421

Aura of Retribution

The outcome was somewhat unexpected. The purification technique failed to release the Ghost Rider from Glade's control, and it continued to struggle under his suppression.

"How did you manage to break Glade's control earlier?" Huss couldn't help asking.

Forseti frowned, hesitated for a moment, then drew the Demon Slayer Sword. The blade glowed with holy light as he thrust it into the Evil Knight's chest.

The resilience of the Ghost Rider should have been formidable...

The vibrating sword easily pierced through the Ghost Rider's chest, pinning it to the ground, while brilliant holy light emanated from the blade.

The Ghost Rider's body convulsed violently. Flames within its hollow eye sockets churned like shrinking pupils.

Forseti withdrew the Demon Slayer Sword. Gradually, the flames receded from the Ghost Rider, revealing its human face.

"It worked!"

The freed Ghost Rider rose weakly from the ground, looking around in bewilderment. "Lord Glade, what happened..."

Excitedly, Glade exclaimed, "I've found a way to defy Zatanos! We can soon leave Hell!"

"Really? Can we truly return to God?" the knight asked in astonishment.

"Yes," Glade nodded, adding, "But first, we must free the other Ghost Riders from Zatanos's control before he notices."

"Once we liberate the entire legion of Evil Spirits, nothing can stop us from leaving Hell!"

The two Ghost Riders hurriedly exited the room and brought in two more Ghost Riders.

Forseti wordlessly swung his sword, and one by one, the Demon Slayer Sword pierced their chests, liberating them from Zatanos's control and restoring their consciousness.

In no time, dozens of Ghost Riders were freed.

But the release of so many Ghost Riders would undoubtedly alert Zatanos sooner than anticipated. Indeed, Zatanos arrived earlier than expected.

*Boom!*

A deafening crash echoed as a massive fireball descended from the sky, crashing into Glade's residence like a meteor and instantly engulfing it in flames.

"It's Zatanos!"

Forseti and the others hastily evacuated the building. Looking up, they saw the Hell Lord Zatanos hovering in the sky.

Zatanos resembled a colossal Ghost Rider, a skull-headed figure wreathed in flames, with a distinctive blue flame flickering near his forehead amidst the orange-red inferno.

"Huss! You dare steal my legion of Evil Spirits!" Zatanos glared at Forseti and Huss, his flames flaring.

Glade rattled his chains. "The Ghost Riders are not your property; we are followers of God!"

"Foolish! Yahweh abandoned you long ago!" Zatanos sneered. "If not, how could I have subdued you?"

Before he could finish, Glade's chains shot out.

Zatanos swiftly dodged the chains, but dozens of other freed Ghost Riders simultaneously hurled their chains. The chains converged, enveloping Zatanos in an instant.

Enraged, Zatanos erupted in flames, rendering himself akin to a pure blaze, swiftly melting the chains that bound him and scorching the Ghost Riders in their path.

"Ah!" Some Ghost Riders, unable to evade, cried out in agony as the scorching flames consumed them.

"I'll return the Hellfire you've drawn upon yourselves," Zatanos declared.

"We bear the heavenly fire!" Glade retorted.

"It's not just that; it's also my Hellfire," Zatanos retorted, eyeing Glade.

This was the domain of the Evil Spirit Legion. In addition to the dozens of liberated Evil Spirit Knights, hundreds more remained under Zatanos's control. In unison, they intoned, "Master, let us punish these traitors!"

"Seize these traitors!

"These two will be put to death," Zatanos ordered, pointing at Rowe and Huss.

"Yes!"

The Ghost Riders responded, unleashing hundreds of flame chains that hurtled toward Rowe.

Among these hundreds of Evil Spirit Knights, the weakest wielded level 4 power, while two reached level 7. Their combined assault was devastating.

As a sharp detective, Huss was prepared and leaped into action before they struck. Despite his bulky frame, he effortlessly soared hundreds of meters, displaying an athletic prowess that belied his appearance.

Forseti moved a beat slower, hesitating briefly as hundreds of flame chains swept across the sky. Ultimately, he opted for the safest course.

Holy Shield!

*Boom!*

With a deafening roar, the dense chains blasted a colossal crater nearly a kilometer wide. The very spot where Forseti had stood sank even deeper, leaving no trace.

Nearby Ghost Riders and Huss, who had evaded in time, were nevertheless affected. The former, resilient to harm, suffered no major injuries but was knocked down and temporarily incapacitated.

Huss fared worse. Despite evading, he was still caught in the periphery. As a demon, he was somewhat vulnerable to the Evil Knight's power, and the overwhelming flames tore through his flesh and exposed several bones.

"This is the might of the Evil Spirit Legion... truly terrifying," he murmured weakly as he collapsed. Although his wounds were healing swiftly, he wouldn't regain mobility for some time.

Peering into the distance at the immense crater, Huss wondered aloud, "Is it over?"

At that moment, a golden rainbow soared from the depths of the crater, and Forseti emerged into the sky, his form enveloped in radiant golden wings.

Observing Forseti's emergence, Zatanos hesitated briefly before his flames surged, recalling something. "It's you! The Paladin of Asgard!"

"Long time no see. I didn't expect Lord Zatanos to recognize me," Rowe remarked casually.

Zatanos's flames flared, betraying his inner turmoil.

How could he forget Forseti? If not for Forseti's guise as a Night Elf, Zatanos would have recognized him immediately. Twice in Vanaheim and Asgard, he had failed to kill Rowe, watching him grow stronger each time until this very moment.

"This time, you're finished!" Zatanos roared furiously. "In the name of Satan!"

Forseti remained composed, his body radiant with holy light, as he activated his Punishment Halo.