Raven Annihilation Trial!?

Before Igor could ask, Raven spoke coldly, “The Raven Annihilation Demi-God is already dead.”

“Yes, the Raven Annihilation Demi-God is already dead,” Mercury Trojan Horse said. “But anyone can become the Raven Annihilation Demi-God.”

Raven paused, then realized and murmured, “Who is it?”

“‘Debater’ Arnoi,” Mercury Trojan Horse said. “He never submitted to the Four Pillars from beginning to end. He pretended to join the Four Pillars Cult, tried to find a chance to assassinate me just like you, and even ascended to a sanctuary sorcerer before he died… It’s truly a pity.”

“Compared to a new Raven Annihilation Demi-God, what I wanted more was an Arnoi who would sincerely help me.”

Raven was silent for a moment. His distorted voice trembled slightly. “I thought… he really surrendered…”

“The truth always leaves us battered and bruised,” Mercury Trojan Horse said. “The scars that truth leaves us are the cracks where faith takes root.”

She smiled. “I even thought, if I were really killed by you, I’d pass the Raven Annihilation Demi-God to you… Unfortunately, Silver Lantern stole it later.”

“When you all reach hell, you can reminisce slowly.” Igor motioned for Gwen to look after Ashe, and said coldly, “What’s the main theme of the Raven Annihilation Trial, and what is its curse?”

“Look at the wall.”

Only then did Igor notice that the walls had been displaying various scenes. Looking closely, he saw all sorts of killings and even tortures: Blood Hawk (pulling lung lobes out from the back), Bathing (pouring hot blood on the body and scraping flesh with an iron comb), Pipa (plucking ribs with a sharp knife), Lighting the Lamp (soaking in oil and then hanging on a wooden frame to ignite), Blood Raven Spreads Wings (fixing limbs and head separately and only spinning the limbs), and so on.

Some of these Raven had introduced before, some not, but just watching the images, one could tell how cruel they were.

As for the victims, they were of different races, genders, and ages. The only thing they had in common was their wailing at the moment of death and the horrific manner in which they died! However, the Holographic Screen would also list their crimes to explain why they deserved it.

“Interesting, isn’t it?” Mercury Trojan Horse said calmly. “The Raven Annihilation Trial is very simple-admire these scenes, understand and learn from them, and keep your faith absolutely firm, without the slightest doubt.”

“The main theme here is: never regret your actions, never doubt your decisions. As soon as you doubt, as soon as you regret, you trigger the curse of Raven Annihilation.”

“Lord Ashe’s Blood Raven in his heart is both the curse and his sense of guilt. That three-pointed, eight-pronged heart is Lord Ashe’s conscience.”

A trace of a smile appeared in Mercury Trojan Horse’s voice. “Once he starts regretting his actions, or doubting his decisions, he’ll feel a guilty conscience. An uneasy conscience is guilt’s favorite food.”

“Raven Annihilation believes that only criminals feel guilty or have unnecessary guilt. The faith of Raven Annihilation’s disciples is as clear as a mirror; all their actions are righteous, and even if they torture criminals, their conscience must never waver.”

“The solution is simple,” she said slowly. “As long as he makes a choice that puts his conscience at ease, he can break the curse.”

Igor looked at Ashe, who was trembling all over, sweat streaming down like rain. The handkerchief Gwen used to wipe his sweat was already soaked.

The Con Artist turned to Raven and sneered coldly, “Just as you wished, Raven. You did well this time, at least that fool Ashe fell for it.”

Why did Ashe feel guilty? Because he wanted to stay and help Raven, but deep down he knew that stopping Silver Lantern was the more crucial matter.

More importantly, he believed he had the ability to stop Silver Lantern, and even felt obligated to do so!

If, in order to help Raven, he was late in stopping Silver Lantern and caused millions in Senlo to perish, his anxiety would breed immense guilt, and this would trigger the curse of the Raven Annihilation Trial.

How should one put it, this really is a Trial designed specifically for good people.

For people like Mercury Trojan Horse and Igor, nothing happened to them at all.

“I-“

Raven trembled all over, gritted his teeth and said, “Really! I don’t know! I would never! Harm you all!”

Igor immediately shut his mouth, because he saw that inside Tamashi, a Blood Raven had appeared pecking at his heart.

Ashe was in so much pain that he knelt on the ground, but aside from his speech being less fluent, Raven’s body didn’t tremble at all; he still steadily held Charlyn hostage.

Suddenly, the Blood Raven in Ashe’s heart disappeared.

He took a sharp breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and stood up with a bitter smile. “It seems I have to go find Silver Lantern first-otherwise, if I stay, I’ll just be a burden.”

Entangled by the curse of Raven Annihilation, Ashe was simply impossible to participate in the siege against Mercury Trojan Horse. From the moment he learned Silver Lantern was on the lower level, he was never going to stay.

Yet Ashe was fine now, but Raven’s conscience was still being pecked by guilt.

Seeing this, Ashe sighed helplessly. He walked behind Raven, patted him on the shoulder, and said to the uneasy Raven, “You’ve done very well, your decision was the right one. Thankfully, you were here, so we had a chance to save this unfortunate situation. In the name of the Judge, I declare you innocent.”

“You said you cried when you saw us coming.” Ashe couldn’t help but laugh. “When I saw your ugly yet handsome raven mask was still alive, my eyes got a little wet too.”

With Ashe’s soothing, the blood ravens in Tamashi’s heart gradually dissipated. The Mercury Trojan Horse watched and sighed softly, giving up on letting the Black Feather sorcerer seize the chance to attack.

“Then, I’ll leave the Mercury Trojan Horse in your care,” Ashe said. “Stop Silver Lantern, kill Mercury Trojan Horse, and then we’ll leave together. This journey in Senlo will end perfectly.”

“Alright.” Raven nodded, then paused and added, “If you fail, or if I fail, remember to record my story in the Sorcerer’s Handbook, okay?”

Ashe didn’t correct him about “sorcerers cannot influence the Sorcerer’s Handbook,” and simply nodded, “Okay-but we won’t fail. You’ll succeed in your revenge, we’ll make it home, the Kingdom of Senlo will remain safe, and Mercury Trojan Horse will die a miserable death. Everyone will have a bright future.”

“See you soon, Tamashi.”

“Mm.”

Throughout the process, Ashe didn’t spare even a glance for Mercury Trojan Horse, but she made no move either. She quietly watched as Ashe, Igor, and Gwen passed through the Fog Gate and entered the sixteenth layer of the Silent Spiral.

“Thank you,” Raven suddenly said.

Mercury Trojan Horse was taken aback, wanting to laugh scornfully, but for some reason, she also felt like crying. In the end, all her complicated feelings turned into a single question: “Why are you thanking me?”

“Thank you for not stopping Ashe and the others,” Raven said sincerely. “If you had kept them here… even ten thousand years in hell wouldn’t be enough to atone for my regret, whether to Senlo or to them.”

“Is it because you chose to take revenge on me, rather than stop Silver Lantern?”

Mercury Trojan Horse shrugged and said, “Compared to ‘minor evil’ like me, it’s obvious that Silver Lantern, the ‘greater evil’, is more important. Besides, you know I’m about to leave-I can no longer harm Senlo, while Silver Lantern wants to drag Senlo into hell.”

“You clearly know all the gains and losses, yet you still abandoned justice for hatred.”

“But I’m not surprised. Raven Annihilation has always been this way.” Mercury Trojan Horse glanced around at the images on the wall. “Though you claim it’s for justice, the origin of Raven Annihilation is, in fact, hatred.”

“Reading evil, pursuing evil, soaking in evil; first nurturing hatred for evil, then venting that hatred through slaughter, thus gaining moral pleasure.”

“So-called justice is merely the term Raven Annihilation uses to decorate hatred and desire.” She sneered, “To annihilate all evil ravens is nothing more than Raven Annihilation’s spiritual self-indulgence after killing people.”

“Tamashi, from the moment you raised your blade against me, you already abandoned justice. You placed revenge above the lives of countless people. Your justice is narrow, bloody, and impulsive. You can’t even pass the judgment within your own heart-it’s just that Ashe and the others happened to appear and can make up for your mistake.”

Mercury Trojan Horse’s words were calm, but her deconstruction of Raven Annihilation’s doctrine was precise and cruel. Tamashi, whose conscience could not be moved even when pecked by blood ravens, now found his hand trembling slightly, leaving a thin line of blood on Charlyn’s neck.

That’s it.

Doubt yourself.

Regret your decision.

Let the immense guilt crush you, my dear Tamashi.

But soon, Raven’s hand stopped trembling. He said calmly, “Tanomoo, you’re right.”

“For you, I have betrayed the justice and Truth I always upheld,” Raven said. “You’re always so accurate in your analysis; your words are always right, so I always listen to you…”

“That’s why I know-the best way to deal with you is to listen to nothing you say.”

Crack!

Charlyn’s head flew into the air, and Raven stepped forward, slicing his corpse into more than a dozen pieces to ensure he had no chance of survival!

At the same time, the Void Gate guarded by the Black Feather sorcerers began to collapse and dissipate.

Raven didn’t know why Tanomoo was willing to let Ashe and the others pass, nor why she was willing to continue confronting him. Maybe Tanomoo had a way to reclaim the hostage, or maybe she could steal the most important Void Gate Spirit… but he didn’t need to know.

As long as the hostage was killed, all of Tanomoo’s schemes would become dream phantoms.

He’d never thought of waiting for Ashe and the others to return. Tanomoo wanted to use “Ashe and the others will come back” to steady Raven, but wasn’t Raven also trying to steady Tanomoo, so Ashe and the others could safely pass this floor?

Sorry, Ashe.

Amidst the pouring blood rain, Raven raised the grey fox blade before him and calmly declared:

“There are two roads before me. One, I kill you, and then I can live for the justice of the world.”

“The other is, I die for my own justice!”

At this moment, Mercury Trojan Horse’s face darkened, and she said coldly, “Then go and die.”

The Black Feather sorcerers, unable to hold back any longer, immediately unleashed the prepared Miracle!

Raven’s step shook the ground as he turned into a blur, crashing into the arms of a Black Feather sorcerer, using the latter as a shield to continue his charge.

“Raven Annihilation!” Raven roared as he plunged into the crowd, facing sorcerers as a mere mortal: “Annihilate all evil ravens, fill hell to the brim!”

Flames, frost, storms, guns, swordsmanship, Fist-Claw… Though Raven could ignore illusory spirit effects, these Miracles that directly warped reality and inflicted physical effects still harmed him directly.

“Stop him!”

“Kill him!”

“He’s doomed!”

Even though Raven used the best footwork to avoid most of the damage, the wounds on his body continued to increase, blood soaking his robe and streaking across his Mask. Yet he kept moving forward, with almost no sorcerer able to stand in his way. His grey fox blade sliced through countless Miracles and flesh as if cutting through butter!

“Tamashi of the Raven Annihilation.”

At this moment, a Black Feather sorcerer with a Sanctuary blocked his path, the cold-faced young man said, “I, Dao Qiong, will remember you, this mortal.”

“Get out of the way!”

The grey fox blade plunged fiercely into the Sanctuary but failed to harm Dao Qiong in the slightest. Dao Qiong took out a grey fox gun and aimed at him, firing a lightning bullet. In a split second, Raven used his footwork to switch places with someone nearby, and the latter was instantly blasted into a bloody mist by the bullet.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Raven directly bypassed Dao Qiong, using the cover of other Black Feather sorcerers, and continued his charge towards the Mercury Trojan Horse!

Dao Qiong’s cold face immediately showed shame and anger. He didn’t aim at Raven but directly fired bullets at an entire area!

With a loud bang, the bullet exploded into countless sharp blades, piercing everyone in the area. Although other Black Feather sorcerers also suffered, it indeed severely injured Raven. Several sharp blades were embedded in his back, and they maliciously burrowed deeper into his flesh like frenzied worms.

Raven rolled on the ground but quickly got up to continue his charge, wielding the grey fox blade to attack the Black Feather sorcerers!

Sorcerers are really formidable.

Harvey and Chikara aren’t here; they must have encountered strong enemies and stayed above?

Silver Lantern is so strong, Ashe, Igor, and Gwen will definitely face a tough battle later.

We’re all fighting.

Raven raised his arm to block a deadly strike from the side, the sword blade’s wound deep enough to see bone, but in the next second, he swung and broke the Black Feather sorcerer’s long sword. He looked up and saw the Mercury Trojan Horse hiding behind the Black Feather sorcerers.

I, Tamashi of the Raven Annihilation, judgment warrior of the Raven Annihilation Cult.

About to carry out the last judgment of my life.

Qieshu, Kalan, Arnoi, Ye Lu… Tanomoo is already right in front of me.

It might be meaningless, it might be self-satisfaction, but please lend me your strength to kill her once more.

So I can go to hell with peace of mind.

Members of the Raven Annihilation,

Please witness Tamashi, the one and only, the last Dance of the Raven Flock.

Raven’s figure suddenly became elusive, the Black Feather sorcerers almost unable to grasp his form, allowing him to pass through countless figures. He seemed to be dancing on the battlefield, raising a bloody rain of flowers along the way!

The Mercury Trojan Horse watched him calmly, gently raising her hand, signaling ordinary sorcerers to stay away, leaving only three sorcerers standing in front of her.

The three sorcerers unfolded their Sanctuaries, shielding the Mercury Trojan Horse within. They each prepared their Sanctuary Miracles, aiming at the charging Raven dancer.

“Go to hell and wait for me.”

The Mercury Trojan Horse said, “The last judgment warrior of the Raven Annihilation.”

The last remnant of the Raven Annihilation.

The last Saint of the Raven Annihilation.

The last hero of the Raven Annihilation!

To show respect for him, the sanctuary sorcerers used their strongest Miracles!

Thunder, flames, and water columns roared towards Raven from three directions!

But it wasn’t just them; other Black Feather sorcerers also launched long-range attacks simultaneously, creating opportunities for the sanctuary sorcerers! Raven had to first dodge and block other attacks, but in doing so, his figure was completely exposed to the Sanctuary Miracles.

Whoosh!

The first high-speed water column Riptide, Raven couldn’t block it, his entire armor shattered, several ribs broken, and he was directly sent flying into the air, unable to move.

The second flame and the third thunder followed closely, about to completely obliterate him into fragments.

Perhaps due to adrenaline, the last moments seemed to slow down, giving Raven time to reflect on his short life.

Raven suddenly pondered a strange question: Was he really unlucky?

Although he had a bit of talent in martial arts, he was despised by the Virtual Realm, unable to become a sorcerer, and couldn’t even read.

The only home, the Raven Annihilation Cult, was destroyed.

His best friend, Tanomoo, betrayed him.

After finally deciding to start anew, he encountered so many accidents. Even the Senlo Kingdom might be destroyed…

In the end, looking back, everything he gained was lost, debts unpaid, leaving only disappointment and regret.

“Does the world… not like me?”

Boom! Boom!

The huge explosion sounded almost as if it was right beside him.

But it was only almost.

Raven fell to the cold ground, then was quickly picked up by someone. He opened his eyes and found it was Gwen who was holding him up, a Sanctuary shielding them inside, resisting the violent Miracles of the Black Feather sorcerers.

“Whether the world likes you depends on whether your friends like you.”

Igor stood in front, glanced back at Raven, and said, “If you have friends who like you, then the world likes you.”