Way of the Knights

Chapter 573 - Devil Emperor's Finger

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Pale blue, wrinkly and gigantic finger with a sharp black nail descended from the portal...

The finger contained was akin to the manifestation of pure evil and sin. Not only was it gigantic in size it is also filled with incredible and irresistible strength. 

Sect Master Lucas who transformed into a 1000 meter giant felt small compared to this finger. His face had a solemn expression as cold beads of swear started drenching his face. It wasn't just him, Alwina and Elder Fallon were similarly spooked and apprehensive of this finger. 

"This...this is impossible! H-how can this be!?" Elder Fallon stuttered on his words as he stared incredulously at the finger descending towards them. 

"This isn't a dream Fallon." Alwina said as she too stared at the massive finger. Her eyes were still blossoming with a divine radiance. "We've seen something truly unbelievable today. I'm afraid that we'll have much to do once we return."

"Yeah, but we must make sure that we can return first." Elder Fallon snorted as he started releasing golden flames that are as hot as the sun itself. He didn't dare to hold anything back since their current predicament doesn't allow him to do that. 

"..." Sect Master Lucas had been awfully quiet. It's not like he was speechless, it's just that words won't really help them with this so there was no need for him to say anything. 

"Husband, it's target is the kid. If you can prevent it for at least one - no, at least thirty seconds, it'll be enough." Alwina advised. 

The Sect Master nodded and immediately summoned all of his power. 

The power of his Divinity flooded the boundless field of Red Spider Lilies. Those beast who were trying to get close to them found themselves bound by a mysterious power which prevented them from moving even an inch. 

Unfortunately, even with this power, the descending finger showed no signs of being affected. Instead of slowing down its descent it even accelerated as if the force behind it became stronger. 

"Argh!" Sect Master Lucas grunted loudly. The muscles on his body bulged and slightly expanded, veins protruded from his neck and face, his eyes constricted for a bit. 

Elder Fallon tried to help the sect master from his burden. He sent multiple arrows of golden flames containing the heat of the sun towards the massive finger however, none even left a scar to it. The flames died and out and Elder Fallon's attack didn't do anything to slow it down. 

The Sect Master felt as if he legitimately propping the skies up. Even with his gigantic body, the weight pressing him down didn't diminish at all. 

'How can this be!?' He thought inwardly, gritting his teeth while forcefully enduring the pressure. 'Don't tell me that the disparity is this large? How are we supposed to...no! Now's not the time to think about things like that!'

The Sect Master mustered up every ounce of his strength in order to bear the burden. The ground beneath him was caving in as the massive finger continued pressing him down. By this point, it was incredibly clear to them that it's target wasn't them but Raven instead. 

As for why that is, they could only guess but now's not the time for that. 

"Come on, come on! Hurry up kid!" Alwina was starting to get anxious. At times like this she wasn't able to help. Her specialty isn't combat anyway, which is why she could only hope that Raven finishes his preparations in time. 

It was then that Raven released an extremely powerful energy fluctuation. He waved the Brush of Wisdom down and yelled.

"Heavenly Sacred Doctrine! Descend!" Raven growled as pointed the brush towards the heavens, it was then that he saw the massive finger and felt surprised: "Wait, what the hell is that?"

"Kid! Come here! I'll hide you! Quick!" Alwina urgently called out. 

Raven could sense the tense situation and the urgency on Alwina's voice so without thinking much, he went towards her side. She muttered some chants and spewed a shroud from her mouth which covered Raven from head to toe. 

As soon as she was done, she looked up just in time to witness the miracle that Raven worked hard to achieve. 

Rays of golden light appeared. Beyond the skies where the massive portal was in, the clouds roiled and revealed a grand and majestic scene which could make anyone speechless. 

A peerlessly timeless and archaic aura permeated the entire world they're in. 

From the skies, a single unfolded book descended. It was surrounded with numerous runes and profound chants of Heavenly Laws. A simple glance from book could make one feel as if they were seen through as if their deepest and darkest secret were revealed. 

Without any trace of doubt, the only thing that could make them feel this way as well a feel an existential crisis, is none other than the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine.

*Weng!* *Weng!* *Weng!*

The book released numerous hums filled with righteous anger as if provoked. The light being released from it had a strong effect against the massive finger. Each ray of light scaled the finger, leaving numerous scorch marks at it's surface.

The finger trembled and swiftly receded as if it encountered something scary. The Sect Master sighed with relief as he felt the burden disappearing. He shrank to his previous size and stood in front of them with a protective stance. 

"It won't end like this! I won't let it end like this!" A furious voice carrying an unbridled rage and unwillingness echoed on their ears, it was coming from the gaping black hole above them. 

"I'll have my revenge! I'll have my freedom! Enjoy your remaining days, you pitiful insects! Once my freedom returns, it will spell the end for you!" 

This was the last words that they heard before the gaping black hole closed up and disappeared. 

Everyone involuntarily released the breath they were holding. They felt as if a mountain pressing down on them disappeared, allowing them to breathe easily once more. 

"Is that..." Raven trailed off, he hesitated whether to finish his question or not. 

"There's no mistaking it." Alwina's face was ridden with a displeased expression. "It's our lovely prisoner. Didn't know it was capable of doing that." 

"I assume it was aiming for me." Raven said, no one replied to him however in truth, even if they didn't answer him, he already knew that answer to that. He felt a little bit guilty for that. 

"Don't look so down." The Sect Master patted his back. "Even though his happened, it's not we didn't gain something from it. At least now we knew that it's capable of doing that. This is a very crucial information and we earned through your actions."

The group were silent for a bit. Raven was absorbed on his thought. He was awaken from his stupor by Elder Fallon's question. 

"How long is the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine going to remain here?" 

"Once it's done placing the Heavenly Curse to the Four Horsemen. Don't worry, it's nearly done." Raven replied. 

Raven could understand why Elder Fallon asked that...

Even though the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine represent the power Heavenly Laws, it's precisely due to that, that its presence remains a little unsettling to them. 

This irresistible power is something that not even Divinity Realm experts could hope to resist. This is why they feel a bit apprehensive. 

Raven watched as the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine did its thing, he didn't dare to move a muscle since he's in a sensitive spot. 

He could feel that the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine is searching for him. If he did any movement that arouses it's detection, then not even the Sect Master could save him. Thankfully, it's also distracted on giving hell to the Four Horsemen right now via the Heavenly Curse. 

After five minutes, the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine released another wave of fluctuations that permeated its surroundings, this was its last attempt on hunting Raven. Unfortunately for it, and fortunately for Raven, he was hidden very well thanks to Geezer and Alwina's combined efforts. 

Unable to find the culprit responsible for triggering its descent, the Heavenly Sacred Doctrine could only dejectedly close-up and return from where it came from in a streak of light. Once it disappeared, the boundless, archaic aura dispersed along its disappearance. 

Knowing that its not going to return anymore, Raven heaved a sigh of relief. What a day this has been. He couldn't wait to go back and have a long nap after this. Still, he's not quite done yet. 

Raven checked the seals and the Four Horsemen themselves for quite sometime. Once he saw that their silhouettes were writhing in despair as the Heavenly Curse tortured them, Raven felt relieved. The plan worked out at least. 

He then drew several runes and passed it down to the Sect Master, saying:

"Place this runes according to how you want, this seals will siphon the filtered energy from the Four Horsemen. When the time comes that it's not releasing any energies, that must mean that they were damaged or the horsemen and their steeds have died."

"I see. Thank you, 9th. You've worked hard." 

"Mn!" Raven nodded, "Alright, I'm gonna pass out now. See you later." 

*Thud!*