately trying to push people back—but the oppressive evil aura surrounding the building kept everyone too frightened to approach.
Gideon stroked his chin as he surveyed the scene.
"Those normal civilians are probably already dead," Caroline murmured. "But the clergy inside… they still might be alive."
Gideon nodded in agreent—
and then winced.
This girl… really doesn't know how to talk…
Sure enough, the mont she finished, countless bystanders threw uneasy glances their way.
A tall Black police officer approached.
"Hello. I'm Chief Gary Lee. Are you the church's backup team?"
Caroline nodded and showed her Vatican-issued sigil.
The church had already coordinated with the police beforehand—the clergy would handle all supernatural anomalies related to the commoration ceremony.
"Where's the rest of your team?" Gary looked around.
Caroline shook her head.
"Archbishop Borha only told to find him. No one else ca."
"HEY—STOP TELLING THE TRUTH SO CASUALLY!"
Gideon scread internally.
Gary stared at the two young faces—barely older than high schoolers.
He hesitated.
But orders were orders.
The higher-ups explicitly said to fully cooperate with all clergy.
So he forced himself to nod.
"Understood. Tell what you need."
Caroline looked to Gideon.
Gideon thought briefly, then asked for a structural map of the city hall.
After what happened last ti, he'd learned—the first step was always to locate the ritual components.
Caroline had ntioned suspicious items found under the venue earlier.
But Gideon still chose to first observe the area.
Thus, a small escort of police officers followed behind the two "young priests."
Every few ters, Gary watched Gideon place another sacred idol on the ground—and then instruct the police to protect it as if it were priceless.
As a street-raised police chief, Gary had no idea what the church was doing.
At first, he managed to stay patient.
But ten minutes later, when they were still circling the building exterior, he finally broke.
"Father Gideon… shouldn't we be going inside?"
He forced a polite smile.
Caroline leaned close, adopting a "secret whispering" pose—
then said, loud enough for all three to hear:
"He probably thinks you're useless."
Gary's smile froze.
"Thanks for that," Gideon muttered, helpless.
Thankfully, his preparations were finally complete.
He approached the entrance again.
"Here."
Caroline handed him a talisman.
"This is a twenty-year-quality sacred artifact. Wear it and it can block corruption."
Then she produced another one.
"My father gave two.
So Chief, you don't get one."
Gideon raised an eyebrow.
So she really was Vatican-born.
And apparently didn't care at all about casually showing high-grade sacred artifacts to random people.
He shook his head.
"Keep it. You shouldn't hand things like this out so easily."
Then he turned to Gary.
"What's ahead will be extrely dangerous.
Chief, please remain here."
Gary hesitated—
then nodded.
He watched the two disappear into the entrance.
---
Inside the Passageway
Gideon placed yet another sacred idol in a corner.
Bit by bit, from the entrance to here, he was reclaiming the spiritual authority of this place.
The ritual wasn't fully broken yet—
but wherever a sacred idol stood, the darkness could not take root.
"When I ca out earlier," Caroline whispered, trembling, "there were already lots of monsters. Many people were corrupted…"
"They might be roaming the halls now. Maybe we should avoid them and take a long route…"
But Gideon's eyes lit up with… joy?
"Good.
The more monsters, the better."
He had missed his chance at the hospital—
Lorraine had purified all the "servants" before he could use [Voice of Redemption].
He wouldn't lose this opportunity too.
"Thud… thud…"
Heavy footsteps echoed deeper inside the passage.
Caroline flinched, hiding behind Gideon's coat like a startled cat.
Monts later, several massive silhouettes erged from the corner—
"Those! Those are the monsters!"
Caroline whispered urgently.
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