Only God

But that Wizard had no idea that he was naturally able to see the sins within a soul.

Eden reached out to the hunter.

The hunter took a step back,

"Who are you, really?"

"In your eyes, who am I?" Eden asked in return.

He stared intently at the hunter for a long time. He did not answer the hunter's question, nor did he care about the latter's panic. He just kept pressing.

Gradually, the hunter's facial muscles contorted and twisted into a ferocious expression.

"You are so eager to know my true name, Devil."

Like a Prophet, Eden sneered back,

"Tell me, who else could I be?"

"Oh, I certainly know who you are."

The hunter's body began to grow larger. New flesh seemed to be constantly growing inside his body, his hands became extremely long, nearly one and a half meters. His legs also continued to grow, and from his back came the sound of clothes tearing. Twisted flesh grew out, like a pair of a Devil's wings.

"You are God's Messenger."

While speaking, the hunter had completely transformed, his skin taking on a dark red hue, clearly becoming a different creature.

Without wasting words, Eden raised his hand and began chanting in the Ancient Language:

"Sosurassu."

This was the innate ability of a Second Rank Holy Chorus, Holy Conversion.

The Devil had just raised his hand, his sharp fangs and claws ready to tear Eden apart, but was suddenly halted by the falling of the ancient incantation.

His mind was suddenly filled with an explosive pain, like ice melting rapidly in the blazing sun, sizzling as it receded. His hands began to shrink, his skin slowly fading in color, and the twisted flesh appeared to retract back into place.

The Devil let out a panicked shriek. He realized that the nearly obliterated conscience within the hunter's soul was flourishing and launching a formidable assault against him.

"Ah! Damn it!"

The Devil howled,

"Lodzmer, save me!"

Just as the cry for help was uttered, the transformation on the Devil's body suddenly ceased. Eden, in his Spiritual Cultivation State, saw a powerful and malevolent spiritual force pouring into the Devil's body.

"Kanu, Orosismor."

Immediately, Eden followed the source of the power, performing Spirit Realm Teleportation.

His soul instantly left the body, darting like lightning towards the origin of the power.

Lodzmer, lurking in the shadows, seemed to sense something and urgently urged the Devil to act.

With a roar, the Devil fixed a furious gaze on Eden's body, sneered, and with sharpened fangs and claws, leapt to attack.

The long, sharp nails gleamed coldly, as if a mere touch would shred flesh as easily as paper.

"Kazaluti, Orosismor."

Spirit Realm Teleportation!

At that moment, the sound of cleaving air whistled by. The lunging Devil, unable to control his momentum, tumbled awkwardly to the ground. He turned back to see that Eden's body had vanished without a trace.

This was the new ability of a Third Rank Holy Chorus, Spirit Realm Teleportation.

Eden, following the source of the power, rapidly closed in on Lodzmer. Before the witches arrived, he had to delay this devilish Wizard.

For this trap, the witches had made many preparations. They had sprinkled a specially-made perfume on Eden, a scent undetectable to mortals but discernible only to cats under the influence of a Magic Potion.

Eden continued to perform Spirit Realm Teleportation, allowing him to track rapidly while keeping his body not too far from his soul.

As Eden narrowed the gap, Lodzmer seemed to realize he couldn't escape Eden's pursuit and stopped in his tracks, ready to face his adversary.

The surrounding trees stirred without wind, and then thick smoke began to rise from the woods, carrying the scent of charred leaves.

Eden slowed his pace.

Before him, a giant Devil emerged.

"God's Messenger, Lodzmer, how interesting..."

Eden's pupils contracted.

He recognized it; it was the very Devil that had first attacked him.

At that time, he had almost been powerless in the grasp of the Devil.

Fierce flames blazed fiercely, and under the heavy encirclement of fire, the huge and terrible Devil looked towards Eden.

Then, after a slight moment of astonishment, a twisted smile appeared on the Devil's detestable face:

"Ah, it's you!

Lodzmer, there's no such thing as God's Messenger! That's just a thief who stole the pendant!"

The Devil roared and bellowed.

But Eden had already made his move.

"Boru, Ausus."

Purification of Evil Spirits.

Radiance converged in Eden's palm, gathering into a spear. He pushed forward with his hand, and though there was no sound of it tearing through the air, the spear still flew towards the Devil at an unimaginable speed.

The Devil sneered, not only standing unflinchingly as he had last time but also spreading his arms and emitting a hissing laugh.

In the blink of an eye, as the spear reached his chest.

His fiery form began to melt like ice.

The face that had issued the hissing laughter became rigid, and then incredulity set in, unimaginable.

The spear not only penetrated the Devil's body but also exploded within, its radiance splitting into dozens of Light Arrow Stones, like split arrows chaotically piercing the Devil's body. His fiery form started to crackle densely, and Eden thought he could hear the sound of bones breaking.

"Ah!"

The Flame Devil let out a pitiful wail, its knees buckled, and it was forced to kneel on the ground.

Eden watched the scene.

Had I really become so strong?

The Devil, who had once been a formidable adversary, was now grievously injured by him.

This was partly because the Flame Devil had underestimated his opponent, but fundamentally, it was because the power of the Third Rank Holy Chorus was beyond imagination.

In God's path of Ascension, each rank was an exponential increase of power. And by a stroke of luck, the Holy Chorus was especially effective against such Devils and evil spirits.

"Damn thing, damn mortals!"

The detestable voice rose; the heavily injured Devil could not contain its rage. Flames blazed as it roared, spreading its arms. Like last time, its chest birthed dozens of Flame Skulls.

But Eden wouldn't give it the chance.

"Onua."

The Ancient Language was simple.

It meant, Holy Technique.

The terrifying, feral Flame Skulls that crawled out were extinguished in the flames the moment the ancient words were uttered.

The skulls began to soften, sprouting white feathers, and then, emitted a crisp, bird-like chirp.

One by one, the Flame Skulls transformed into white doves, soaring through the burning forest.

The Flame Devil watched this in horror, its massive body shuddering with fear.

But Eden didn't let it linger in fear.

A single Purification of Evil Spirits put out the burning head entirely.

In the darkness, Lodzmer witnessed the scene.

His teeth were almost clenching hard enough to bleed.

"Pudoc is dead too; I should never have taken this job!"

The Devil Wizard laughed in despair, then pulled out a dagger from his waist and drove it straight into his wrist.

Blood burst forth, staining the earth beneath his feet.

The blood did not spread chaotically but moved like a slippery serpent, leaving its trail on the ground.

The forbidden study among Wizards—Blood Witchcraft.

"It's time to use some special measures."