Chapter 78: Irony (2/2)

He continued, ”Divine fire does not produce smoke, only the one corrupted by the devil does so.”

”You have either unknowingly or knowingly made the entire city worship Angra Mainyu, giving him more power, while claiming that these innocent Olympians are the devils.”

The king was breathing heavily and shook his head fervently.

'If the city was actually under the rule of an evil god, that explains why there were so many monsters....' Alex thought back to the night he spent fighting the monsters and the demoness.

He ultimately decided to speak up, for the sake of Olympus, ”Mithra.”

”You are the companion of Hermes? Yes, speak.”

”On the night that I have spent in Ctesiphon, I have seen a cult dedicated to a demon goddess right outside of the city, and the cult performed bloody rituals involving humans as offerings to the goddess.”

Mithra's eyes widened and the king seemed on the verge of fainting.

”I don't believe a city under the protection of a righteous god would have such rampant devilish activities.” Alex continued.

Hermes seemed confused as to what he was saying, but Alex would have to leave that for later.

Mithra thanked him for his intervention and turned back to Arsak, ”How do you explain that, mortal?”

Suddenly, the king began laughing maniacally as the three gods stared at him.

Unexpectedly, his body began turning a vermillion red color. His head grew horns, and his veins turned white and throbbed upon his skin.

Mithra stepped back and exclaimed, ”An avatar of Angra Mainyu!”

The 'creature' then looked at them and spoke in a shrill voice, ”Mithra, don't try your divine fire on me, it will not work. I have become strong enough that only that freak Ahura Mazda would be able to harm me!”

Mithra didn't pay the devil any heed and generated a white flame from his hand.

He cast the flame on the devil, yet, the moment it touched its skin, it extinguished.

”How about this, Mithra?” The devil moved his hand and black flames spread out in all directions.

When the flames came into contact with Mithra, the god groaned in agony and stepped back. No matter what he did, the flames never extinguished.

Alex and Hermes didn't know how to react at all, and Hermes took his scepter and tried to heal Mithra.

Unfortunately, that didn't have any effect, and the devil was approaching them in slow steps.

When it was only a few steps away, Alex decided to gamble.

'Let's hope this works....'

Alex took out the red ruby from one of his pockets and inserted his Faith Energy into it. He was hesitant to use the demonic powers of the ruby but it seemed like the only chance.

He placed the now-glowing ruby on the black flames and surprisingly, the flames seemed to turn liquid and all entered into the ruby.

Alex was relieved to see that it worked, but a certain someone didn't share the same feelings.

The moment he laid his eyes on the ruby, the devil screamed, ”HOW DID YOU GET THAT?!”

”You don't need to know.” Alex charged at the devil and pushed the ruby into the devil's body as if he was stabbing him.

Suddenly, the devil's body started turning into a black goop and he screamed in pain as he melted off and entered the ruby.

When it was silent again, only the king's human body was left.

Mithra immediately turned the king into ash with white flames.

”He submitted himself to the devil, he doesn't need to live.”

He continued, ”I don't know how you have the ruby of Agas, but I will not ask.”

Mithra dropped the subject and said, ”We're going to have to find someone to replace the king.”

Alex got an idea.

”I know some people who would make great monarchs if they're willing.”