The combination of Corruption, Decay, and the purgatory flames birthed something sinister.

A white celestial flare ripped violently through the scape, devouring everything in sight.

Air, space, matter — all the absolute elements weren't exempt. The flare released a blinding flash so intense, everyone had no choice but to close their eyes.

All those in Roy's territory, even though behind the massive covering of Aegis, felt their hearts palpitate violently as they feared imminent death.

The raging element was definitely going to consume them if care wasn't taken.

The sinister force tore through reality, making no noise. After all, there was no air, no vibration — everything was consumed instead.

Due to the massive rift leading to the corrupt plains being nearby, the sinister force spilled over into the rift, promising that even the Variants wouldn't escape unscathed.

The force raged, consuming the battlefield, slowly looming toward the Aegis, hungry to ravage everything in sight.

Everyone's heart turned cold despite the searing blistering heat licking their skin.

Silent and sinister like a black hole, the flare traveled slowly, consuming all in its path, moving toward and aiming to consume the Aegis when suddenly…

[Merits have been calculated…]

[Merit: 670,879,034]

[Imminent disaster detected. To protect territory, 500,000,000 merit points will be expended to avoid doom…]

These series of blood-red texts appeared right before Richard's gaze.

He was the second in command of the territory, so with Roy unavailable, it was only natural he was the one to make this choice.

He glanced around instinctively, searching for his Boss.

"Is he really dead?"

His heart shivered at the question. He shook his head fervently.

"N-no… there's no way that can be… right?"

He wasn't the only one hoping for Roy's arrival. Everyone tensed, and though fearful of death, they waited for their Lord to deliver them from this situation.

"Wait, where is Jake?" Sharp-eyed Dio exclaimed.

As though in response, space not far from Richard fluctuated.

Five steaming figures landed — all naked, gaunt, and steaming.

The four humans among them had their skins covered in burns. A little slime at the side bubbled, its frame still boiling.

Everyone's breath caught. They couldn't recognize the other two, but they could make out Jake and Roy for sure.

It was then Richard recalled Jake's spatial ability.

"He must have forced through to save the Boss at the last moment. But in return… are they still alive?"

He bent over worriedly, placing two fingers over Roy's burnt, scorched neck.

Silence reigned as everyone watched. For a moment, they forgot about the encroaching disaster.

Richard's eyes lit up. Though faint, he could definitely sense it.

Their master was alive.

This change in expression was noticed by the rest, and everyone exhaled.

"Good. Now to get us all out of this mess…" Solemnly, Richard traded all the merits earned in blood. He had no choice — either this or they took the merits to their graves.

[Merit received… Averting disaster…]

The blood-red screen flickered for a moment, then vanished.

Right outside the massive construct of Aegis, the celestial flare loomed dangerously close when, from the void, world chains suddenly protruded.

This time, with no will or sentient force resisting their suppression, they were noticeably more domineering.

The ethereal chains weren't ordinary constructs. Naturally, when they wrapped around the sinister flares — though this raging element was intangible and apocalyptic — the chains formed a wall that blocked it.

Chains blanketed the sky like an unshakable curtain of protection, halting the forceful flares and prohibiting further rampage.

The raging force thrashed violently against the curtain of chains, even seeking to devour it, but the chaos remained pristine, unshakable, and unbreakable.

Grrrrrr!

The earth rumbled as the curtains moved, pressing forward slowly but unimpeded by the wrathful might of the element.

The world's aim was sinister yet simple: it planned to pour the dangerous element into the rift leading to the corrupt plains.

---

The abyssal plains of corruption…

Voldyk stood on the platform. Behind him was the King — the Evil Seat of Gluttony — and the Second Hand, the undead knight Avada.

And also, there was the broiling shadow of darkness in the corner — definitely Belzebub.

Suddenly, the shadow of corruption faded, its vile abominable true form coming into light.

Compared to its avatar used in Arcana, there were similarities. Only this one held a more oppressive presence — its carapace more compact, inscribed with ancient runes pulsing with lines of vile decay.

Its crimson gaze burned into life as its aura plummeted suddenly. It clasped its knees, putrid black blood streaming from its mandibles.

The backlash of going against a world finally hit where it hurt.

All three demons present gazed at Belzebub, eyes holding anything but worry. Voldyk held doubt, Avada's gaze remained cold and listless, and the King looked expectant.

The King's unpleasant voice rang out, drool streaming from the sides of its lips.

"Tell me you have good news…"

Three gazes burned into Belzebub's frame. It trembled faintly. To others, it might appear domineering and disdainful, but before its King and these two equals, it didn't dare act complacent — especially with the damage its soul had just suffered.

"Y-yes, my lord… I made sure to kill the bastard Lord…" Belzebub answered, still bowing.

Voldyk's sockets blazed, eerie flames in the depths dancing more intensely. Its bony jaw rattled, eldritch voice ringing a question:

"Did you see it die?"

The question was followed by suffocating silence. Though an insect, nervous sweat drenched Belzebub.

"I-I didn't… but my lord, I made sure to leave behind a gift that I'm sure it definitely would never survive… not at its level."

The King's gaze narrowed, hungry eyes examining Belzebub for a second, when suddenly…

"Hmmmm??"

Flaming pure white flares spilled from the rift. Lower-leveled Variants swarming the rift, waiting hungrily to tread into the Ether plane, were incinerated on its passage.

Voldyk glanced at the spilling element, bony hands stroking its skinless jaws.

"I see. You put all into the attack, huh? It definitely shouldn't survive, even if it has ten lives…"

The King gazed at the force and nodded.

"If this is a mere spillover from the attack, then the main thing should eat through the territory completely… It's a pity, so much delectable divinity incinerated into nothing."

The King shook its head in disappointment, wiping drool from its mouth.

Voldyk consoled:

"No need to worry, sire. This is just a single territory. We don't yet know how large this Ether plane is, but it is sure to hold more…"

The King's eyes lit up as it nodded.

"True…" Drool streamed once more.

Suddenly, ever-silent Avada spoke, its voice inhumanly stoic and cold.

"Is it only me, or is this thing raging more than a spillover should?"

The three turned to look — and indeed, the undead knight was right. The apocalyptic force poured through the rift more intensely than it should…

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