Chapter 16 – Deicide
Stepping out of the Divine Trial Ground, what met Dante Voss's eyes were rows of exquisite manors.
Every building and road here was pure white, with flowers and lawns everywhere, making the place look like a dreamland.
Dante Voss carefully surveyed the surroundings; only after confirming no one else was around did he walk toward the manors.
At the gate of each manor stood two guards in heavy armor holding long spears. Sensing them, Dante Voss found them stronger than the Administrator, yet still unable to stop him.
What worried Dante Voss wasn't the guards, but the names carved above every mansion gate.
He was looking for the name [Arabela]—the residence of the Celestial Dragon called Saint Mike.
After continuous searching,
he finally spotted that name on one manor.
A strange smile tugged at Dante Voss's lips as he silently crept toward the gate guards.
Seeing the two guards unaware, Dante Voss burst forward.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two swift sword arcs flashed; the guards had no chance to resist and were cleaved in half along with their armor.
[Killed a guard: +10 slaughter points]
[Killed a guard: +10 slaughter points]
Against Iron-Cleaving Swordsmanship, armor was a joke.
Dragging the bodies into the grass, Dante Voss stepped into the estate.
The manor was huge and beautiful.
White walls carved with delicate patterns flanked a carefully trimmed garden brimming with colorful blossoms.
At the center stood a luxurious palace-like mansion whose bright lights shone like a radiant pearl.
Dante Voss approached a window and peered inside.
There were about a dozen people within; two in ornate clothes sat on chairs—undoubtedly Celestial Dragons.
After checking for no powerful auras, Dante Voss's eyes turned icy as he walked toward the entrance... In the grand hall,
Saint Winston sat in the main seat, scolding his distracted son.
"How many times have I told you not to mention that Harvey Saint outside? He is no longer my brother!"
Hearing today that Mike Saint had spoken of his brother again infuriated Winston Saint.
His younger brother had been different since childhood, fond of weapons and fighting.
An utter misfit compared with the rest of the Arabela family Celestial Dragons.
Every time Winston tried to reprimand him, Harvey Saint brushed it off.
Later, when Harvey Saint actually joined the "God's Knights," Winston finally shut up.
Yet whenever he heard outsiders praise his brother, he felt humiliated.
Eventually the two stopped contacting each other.
But his son adored Harvey Saint and kept bringing up "Uncle" outside.
"If I don't mention him, mentioning you would work?" Mike Saint muttered, not daring to retort aloud.
Celestial Dragons feared only the God's Knights.
So he kept name-dropping the uncle he had barely met.
Whenever he did, surrounding Celestial Dragons grew wary—a delightful feeling.
"Right, I heard the Slave you bought died? Good-for-nothing! I told you he was useless, yet you insisted! Beaten by a common arena Slave."
Recalling this, Winston Saint's anger flared again.
"You spendthrift! With those hundreds of millions of Berries I could've bought several mermaids."
Thinking of the beautiful mermaids in other Celestial Dragons' palaces, Winston Saint burned with envy.
Aren't lovely mermaids better? Why buy lowly pirate Slaves?
"It was an accident!"
Remembering today's arena match, Mike Saint fumed. Glaring at his father he shouted,
"What use are mermaids? They stink of fish! Just give me the money! I'll buy a stronger Slave."
"You—"
Winston Saint, hearing his son still coveted his Berries, was too angry to speak.
In fury he slapped Mike Saint across the face.
Smack!
"You dared hit me!"
Mike Saint's eyes bulged in disbelief.
Never in his life had anyone struck him.
Feeling the burning pain, he snapped and lunged at his father.
The two fat men scuffled like grade-schoolers, rolling across the floor.
Below them the servants knelt, trembling, not daring to look up.
Boom!
As the farce inside escalated, a thunderous crash from the entrance startled everyone.
All eyes turned toward the door; even the two brawling Celestial Dragons froze.
Their mansion door lay flat on the ground. In the doorway stood a youth in scarlet clothes, a blood-stained sword in hand.
His face was calm as he looked at the two Celestial Dragons, fearless.
Winston Saint, seeing blood-covered Dante Voss, felt a stab of fear but forced himself to stand and demand,
"Who are you? Breaking into my residence—do you want to die?"
Noticing Dante Voss wore none of the Celestial Dragons' distinctive garments, Winston Saint added,
"Lowly mortal, you've committed a capital offense! Kneel and await divine judgment."
The other servants rose and solemnly moved toward Dante Voss.
As retainers of the Arabela estate, they had to protect their master or die.
But Mike Saint was utterly panicked.
He collapsed, staring at Dante Voss in disbelief.
Hadn't he ordered Vic to bring this Slave?
What was happening?
How had the Slave come alone?
Without shackles and armed with a sword.
A chill ran through Mike Saint; Dante Voss's performance this afternoon was still vivid.
He didn't believe Dante Voss came to be tortured.
The more he thought, the more terrified he became, his body shaking uncontrollably.
As the servants surrounded him, Dante Voss's eyes turned cold; he swung his sword and charged.
One exchange left every servant in the hall dead.
[Killed a commoner: +1 Slaughter Point]
[Killed a commoner: +1 Slaughter Point]
... Seeing his men slaughtered, Winston Saint panicked and raised his pistol to shoot Dante Voss.
"Damned peasant, die—"
But Dante Voss had already noticed. Before the shot, he dashed forward and slashed at Winston Saint's arm.
Gunshots were too conspicuous; he couldn't alert the guards.
Aaaargh!"
Winston Saint screamed, clutching his severed arm and rolling on the floor.
Dante Voss had no time to savor the agony; he slit Winston Saint's throat, sending him to hell.
[Killed a World Noble: +1 Slaughter Point]
Ignoring the message, Dante Voss stared at the corpse in anticipation.
Under his expectant gaze, Winston Saint's body began to glow.
This time the light was actually golden!