Chapter 396

“So you’re saying I belong to your order now?”

Everyone had been treating Chris as nothing more than an enemy, overlooking a crucial fact: this fight wasn’t just a duel.

It was a ritual—a contest between fellow demon worshippers to see whose evil ran deeper.

If a Great Demon intervened, it would become a battle between Great Demons, so interference was impossible.

In fact, the other guy’s recent actions only gave Chris a ‘just cause.’

A righteous reason to punish someone who tried to wield a Great Demon’s power for the wrong reasons.

“I’ll show you why I’m more fit to be the High Priest than you.”

Fwoooosh!

The battleground where they fought was the same altar where Chris had performed the baptism ritual.

The altar beneath them spewed forth darkness.

“I’ll offer you as a sacrifice to Gehenna.”

[!!]

The man’s face went pale as he tried to muster his strength, but it was useless.

He had no chance of withstanding the karmic retribution Chris had earned.

His own karma was nullified, and the darkness rising from the altar swallowed him whole.

It was no surprise.

He possessed one of the highest soul ranks among mortals—worthy of becoming High Priest.

So the demons of Gehenna, eager to claim such a prize, reached out to seize his soul.

His eyes filled with terror.

“No, no! Please…!! Aaaahhh!!!”

With a horrific scream, he was dragged into Gehenna.

From now on, he would be a plaything for demons, suffering eternal torment.

The shocking scene silenced the entire hall.

Chris spoke calmly.

“I believe I’ve sufficiently proven my devotion to evil.”

[…….]

The Pope shot him a chilling glare, but Chris just shrugged.

‘What are you going to do by glaring at me?’

The initiative was already in his hands.

“Then, I shall assume the position of High Priest from now on. Since this aligns with doctrine, I trust there will be no objections.”

Chris addressed the senior clergy—cardinals, archbishops, and other high priests.

“What are you waiting for? Can’t you at least show your respect to the new High Priest?”

The senior priests hesitated, then bowed their heads.

[…We pay homage to the new High Priest.]

It was an utterly absurd sight.

But that wasn’t the end.

“As High Priest, I have a proposal for our grand undertaking.”

[…What is it?]

“We’ll capture Idrinne as a sacrifice, but that alone won’t be enough. For the perfect grand plan, more sacrifices are necessary.”

He was right.

That was why the secretive Maga intended to offer Chris as a sacrifice.

If Chris wasn’t sacrificed, countless lives would have to be offered instead—just like the Bloodthirsty Demon King in a past life.

“How about offering the senior priests as sacrifices?”

[!!]

“If we sacrifice the senior priests, it should be enough to achieve our grand plan. And the priests themselves will gain the glory of martyrdom—it’s a joyous thing.”

Chris smirked, and the hall fell silent.

It was an outrageous suggestion.

But the problem was, it wasn’t entirely without merit.

All the senior priests of the secretive Maga had been reborn as demons. Their souls were of high rank, making them valuable sacrifices.

Especially since the justification was twisted.

Chris cunningly framed it as martyrdom for the grand plan.

If they were true zealots, sacrificing their own souls for the cause would be natural.

Yet no one stepped forward.

‘Of course. They’re fine with sacrificing others, but no one wants to be the one sacrificed. Especially those with demon natures like them.’

From what Chris had learned absorbing Sherad’s fragments, these priests followed demons solely for the ‘rewards’ they’d receive after the grand plan succeeded.

“It’s disappointing. No one willing to become a martyr. All talk of the grand plan, but in reality, you’re only interested in the spoils.”

[…….]

“That’s why the Great Demons want me to be the harbinger of destruction. Because they don’t trust you secretive Maga.”

The senior priests had no rebuttal.

Eventually, the Pope spoke up.

[There is much to be done for destruction. If we sacrifice all of them, we won’t be able to fulfill our duties.]

Chris raised a corner of his mouth.

That was the excuse he expected.

“Then some of them can be sacrificed.”

[…What?]

“Even if not all, surely half can be offered, right?”

Chris looked at the senior priests.

“Most of you seem useless anyway.”

[…What…!]

The senior priests bristled, but Chris sneered.

“Even if you combined half of you, I doubt you’d match me. Am I wrong?”

He wasn’t.

It wasn’t just about strength.

With his abilities, Chris could easily outperform half the senior priests combined.

“Since I’ve pledged myself to the order, there’s no need to worry about fulfilling our duties. How about offering half the senior priests as sacrifices?”

[…That’s impossible.]

“Why? For the grand plan. Or is Your Holiness only interested in empty words, while secretly chasing after other gains?”

[You… How dare you!]

The Pope was furious but dared not strike Chris.

There were others watching.

Great Demons.

[That makes sense…]

[Sacrificing senior priests… would be a great help…]

They were the Great Demons who had agreed to cooperate with Chris, including the Devourer of Light.

And not only them.

Other Great Demons, unaware of Chris’s true intentions, also showed signs of agreement.

From their perspective, the secretive Maga’s priests were mere tools—disposable servants.

They could sacrifice as many as needed for their own goals.

[…Half is too many.]

The Pope hurriedly tried to calm things down.

He meant only some would be sacrificed.

At this rate, half the senior priests would be offered, so it was an unavoidable choice.

‘Good.’

Chris silently cheered.

“Then we must decide who will be sacrificed.”

[…That decision is mine as Pope. You will not interfere…]

“This isn’t something Your Holiness can decide unilaterally.”

The Pope looked baffled.

What nonsense was this guy spouting now?

“We must heed the will of the great ones.”

Chris meant consulting the Great Demons.

It was a reasonable suggestion.

‘…But that won’t happen.’

The Pope swallowed his words.

Each senior priest served a different Great Demon.

No Great Demon would willingly offer their own servant as a sacrifice.

There was no way their opinions would align.

Sure enough, countless voices of Great Demons pierced the Pope’s ears.

[My servant has much to do for destruction. I will never allow it. Offer others instead.]

They all said the same.

What made it worse was that while they opposed sacrificing their own priests, they didn’t object to offering others.

In fact, they welcomed it.

It would surely help the grand plan.

As long as it wasn’t their own servant, they were happy to agree.

Chris shrugged.

“If the Great Demons find it hard to decide, then we must follow doctrine.”

[…What do you mean?]

“We’ll prove our devotion through duels. Those lacking in worship will be sacrificed.”

[!!]

Everyone stirred.

In other words, the senior priests would duel each other, and the losers would be offered as sacrifices.

A brutal proposal, but no one could refuse.

Chris smiled slyly.

“For the grand plan, I believe everyone will gladly agree.”

The Pope stared at Chris with a horrified look.

‘This guy…’

Chris had accurately grasped and manipulated the Great Demons’ nature.

Damn it, no one could resist the justification he presented.

“Among bishops, archbishops, and cardinals, we’ll select the one with the least devotion to evil in every group of five.”

One in five.

Suddenly, 25% of the senior priests would be sacrificed.

All because of this guy’s silver tongue.

And through duels where brothers would kill brothers.

But there was no way to stop it.

[For destruction… I support this duel.]

[I support it as well.]

[It will greatly aid the grand plan.]

The Great Demons spoke.

Those allied with Chris were the first to agree, but even those who weren’t didn’t oppose it.

Because it would help the grand plan.

‘Besides, demons wouldn’t miss out on such an entertaining spectacle.’

Would demons care for their own secretive Maga priests? Never.

Opposing this amusement would be unthinkable.

“Then, the two with the least devotion in each rank should duel to decide.”

He meant the two weakest in each rank would fight.

The Pope frowned but nodded.

He didn’t want to follow Chris’s lead, but this was the best way to minimize unnecessary bloodshed.

If all senior priests fought, who knew what damage would occur?

In the worst case, they could all perish.

Within the same rank, the difference in strength was barely a paper-thin margin.

And so, the grim duels began.

Starting with the cardinals.

These senior priests wielded power equivalent to the eighth star realm.

[…Let the duel begin.]

[…May the blessings of evil be with you.]

Those stepping into the arena wore grim expressions.

Because if they lost, they would become sacrifices.

“They all dreamed of great achievements, but none of them saw themselves as mere sacrifices. They believed they had a far more important role to play.”

That was the mindset of those who stepped into the dueling arena.

It was a selfish way of thinking, hardly fitting for fanatics, but one had to remember—they were servants of the devil.

Just like their masters, they were greedy and self-centered.

Because of that, the duel was merciless, with no room for compromise.

“This is gonna be fun. I wonder if there’s any fried corn around?”

Chris hummed quietly to himself.

After all, everyone in the Shinbi sect was a despicable killer beyond forgiveness.

Killing each other was probably the only good thing they could do for the world.

This incident would deal a heavy blow to the Shinbi sect—one of their five high priests was about to be offered as a sacrifice.

“Of course, I don’t intend to stop there.”

His words carried a deeper meaning.

He was clearly plotting something more.

“I have to inflict the biggest possible damage. Only then will my plan have a chance.”

Chris glanced at the Pope, who was glaring at him as if ready to kill.

The Pope had reached the pinnacle of the ninth star.

Though Chris himself was a ninth star disciple, he didn’t dare to challenge him.

Even if all the high priests here combined their strength, they wouldn’t match the Pope alone.

That was the power of the ninth star’s highest level.

Not just manipulating causality at will, but truly mastering ‘domination.’

Chris knew he had to set his traps well in advance if he wanted any hope of toppling that Pope.

“Now’s the time.”