Whatever the case, the ritual had already begun.
The Angel was about to descend. As a devout believer, he could not possibly miss it.
The Grand Duke's figure tore through the night sky as he headed for the Great Hollow.
Before long, blood-red bats surged into the Great Hollow like a tide. Scorching gusts had already lifted the Grand Duke's cloak, and flickering firelight shone on his pale face.
The red-haired figure's Spirit Origin was expanding. Through continuous Spirit Summoning and layering, it swelled in an attempt to awaken her own angel power.
With this method, the Grand Duke was certain he would soon witness a true Angel Descent.
"Angel..."
The Grand Duke's voice trembled. He had waited far, far too long...
"O Lord..."
He murmured a prayer. "You have finally sent a messenger... to purify this filthy world..."
At that moment, Messmer suddenly turned her head.
It was unclear whether she was making a declaration. "Faith is evil."
The Grand Duke froze.
What?
"I proclaim: faith is evil."
The Grand Duke's lips moved.
He wanted to say something, but only a hoarse breath escaped his throat.
Faith was evil?
Everything he had done in his life-no, over these five hundred years-had been founded on faith.
His harsh laws and severe punishments had been for the Lord's justice.
His puncturing atrocities had been to purify the filth.
He had become a Dead Apostle to carry on the Lord's mission.
And now, the Angel was telling him that his faith was evil.
The Grand Duke's mind raced.
No.
That was wrong.
That was not it.
The Angel could not be wrong.
The Angel's proclamation was the Lord's will.
Then...
The Grand Duke quickly understood the meaning of the proclamation. The Lord said faith was evil. The Lord was rejecting humanity's faith.