Edward knelt on the blood-soaked floor, his chest torn open, his breath ragged. He was barely holding himself up with one hand gripping Sealed Artifact 1-114. His collar had come undone, revealing his pale neck — and the faint shimmer of a green garland resting against his skin.
Soft, emerald light spread from it, wrapping around him like a gentle mist. The gaping hole in his chest stopped bleeding. The organs beneath began to knit back together, creeping slowly until they started functioning again.
That Sealed Artifact… the one with healing power!
Caesar's eyes widened in realization. He remembered seeing Ms. Daly use that same garland before — to heal someone on the verge of death. He had no idea Edward had secretly kept it for himself.
This bastard!
They'd agreed in the carriage to reveal each other's abilities before the fight. Clearly, Edward had held something back. Caesar's lip twitched — though he quickly remembered he'd done the same. He had no right to complain.
Fine. No time for that now.
He shook the thought away and threw himself at the magic array, hands trembling as he worked to rewrite the symbols as fast as he could.
Strangely, his body felt lighter now — the illness that had been eating away at him moments ago was gone. But across the chamber, Ms. M's face had flushed red. Her breathing quickened, her expression twisting with pain.
Edward had used the chaos scepter again — confusing the "rules" of reality itself, swapping Caesar's illness onto her.
"Don't interfere with me!"
Ms. M's voice tore through the room like a whip. Her calm façade shattered. From within the squirming sea of flesh around her, she raised her hand, and several crimson fireballs burst into existence, swirling violently before launching straight at Edward.
"Boom!"
The air shook.
Edward didn't flinch. He looked at her coldly, lifted the scepter again, and slammed it down.
"Crack!"
His body cracked audibly, like a statue breaking apart. But as the scepter struck the ground, the fireballs suddenly swerved midair — and shot back toward Ms. M.
They exploded against her, flames wrapping her body. Her scream wasn't one of pain — it was fury. Edward's interference had stopped her from disrupting Caesar's ritual rewrite, forcing her to burn instead.
Caesar didn't dare stop. Sweat rolled down his face, his breathing shallow. Almost there. Just a little more.
He clenched his jaw. Edward had said the chaos scepter could only be used three times before backlash. This was the fifth time. Every swing was tearing his life apart — and yet the man still kept going.
Finally, as Ms. M writhed in the fire, Caesar carved the last rune. The Blood and Flesh Abyss had been completely rewritten.
He raised his dagger and chanted in Hermes:
"The Lord that Created Everything,
The Lord who Reigns Behind the Curtain of Shadows,
The Degenerate Nature of all Living Things"
As the chant filled the air, the magic circle flared with light. Caesar threw the dagger down, stepped inside, and shouted again, this time calling the True Creator's full title.
Reality trembled.
Something vast and incomprehensible turned its gaze upon him. His thoughts warped instantly — filled with gibberish, madness, and endless whispers. If not for the interference of the illusory tide, his mind would've snapped completely.
But time was running out. Caesar endured the pain, voice trembling but firm as he prayed:
"May the Lord's gaze linger upon it,
May the Lord's mercy bestow grace,
Let the fallen flesh receive the Lord's baptism!"
"You insane fool!"
Ms. M's face twisted in horror and rage. "You're trying to use the Lord's divine body as a flesh bomb?!"
Yes. That was exactly what Caesar planned. He had rewritten the ritual — turning the abyss summoning circle into one that would invoke the True Creator's Flesh Magic and detonate the mass of living meat.
Come on, True Creator… blow up your own ritual. Blow us all to hell.
The circle pulsed violently. Caesar's blood glowed, his spirituality burning bright — but no divine power came.
Nothing happened.
Ms. M's anger melted into a chilling calm. Slowly, she smirked.
"Caesar," she said softly, almost pityingly. "Do you really think the Lord would destroy His own descent? Do you think He'd grant you power for that?"
Her words hit him like ice water.
For a moment, Caesar just stared blankly. He'd called upon the True Creator's name so many times, borrowed His power so easily, that he'd forgotten — the True Creator wasn't just mad. He was aware. He gave power only when it served His will.
Why would He destroy His own ritual?
A bitter laugh slipped from Caesar's throat. The hope he'd fought for, the desperate plan that had cost so much, suddenly felt like a cruel joke.
Ms. M's burned skin was already regenerating. She no longer seemed rushed. With eerie calm, she gently stroked the giant mass of flesh beside her. Divine light began pouring into it from above, wrapping it in layers of glowing brilliance. The will of the True Creator descended, and a heavy pull dragged at Caesar, drawing him closer to the core.
The ritual wasn't stopping.
Is this it? Is it all over?
His fingers trembled as he reached into his coat and pulled out a white bone flute — his last resort.
But then, that dreadful, familiar sound came again.
Knock… knock…
Edward's ribs bulged grotesquely. His waist swelled, and black flesh tore through his uniform. Yet, despite his body's collapse, he still held tight to the Sealed Artifact.
And then — unbelievably — he raised the chaos scepter again.
For the sixth time.
He slammed it down.
The world fractured.
Space twisted. The area around Ms. M and the flesh mass warped like a melting painting. Rules disintegrated. Tentacles burst out, smashing into the array, triggering waves of explosions. Others coiled around Ms. M, dragging her screaming into the creature's heart.
"You… blasphemers!" she shrieked, her voice barely human.
It was working — but not enough.
More chaos… it needs more chaos!
Without hesitation, Caesar turned and shouted, "Give it to me!"
Edward's eyes met his. His body was coming apart — fragments of flesh sliding from his bones — yet he still managed to let out a breathless chuckle. Then, with trembling fingers, he released the scepter, letting Caesar take it.
Before he fell, Edward glanced at the unconscious Ms. Daly lying nearby. With a faint smile, he lifted the green garland from his neck and placed it around hers. The emerald glow spread instantly, closing her wounds — even the terrible cut at her throat vanished without a trace.
A soft tenderness crossed his eyes, gone almost immediately. His voice returned sharp, as always:
"Take her and go! And tell Dunn— don't be a coward. I'll despise him if he is."
"Got it!"
Caesar grabbed the garland, feeling its power flow through him, knitting his wounds shut. Strength flooded back into his limbs. He hoisted Daly onto his back and sprinted toward the exit.
Wind roared in his ears. He burst out through the shattered gates, racing down the ruined street as fast as his legs would take him.
Up ahead, distant carriages were approaching — maybe reinforcements.
"Stop—"
"BOOM!!!"
The rest of his words vanished in the explosion.
A massive shockwave slammed into his back, throwing him into the air. The blast tore through his lungs, stealing his breath. For a split second, his vision flickered — and everything went dark.