Evans looked troubled.
What was going on today? How had such a killing machine shown up?
Could one man really be on the verge of sweeping through the entire Church of Dagon?
If he really took down the whole Church of Dagon by himself, wouldn't that mean Great Father God was inferior to that evil fiend?
The priests who had been killed were all recent promotions. Not one of the original members of their group had been injured or killed.
Still, judging by his appearance, he seemed to have grown even stronger. It was probably a blessing from that otherworldly demon.
Damn it. If only High Priest Cassilius were here. What could one measly demon do?
Evans cursed under his breath and quickly surveyed the area. Aside from a few original members of the church, including himself, the others were either injured or frightened, their morale low. They clearly couldn't keep fighting this demon.
"The Church of Dagon is nothing special!"
Bronksky curled his lip in disdain. His contemptuous words were as chilling as ice, adding to the dread in Evans's and the other believers' hearts.
"Your false god can't protect you. Join me instead, and offer your most exalted faith to the great Blood God!"
Evans knew they were in trouble. The Church of Dagon might not have been completely helpless against one mere demon, but it had certainly suffered a crushing defeat.
If this kept up, wouldn't all the hard-won believers—aside from the priests and fanatics who had already completed their transformation and couldn't abandon ship—convert to the Blood God?
What would become of the Church of Dagon then? Could they even stay here?
He and Cassilius's other original members couldn't keep sitting back and protecting themselves. They had to give it everything they had, or the Church of Dagon would be humiliated today.
"Everyone, heed my command!"
Evans suddenly raised his voice.
"We are faithful followers of Father God, and our strength comes from His grace! Today, in the name of our faith, let us show this arrogant fool that the Church of Dagon is no pushover!"
At Evans's urging, the other believers gradually recovered some of their courage.
Supporting one another, they began chanting ancient incantations in unison. The air once again filled with that mysterious power from Father God.
Dark rays of light gathered in their hands, taking the form of all kinds of magical attacks that shot toward Bronksky.
But Bronksky seemed entirely apart from the fray. He moved like the wind, easily dodging every magical attack.
His eyes shone with the light of battle. Each swing of his Great Axe came with a deafening boom, as if it could cleave through any obstacle.
"Hmph. What can a little magic do to me?"
Bronksky let out a cold laugh. His strength seemed to grow with every moment of the fight. He leaped into the air, his Great Axe tracing a brilliant arc as it came straight for Evans.
Evans's heart tightened at the sight, but he didn't retreat. He was the highest-ranking cleric present.
Morale was already so low that if he backed down now, they'd be finished.
He quickly gathered the Mana within him, forming a sturdy magical barrier to block Bronksky's lethal blow.
Two immense forces collided in midair, erupting in dazzling light and a deafening roar. The entire church seemed to tremble, and the air filled with thick smoke and the stench of blood.
The battle reached a fever pitch, and the duel between Evans and Bronksky became the focus of the entire battlefield.
The Church of Dagon's believers surrounded them, their incantations and prayers blending together.
It looked as if Evans had stopped Bronksky's attack, but inwardly he was suffering.
That strike had consumed far too much of his Mana. No matter how generous Great Father was, He wouldn't provide Mana without limit for Evans to waste.
Evans barely steadied himself, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He knew he couldn't keep enduring such intense combat much longer.
He had to find a strategy that would preserve his strength while effectively countering Bronksky.
"Everyone, hold your formation! Don't panic!" Evans shouted, trying to steady the believers.
At his words, the Church of Dagon's believers adjusted their positions, trying to form a tight battle formation.
They continued chanting the ancient incantations, and the dark power in the air grew thicker.
At Evans's command, the Church of Dagon's believers worked together, forming an apparently impenetrable formation.
The surrounding air began to ripple violently again, and the dark light in the believers' hands gathered into a huge net.
It spread silently, enveloping Bronksky.
"What?"
Bronksky suddenly realized that a powerful force had bound him. He struggled with all his might, but the net seemed alive, tightening around him and restricting his movements.
"Haha, is this the best the Church of Dagon can do? Pathetic!"
Though trapped, Bronksky still didn't hold his tongue, trying to provoke Evans with his words.
And as Bronksky struggled violently, his immense strength tore the net out of shape. At this rate, it wouldn't hold much longer.
Evans suddenly began chanting a far more complex and ancient incantation. As he finished, it was as if an invisible hand had torn open the space inside the church, forming a massive vortex with Bronksky at its very center.
To Bronksky's astonishment, the sudden spatial vortex had sucked him in and held him fast. He couldn't break free.
"No! This is impossible!" Bronksky roared in despair.
As Bronksky roared in despair, a flash of madness and unwillingness passed through his eyes.
His imprisoned fury and desperate will to survive converged into an unprecedented force, surging through him.
"Ahhh!" Bronksky threw back his head and roared. His voice brimmed with rage and defiance, as if he meant to tear apart the space holding him captive.
His body began to convulse violently. His muscles seemed to be reshaped by an invisible force, every inch bursting with astonishing strength.
Just as the seemingly indestructible net was about to be torn apart completely, Bronksky's whole body suddenly shuddered. An immense energy erupted from within him like a volcano, distorting the surrounding space even more violently.
Driven by that force, he tore open the spatial net holding him. His figure shot through like lightning, racing toward the church's exit.
Evans's expression changed dramatically. He hadn't expected Bronksky to break free so easily. He quickly regained his composure and gathered the Mana within him once more, preparing to launch another attack.
But Bronksky gave him no chance. Using the burst of speed he had unleashed the moment he broke free, he leaped into the air. His body traced a sharp arc as he shot out of the church and into the unknown sky beyond.
"Remember this, Church of Dagon! One day, I'll make you pay!"
Bronksky's voice rang out in the distance, filled with boundless hatred and a determination to take revenge.