I Became the Priest of Blasphemy of the Outer Gods

Chapter 126. The Secret of the Temple (3)

“4th-rank.”

I had reached a stage that surpassed human limits and transcended. And then…

“Is this the power of the Red Dragon Crown?”

A power was bestowed upon me that could evaporate this entire temple or burn an entire civilization to ashes.

There was nothing my flames could not burn. No flame could harm me.

“Subside.”

I repressed the exhilaration and power. The power of the Dragon Crown dwindled and scattered.

It was divided and absorbed back into the souls of the prisoners trapped within me.

『Ahhh!』
『We were wrong! We were blinded for a moment!』

Every time I drew out or stored away the Dragon Crown, I heard their cries, laments, and pleas for mercy.

I was holding a hell within my body. And there was no reason for me to show mercy.

“The greatest caution lies in self-destruction, perhaps.”

Closing my eyes, I could sense it. The malice of the Outer Gods trying to tear apart the false night sky.

Astrological shadows aiming to invade this world by corrupting the artificial stars.

The rifts in the veil that protects the world from them widened and deepened.

“…… Let’s not look any further.”

I drank the Golden Blood Elixir to numb my senses.

I could see if I wanted to, but doing so would crazily drain my mental energy, and the more I looked, the less I would remain human.

“The stronger I become, the higher the risks.”

A priest is a vessel to contain more of the God’s power as they achieve awakening.

Unless a God leaves you with a sense of self.

Since I awakened through an Outer God, I continually had to be wary of the disappearance of my ego.

Even now, I felt a part of my humanity slipping away.

“Albeit reluctant, I truly have grown stronger.”

Even with the power of the Dragon Crown restrained, its might remained formidable.

From a distant place in the Wildlands, I sensed the flames.

I could not only detect the flames over a wide area but also see the world through those flames.

“Hmm… a battle has begun.”

The flames I sensed were igniting right in the middle of a fight. Observing through the fire, Luminaries and the bulky figures I saw earlier were engaged in combat.

“Bring more oil!”

“Keep the 〈Holy Shield〉 up!”

The five of them were putting up quite a fight but were outmatched.

“Let’s not repeat the tragedy of Wave Reach! Remember those we couldn’t protect!”

A knight’s cry to rally their spirits drew my attention.

“And now that I recall that guy…”

The voice and the familiar face made me realize he was from the group of Whale Tendon guys.

“Maybe I should lend them a hand while testing my power.”

I began to manipulate the flames. Luminaries, who had ignited their sword to burn the enemy, became alarmed as the flames grew unexpectedly fierce.

『Drop the sword, you fool. You’ll burn alive.』

“Something’s possessed the sword!”

“It’s the aura of an Outer God! Discard the sword!”

Mistaking it for an enemy, Luminaries hastily tossed the sword aside, and I made the flames bloom into a human figure.

Even as a flame-born avatar, moving with agility was as easy as if it were my own body.

『Hmm… not bad.』

Behind a shield created by a miracle, Luminaries maintained vigilance.

The burly figures trembled and squirmed miserably, while the Prenatal Offspring of Darkness bowed their heads.

“This, this place is… Be, Beatrice’s…”

One of the bulkier ones struggled to speak, but I paid no mind.

“Bestow the revered flames of disaster. 〈Falling Flame of the Red Sky〉.”

The ensuing flames laid waste to the surrounding area.

The bulky figures and Prenatal Offspring of Darkness were all reduced to blackened coal.

“Ahh… the firepower is quite substantial.”

A smile crept over my face.

Having reached the 4th-rank and strengthened by the Dragon Crown, even this flame-born avatar carried impressive firepower.

“Ugh…”

“Is everyone alright?”

The problem was the firepower was excessively strong. Unintentionally, even Luminaries was affected.

“The shield’s melted…”

“The barrier’s gone in one hit!”

“The enemies are all wiped out. Does anyone know anything about that presence?”

Thanks to focusing on defense, none of the Luminaries perished.

Observing the damage from a single miracle, I could feel the Dragon Crown’s destructive potential.

“It’s truly a calamity.”

Using fire to scout and creating avatars through it.

While the miracle available is limited to the Eternal Blaze’s miracle, given its destructive force, it’s hard to call it a downside.

I could emerge from a single torch and scorch the surroundings at will.

“Those with the power to wield miracles, step forth!”

『There’s no need.』

Watching Luminarisacingly prepare to engage me, I sighed.

『I hold no interest in you. I’ll spare you, so be on your way.』

Even though Luminaries seemed bewildered by my words, they made a cautious decision.

“We understand your words, but we must inquire about your next destination. To reassure us that you won’t harm innocent souls-”

『My target is those similar to the ones who just burned. Ah, yes…』

Given the current situation, I might as well exploit it.

『Whether you trust me or not doesn’t matter. Just light a small flame in case of another battle, and I’ll be there to hunt those creatures.』

“What exactly does that mean…?”

『It’s exactly as it sounds. Simply don’t overthink it.』

Cutting the conversation short, I utilized another ability of the Red Dragon Crown.

With a whoosh, living flames flared up.

‘Summoning four creatures, I see. If I increase the Dragon Crown’s output, I might summon more.’

Beings that scorched even brighter by absorbing life. The ‘Crimson Flame Vampires’ that served the Eternal Blaze.

『Do not harm anyone else. Focus solely on hunting the Black Willow Cult’s figures.』

With their reliable obedience and possessing strength equivalent to the second or third rank, they were incredibly useful aides.

I issued a warning to the still wary Luminaries.

『I am no foe. I merely wish to incinerate other Outer God’s forces, so refrain from creating unnecessary turmoil.』

I retracted my flame-born avatar without waiting for a response. Slight dizziness was accompanied by black blood trickling from my features.

‘What’s with the blood now?’

Come to think of it, I did use the 〈Forbidden Transformation〉.

Sighing at the sight of the blackened blood, I summoned Gluttony to consume it.

Since reverting the increasing degree of transformation into formless residues was too cumbersome, better to use it as fodder.

“Still, the Dragon Crown indeed lives up to its name. Its capabilities are unquestionable.”

While limited in range, I could survey and traverse anywhere where there was fire.

“While I used a flame-born avatar this time, I can move my entire body if needed.”

There was no pressing need to travel myself, but simply amplifying the fire allowed for easy incineration of my surroundings.

“Particularly when nighttime reaps firelight and torches around the cities…”

Unlike now, when there were spatial penalties, visiting a city would enable perfect surveillance over an entire district.

“The firepower alone is terrifying, yet its practicality is on a whole different level.”

This alone was daunting, yet the Dragon Crown’s capabilities didn’t end here.

“I could also absorb flames to replenish my mana and stamina. Even as a flame-born avatar, the power of miracles is much greater than during the third rank.”

I knew the Dragon Crown amplified the miracles of the Eternal Blaze, but I didn’t expect it to this extent.

If so, what if I employed an even more powerful miracle with my true body?

Without relying on the Chalice of the Red Ceremony, I’d be strong enough to hold dominance over Pleroma.

“Declaring war on Cahon in the next meeting shouldn’t pose a problem.”

With satisfaction, I returned upstairs.

“No, Lord Ethnos… did you truly awaken?!”

Eldritch exclaimed with shock upon seeing me. Ender flinched up, and Arian quietly watched me.

“I found the Dragon Crown inside. To obtain it, I had no choice but to awaken it.”

Frozen to their spot, Eldritch listened to my explanation.

“It seems quite extraordinary, but what exactly is this Dragon Crown?”

The rest seemed unaware of what the Dragon Crown entailed, except perhaps Arian, who showed a reaction.

“Ethnos, are you talking about the top-grade divine relic?”

“Yes, precisely.”

“I’m not privy to the detailed records, but I’ve heard of a crown-shaped Outer God’s relic, said to be more dangerous than anything else.”

Arian appeared slightly tense.

“To awaken, and then to possess such a relic… how powerful have you become?”

I couldn’t quantify it exactly. I had an array of skills, and my specs had increased overall. The strength augmentation was too vast to succinctly articulate.

“The certain thing is you might need to train more than before.”

“Oh, are you now declaring yourself stronger than me?”

“Sorry to say, but it’s almost definitive.”

Unless Arian brought Hayat’s top-grade relic, I could assert a significant advantage at present.

“…… I should request permission to carry a higher-grade relic once this mission concludes.”

Arian pondered earnestly.

“Still, it bothers me that the stronger I get, the more unstable it becomes.”

The danger of self-destruction loomed relentlessly. It was something unavoidable as a priest of Outer Gods.

“I’m uncertain if congratulations are due or not. It seems impossible for me to restrain you on my own now.”

“Ender! We should analyze together later, and craft a preemptive hunt strategy!”

Watching Arian openly plan on how to take my life, I wasn’t bothered. After all, that’s what I expected from Arian.

“My mental faculties have somewhat dimmed, yet my mind feels clearer than before.”

Detailed evaluation was necessary to confirm. Fortunately, continuous consumption of the Golden Blood Elixir prevented significant damage.

“Arian. Reach the 5th rank soon.”

“Awakening isn’t some trivial task, you know.”

Even with Arian’s astonishment, I knew the potential.

—Those who reach level six are truly few. Even Cernun caps at level five. If you name a few, one would be Arian Erata…

According to Dowol, Arian had the potential to reach the 6th rank. Hence, reaching the 5th rank was crucial for her.

“Eldritch, get to the 4th-rank swiftly as well. You’re almost there, right?”

“I will catch up quickly. My magic is improving every day.”

Unlike before, Eldritch now showed pride in their accumulated magic.

“Ugh… What happened while I was out cold?”

“Still waiting, huh.”

As Delion slowly regained consciousness and rose, Ansandy clicked her tongue disparagingly.

“Now that you’re up, we should move…”

“No. Let’s spend the night here to recuperate as much as possible.”

I remarked as I sensed the presence of the Crimson Flame Vampires in the distance.

“I discovered one of their nests. Let’s raid it tomorrow.”