A Hidden Hand of the Abyss

The blade and the massive hammer collided.

Though Naimus's stats were inferior, he did not immediately activate Self-Protocol to draw power from his other selves.

Angel A still had a mission, and the Demon's true body remained within the Holy Son's soul. It could not be exposed carelessly.

So for now, he could only rely on skill, his stats of over a hundred after advancing to the Golden Breed, and the four Golden traits to fight his opponent.

With every collision, their connection deepened, and Balthazar's past gradually unfolded throughout the process.

After capturing that important figure's child, he had fallen into a dilemma: kill him or not.

But before long, the important figure helped him make the decision.

"Whoever dares to act, I'll summon priests to treat them!" The message came through The Grid, relayed by an apprentice priest accompanying them at the time.

"The problem is, haven't they still failed to develop a cure for this plague?" Balthazar demanded.

Then he received the answer he wanted. It was not that it could not be treated, merely that the treatment process was too troublesome. It required close-range treatment, and the Steel Breed priests risked infection as well. That would be too much trouble.

So they simply chose the most convenient method: kill them and burn the bodies.

Paladins were strong, after all, and highly resistant to plagues.

And even if the plague continued to spread, those who died would merely be commoners without stats.

At that moment, Balthazar had nearly collapsed. He had joined the Church of Guardianship because he believed in the ideal of protection.

Yet now, simply because it was more convenient, the Church wanted him to slaughter infected civilians on a massive scale?

So Balthazar killed that important figure's son and fled the Church.

Afterward, Balthazar