Way of the Knights

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A explosion which shook the fabrics of entire Asphodel ensued. 

Everyone's vision were covered by thick clouds of dusts. Moments later, the scene below was revealed to them...

A massive crater was left from the impact their combined efforts. At it's center, remains of Lust could be seen. 

There were barely anything left of them. At least 90% of Lust's body was gone. What remained was only their hand and some skin. 

No one attacked, they merely spread their senses in there to check if Lust still shoes any signs of being alive. The War Gods hadn't dropped their guards down yet. In fact, they were even ready to lash out the moment a sign of Lust being alive was discovered. 

*Swoosh!*

The War Gods were startled. 

Even with their guards raised, they were still surprised by a sudden gust of wind running past them. All of them looked back in alarm yet they found no traces of the enemy or whatsoever, still they were convinced that Lust was still alive. The problem is, they don't see him or have any way of attacking him. 

Raven who felt the same gust of wind snorted loudly. 

He stomped a foot forward and a tall pillar of blazing white flames erupted from within his body. Next, he moved swiftly and intercepted something which cannot be seen by others except from him. 

"You're not going anywhere, not under my watch." Raven uttered coldly. He raised his palms and grunted: "Crucifixion!"

*Aaaarrrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!*

A guttural roar echoed across the entirety of Asphodel. 

The War Gods were shocked as they heard the agonized scream of Lust, which not only confirmed their guesses that they're still alive, but also surprised the War Gods since Raven easily saw what they can't and easily intercepted it. 

A massive crucifix appeared in front of them. Theo, who's watching this scene, had a brilliant smile on his face. Of course he would, after all he was the one who created this technique after all. Only a handful of people could perform this technique due its strict requirements which mostly because of Cleansing Flames, so seeing it being performed by someone else in front of him, caused him to feel incredibly elated. 

The War Gods watched the massive crucifix in awe. At the center of it, was a figure which looked just like lust but without the wings. It was suffering from extreme agony, it didn't matter how hard it tried to free itself, the crucifixion flames won't let go, and it's agony will only continue. 

Nevertheless, Raven himself didn't know what to do. He's aware that being trapped in the crucifix of Cleansing Flames was an agonizing experience for Lust but Raven doubted that it would kill it. In fact, he's already expecting that it won't. But it won't be freeing itself anytime soon so he wanted to use this time to ask for the opinion of the War Gods.

"Should we kill it?" That's all he wanted to ask. Nevertheless, his question had an incredible importance. 

"Why hesitate, 9th?" Levi asked, "That's our job right?"

"I know." Raven nodded, "But if we do, the Devil Emperor will surely sense it. In fact, I even have a feeling that it already knows. The emperor might order its minions to launch another invasion, more aggressively this time, if we truly kill this thing."

"But at the same time, letting it go means allowing it to report to its brothers what we did. That's important intel that they might use against us in the future. At the same time, this thing won't make the same mistake in the future, so our chances of killing it would lessen."

"I want your opinions about this matter. I'm fairly new so I'll just go by your decision." Raven stated, causing the War Gods to look at him approvingly. 

The War Gods looked at each other and nodded. They all then said: "Kill."

Henry stepped forward and said: "It's fine that you think that way, after all you're considering the future of the sect with your decision. But what Levi said is true. It is our job to slay these things, the more the better. Eradicating them is our purpose, for the greater good."

"We'll leave the honors to you. This is your Merit, after all if it weren't for you, our casualties would be way higher." Paolo added with a huge grin on his face. 

"Aw, shucks..." Raven placed a bashful expression on his face as he stepped closer to the tortured soul of Lust. 

Seeing that expression caused the War Gods' faces to twitch...

"I just feel the need to smack his face whenever he wears that expression. Is it just me?" Logan stated. The other War Gods didn't say a thing but all of them agreed inwardly. 

As Raven stood in front of Lust's soul, he clenched his hand and torrents of pure white flames started pulsating from his fist. 

A hoarse laugh escaped from Lust's lips despite the agonizing pain it endured. It then looked savagely at Raven and said:

"I can't believe this." It said, "On normal occasions, I could squash something like you with a random yawn, yet now I will meet my end on your hands. Oh! What kind of laughable fate is this?"

"This isn't about fate, you idiot." Raven snorted as he opened his fist. "You're just inferior in both mind and strength that's all. Now shut your trap and accept your end 'kay?"

"I'm unresigned! I'm unwilling!" Lust roared at the top of its lungs. 

"Aww, too bad no one cares." Raven scoffed as he lifted his palms and revealed a small seed. 

Seeing this seed caused Theo's face to lighten up and for Lust's face to turn twisted. 

Raven unceremoniously placed the seed on Lust's chest and left it there. Using the connection he has with the flame seed, Raven sent and order through his Will. 

"Bloom for me, Cleansing Flame Seed!"

A primal roar could be heard once more, Lust's agonized scream and it's strengthened desire to free itself painted a miserable image to everyone who's watching, yet none of them pitied the fool. 

Theo's face lit up. He watched as Raven's Cleansing Fire seed erupted with large volumes of white flames, burning Lust's soul from inside out as it wailed and wailed. 

He could see that the flames were breaking down Lust's soul to the finest degree, purifying it and absorbing it as food. The seed progressively became smaller and smaller until nobody could make it out anymore. 

Just as when Lust's soul was about to disappear, the rate of absorption increased. All of a sudden, they heard...

*Crack!*

It was faint, but was loud enough for everyone to hear. Then, under their astonished gazes, the saw a sudden transformation occurring at the core of the white flames. 

A sprout became visible. 

It was small, almost negligible actually, yet it announced its presence like no other. It released a bright and pure luminescence. Small it might be but considering they were at a land were no ounce of vegetation could be seen, it became the center of attention. 

It was a white sprout, it's body was seems to be made out of the purest white porcelain. It has a pair of leaves, each on shone like diamonds, at its center a network of faintly discernable black lines could be seen which shares the same color as the roots itself. 

A few seconds after it bloomed, the Cleansing Flame Sprout released a strong fluctuation and a towering pillar of white flames which could be seen all the way to the outskirts of Asphodel. 

Everyone who's still fighting against the stray devils saw this flame and were awe. They were already used to the colorful shades of red flames surrounding Asphodel yet this is the first time that they've seen this one. 

Well, prior to today at least. 

Asphodel was then overwhelmed by a sea of white flames. Those disciples who were still being protected by the Cleansing Flames felt stronger and nigh-invincible under the flame's protection. 

Raven watched in satisfaction as he saw the beautiful sprout in front of him. He gently opened his palms and even without his guidance, the sprout flew towards him and released a gentle and joyous hum, akin to a child giggling at the arms of its parents. 

"Happy Birthday, Little One." Raven greeted, the sprout released a few happy hums before jumping at Raven's chest and disappearing from everyone's view. 

Raven was aware that all of the War Gods were staring at him in awe of what they just saw just now. They were even silently gazing at Theo, who were also fascinated about what he saw. However, instead of answering them, Raven focused on his remaining task. 

He checked the seal on the 12th floor and saw that it was properly placed. He then moved towards the entrance to the 9th floor and began laying down the seed. 

Another wave of intense fluctuation occurred but tamer compared to the one that flame sprout released. After a couple of minutes, Raven finished sealing the 9th floor entrance, causing him to sigh in relief. 

He then face the War Gods and said:

"Okay, the job's done. I can also feel the disciples retreating since majority of the stray devils were already slain. The War's over..."

The War Gods collectively nodded and sighed in relief as well. 

"Alright, we're finally done here so...I'll be fainting now. See ya' later!" After saying that, Raven's eyes rolled at the back of his head and he staggered, falling down to the ground but not until someone appeared and carried him. 

"Fantastic job, Brat. Rest well." 

"Grand Elder!!!"

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