Deep within the Keystone Gate, there was a small museum.
Its official name was the Demon Sanctuary Museum, housing the past professional achievements of Itogami Senra as the chief designer of Itogami Island, along with historical materials related to the Demon Sanctuary. Both its decor and atmosphere were precisely the kind that would attract tourists or students on field trips.
Yet, within this very museum, an unexpected group had gathered.
Armed individuals outfitted with the latest anti-demon armored suits and firearms were escorting a man in a kimono down into the museum's underground levels.
The sharp-eyed middle-aged man in the kimono—Yaze Akishige—held a phone in his hand as he slowly pushed open a door marked "Staff Only."
Before him lay a space dominated by machinery. Countless screens covered the walls, control panels within the work areas flickered incessantly, and staff were busily calibrating the equipment.
This was the control room for the "Coffin of the Sinful God," an insurance measure set up by Yaze Akishige to prevent any accidents concerning the "Coffin of the Sinful God."
From here, the "Coffin of the Sinful God" could be controlled remotely.
Yaze Akishige glanced briefly at the distant glass container where a girl floated within a deep crimson liquid, then continued walking forward without pause.
"Are you busy, Chairman Yaze? Perhaps I've come at a bad time."
Ahead of Yaze Akishige, a middle-aged man with pale skin sat in a seat, watching Yaze's phone with keen interest.
"My apologies, your timing is perfect," Yaze Akishige said displeasedly, looking at the call Aiba Asagi had just hung up on him, then gave a solemn nod to the middle-aged man. "If anything, thank you for your presence and assistance, President Ren."
MAR's president, Shahryar Ren, gave a slight nod. "This is a mutually beneficial cooperation, after all…"
His eyes fell on the screen showing Arcueid conversing with the "Priestess of Abel," and he murmured softly, "I'm also quite curious about this so-called Fifth Primogenitor who appeared out of nowhere."
The extremely faint voice made Yaze Akishige raise an eyebrow slightly. He walked forward silently and looked at the screen ahead.
"Perfect timing. Please witness with your own eyes our recreation of the power of 'The Cleansing.'"
"'The Cleansing'—the ultimate secret curse invoked by the Sinful God Cain in rebellion and revenge against the gods…" Ren tapped his fingers lightly, his gaze fixed intently on Yaze Akishige's eyes.
"After triggering a new 'The Cleansing,' what do you hope to gain, Chairman Yaze?"
"Heh…" The corners of Yaze Akishige's mouth curled into a high, sharp smile.
"The 'Warlord's Empire' in Europe, the 'Fallen Dynasty' in the Middle East, and the 'Chaos Zone' in Central America—what do these Dominions have in common? You should know, President Ren."
"Oil, natural gas, countless abundant resources."
"Correct. And beyond that, there are those Mystic Eyes, like those on the Mystic Eyes Collection train, which even ordinary humans can use to wield power similar to familiars." Yaze Akishige nodded.
"'The Cleansing' is a great magic capable of altering the world's principles. We will eradicate all demons, liberating those oppressed by the Dominions."
"And seize all that land and those Mystic Eyes for yourselves?" Ren crossed his right leg over his left, a smile playing on his lips.
"Exactly," Yaze Akishige affirmed without hesitation.
"But how do you intend to prove this power?"
"Next, the magical program sealed within the 'Coffin' will be input into Itogami Island. The 'The Cleansing' will be recreated in electronic form."
Ren's questioning brought a confident smile to Yaze Akishige's face, as if this was precisely what he wanted. "We'll use the currently strongest vampire—the Fifth Primogenitor—as our target."
"Sounds rather interesting," Ren said, switching the leg he had crossed and glancing at the screen behind Yaze Akishige. "However, you must first ensure the 'The Cleansing' initiates properly."
Boom—
It was as if a satellite had crashed into the ground. The tremendous impact shook the entire earth.
On the screen, Arcueid's figure had already vanished, replaced by a massive crater leading towards the Keystone Gate.
The shockwave reminded Yaze Akishige of that night half a year ago, when he had been similarly awakened by an impact.
He stood dazed for a few seconds before slowly speaking.
"I will let—"
Before he could finish, the floor beneath him suddenly turned into grains of salt, collapsing downward with a thunderous crash.
--+--
Hearing the calls coming from outside the submarine, Aiba Asagi glanced at the female High Priestess beside her.
"Don't tell me you were talking big online?" The corners of her mouth gradually turned upward. "And now they've tracked you down to dox you."
"..."
The High Priestess paid no attention to Aiba Asagi's words. She silently glanced at the smiling girl before her. "Do you know where your parents have gone?"
The smile instantly vanished from Aiba Asagi's face, her expression turning grave.
As the only suitable candidate for the "Priestess of Cain" discovered from the past until now, the current whereabouts of her parents were self-explanatory.
In that moment of distraction, a deep red light enveloped her.
An intense drowsiness washed over her. Aiba Asagi shot a glare at the High Priestess before slowly closing her eyes.
Itogami Island was an altar for the resurrection of the Sinful God Cain, a stage prepared specifically for Cain's priestess.
As long as Aiba Asagi remained on the island, the life force of the "Priestess of Cain" would be protected by the will of the Sinful God Cain. No one could kill her.
"I cannot harm you, but…" The High Priestess's figure gradually faded from the bounded field, leaving only her faint words echoing in the space. "Next time, go to sleep earlier, Priestess who stays up late."
Splash—
Arcueid leaped out of the water, landing steadily on the submarine.
That earlier impact hadn't just pierced through Itogami Island; it had nearly damaged the submarine as well.
She gently tapped on the submarine's outer hull and softly asked, "Anyone home? 'Priestess of Abel'? Aiba Asagi?"
Silence.
In this underground hollow separated by metal walls, the zeroth layer of the Keystone Gate filled with seawater, only Arcueid's own voice echoed over the water's surface.
Huh?
Arcueid tilted her head.
Strange. This was the key location for activating "The Cleansing." It made no sense for it to be undefended.
Besides, the World told her the "Priestess of Abel" should be right here.
Arcueid narrowed her eyes and raised her right hand.
"If you won't come out… then I'll just destroy this submarine~"
Her hand swept down like a sharp claw, her seemingly delicate arm unleashing a vacuum slash.
And then, it struck a thick metal plate.
The air in front of her suddenly solidified into a metal plate, which was torn apart as easily as fragile paper by Arcueid.
Countless deep red particles of light began to appear out of thin air, surrounding the girl's figure like fireflies.
Inside each tiny red particle, vast amounts of magical script flickered. Each crimson mote was a magic circle imbued with powerful magic.
This was the magic capable of arbitrarily changing the world—"The Cleansing."
The deep red light particles gradually coalesced, and the High Priestess slowly revealed her form within them, a menacing crimson glow swirling around the girl.
Arcueid curled her lips into a smile. The sound of her heels touching the submarine's metal hull echoed steadily as she walked unhurriedly towards the High Priestess.
She stepped lightly onto the stone blocks materialized by her Marble Phantasm ahead, drawing closer and closer to the High Priestess.
"Didn't you say you'd make me taste pain? I'm here now."
No sooner had she spoken than she felt the ground give way beneath her feet.
Somehow, the path beneath her had been covered by a deep red light, transforming into pure white salt grains that crumbled away.
"Heh."
Along with the girl's soft laugh, the crumbling salt was instantly replaced by new stone blocks.
Countless massive rocks materialized out of nowhere around them, which the Princess casually hurled into the water below.
The water level gradually rose as the hollow was slowly filled with the stones.
The High Priestess narrowed her eyes in confusion.
'The Cleansing'…? No, she wasn't altering the form of existing things. She was creating something from nothing.
"Such power, surpassing even a Primogenitor… Where did you even come from?" She slowly raised her hand, red particles of light bursting forth around her.
The atmosphere before Arcueid shimmered like a mirage; the power of the "The Cleansing" was altering the world.
The surrounding stones all turned into salt, but were immediately replaced by new ones.
Could the processing power of five supercomputers not surpass her?
The High Priestess slightly furrowed her brows.
"Ready~" Arcueid crouched low on a stone block, smiling, her legs slightly bent.
Then, she shot forward.
The stone block serving as her path shattered violently, and the water surface shook as if struck by a giant hammer.
In the blink of an eye, the girl's figure appeared right in front of the High Priestess, spinning around to deliver a kick.
The semi-transparent, ghost-like High Priestess gazed calmly at the oncoming Arcueid. She wasn't physically present here; hers was a spectral existence, immune to such physical attacks.
"Super Primogenitor Kick—!"
A sound of tearing air accompanied the slender leg as it struck out.
Arcueid's figure passed straight through her body, crashing into the distant wall with a boom—
A deafening roar that seemed capable of tearing eardrums reverberated all around. The thick metal wall was easily pierced.
"How troublesome," Arcueid waved away the dust, her crimson eyes fixed intently on the High Priestess floating in the air. "If we fight here, won't we just be letting Yaze Akishige reap the rewards?"
"So I brought the descendant of the Sinful God."
The High Priestess raised her free hand, and a deep red light shot like a bullet towards a point overhead.
The hard metal ceiling turned into salt with a whoosh. From within the winding passage now exposed, Yaze Akishige, clutching his arm, fell through.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.