NOVEL WEB Chapter 9: Curse
The battlefield was a true massacre. Flames devoured the cobblestones of the Holy Kingdom, the corpses of holy knights and paladins littered the ground, and the stench of blood mixed with the scent of burning incense.
Amidst this chaos, Kael stood with an amused smile on his face, observing the man before him.
The Pope.
He was old, but his gaze held no weariness. A golden light surrounded his body, and his staff, engraved with divine inscriptions, radiated an overwhelming power.
"HERETIC!" he roared, his voice resounding like divine judgment.
Kael raised an eyebrow before bowing slightly.
"Heretic? Me? Such a cruel accusation..."
The Pope clenched his teeth.
"You are surrounded by demonic energy. You have corrupted my knights… and you dared to defile the sacred land!"
Kael sighed.
"Come now… From my perspective, you were the ones who tried to kill me without reason. I simply defended myself."
He took a step forward, his shadow stretching behind him like a ravenous beast.
"Besides, you still haven't answered any of my questions…"
The Pope struck his staff against the ground.
"I have no accounts to render to a demon!"
An explosion of light erupted, creating a shockwave that pushed everyone back. The surviving paladins stepped away, fearful of the confrontation that was about to unfold.
Kael felt a burning sensation on his skin.
[Alert: High-level sacred energy has a purifying effect on your demonic body.]
He narrowed his eyes. So he really is powerful…
But that changed nothing.
He immediately activated his skill.
[Unique Skill: Dominion Over Darkness activated]
Shadows rose around him, darkening the ground and consuming the Pope's golden light.
"I'll ask you one last question…" Kael said, a cold smile on his lips.
He pointed his sword at the old man.
"Is your Holy Kingdom truly as pure as you claim?"
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.
The Pope tightened his grip on his staff.
"Enough talk. Die, demon."
And he attacked.
The sky above the Holy Kingdom had turned black. Thick shadows swirled around Kael, while divine light exploded around the Pope, creating a spectacle worthy of a battle between gods and demons.
"This is impossible..."
The holy knights and even the Saint who had accompanied Kael stepped back, horrified. The demonic energy emanating from him was so overwhelming that they immediately believed he had been cursed.
"He has been… corrupted?!" a paladin exclaimed, his voice trembling.
"No… it's worse," the Saint whispered. "It's as if… he was born a demon..."
Kael's group, who had followed him this far, exchanged uneasy glances. Was he even human anymore?
Kael, however, couldn't care less.
His blood-red eyes locked onto the Pope's.
"So, Venerable Saint, shall we dance?"
The Pope did not reply. He raised his staff, and a rain of golden spears descended from the sky.
"Empyrean Blessing"
The divine spears struck the ground, creating explosions of radiant light. Any demonic being would have been reduced to dust in an instant.
But Kael was no ordinary demon.
[Unique Skill: "Dominion Over Darkness" activated]
His shadow stretched, engulfing the divine spears and reducing them to ashes before they could reach him.
The Pope's eyes widened.
"Impossible…"
Kael smirked.
"Old man, your light is magnificent, but…"
He vanished in an instant.
"…it's not fast enough."
A fraction of a second later, he was behind the Pope.
His black sword sliced through the air, ready to slash the old man's throat.
But at the last moment…
"Divine Judgment."
A blinding explosion erupted between them.
Kael was sent flying backward, crashing into a building.
[Alert: Your demonic energy is being restrained by a superior sacred force.]
He spat blood.
"…Not bad, for an old man…"
The Pope slowly approached, his gaze filled with disgust.
"You are an abomination that should never have existed."
Kael stood up, an amused smile on his face.
"And yet, here I am… and I'm about to show you why."
He raised his hand.
[Unique Skill: "Master of Manipulation" activated]
The paladins and priests watching the battle began to hesitate. Doubt crept into their minds.
What if the Pope… was actually the heretic?
Kael chuckled.
"Old man, your greatest weakness… is that humans are so easy to manipulate."
The Pope gritted his teeth.
"YOU HAVE NOT DEFEATED ME YET!"
The final battle had only just begun.
The entire Holy Kingdom was in shock.
Kael, shrouded in an overwhelming demonic aura, stood before the Pope, a smirk on his face.
But instead of fearing him…
It was the Pope who had become the enemy in everyone's eyes.
"The Pope… cursed this young man?" a priest exclaimed in horror.
"That's impossible! Only a heretic would dare use such curses!"
"Then… could the Pope be an impostor?!"
The murmurs turned into shouts.
Amused, Kael raised his hands as if he were innocent.
"My friends… look at me."
He pointed to his own body, still wrapped in demonic energy.
"I, a mere noble, came here seeking justice for my fiancée… and this is what this old man did to me!"
Accusatory gazes turned toward the Pope.
The old man, pale, tried to regain his authority.
"Silence! Do not let this demon manipulate you!"
But it was too late.
A trembling paladin stepped forward.
"Your Holiness… did you truly use forbidden magic?"
The Pope furrowed his brows.
"I am no heretic!"
But his words rang hollow.
Kael, meanwhile, continued his performance.
"Look… look at what he has done to my poor, innocent body!"
With a theatrical gesture, he raised his hand and activated his skill.
[Skill: "Purification"]
A sacred light burst from his hands and enveloped his body.
The demonic energy dissipated…
…revealing Kael, once again pure.
Silence fell.
Then…
"HE PURIFIED HIMSELF! HOW?!"
"Only someone pure can use Purification!"
"Then… Kael Draven is blessed by divinity… and the Pope used a forbidden curse?"
The crowd erupted.
The paladins pointed their spears at the Pope.
"Your Holiness… we cannot ignore this."
Sweating, the Pope realized he had lost.
Kael stepped closer, a triumphant smile on his lips.
"Old man… you tried to make me look like a demon… but look who is now the heretic in everyone's eyes."
The Pope stepped back, his eyes wild.
"NO! I AM GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT—"
He didn't get to finish.
The paladins charged.
And the Pope fell… overthrown by his own people.
Kael crossed his arms, watching the scene with satisfaction.
"Well… that was easier than expected."
The Holy Kingdom had just lost its leader.
And Kael…
…had just pulled off a masterstroke.
The next morning, the Pope's execution was announced.
In the grand plaza of the Holy Kingdom, a massive crowd had gathered.
The bells tolled.
The old man, once feared and respected, stood on the platform, his wrists bound in chains.
His gaze shifted between the crowd and Kael, who watched the scene with a relaxed expression, a glass of wine in hand.
"ALL OF YOU! YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE! I AM GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE!" the Pope shouted, his voice warped by panic.
But no one listened.
Alvina Fitzroy (the saint to whom Kael had given the rose), dressed in a pristine white robe, stepped forward with divine presence.
"You used forbidden magic. You cursed an innocent man. You betrayed the faith."
She raised her hand.
"Let divine justice be served."
The executioner swung his sword.
The Pope's reign ended in a splash of blood.
Kael, still sipping his wine, raised an eyebrow.
"Well… they don't mess around with betrayal here."
The crowd cheered for Alvina, who was officially named Supreme Saint and the new ruler of the Holy Kingdom.
Kael, on the other hand, was delighted.
A powerful ally had just ascended the throne… thanks to him.
As Kael basked in his triumph, a group of saints approached him.
"Lord Kael… we have detected an anomaly in your energy."
Kael froze.
"Excuse me?"
Alvina, still radiating majesty, placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yesterday's Purification did not completely erase the curse you suffered. Your body is still affected by traces of demonic energy."
"Wait… so I'm still part demon?" Kael asked, concerned.
"A little, yes."
Kael pretended to faint.
"Oh no! Must I sacrifice my incredible beauty for an exorcism?"
A saint sighed.
"We will simply administer holy water potions."
Kael took a step back.
"Uh… Holy water? Isn't that supposed to burn demons?"
"Precisely. If it burns, that means you are too corrupted."
Kael did not like that answer.
But he had no choice.
The saints made him drink one potion after another…
And with each sip, he felt a strange divine warmth coursing through his body.
"Aaah! I'm burning! No, wait… it's warm… but pleasant?!"
Alvina crossed her arms, puzzled.
"Your constitution is truly bizarre."
Kael winked at her.
"Everything about me is bizarre, my dear Saint."
After this forced hydration session, Kael decided to stay a few more days in the Holy Kingdom.
His official excuse?
"I need to ensure a smooth transition of power."
His real reason?
"To enjoy luxury and the beautiful saintly women who now worship me."
Kael knew he had toppled a pillar of the world…
And he fully intended to reap the rewards.