424

The Fall of Zatanos

Zatanos's skull shattered, yet death eluded him. Amidst a burst of hellfire, his mangled visage contorted back into shape.

However, the reckless expenditure of power had visibly weakened him, evident in the fluctuating aura of hellfire enveloping his form.

The once robust blue flame on his brow had dwindled to near insignificance. Once thick as two fingers, it now resembled wisps of silk thread—diminished, feeble.

Meanwhile, Forseti remained steadfast under the unwavering protection of the Holy Shield technique, unscathed. Exhausting most of holy shield fragments he had gotten from devil slaying.

Observing this, Zatanos was tempted to tear open his not-yet-recovered head in frustration.

Huss, observing from a distance, was equally alarmed by the outcome. He muttered under his breath, "This is the power of the Holy Light..."

Simultaneously, the aura of retribution began to take effect. Some of the fallen Evil Knights, bathed in its light, gradually shook off Zatanos's control and regained their senses.

"Zatanos, your enslavement of the Spirit of Vengeance will not go unpunished!" They glared at their former master, their chains rattling.

In moments, dozens of Evil Knights stirred simultaneously. More and more spirits began to defect, leaving only a minority loyal to Zatanos willing to fight.

Observing this, Zatanos shook with fury, flames billowing from his body and head.

He knew his time was up; soon, the Evil Spirit Legion would be fully awakened. Reluctantly, if he did not retreat now, he might have no chance left.

Clutching his fists, Zatanos turned and fled.

Forseti contemplated pursuit but refrained. His priority remained maintaining the aura of retribution to awaken the remaining Ghost Riders.

Moreover, even if he wished to pursue, catching up with Zatanos would prove challenging. Despite being thwarted by the Holy Shield technique, Zatanos was still an eighth-level demon, far stronger than he.

Forseti continued to maintain the retribution aura fully. With Zatanos's departure, the remaining Ghost Riders soon faced no opposition. Some regained consciousness, while others wandered in a confused state between realms.

After a while, most Ghost Knights were awakened, including a powerful seventh-level knight.

Approaching Forseti, he introduced himself, "I am Norbert Kyle. Thank you for restoring our sense of justice after we lost touch with God."

Forseti frowned slightly, puzzled by his words.

"After being deceived and enslaved by Zatanos, the Spirit of Vengeance entered Hell and became his legion of Ghost Knights. We slaughtered demons recklessly, ostensibly to judge sins but losing sight of the true scale of punishment," Norbert Kyle explained slowly.

"It is your strength that has reminded us of justice and retribution."

Forseti nodded in understanding, "I see."

Norbert Kyle hesitated, about to say more, when suddenly, a furious roar echoed from the horizon: "Mephisto, you despicable villain!"

Both turned to see Zatanos, who had fled, crashing from the sky as though struck down by some unseen force, landing amidst the Evil Spirit Legion, struggling to stand.

Witnessing this spectacle, everyone was stunned.

"Mephisto..." Zatanos glanced around, fists clenched, trembling with rage.

Realizing the danger, he had opted to retreat earlier, seemingly without risk. As a Hell Lord commanding Hellfire, his flight capabilities remained formidable.

Yet fate had other plans. En route, he encountered Mephisto lying in wait. The ensuing confrontation proved disastrous, driving him back and crashing amidst the fully awakened Ghost Riders.

By now, most Ghost Riders had regained consciousness. Hundreds of pairs of eyes fixed on Zatanos, awaiting Norbert Kyle's command: "Brothers, the time for vengeance has come."

"No, no..." Zatanos looked around fearfully at the encircling legion.

"For God," the Ghost Knights intoned in unison, before hundreds of flame chains sprang forth from all directions.

Zatanos had no chance to escape; the chains ensnared him, binding him tightly until he resembled a dumpling, immobilized.

The raging flames converged along the chains, burning him relentlessly.

"Ah—!" Despite his mastery over the legion, Zatanos was helpless against the combined might of the Ghost Riders. He screamed in agony as the flames consumed him.

Simultaneously, the chains wrapped around him began twisting, resembling layers of sharp blades gradually rending and crushing his body.

Seizing the opportunity, Forseti acted. He transformed Saffron Warhammer into flames, tethering one end to the Demon Slayer Sword.

With a swift motion, the Demon Slayer Sword pierced through the chain gaps, embedding into Zatanos's body.

Infused with Holy Light!

Forseti's palm shimmered with golden radiance, channeling intense Holy Light into Zatanos's body through the flames and sword.

Even a Hell Lord like Zatanos could not withstand such an onslaught of Holy Light. His body soon tore asunder with a final roar, then exploded.

"Boom!" A deafening blast ensued, reducing Zatanos to a heap of smoldering debris and scattered flames, his demise sealed.

Among the scattered flames lay traces of blue—a stark contrast to the Hellfire, difficult to extinguish even in its diminished form. They scattered across the ground like delicate blue blades of grass, eagerly picked up by some Ghost Riders.

Norbert Kyle held a blue flame in his hand, silently observing.

"What kind of flame is this?" Forseti inquired.

"It appears to be celestial fire," Norbert Kyle replied. "Originally, as Spirits of Vengeance, we bore celestial fire, but upon entering Hell, Zatanos stripped us of it, replacing it with Hellfire."

"This blue flame seems to be the celestial fire taken from us by Zatanos, now enhanced in some manner."

The Ghost Riders, now freed from Zatanos's control, gathered and conversed, reminiscing about their long years in Hell.

"Kyle, where will you go after leaving Hell?" Forseti asked Norbert Kyle.

"To Heaven," Kyle replied without hesitation. "Though Hellfire may now burn within us, we are still children of God, akin to angels."

"As God's children, it is our duty to return to Heaven."