The moonlight peeked through the shadows of darkness. While the world was plunged into relentless chaos, it still had to fulfill its destined duty.
Beyond the castle grounds, the night's darkness twisted in an eerie distortion, shrouded by a thick, blood-red mist that concealed everything within.
FWOM!
Alaric unleashed a vortex of Divine energy from his sword, sending a wave of light surging forward at an incredible speed.
BOOM!
Selene leaped to the side, but the explosion from the wave shattered the rocks behind her, momentarily throwing her off balance.
"Kuhh..."
A killing intent prickled the back of her neck. Selene swiftly turned, aiming her claymore toward a single point—
CLANG!
A female Paladin had attempted to pierce Selene's heart. But what they didn't know was that Selene could sense incoming pain with her Accord 9, Stigma of Woe. That brief movement forced the Paladin to take a step back.
"Haha, as expected of a Contractor of the Pact: Witch of Corruption."
BZZZT!
"Let the judgment of God fall upon the wicked—Lightning of Judgment."
A series of mysterious runic symbols rapidly formed before the Paladin, condensing crackling blue lightning before striking Selene.
CRASH!
The thunderous spell ruthlessly scorched half of Selene's body in an instant. She was thrown back, but she didn't remain idle. Instead, a grin spread across her lips as she locked eyes with the three Paladins—two men and one woman.
"Ha... Hahaha... Let me show you just how powerful the symbol of suffering truly is!"
Rip—
Tear—
Selene clawed at the center of her chest. A circular wound split open, as if flesh and bone had been ripped apart by unseen hands. From the core of her stigma, dark veins branched outward, creeping like roots, spreading regret, sorrow, and despair to any who laid eyes upon it.
Pact: Witch of Corruption, Accord 9—Stigma of Woe: Tattoo of Soreness.
Chime—
An eerie chime, its origin unknown, reverberated across the battlefield. In an instant, those who heard it were ensnared by a strange and inexplicable pain.
A burning sensation erupted in the chests of the three Paladins. They hurriedly checked beneath their armor, only to find the same ominous mark now carved into their own flesh.
"You... what have you done?!"
The fury in Alaric's voice did not escape Selene's notice.
Standing amidst the ruins of the castle, her breaths were heavy, but her eyes remained filled with unwavering determination.
Despite experiencing the effects of Tattoo of Soreness, which made every movement ache with subtle yet relentless pain, the three Paladins did not falter. Tiny, invisible wounds like paper cuts, sudden muscle strains, or the searing sensation at their fingertips, all of it gnawed at their focus.
But they were Paladins, warriors forged through rigorous training and endless suffering.
Pain alone was not enough to make them yield.
BOOM!
Selene pulled the trigger of her revolver, now reinforced with existential energy, but this time, she didn't aim directly. The bullet struck the ruins behind the Paladin, triggering a small explosion that sent a thick cloud of dust into the air. In that instant, she lunged forward, her massive claymore swinging with enough force to cleave a person in two.
The female Paladin standing in the center parried the attack with her sword, but the moment their blades clashed, Selene activated Control. In an instant, the battlefield changed.
RUMBLE—
RUMBLE—
The ground beneath the Paladins shifted, rocks crumbled, and the air grew heavier. This wasn't ordinary elemental manipulation. Selene paid for this effect with a searing pain coursing through her body. Her muscles screamed, her joints felt as if they were being crushed—but that was the price to be paid.
BANG!
One of the male Paladins lost his footing, and Selene immediately targeted him. She fired her revolver again, this time, the bullet carried a poison they couldn't neutralize with their Divine energy. The shot pierced through his armor, embedding itself in his shoulder. He let out a low growl, not because the poison was taking effect, but because the impact was strong enough to make his arm go numb.
"Grr… Damn Contractor. Let me teach you a lesson!"
He spat the words in anger.
"You think we'd fall for cheap tricks like these?"
The female Paladin leaped back, raising her sun-shaped pendant, which began to glow. Divine energy surged forth, unleashing a wave of light that erased most of Control effects within its radius.
Selene gritted her teeth. Of course, they had a way to counter it. But that wouldn't stop her.
Alaric, still standing firm, charged at her with terrifying strength. Selene had only one option, dodge. But this time, she wasn't fast enough.
BANG!
A powerful blow struck her stomach, sending her flying backward until she crashed into a half-collapsed pillar. Pain spread through her body, but it granted her something else—additional power from Stigma of Woe.
"Hah… haah… You think… that's enough?"
She grinned, blood dripping from the corner of her lips. Her muscles tensed, and a new surge of energy coursed through her.
"Three Paladins… against a single woman. Do you have no honor… as paladin?"
Selene's sarcasm ignited a flicker of anger in all three of their eyes.
"... Rubert, tie her up."
Alaric spoke while pointing at the Paladin who had been shot in the shoulder.
***
(POV Evan)
Idiot, did you really think I'd fall for that? Who in the world would trust a stranger handing out candy? Ah, maybe kids would. Damn it, I almost walked right into his trap.
"Relax, I'm not some creepy old man."
Oh, did he just read my mind? Pervert.
"Haha, you're quite the unique one."
The skepticism that had been on Evan's face was now replaced by deep curiosity.
"... At least give me some privacy."
Evan spoke with a pleading tone.
"I have an offer for you."
Gulp—
Evan swallowed hard, not because he wanted to, but because it felt like an instinct, as if his very being was telling him to be awkward (maybe) before a higher existence.
"How about working for me?"
"... Huh?"
Yeah? What does he actually want? Hiss, I'm already in another world. A world full of mysticism and imagination! Why should I work?!
"Oh, don't worry. I guarantee freedom and justice for every one of my workers."
"..."
It was better to communicate through thoughts.
"Yeah... I agree."
He could see the shadow of a giant smile spreading from within the void. Right now, he was trapped in darkness by this being.
I want to ask... why do you need me? No, what exactly do you plan to use me for?
Evan's expression darkened.
"Let's get straight to the point. I want you to kill someone."
… Are they strong?
"Fairly… At least before they surpass my power, you should be able to kill them."
Fuck, I don't even know anything about this world. Let alone killing an existence that's nearly on par with you…
"That's precisely why I'm taking you somewhere. Don't worry, I swear upon my entire existence that I won't harm even a single strand of your hair."
Umm... fine.
"But there is one condition."
What? You want something from a nobody like me? I'm already resigned to my fate here.
Evan skeptically looked around.
"Do not offend Him."
Who?
"You will find out soon enough."
A curtain of darkness enveloped the entire space, turning what once 'existed' into 'nothingness.'
***
(POV Agnie)
Deep in a quiet forest, where sunlight barely pierced through the thick canopy, two figures stood facing each other. One wore a raven mask, known as a Contractor with an unknown Pact—while the other was Divine Paladin Agnie, a former academy prodigy skilled in both swordsmanship and Divine energy incantations.
The Contractor observed calmly, his right hand gripping a cane that concealed a short sword, while a Victorian-era flintlock rested at his waist. A thin red mist began creeping around him, spreading slowly over the battlefield.
Paladin Agnie, noticing this phenomenon, immediately mobilized Divine energy to shield her body from the mist's mysterious effects. In her right hand, she brandished a sun-engraved sword, while in her left, golden chains designed to restrain Contractors shimmered into surrounding.
"Kekeke, getting serious now?"
The Contractor sneered.
Agnie didn't respond. Her entire focus was on the crimson fog, which steadily swallowed the surrounding trees.
"I'll give you one final offer—surrender… or die?"
A thick killing intent radiated from Agnie's eyes. She was dead serious about eliminating a Contractor. Her voice was firm, her gaze sharp with unwavering vigilance.
"Surrender?"
The raven mask tilted slightly, showing intrigue. His voice was soft yet laced with amusement.
"I'd rather exchange knowledge, Lady Paladin."
Without warning, the Crimson Fog surged outward. A dense red mist billowed from the Contractor's body, engulfing the area. In mere seconds, visibility dropped to zero—as if they stood within an ocean of blood.
Agnie took a step back, raising her sword high. A faint divine glow flickered around her, forming a sacred circle to repel the fog's effects.
BANG!
A deafening gunshot echoes. Agnie reacted instantly, swinging her sword to deflect the incoming bullet from her left. Sparks of Divine energy scattered as the projectile ricocheted off her blade.
"Good guess,"
The Contractor's voice echoed through the fog.
"But can you do it repeatedly?"
BANG!
BANG!
Two more shots fired. Agnie moved swiftly, gliding to the side to evade. This time, however, a bullet barely grazed her shoulder.
She frowned.
The speed and angle changed.
He's testing me.
"Not bad, Contractor."
Agnie smirked.
"Praise be to the gods and all of creation. Grant this humble servant the right to borrow Your judgment."
CRASH!
CHWAK!
Agnie plunged her sword into the ground. A Pillar of Divine Light erupted skyward, dispersing part of the fog. For a brief moment, she glimpsed the Contractor's silhouette—before he vanished.
Step—
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Agnie turned—but too late.
The Contractor's short sword was inches from her neck!
With near-inhuman reflexes, she lashed out her sacred chain, forcing the Contractor to retreat under a blast of Divine energy.
"Not bad,"
The Contractor commented, stepping back.
"But I'm just warming up."
Agnie steadied her breathing.
This man… was fighting with information.
He wasn't launching reckless attacks—he was analyzing, adjusting, refining his strikes with every second.
"If that's the case,"
She tightened her grip on her sword.
"I'll close that gap."
Agnie clenched the sacred chain in her left hand. Then—
KABOOM!
SWOOSH—
The holy chains struck the ground, then whirled around Agnie, enveloping the battlefield in Divine energy.