"Shaka!"
This terrifying being became a Gold Saint at seven years old, grasped the cycle of life and death in childhood, and could converse with gods and buddhas, known as "the man among the Gold Saints whose power is closest to a god."
There are legends that Shaka is the reincarnation of the Buddha, so he could speak with gods and buddhas from a young age.
Damian naturally knew how strong Shaka was.
In the coming Holy War, while conversing with gods and buddhas, Shaka would comprehend Alaya-vijnana (the Eighth Sense), becoming the first of this generation's Gold Saints to awaken the eighth sense.
At present, the only one in the Sanctuary who could be compared with Pope Dark Saga was this handsome man with golden hair drifting in the wind, eyes closed.
Standing beside the Pope, he showed no ripples of aura, yet was filled with solemn dignity, like a statue of a Buddha.
Never mind the other three Gold Saints for the moment.
A godlike man.
The man whose power comes closest to a god's.
Those two together could even take on a deity.
Add the rest of the lineup and it was an instant-kill formation—more than enough for a Holy War.
To call in a roster like this was both flattering and alarming.
Comrade Saga, are you that sure I'm the one who beat you up?
Or did those two signature pecs on my chest betray me? Not even the Pegasus Cloth can cover this chest?
"You people who break Sanctuary rules should all be punished!"
"Doru, you stole gold from the Sanctuary. You deserve death."
Gigas barked, "Do you plead guilty?"
"No, I'm innocent. They're lying about me, I'm being framed."
The guy who'd just stolen the golden cup flatly denied it: "I've said it over and over, I'm just a collector."
Asterion of Hounds sneered: "You hid the stolen gold cup under the third old tree at the entrance to the Silver Stone House."
The thief stared at Asterion in disbelief, eyes blank.
"I can easily sense what people are thinking. Your thoughts form images in my mind."
Asterion's eerie smile made every prisoner present quake with fear.
The headsman with the great axe said nothing, pressed the "collector" onto the block, and brought the axe down, lopping off the prisoner's head.
Blood gushed, the head rolled.
Asterion turned to a scrawny Sanctuary guard: "Guard Hado, you've stolen female Saints' undergarments multiple times. That is downright disgusting..."
"In your pocket, there's also an unwashed pair of women's pantyhose."
At that, the guard went pale. A soldier yanked at his pocket and indeed pulled out a slightly sour-smelling pair of pantyhose.
"That's the one I lost last week..."
Marin couldn't help muttering under her breath.
"My father... my father is a Silver Saint..."
The pantyhose collector shouted, "You can't kill me!"
"Execute!"
Gigas's voice was icy.
With a scream, the brother with unusual tastes was beheaded as well, blood splattering on the spot.
"Help—"
One kneeling offender leapt up and ran.
Aphrodite, face ashen, merely lifted a hand; a black rose pierced the man's heart. He even winked at Damian, a hint not to run.
The rest were so terrified they didn't even dare cry.
"If I remember right, this Silver Saint Asterion of Hounds has mind-reading, so he can form images of what others think right in his mind."
Seeing this, Damian felt cold sweat bead on his brow.
At this rate, Saga would rather kill the wrong man than let one slip.
Beheading someone over a pair of women's pantyhose?
Brutal doesn't begin to cover it—so much for human rights.
Well, in the Sanctuary, the Pope is law; human rights aren't worth squat against royal power.
A Sanctuary ruled by a madman is a hell on earth.
If this keeps up, I really might flip the table and walk.
"Next."
Asterion turned his gaze to the bald hulk beside Damian.
"Hutuke, you like to roam at night for no reason. Why is that..."
The bald hulk's eyes turned vicious and he suddenly sneered, "Heh heh heh, heh heh heh..."
Asterion blanched: "He... he's a Specter."
What?
Everyone present was shocked.
"Hahaha..."
The bald hulk laughed aloud. His skin wrinkled; the dusky outer layer shattered in an instant, his face peeled away, revealing a face enclosed in a Surplice mask, that purple armor, and even a pair of wings sprouting from his back.
No mistake about it—this guy was a Specter.
A Specter had actually infiltrated the Sanctuary?
Everyone looked stunned.
Even the Gold Saints were moved.
This Specter hid himself well; standing in front of them all, he'd seemed perfectly normal.
Damian was surprised too. He'd sensed something off about the bald guy's aura, but hadn't expected him to be a winged Specter.
His concealment was impressive.
Likely a plant Pandora set in the Sanctuary.
Athena hadn't even returned to the Sanctuary yet, and Specters were already undercover?
Fine, credit where it's due.
The main plot was veering so far off course, he didn't even want to bother anymore.
"So what if you found me out?"
"I, Celestial Swift Star Sylphid, am a man who flies."
With a light stomp, he snapped the shackles, shot into the air, and streaked toward the edge of the Sanctuary.
That's right, I've got wings, I can fly!
And he was fast.
Like a supersonic fighter jet, he whooshed away from the execution ground.
"Ahahahaha..."
His brazen laughter even echoed from the sky in the distance.
It looked like he might really escape.
"...Demon Pacifier!"
With that soft utterance, a rocket-like pillar of light lanced out and, in the blink of an eye, struck Celestial Swift Star Sylphid.
Boom!
The Specter exploded outright, like a firework blooming and then vanishing without a trace.
Shaka made his move!
One strike, instant kill.
Silence fell all around.
Truly the Sanctuary's strongest Gold Saint—one blow, and the Specter didn't even leave a hair behind.
Watching Shaka light the Specter up like a firework,
a bead of cold sweat trickled down Damian's brow.
In this situation, even flipping the table would take some thought.
If worst came to worst, he'd drop a Titan Nova and bolt into another dimension.
"Next."
Gigas said blandly.
Asterion fixed his gaze on Damian, mind-reading kicking in at once: "Speak, gravekeeper Damian. What crime have you committed?"
Damian said nothing, his face a picture of misery, acting dialed up to max.
Asterion probed and sucked in a sharp breath, muttering under his breath, "Filthy."
"Asterion, what did you see?"
Gigas asked.
"I saw Marin and Shaina..."
Asterion trailed off midway, then, under everyone's gaze, said awkwardly, "They... weren't... wearing... clothes."
The scene fell silent, expressions turning odd.
"Damian's brain is acting up again."
"Shameless."
Shaina and Marin both cursed him inwardly.
Many Saints present got the idea—some rolled their eyes, some marveled, some gave a stealthy thumbs-up.
Madmen do find their fun; even on the chopping block, he was thinking about women.
Little did they know, that was exactly the result Damian wanted.
His Star-Absorbing Art or a telekinetic barrier could completely block so-called mind-reading, but that would only expose him. Better to use a cruder trick—the daydreaming method.
In the end, Asterion just shook his head, face burning red: "Your Holiness, I can't read what this gravekeeper is thinking. All I can see are the female Saints Shaina and Marin; they are..."
Asterion never finished.
The images were too vivid; two streams of nosebleed trickled from his nostrils...
Word had long spread that the gravekeeper Damian had mental issues and bizarre speech and behavior. Now it seemed his brain really was fried; even on the execution ground he was letting his thoughts run wild.
Still, the man sure knew a lot of tricks.
"Enough—execute them all!"
Gigas waved his hand broadly.
"I object!"
"I'm just a peaceable gravekeeper. Why do you want to execute me?"
Damian shot back at once.
"Silence. You've been reported for privately buying and selling graves, privately selling food and snacks, and privately healing people... and His Holiness discovered you've awakened your Cosmo and intentionally hidden your strength. Your intentions are vile!"
Spittle flew from Gigas's mouth: "Your crimes are heinous!"
"What did you say? You old geezer!"
Seeing the old geezer refuse to reason, Damian's muscles swelled and he struck a pose:
"Say that again if you dare?"
(End of Chapter)
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