By the time I regained my senses, humanity had already figured out the devil’s tricks, each time more difficult than the last.
"But you see, I am not like them; since I have come, I have no plans to go back."
Confident in its backup plans, the Thousand-Eyed Demon cackled darkly: "Experience is mutual. Just as you have come to understand our habits, so too have we learned about yours."
"That’s right, the Holy See hasn’t planned for you to return either," Gunther said with a mysterious smile, not waiting for the Thousand-Eyed Demon to question further, Renata’s eyes shone with gold light, and a pair of white light wings emerged from her back.
As the wings unfurled, they transformed from illusion into corporeal feathers.
An angel had descended!
There was no change in the sky or land, nor any grand radiance; there was barely a ripple in the calm breeze and light clouds.
According to the agreement signed between the Holy See and the Royal Family, the Holy See could take on the mission of banishing the devil, but they had to do so without causing a commotion. For this reason, Gunther had specifically cast a spell to alter the light and shadows of the entire building.
Ordinary people did not witness the arrival of the angel, which was a loss for the Holy See. Conversely, because ordinary people did not see the devil, they would not be driven by curiosity to seek out and come into contact with the faith of Hell.
Returning to the matter at hand, Renata, holding the Holy Light Spear and surrounded by Holy Scripture Armor, suppressed the demon’s physical form from materializing with her powerful radiance the moment she appeared.
Being overwhelmingly outclassed left no room for play.
The Thousand-Eyed Demon had other plans in reserve and, when one failed, it immediately retreated, its consciousness scattering among a multitude of Millipedes that scurried across the walls in every direction.
Suddenly, a pure light soared skyward.
Renata raised her spear high as a Golden Wall rose behind her, existing between reality and illusion, adorned with images of angels slaying demons and inscribed with complex and mystical text, emanating an ancient holy aura.
An invisible force spread out, the Magic Array drawn by bat’s blood was consumed by the Holy Flame, and each Millipede was lifted by the invisible force and sent into the Golden Wall.
The Thousand-Eyed Demon was taken aback; the Holy See’s method of exorcism had changed. They did not destroy its consciousness but rather chose to seal it.
Strange, since a seal will inevitably be broken someday, what good does it do you to keep a devil on Earth?
Is this related to the recent activities of Heaven?
Is Heaven preparing to crusade against Hell again?
The Thousand-Eyed Demon pondered much, gave up on escaping, and willingly sent its consciousness into the Golden Wall.
Counterplanning in an instant, it extended several new schemes.
The Golden Wall swept away all the Millipedes, and with Renata piercing it with her spear, the Crucifix Stigmata dispersed, preventing the demon’s consciousness from escaping.
Gunther recited the Golden Rule, and the Golden Wall slowly contracted until it transformed into a stone slab suspended in mid-air.
On the slab, an image of an Evil God, half-human-half-insect, bound by chains and impaled on the ground with a mighty spear.
"Though it’s only a fraction of your consciousness, it will suffice," Gunther commented as he delivered the stone slab to the Golden Rule. He nodded to Renata, who, with a wave of her spear, tore a Spatial Fissure into existence. Both stepped through it.
The Holy See was well-prepared, even joining forces with the Liberty Mage Alliance, and if all went as expected, there should be no surprises.
"Why do I have a feeling something unexpected will happen?"
In the ruins of the old city, a known location for a number base of the Liberty Mage Alliance, three Legendary Mages searched for the passage to the next level. Planck said to his two companions, "Perhaps it’s an illusion, but everything has been going too smoothly."
"Not so smoothly, look ahead," Borne said with slight irritation, muttering about it being a jinx.
A swarm of insects gathered densely before them, reforming into three figures.
"Liberty Mages, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Does anyone wish to take my Faith Magic?"x3
The Thousand-Eyed Demon gazed meaningfully at the three mages committed to freedom, which was often invoked in the name of so much evil. It thought that even with their splendid exterior laid bare, the sordid deals beneath would make even a devil exclaim in horror.
It imagined that these three could not possibly resist the offer!