398 Greetings (1/2)

The arrow seemed to have been made from fine steel and compressed into shape. However, it was actually countless pieces of paper-thin metal wrapped around a frame in layers. The frame was constructed with fine details. It could break at a light push. However, its speed was too fast. In just a moment, it was already past layers of obstacles. But then in an instant, the frame bent. The countless steel plates snapped open in response, curling up like an angered snake.

However, the curled plates did not fly out. They remained on the frame and shook wildly, going through thousands of reverberations in an instant. They turned into thousands of 'needle reeds.' The trembling air whistled and the rising noise joined, creating an almost solid cacophony.

The aether in its path shook, going crazy. This was like a miniature version of Zhaodang. It used countless reeds to create disordered aether waves. The piercing melody chased away all aether, transforming the tight space into a temporary 'aether vacuum.' Then the cabin wall rumbled and shattered!

A warrior in heavy armor burst through the wall. The moment the iron giant appeared, Philip's expression changed. ”Knights Templar? Bann, you dare—” But then he stopped. He knew where this armor came from. Anyone with eyes would know!

The warrior's armor was nothing like that of the Knights Templar. It seemed to be made of raw metal and forcefully put together and smelted. The shell still contained nails and signs of repair. There was nothing delicate or majestic about it. It was as ugly as a beast, a crazy giant, or a Frankenstein. It was pure aggressive menace.

At the warrior's shoulder, black paint created the combination of gears and the holy emblem. It was an abnormality that had split from the Church a century ago. It was a school that used pure human power to cross the Dark World and develop new land—the Chainsaw Fraternity!

This group of priests who had struggled in the Dark World never shied away from dirty trade. They accepted money for any job, killing and setting fires without any fear. In battle, they could hold a sword in their left hand and beat their enemies with a bible in their right hand. If the god that the Sacred City worshipped was merciful, then the Chainsaw Fraternity carried out the god's cruelty. There were no musicians, aether, or warmth in their world. They only had the bible and machinery, only had miracles made of machines and the cruel battlefield.

Now, the iron priest picked up the heavy 'shower.' The bone-white and blood-red shark on his mask grinned menacingly.

Philip gasped involuntarily.

The fog machine shook. Black oil was forced through, transforming into crushed oil fog. It poured out of the 'shower' with air pressure. It was nice and cool…not!

What came out was aggressive dragon breath! Blazing red fire swallowed the entire room instantly. Other than the warrior, everything else was bathed in the fire. It greedily burned at every molecule of air. The low air pressure fed the fire until it filled every corner.

There was no oxygen, no breathing, and no sound. In the heavy and muffled heat, only the 'shower' rumbled as it operated like demonic laughter.

Philip was buried within.

In a place without aether, killing a musician was as easy as killing a chicken. But unfortunately…Philip was not a chicken. Thirty years ago, he was youthful and strong. He was the Ministry of Information's executioner, a psychotic killer, a fervent believer, and the master swordsman of the Witch Hammer!

In the fire, under the burning red robe, a sword was unsheathed. The frail old man stepped forward. His chest puffed up and he roared like a crack of thunder. The flames shook.

A tragic beam of light shot from his wrist. It cut apart the fiery dragon breath, tearing through the mass of red. The bright sword whistled up and down; it was only a moment before it was held in the air. That moment, the blade was fleeting like a bubble. Cracks followed it.

A straight crack spread. It cut through a wrist, the shower, a chest, and the Chainsaw warrior's mask. Everything was cut in half! Then the hoisted sword beheaded the man.

The flames separated!

The redness was cut into two parts.

The Chainsaw warrior's looming figure split from the middle, iron crumbling, and flesh falling to two sides. It revealed the old priest bathing in fire behind him. His white hair was dyed red and his white eyes were filled with cold menace.

He leaned on his sword. His half-burnt body quivered, almost collapsing to the ground.

The next moment, the aether that had been chased away returned. It transformed into a halo that glowed upon him. He shed his decayed flesh and burnt marks, turning back into an old man with light in his hands.

Arrows whistled from the cabin across the hall like a thunderstorm. However, they froze in mid-air, locked by the light.

A somber prayer chant resounded through the entire ship. The burnt and dying priests on the ground began convulsing. Blood flowed in reverse and flesh regenerated under small noises until the body was complete again.

They screamed from the pain of rebirth and climbed up. Grandmaster Philip waved and the flames went still as if they were put into amber. The arrows shot backward, tearing through the layers of cabins, piercing the entire ship and creating a large, gaping hole.

However, there was nothing behind the broken cabins, other than the automatic crossbow car.

”Stay here,” Philip ordered.

The ring of light expanded behind him. It turned slowly and countless voices began singing as if angels had arrived. With support from the symphony of predestination 'God's Punishment Incarnate,' he flew with his sword. He instantly flew out of the hole in the wall and hovered above the deck. His white pupils scanned the crowd but could not find the assassin.

He huffed. Spinning around, he looked into the deep sea. Blazing light shot from his eyes, illuminating the darkness as well as the quickly escaping figures dozens of meters below.

Grunting, he raised his sword and brought it down, hacking the sea surface. With a rumbling explosion, the ray of light was buried into the deep sea. It went up and down, slicing the figures. But even after a long while, there was no blood. The figures had disappeared like bubbles. Only a few dozen strange fish floated to the surface.