Chapter 309

Kanzaki Rei...

Kumironi was briefly stunned—but only for a moment.

Very quickly, he understood Kanzaki Rei’s intent.

That anger from before—

There was no way it had been fake.

Kanzaki Rei... wanted to protect this planet.

"However... this person can’t come with us."

Kanzaki Rei immediately nodded.

"Yeah. As long as I can survive, that’s enough!"

...What an interesting little creature.

To think someone so cowardly could exist within the Church of Light.

Then again, that small figure radiating life energy from head to toe... might not even be that close to this boy.

Kumironi lowered his gaze slightly.

"...If he can live, then sacrificing me is fine."

Lomo turned its head in surprise, looking toward Kumironi.

A saint?

Was this person one of those?

"But I want to personally see you let him leave alive. Otherwise... I’ll die right here too."

One after another.

All of them throwing around death so casually?

Lomo felt a flicker of speechlessness.

Still—

As the Master of an Eighth-Level Hive, an existence of such overwhelming power...

A Level 5 and a Level 6 classed individual meant nothing to it.

To an 8th-tier being, a Level 5 was like a Level 2.

No—

The gap was even greater than that.

Such an overwhelming disparity in strength made Lomo completely dismiss the possibility of any scheme or trickery.

Just as someone at Kanzaki Rei’s level would never believe a Level 2 could possibly threaten him in the slightest.

"Fine. Then both of you."

"Follow me."

A black cocoon enveloped Kanzaki Rei.

Kumironi was wrapped as well.

Shhk—!

Within the pitch-black Sea Abyss, a path formed instantly—

A road of flesh and bone, laid out by Lomo’s own body.

Kanzaki Rei subtly tested the restraint.

He could break free easily.

At most, it was equivalent to a 6th-tier binding spell.

Not particularly strong.

The cocoon fused with the fleshy pathway, sliding rapidly forward.

Kanzaki Rei’s gaze gradually shifted outward—toward the Sea Abyss itself.

As his body made contact with part of Lomo’s form...

What he saw became clearer.

At this moment—

The abyss was no longer pure darkness.

Everywhere—

Hidden within the void—

Was black, intangible flesh.

The entire Sea Abyss...

Was gradually becoming part of its body.

This—

This was its true form.

Shhk—!

They moved quickly.

Kanzaki Rei kept his gaze fixed on its body.

Unfortunately, observation alone, in such a short time, could only shave off a small portion of its lifespan.

Still—

Every bit counted.

And now that he had a clear combat target, every passing minute further stacked his damage mitigation.

"Lomo."

"The humans you turned into monsters... can they be turned back?"

Lomo replied indifferently:

"I only handle turning humans into monsters. Why would I care if they can be reverted?"

"But... probably not."

"It’s an irreversible process."

As it spoke—

Another black humanoid projection extended from its body, turning toward Kanzaki Rei.

"Oh, right. Do you know why I study this?"

"...Because your Church of Light requested it! Hahaha!"

"Do you know what angels originally were?"

"They were monsters too!"

"But over time, they gained intelligence, declared themselves superior, and cut ties with beings like us—calling us inferior, mindless lifeforms!"

"And yet, in the end, they realized their own innate limitations."

"So they came crawling back—cooperating with monsters again, researching the path of monstrosity."

"How amusing, isn’t it? Times change!"

"If you ask me, that so-called Heavenly Realm is nothing more than another ’Nest of Light’!"

"And those so-called angels? They’re sitting at the same table as us monsters!"

Kanzaki Rei’s thoughts turned cold.

If the Church of Light was like this...

Then who, in this world, truly stood on humanity’s side?

Kumironi’s emotions were just as turbulent.

Kanzaki Rei wasn’t truly part of the Church’s inner system.

But Kumironi... was.

Even though the thought felt blasphemous—

He couldn’t stop himself from thinking it.

Sophia... the Church of Life.

When the Secret Sea was destroyed, every other church made their moves.

And yet Kumironi, a high-ranking member, had known nothing of the decisions within his own church.

In the end—

There hadn’t even been word of protection from the Church of Life.

The Church...

What exactly lay hidden behind it?

What was it he had been following?

What had he truly believed in?

The more he thought—

The more blasphemous it felt.

The more he questioned—

The more restless his mind became.

Huuuu—

The wet, tearing sounds of flesh mingled with the rushing wind, echoing through the hollow Sea Abyss.

It didn’t take long.

Less than half an hour—

Dim light began to appear ahead.

A thick, briny scent of seawater rushed toward them.

"Heh... For the sake of Jua’s lineage, I’ll overlook that strike you made earlier."

"By now, the ocean seal within the Secret Sea should have been lifted."

"But if you are indeed Jua’s chosen, you should survive this calamity unscathed."

"Alright. I’ve brought you to the exit of the Sea Abyss."

"Tell me the formula—and you may leave."

"I won’t pursue you."

Kanzaki Rei responded flatly:

"Oh."

"Well, that’s really..."

Crack—

The world froze.

Time—stopped.

[Heavenly Vault Flow — Eighth Form: Motion · Instant Dragon Slaughter]

BOOM—!

In that instant, Kanzaki Rei shattered the cocoon and burst free!

Blinding light erupted across the entire space!

All the flesh and bone structures in the area—

Were cleaved in a single moment by golden radiance!

Finally.

You’ve finally left Earth.

Do you have any idea how long I’ve been holding back?

BOOM!

One second passed in an instant!

Across Lomo’s countless flesh masses, its many eyes constricted sharply!

It couldn’t comprehend it—

Couldn’t understand why Kanzaki Rei still dared to strike!

And this time—

The speed was completely different!

This—

Was true light-speed movement!

In a single instant—

There was no trajectory.

No visible motion.

Only the result—

Its entire body had already been severed!

Golden holy flames swept through its form!

There was no perceivable speed—

As though, in that instant, Kanzaki Rei’s velocity had become infinite!

PFF—!

But—

My body is vast!

With such a weak body as yours—even wielding a divine weapon—you cannot contend with me!

In that instant—

The burned portions of its flesh shed and fell away.

New flesh regenerated immediately!

The entire Sea Abyss—

Was its body.

And at the same time—

Kanzaki Rei saw it.

In every direction—

From empty space—

Black-red flesh began to grow spontaneously!

In an instant—

An entire domain formed!

"To step into the 9th tier—the Domain of Apotheosis—you must form your own Divine Kingdom!"

"And before that—you must establish your own Domain!"

"Weak human—you don’t understand the gap between yourself and an 8th-tier existence!"

"Since you cannot comprehend the difference—then witness it!"

"The power of a true superior being!"

"Domain: Malignant Proliferation Mutation!"

PFF—!

In the instant those black-red flesh masses formed—

Kanzaki Rei’s own body began to swell uncontrollably!

Flesh multiplied explosively—

Expanding in a blink—

Into a grotesque sphere of meat with a radius of over three meters!