"What exactly did you find? How did it come to this?" McConner watched Stewart burn the "lung slice" with Spirit Fire and quietly breathed a sigh of relief before frowning.
"The Aurora Order is making a sacrifice to the True Creator. In return, they've obtained a portion of His power... enough to activate a ritual spell called the Abyss of Flesh.
"I only took a quick look with a Secret Art, and I was nearly corrupted by Him..." Stewart said, still shaken.
"When we get back, you'll need to be examined by the pontiff," McConner said gravely. His expression then darkened. "The Abyss of Flesh? The one that killed nearly five hundred people in Feysac?"
The Aurora Order was notorious, but even they rarely slaughtered five hundred people at once. McConner remembered that case well.
"That's the spell. Its main purpose is to seal off an area and gradually grind the people chosen as 'sacrifices' into flesh to offer to the True Creator.
"During that time, the sacrifices' powers are suppressed! And as the ritual progresses, the suppression grows stronger..." Stewart had caught his breath and explained quickly.
"So we and every ordinary person on this street are sacrifices? Bastards! Every last member of the Aurora Order deserves to die!" McConner cursed. He turned to the other members of the Mandated Punishers Squad and ordered them,
"All members, follow me into the target building. Destroy the ritual as fast as possible, whatever the cost!
"There's no time. We can't wait for His Excellency the Spellsinger of God."
"Yes, Captain." The members answered one after another. Not one backed down.
As the Mandated Punishers of the Lord charged toward the three-story building, covering one another in practiced coordination, Stewart deliberately hung back to guard their rear.
The Mysticism Mentor had faintly