Chapter20-The Infernal Scene

"Three years ago, outside Lucas Village, do you still remember the family you ruthlessly slaughtered?"

"My brother and I have been lying in the pond as corpses for three years!"

Mia's delicate face suddenly turned icy cold. Strange infernal flames rose rapidly from her heart, engulfing her body. Her flesh and blood were reduced to ashes, leaving only a burning, wrathful skeleton!

If not for Joseph, she, her brother, and their parents would have been a happy family.

Even after three years had passed, she would now be eighteen—old enough to marry the one she loved and have children of her own.

But all of this was destroyed—completely ruined—by the depraved beast named Joseph!

Their entire family had perished because of his lust.

Boom!

The flickering infernal flames radiated scorching light and heat, casting Joseph's shadow in twisted, contorted forms.

His fading memories suddenly became strikingly vivid at this moment.

He abruptly recalled—

Three years ago, the siblings who chose to leap into the pond rather than submit to him!

"You!"

"Don't come any closer!"

"You jumped into the pond yourself! If you had followed me, you would have had endless wealth and glory! You can't blame me, you can't blame me!"

Joseph staggered backward in terror, his face pale, his body drenched in cold sweat.

At this moment, his heart was filled with fear.

Mia!

The sweet and lovely girl was now a skeletal figure engulfed in flames—a vengeful spirit of legend!

And after three years, she had come for him!

"Today is the day you pay the price!"

Joseph had barely retreated a few steps when another figure, also engulfed in infernal flames, appeared behind him. Ethan stood like an immovable wall, blocking his escape.

Joseph instinctively clutched the cross on his chest, but at that moment, it shattered, its glow fading into complete darkness.

"Ethan!"

"You… you've become a vengeful spirit too?"

Joseph was utterly petrified.

He remembered that Ethan had delicate features, making him an ideal male pet. But just like Mia, he had chosen to jump into the pond rather than submit to him.

And now, like Mia, he had returned as a terrifying wraith.

Even the Sacred Vestige, given to him by an exorcist, had shattered on the spot.

"You've committed countless sins. You should have expected this day to come!"

Seeing Joseph's terror-stricken face, Ethan's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

This man had slaughtered their family—killing him a thousand times over would never be enough to quell his rage!

"Brother, Deus Initium has ordered us to take his soul back. We cannot kill him just yet."

At this moment, Mia, though consumed by hatred, managed to remain rational. Noticing Ethan's escalating bloodlust, she quickly reminded him.

Though she loathed Joseph beyond measure, the will of Deus Initium was sacred and inviolable.

No matter how heinous Joseph's crimes were, it was the divine entity that would judge him—not them.

Hearing this, Ethan swiftly calmed himself.

They had become Infernal Envoys entirely due to Deus Initium's aid. Now, as his subordinates, they had to obey his command.

He trusted that Deus Initium would deliver the fairest judgment—evil would not escape punishment!

At once, he tightened his grip on the burning black chain in his hand. With a flick of his wrist, the chain coiled around Joseph like a serpent, binding him completely.

With a fierce tug, Joseph's ethereal soul was wrenched from his body. It flickered like a candle in a storm, weak and trembling.

Joseph looked down at his lifeless body, which had collapsed into a deep slumber, then turned to see his own translucent soul. He shuddered in horror.

"I… I've turned into a soul?"

He could hardly believe his own eyes.

"Sister, let's go!"

Ethan cast a glance at Mia. Like dragging a kite, he hauled Joseph's soul and swiftly departed Black Iron.

At this moment, Black Iron was eerily silent.

Though Joseph's terrified screams had attracted attention, none of the nearby residents dared to step outside.

After all, even someone as arrogant and fearless as Joseph had been reduced to such terror.

Who would dare to provoke the vengeful spirits?

They feared being targeted next.

Inside Stone Hall

Thomas, who was sleeping, suddenly felt a chilling presence approaching the temple entrance. Even as a Tier-3 Advanced Awakener, he shuddered involuntarily.

"What's going on? Such an eerie chill!"

Thomas scanned his surroundings in shock.

This was the divine sanctuary, protected by Deus Initium—what entity would dare trespass here?

He immediately channeled his vast elemental power into his eyes.

Before the grand temple doors, infernal flames emerged. Though they radiated searing heat to the body, their presence chilled the soul to the bone.

Amidst the flames, two skeletal figures strode forward. The one leading tightly gripped a black iron chain, which held a bound spirit.

That spirit let out wretched, agonizing wails.

"Ethan… Mia?!"

"And Joseph?!"

Thomas was utterly stunned.

If he remembered correctly, Ethan and Mia's family had mysteriously vanished three years ago. The village had been rife with eerie rumors ever since.

Some had claimed to have seen Joseph chasing after them that night.

But no one knew exactly what had happened.

And now…?

Ethan and Mia had returned as vengeful spirits—bringing Joseph's soul with them?

"Thomas-uncle, you can see us?"

Ethan and Mia were slightly surprised.

Though they were not from Annasi, their village was not far from his, so they naturally knew of Thomas's reputation.

Thomas nodded. "I am now a missionary under Deus Initium and have reached Tier-3 Advanced Awakener. Of course, I can see you."

As he spoke, his pupils suddenly constricted.

He sensed a familiar aura on Ethan and Mia—Deus Initium's divine presence!

"Ethan, Mia, what happened to you? Have you also received Deus Initium's blessing?"

He immediately questioned them.

As a missionary, he was extremely familiar with Deus Initium's energy.

Ethan and Mia nodded quickly. "Yes, Thomas-uncle, we are now Infernal Envoys under Deus Initium. He has granted us power."

Thomas sighed.

Though Ethan and Mia had perished, serving under Deus Initium was a good outcome.

After all, he had once been friends with their parents.

He gestured toward them.

"You may now present yourselves before Deus Initium. I shall not disturb you."

With that, Thomas turned and left the hall.

As a missionary, his duty was to spread faith—not interfere in other matters.

Ethan and Mia, as Infernal Envoys, were responsible for handling the dead, which had nothing to do with him.

He would not meddle in matters beyond his role.

Inside the Divine Effigy

Owen sat within the sacred idol, gazing down at Ethan and Mia, who knelt in reverence before him. Behind them, Joseph's bound soul quivered in terror.

He was quite satisfied with their efficiency in carrying out the mission.

Especially Mia—despite being a girl, she knew restraint and was not reckless. She showed promise for further cultivation.

With a wave of his hand, a special Divine Space fluctuation spread, enveloping Ethan and Mia.

As the Divine Space expanded, mist surged around them, revealing the massive Hell's Millstone. Its slow, grinding motion emitted a piercing, grating sound. Within it, countless spirits and wraiths were pulverized into radiant fragments.

Just one glance was enough to make a soul ache.

Perched atop the Hell's Millstone, Owen sat upon a skeletal throne, gazing down without a trace of emotion.

"Bring Joseph forward."

His voice was calm.

The millstone's rotation quickened, exuding an aura of divine authority and icy dread.

Ethan and Mia exchanged glances before stepping forward, dragging Joseph deeper into the abyss.

Joseph felt the world around him shift drastically.