strokinit Chapter 82 Crimson Scholar
Chapter 82 Crimson Scholar
Time passed by, second by second.
Olivier could sense that the spiritual concentration in the room was rising rapidly.
The light from the magic circle grew brighter and brighter.
The deep red spiritual energy surrounding Veronica had gradually condensed from a flame-like form into a tangible, blood-like viscous liquid, slowly swirling around her.
Her aura is undergoing a qualitative change.
"Damn it..."
Olivier gritted his teeth, severed the arm of one of the Blood Servants with a single sword strike, and at the same time dodged the attack of another Blood Servant.
His left shoulder was slashed open by sharp claws, and blood seeped out.
But he couldn't care less about any of that.
He had to interrupt his promotion.
Otherwise, everyone will die.
Olivier took a deep breath and poured all his spiritual energy into the Black Blade in his hand.
The silver aura on the sword suddenly surged, transforming into a dazzling pillar of light.
"Get out of the way!"
He gripped the sword with both hands and slashed down with all his might towards the magic circle.
The silver sword light tore through the air, and wherever it passed, two high-level blood servants blocking the way were instantly vaporized into ashes.
The sword flashed, aimed straight at Veronica's back.
At that very moment, Veronica opened her eyes.
She slowly turned her head.
Those dark brown eyes had now turned completely crimson, and it seemed as if blood was swirling and boiling deep within their pupils.
As she watched the silver sword light slashing towards her, a mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips.
Then, she held up one finger.
Just a gentle touch.
"Pop".
A soft sound.
It was as if a bubble had burst.
The silver sword light, powerful enough to kill a Sequence 6 sword, suddenly stopped three inches away from her fingertips.
Then, it shattered into pieces.
It turned into countless points of light and dissipated into the air.
Olivier's pupils suddenly contracted.
He felt an indescribable, overwhelming pressure emanating from Veronica.
The oppressive aura was so heavy that his hand holding the sword trembled slightly.
Inside the room, all the high-ranking blood servants knelt down simultaneously, bowing deeply in Veronica's direction.
It was as if they were welcoming their queen.
Veronica slowly stood up.
A crimson spiritual liquid flowed around her, transforming into a magnificent yet blasphemous robe. Embroidered on the robe were intertwined vines, abundant fruits, and distorted human figures.
Her aura had completely changed; it was an aura that was completely beyond his comprehension.
Veronica looked at Olivier, her deep red eyes filled with allure.
"Night Watchman," she said softly, "you have interrupted my promotion."
"As a token of my gratitude..."
She raised her hand, her fingers loosely clenched.
"...I will make you my first sacrifice after my ascension."
Olivier's heart was pounding wildly.
His spiritual intuition was screaming, warning, and telling him to run.
Run away immediately.
Otherwise, you will die.
But he did not run away.
He gripped the Black Blade tightly, and the silver halo on the blade shone again, faint yet resolute.
He looked at Veronica and grinned.
"Sequence 5, impressive, huh?"
He spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
"I've killed more Sequence 5s than you've ever seen."
The moment he finished speaking, Olivier rushed forward.
The longsword pierced straight into Veronica's heart.
Knowing full well that death was inevitable.
Keep moving forward.
Because he was a member of the Night's Watch.
Because behind him are his teammates, innocent people, and this city.
Therefore, he cannot back down.
Not even one step.
But Veronica did not move.
She didn't even look at the sword that was thrust at her.
Her gaze fell on Olivier's face, on his grey eyes that burned with fighting spirit.
Then she smiled.
It wasn't a mocking laugh.
It was a curious smile.
It was as if I had spotted some interesting toy.
"Wait," she said softly.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power.
Olivier's sword stopped abruptly an inch from her chest.
It wasn't that he stopped. It was that his body was immobilized by an invisible force, unable to move.
He couldn't even move a single finger.
Only his eyes can still move, he can still breathe, and he can still speak.
"You..." Olivier gritted his teeth, trying to break free, but the force was like an unshakeable boulder pressing down on him, not moving an inch.
The difference in the sequences is too great.
"Don't be nervous, dear Night's Watchman."
Veronica walked slowly up to him, her deep red eyes scrutinizing him with interest. "Before I kill you, I have a question I'm very curious about."
She tilted her head, her long hair falling down. "You are clearly on the 'Warrior' path, but you have been obscured by the power of the night. I really want to know... The Church of War and the Church of the Night are mortal enemies, fighting from the Third Age to the Fifth Age, their blood feud so deep it could fill the endless sea."
Her fingers gently touched Olivier's chest. He could feel the coldness of her fingertips through his clothes.
"Why would you betray your faith and join a rival church?"
Olivier remained silent.
His eyes became incredibly complex in that instant.
There was pain, struggle, and memories, but in the end, they all transformed into unwavering resolve.
"This is none of your business," he said in a deep, hoarse voice.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Veronica's fingers slowly moved upwards, tracing his neck, and finally gently lifted his chin.
Her movements were gentle, as if she were caressing her lover.
But Olivier could feel the power contained in those fingertips... she could crush his throat at any time if she wanted to.
"If you satisfy my curiosity," Veronica's voice was seductive, "I might consider... sparing your life."
She leaned closer, her deep red eyes meeting Olivier's directly.
"You should know that I am now a Sequence 5 Crimson Scholar."
"And you are merely a 'Weapon Master' of Sequence 7."
"There are two whole sequences in between... and I'm a 'Crimson Scholar' who has been baptized by 'Father God'."
Olivier's breath hitched suddenly.
His eyes widened suddenly.
"Father God...baptism..."
He murmured repeatedly, then, as if understanding something, his voice filled with disbelief: "You are... a member of the Crimson Order?!"
Veronica paused for a moment.
Then she smiled.
They laughed so hard they were shaking and doubled over, as if they had heard the biggest joke ever.
"The Crimson Cult? Oh, my dear, you're so adorable."
She wiped away the tears of laughter, her deep red eyes filled with mockery: "You didn't actually think... I was from 'Prosperous Garden,' did you?"
Olivier's heart sank to the bottom.
The Garden of Desire, the main sect on North Road, worships pleasure and fertility. Although evil, it is at least... somewhat 'orderly'.
And the Crimson Cult...
That was once the most extreme, most insane, and most blasphemous branch of the Rose School.
They worship both pleasure and pain.
It is both giving birth and devouring.
It is both fusion and destruction.
They believe that only through extreme pain and destruction can they please the Mother Tree of Desire and obtain true "grace".
They are complete lunatics.
A monster madder than a madman.
"You..." Olivier took a deep breath, "You are a 'Crimson Scholar' of the Crimson Order..."
"That's right."
Veronica stopped smiling.
Her eyes turned cold and indifferent again.
"So, now you understand?"
She released Olivier's jaw, took a step back, crossed her arms, and looked down at him.
"I'm not playing some childish game of 'resurrecting a deceased wife,' nor am I performing any 'pleasure ritual.'"
"I am offering a sacrifice."
"To sacrifice the lives, desires, pain, and deaths of everyone in this manor to the Mother Tree."
"And Mariana Fairfax, that fortunate woman, will become a new branch of the Mother Tree in this world. Her 'rebirth' will open a new chapter for the Crimson Order in the Northern Continent."
She looked at Olivier's pale face, a wicked smile playing on her lips: "Now, answer my question."
"Why did you betray the Church of the God of War and join the Night?"