The Temple of Mars—
Lucius looked up at the ancient structure before him.
Though worn by the passage of time, its dilapidated state couldn't hide the grandeur it once held.
"Are there detection spells at the entrance? Or defenses that attack intruders on sight?"
Standing on the road at a safe distance from the temple, Lucius cautiously consulted the loli demon in his mind.
"There are no automatic counterattacks, likely to avoid harming stray passersby. But detection spells are in place—any stranger entering will be noticed immediately," The demon replied softly, her voice tinged with a subtle heaviness.
Lucius didn't catch the nuance.
"Can you find a flaw in the spell, a path that won't alert its caster right away?" He asked.
Stealth was preferable to a frontal assault.
This was Rome, enemy territory.
If he got held up, reinforcements could arrive, and the outcome wouldn't be pleasant.
To seize the divine artifact, the later he was discovered, the better.
"Aren't you worried I'd give you a wrong path, getting you caught right away?" The demon said, her face stiffening, her tone odd. "I didn't know you trusted me this much."
"You don't have a reason to do that, do you?" Lucius replied without hesitation.
He'd already considered this before making the request.
"Even if you led me astray and I got spotted, I could retreat as soon as I sensed something off. At worst, I'd lose a shot at the artifact."
"But that would damage the fragile trust we've built."
"Even if I got into trouble, the odds of me needing to beg you for help are low."
"If you were certain of success, that'd be one thing. But risking our shaky trust for a slim chance? Not worth it."
"So—" Lucius raised the bottle, staring at it as if seeing the demon through its walls—and indeed, her image appeared in his vision.
"You won't deceive me on this, right?"
He said.
He hadn't been sure of her intentions before saying this.
That's why he needed her to hear it.
"I understand," The demon said after a brief silence, flashing a radiant smile.
"I won't trick you on this."
"Good," Lucius smiled. "Show me the way in."
"The detection spell has no flaws," The demon said, eyeing the temple's main entrance. "But—I can teach you how to disrupt it."
"Follow my markers and channel your magic."
The loli demon spoke softly.
…
With her guidance, Lucius disabled the entrance spell but didn't rush in.
He waited patiently for several minutes, ensuring no anomalies arose within the temple before cautiously stepping inside.
"Tch—trust, huh…" The demon's lips curved slightly, her voice a mix of wistfulness and mockery.
"Just being cautious," Lucius said lightly.
No mocking retort came, as he'd expected, making him raise an eyebrow in surprise.
He thought she'd put on her usual fake-crying act…
But time was tight, and he couldn't dwell on it.
Having defeated Liliana of the Copper-Black Cross, reinforcements were likely on their way. Even if his infiltration went unnoticed for now, he didn't have much time.
With that in mind, he carefully avoided conspicuous spots, heading straight for the location the demon indicated.
But—
"Something's off."
After a step, Lucius's voice came out hoarse.
Pressure.
Killing intent.
A sense of crisis—
It was like the feeling described in some stories, akin to a scientist inspecting an alien probe's flawless surface, overwhelmed by dread.
And that line—
"Foolish child, run!" Lucius muttered to himself, spinning toward the exit without hesitation.
Like hell he'd stay!
Waiting to die?
But—
"Today, you trespass in my temple, just as you once invaded my land—"
A voice, steeped in majesty and hatred, thundered.
Like a storm, like a gale.
Its divine cadence echoed across the sky.
A figure in ill-fitting priestly robes raised a sword.
"Wolf god, revered by the Huns, why flee so soon?"
"Today, your blood will cleanse my disgrace!"
"Today, your corpse will appease my vengeance!"
"Today, your head will honor my fallen nation!"
The "High Priest" Slowly raised the sword, his golden eyes cold with killing intent, his expression grim.
His gaze fixed on the fleeing Lucius, but his pupils reflected a gray wolf.
"Evil wolf god—today—" He raised the divine sword high and hurled it with force.
"I shall sever your head!"
The god's roar cracked like thunder.
The sword struck like lightning.
"Tch." Prepared, Lucius rolled clumsily, barely dodging the rage-fueled strike.
Even so, his back was soaked with blood.
Ignoring the pain, he scrambled up, warily eyeing the enraged figure.
No, not a figure—a god.
Though the body remained human, its spirit had been overtaken by something alien.
Or rather, a god's will had descended into a mortal vessel.
The only silver lining was that it wasn't a full manifestation—just a fragment of divine power and will.
"War god—"
Watching the "god" casually recall the thrown sword with a gesture, Lucius knew exactly who it was.
"Mars!"
Inside the bottle, the demon's smile was faint and strained.
***
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