Father Hugo’s laughter echoed in the temple as the dark, crimson, and blue auras swirled around him.
The air grew thick with a mix of intense energy, twisting and melding into something that looked both holy and corrupted.
He begun hovering a few feet above the ground, his expression one of twisted delight.
“Look at this power!” Hugo’s voice boomed, his eyes glinting with an unsettling joy. He raised his hand, allowing the combined auras to dance along his arm. “Your strength, your skills—they’re now mine!”
Stark’s fists tightened, his gaze fixed on Hugo’s smug expression. The realization hit hard: Hugo had just absorbed [Crimson Spears] and [QI Flight].
They were staring down an even more monstrous version of the priest than before.
“Can’t believe it…” Stark muttered, gritting his teeth.
He could still feel his connection to his skills, but seeing them twisted in Hugo’s hands felt like a violation.
Lilith, by his side, looked equally horrified as Hugo raised one of his newly copied spears, its crimson glow matching Stark’s.
“QI flight!” Lilith used her skill, and it seemed as though she could still use it.
‘So he copied it…’ Stark thought.
“You’ve both proven quite entertaining,” Hugo said, his voice dripping with arrogance. “But playtime is over.”
With a smirk, Hugo summoned ten [Crimson Spears], their familiar red glow casting ominous shadows across the walls.
He held them around himself, the ease and familiarity he displayed making it clear he’d instantly mastered Stark’s ability.
Hugo waved his hand, sending the spears hurtling toward Stark and Lilith with terrifying speed.
“Dodge!” Stark shouted, leaping to the side.
He summoned his own [Crimson Spears], countering with his own barrage to intercept Hugo’s.
The two volleys of spears collided in mid-air, sending shockwaves throughout the temple.
The ground beneath them cracked and trembled from the impact, each explosion adding more destruction to the temple.
Lilith took advantage of the chaos, darting forward with [Flash Step], her swords materializing with a shimmering glow as she lunged at Hugo.
Her blade met Hugo’s arm, which was shielded by his barrier.
“You can’t touch me,” Hugo taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
Lilith glared, raising her hand to summon another [Divine Energy Spear].
She hurled it toward Hugo, but he countered with Stark’s [Spear Block], deflecting it away as if it were nothing.
Stark watched in frustration, feeling the depth of Hugo’s mastery over his stolen abilities.
Then Hugo raised his arm high, his eyes locked onto Stark with a twisted grin.
Stark felt the surge of energy even before he saw it—a colossal spear forming in Hugo’s hand.
The weapon radiated a raw, overwhelming power.
“Oh no…” Stark’s eyes widened as he recognized his own [Spear of Judgment].
Hugo was using one of his strongest abilities, a colossal spear that could shatter even the toughest defenses, and also followed the target no matter what.
But strangely enough, he didn’t actually throw it at Stark or Lilith.
With a dark smile, Hugo lifted the spear high above his head and then, with a forceful downward swing, slammed it into the temple floor.
The ground buckled and shattered, splitting open as the spear’s impact reverberated through the entire room.
Cracks shot out in all directions as the floor gave way.
“Get down!” Stark shouted, reaching out to grab Lilith’s arm as the ground collapsed beneath them.
They fell, tumbling through the crumbling stone and landing hard in the [Underground Temple] below.
“Just how many fucking buildings have underground zones?!” Stark shouted as he fell.
The air was thick with dust, and Stark pushed himself up, coughing as he tried to get his bearings.
The dimly lit underground chamber stretched out before them, with ancient pillars and worn-out symbols etched into the walls.
Somewhere in the darkness, Hugo’s mocking laughter echoed.
“Well, well,” Hugo’s voice sneered from above as he floated down, his silhouette barely visible through the dust. “Welcome to the depths, children. Let’s make this even more enjoyable.”
Stark got to his feet, eyes narrowing as he watched Hugo descend, the stolen [QI Flight] making him hover effortlessly.
Lilith was right beside him, her breathing heavy but her eyes still fierce with determination.
“We need a plan,” she whispered. “This place is smaller—there’s less room to dodge.”
They were in a circle arena under the temple, and the hole was so big it was impossible to get back up, even using [Crimson Ball Transmission].
They were stuck now, with no exit on sight.
Stark nodded, glancing around at the columns and walls. “Yeah, but maybe we can use that to our advantage.”
Before they could coordinate any further, Hugo raised his hand, calling forth more [Crimson Spears].
This time, they were tinged with a faint, dark aura that seemed to taint the crimson glow, making them even more menacing.
He let them loose while flying around, sending a relentless rain of spears toward the two.
Stark and Lilith dove behind one of the large stone pillars, the spears slamming into it with explosive force, cracking and splintering the ancient stone.
As the dust cleared, Stark darted out from cover.
He lunged forward, focusing all his strength as he aimed for Hugo’s head.
But just as his fist was about to connect, Hugo activated blocked with [Iron Fists], both of his arms turning silver.
“Didn’t think you could actually hit me, did you?” Hugo taunted, delivering a counterstrike that sent Stark stumbling backward.
[Moonscorch infection increased.]
Lilith took advantage of the opening, flying upward with her [QI Flight] and launching herself at Hugo with her twin blades.
She moved with impressive speed, her attacks swift and precise, but Hugo matched her move for move, wielding his many skills with an eerie familiarity.
But then…
Stark made a second mistake.
“DOUBLE ASSAULT,” he was getting tired of this bullshit, and so he decided to activate his skill, doubling his stats and aura for 20 seconds, “ALRIGHT, HUGO, AVOID THIS!”
Stark was ready to dash, his speed surely enough to instantly overpower Hugo.
But that was when he made his second mistake: and it was to assume Father Hugo couldn’t use his Immortal Perk again.
“Aura Suppression…” He allowed a hit from Lilith to place his palms together.
FWISH!
And Stark’s aura was taken straight out of him again.
It didn’t cancel his own [Double Assault], but he had a bad feeling.
“RETURN TO SENDER…!” Hugo’s eyes opened, and his dark aura completely took over his body, “DOUBLE ASSAULT!”
He used the skill too, and suddenly, right as Lilith was about to swing at him, he moved to fast it almost looked like he disappeared.
“Thanks for the skill, child,” Hugo appeared before Stark, punching him in the gut and sending him flying backward.
“GARGH,” even with his own [Double Assault], Stark struggled to stay in place.
-43,839!
His defense was doubled, but Hugo’s attack was as well.
“Stay put, I’ll deal with you last,” Father Hugo grinned before disappearing from view.
That exchange lasted less than a second, and so it meant was still in the air, confused as to where Hugo could have gone.
“Hello, there, child,” he smashed her down.
[You have been infected with moonscorch.]
And he didn’t waste any time in appearing behind her again as she looked up.
“You are slow, child.”
Lilith, even though she was level 137, couldn’t understand how this was possible.
Her eyes widened before she received another punch in the face.
What followed was a complete beatdown.
Lilith gasped as the combined assault tore through her defenses.
She tried to dodge, but the energy struck her squarely, sending her crashing into the wall.
She slumped to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
[HP: 37,374/232,000]
“Lilith!” Stark yelled, rushing toward her, but Hugo stepped between them, blocking his path with a sneer.
“No interruptions,” Hugo mocked. “It’s time she learned what happens when you defy the Moonscorch.”
He raised his hand, his aura flaring as he activated [Blessed Chains] again.
Glowing chains shot out, wrapping around Lilith’s limbs, holding her in place as she struggled against them.
Her strength faded as the chains tightened, draining her energy.
“Stark…” Lilith mumbled, smiling, “Kick that guy’s ass…”
He didn’t know Lilith for long, not even two hours actually, but even then, he was mad.
“Let her go!” Stark shouted, fury igniting within him.
He charged forward, but Hugo casually extended one hand, using [Sacred Ground] to summon a wall of crimson energy that threw Stark backward.
Hugo turned his gaze back to Lilith, his expression darkening as he increased the power of his chains.
Her struggles grew weaker, her breaths shallow as the chains squeezed the life out of her.
“You… will… break,” Hugo whispered, his voice cold and merciless.
Lilith’s eyes widened in terror as she felt her energy slipping away, her vision blurring.
[Lilith has been knocked out!]
“I like to make sure the children are aware of the torture, a slow death isn’t beautiful, after all,” Hugo laughed as he turned back toward Stark, “You are the last one.”
“I’ll kick your ass alone, I don’t need anybody else anyway,” Stark’s expression turned cold, positioning himself for what was next.
