After the pope transformed, he and Asmodeus began fighting. Their blade and magic clashed several times, causing Yuina and Aki to become shocked. He flung Aki from his shadow at the start of combat, now fighting beside the princess.

They tried to watch while fighting off the deranged nobles and knights.

The moment Asmodeus revealed his strength, the eyes of Pope Johan became bemused. His young and attractive form glowed with a dark light. However, that shock lasted but a moment before his fingertips snapped, turning several of the nobles into blood mist.

"Pope Johan!?"

"Hmph! Mere animals who exist only to serve our lord do not speak my name!" Johan''s eyes gazed at the beastkin like garbage.

The next moment, black runic and magic circles flooded the space around Asmodeus, while the demon king merely pointed towards the pope. "Arrogant priest!"

A bloody shockwave exploded, causing half of them to shatter. Afterwards, he swiped his sword and cleaved through the others, rendering the pope''s attack worthless.

"Nice trick, Demon!" The pope''s body vanished, his body rapidly teleporting and appearing in front of Asmodeus. Johan''s black staff slams down towards his head. He responded by catching it with one hand before thrusting his sword directly towards the pope''s head.

Johan''s face distorted slightly, tilting his head before the force knocked him back several metres. In response, the priest smiled with satisfaction. "You are truly a suitable vessel for my Lord."

''What?!''

"Eh?!" It was Yuina and

[No... Asmodeus, you cannot keep fighting here! Take the princess, empress and your knights and leave!]

''Serena?''

A feeling of doubt crept into his mind; hearing even Serena speak that way made his heart waver. Was this a trap? The entire thing from meeting the cult of death to being driven to the south and them waiting here?

''I don''t understand?!''

He felt confused. How could Mephisto want his body... but before he could ask her, the connection suddenly became distant again, like in the forest...

It was at that moment that the pope of death stabbed his staff into the ground; a rumbling sounded through the temple as countless blood golems sprouted throughout its vast halls.

Countless dead nobles contributed to the formation of the blood golems. A strange mixture of animal parts created the monstrosities, which oozed with sticky black blood.

"Kill them," Johan commanded as more and more monsters grew.

"Asmodeus!" Yuina called out before her body glowed in a faint golden light. She lowered her hips, dodging the enemy''s blade, before using her eastern sword, slicing the throat of a black knight. However, before she could recover, two golems appeared behind her.

In response, Asmodeus moved towards her side to save her. He pushed her body towards Aki and used his blade to block violent fists filled with immense pressure. Yet the nobles were constantly being drained of their life force to power the five golems.

"Ngh... Yuina, Aki, are you alright?"

"Hahaha~ a touching little mutant!" Johan''s Right hand touched the cheek of Asmodeus, creating a small magic circle while forming a large one overhead.

***

"Haa.....ha...."

"I don''t understand; why don''t you accept my lord''s offer? Your shoulder looks so painful," The pope asked with curiosity, finding it strange. "Can you not hear his voice? That divine one calling out to you?"

"Shut up... I don''t care if you want to kill all of the beastkin in the city. Can you leave me and my women out of your dirty plans?"

Johan''s brows raised, and a smile spread across his face. His hand moved down toward his hips as laughter resounded throughout the temple. "Ahahahhaaha! Oh, my dear Lord Mephisto. This petty king truly thinks he could defeat me... let me show you the true meaning of death!"

The next moment, the pope took out a black vial with a strange fluid inside and quickly swallowed it. Johan''s body began to pulse, causing Asmodeus to feel a sense of danger.

''Did this fucker lose his mind?''

However, he noticed something, not only a distortion within Johan''s soul but his flesh was melting... Then, as the golems closed in on Asmodeus, their bodies exploded and turned into sticky crimson liquid. The blood transformed, turning into tentacles and attaching themselves to his arms and legs. "Hiss... I feel his love! His power! Mephisto~ come to me!"

At this point, Asmodeus could no longer hold himself back; his eye narrowed before his demonic mana exploded. Without delay, he transformed, instantly forming his wings, horns and exoskeleton while facing the deformed pope. A horror fused with the flesh golems made of dozens of nobles.

"Hah!"

"Suffer and repent!"

A thick shadow spear formed on each fingertip of Asmodeus before flinging them straight at the monster. Yet with a single swipe of his hand, Johan sent them flying each one exploding against the palace walls, creating a large blast.

The golden-haired man flew forward, and the sound of space shattering rang out as he slammed into Asmodeus with the back of his fist.

"Ngh..."

Not missing an opportunity, he twisted his hips, creating a sudden howl, flinging his opponent away, smashing him into several pillars. Asmodeus couldn''t stop his momentum and crashed into the stone wall. Shards of rock flew outwards as dust and smoke spread out.

"Give up! A demon King cannot defeat a god!"

***

A little earlier...

On the far side of the battlefield, near a castle tower, three people hid behind debris.

"Yuina?!" A female voice sounded as several knights stood looking at the trio with confused looks. It was Vinea, Liana and Ciela, while Levia seemed missing from the knights.

"Liana?! You''re all okay!" Yuina let out a sigh of relief before hugging her, the demon princess. "You should be out of the city. Where are the caravans?"

Vinea gazed at Yuina. "Some knights in black armour suddenly attacked us; thankfully, we won... but Levia is wounded."

Something strange was happening in the capital. Yuina looked back at the palace while Empress Aurelia seemed to be slowly recovering from the strange black mist.

"We should help our husband!" Vinea shouted. The group agreed before hearing the loud explosions coming from the palace.

When suddenly, a figure flew from the roof and slammed into the ground beside them, rolling several times with a few bounces.