It was a horrific sight beyond imagination. The various sticky tentacles and chunks of flesh, along with the space that seemed riddled with holes, were disgusting enough, but to see large and small eyeballs floating there as well.
And when they all gazed in this direction at once, even a person with the strongest mental fortitude would inevitably have their mind turn white.
That monster was this very space itself.
"This is quite troubling. They're all such excellent materials that it's hard to choose how to refine them."
At Bishop Fedilac mocking voice, Plimene bit her lips tightly. This was largely her mistake for not properly understanding the characteristics of the corrupted ones.
Didn't she know how they moved in such extraordinary ways?
She looked around. With countless eyeballs everywhere, she could see those brave soldiers trembling in fear.
Honestly speaking, Plimene also wanted to collapse on the spot right now. Just meeting those yellow eyes was making part of her mind feel numb.
But some spark rising from within quickly pushed away Plimene's fear.
"Hooh."
Bishop Fedilac discovered the light of reason in Plimene's eyes and let out an exclamation of admiration. The fear spreading now wasn't simply spreading because the situation was like this.
The yellow eyes gazed at people. Those gazes that seemed like pus would flow from them were triggering human fear. So this was a kind of authority he had been granted.
Not all followers of the Eternal God showed strength only in physical aspects. In the case of some corrupted beings, mental attacks like this were possible, shaking opponents by showing them things.
Naturally, Bishop Fedilac was a bishop specialized in such mental attacks. In exchange, instead of having a body that moved around like other bishops, he was fixed to one location like this, also serving as a spawning ground that generated other corrupted beings.
Bishop Fedilac had never particularly lamented or held dissatisfaction with his situation. His disposition was to enjoy being holed up in places like this, creating new corrupted beings or modifying people.
"However, that gaze is quite interesting. That hostility toward us can't be something that would arise simply because we serve Him, can it?"
He wondered if perhaps Plimene was a believer in the faith remaining in this era, but no divine power could be felt from her. Then where was the source of this anger coming from?
"You wouldn't know, but I have a terrible grudge."
"Ah. What, do you perhaps have family who were sacrificed to us?"
"......"
"It seems I've hit the mark."
Bishop Fedilac realized that Plimene had some history with the Eternal Church in the past.
It wasn't without precedent. Even though the Eternal Church hadn't been revealed to the world, they had still been steadily active.
"Hmm. Living in Tirna, at that age, something that could happen to family. There are quite a variety, but still the candidates are narrowing down. Roughly the war 50 years ago?"
This time he seemed to have hit the mark properly, as Plimene's shoulders flinched. There was no way Bishop Fedilac could miss that movement. There were over thousands of eyeballs positioned around.
"Hahaha! Yes, that was it. So that's why you were so hostile toward us."
At Bishop Fedilac's words, some of the Tirna soldiers showed signs of agitation. It was the moment when the truth of what the Eternal Church had done 50 years ago was revealed, so they couldn't help but be surprised.
"No, did such a thing happen in Tirna?"
When the witch Maia asked, Plimene judged that she couldn't hide it and nodded.
"Yes. It was so top secret that it's now practically treated as if it never happened. 50 years ago, do you know that Tirna fought a local war against external forces?"
At that time, Tirna showed tremendous rapid growth. Unlike other countries, they displayed revolutionary technology, from excellent architectural styles capable of building tall skyscrapers to breakthrough technological prowess. As a result, talented people from surrounding countries all headed to Tirna.
Consequently, neighboring kingdoms both envied and feared Tirna's appearance. Though called a city, as Tirna, which rivaled any major power, grew even larger than before, it was predetermined that they, as neighbors, would be devoured.
That's when an accident occurred.
District 47, which Tirna had been putting all their effort into, was completely burned down along with an incident called the Return of Fire.
Tirna desperately tried to cover up the incident, but they couldn't completely hide it from national-level intelligence networks.
When the district that was like the central hub, serving as a bridgehead for expanding Tirna even further, disappeared like that, neighboring kingdoms saw that moment as an opportunity.
So they joined forces and started a war.
The One-Year War. Or the Swampland War.
The war itself lasted only one year, making it a short period, but truly many people died in that war.
It was counted as one of the worst battles in human history, where both sides dug trenches and repeatedly engaged in stagnant slaughter within them, unable to advance or retreat.
Land torn by bombardment. Humid weather and even rain created pools of water that turned the earth to mud, and on top of that, soldiers had to engage in bloody combat with each other.
Bombardments poured down, countless steel machines tangled together, spreading the smell of gunpowder and blood.
Regular infantry, beyond dying from each other's guns, more often died from collapsed trenches burying them or drowning in pooled water.
Due to that tremendous devastation, most people who participated in the war at that time either died or went insane.
And to that war, the man Plimene had loved in the past and her precious younger brother had been conscripted.
"Many people died in the war at that time. But what was later revealed was that a considerable number of the war's victims had been sacrificed due to external interference."
-Kuhehe.
Bishop Fedilac laughed out loud at those words. As if acknowledging that her words were correct.
"Yes. That was a very precious opportunity for us. Where else would such an opportunity to prepare so many 'test subjects' appear?"
Countless people died in the war, but many saw it as an opportunity. From military companies selling weapons to newspapers reporting daily news, they sold more than three times better than usual.
Someone's terrible death became an opportunity for someone else to make money.
And in Bishop Fedilac's case, he seized the opportunity in a more blatant and cruel way.
He conducted human experiments using materials obtained from the battlefield.
"I was an ordinary believer of the Eternal Church at that time. But through experiments, I became more closely connected with Him, and thanks to that, I was able to rise to the position of bishop like this. I can't help but say thank you."
Bishop Fedilac boasted proudly of his achievements. Though his words were simple, it was unimaginable how terrible the acts he had committed while rising to this position were.
"Yes. It was you. The one who kidnapped my brother and used him as a test subject, killing him."
"I don't know who your younger brother is, but well, since the experiments I conducted weren't just one or two people, the possibility of it not being the case is significantly low."
The expression disappeared from Plimene's face. Her anger had exceeded a certain level and was instead being expressed coldly.
"Prepare yourselves. That person is a malignant tumor harmful to Tirna. We must eliminate him here and now."
Setting aside personal grudges, Bishop Fedilac was a dangerous person who had to be removed here and now.
"Stand up and fight. For freedom."
At Plimene's single phrase, the soldiers' wavering stopped. They each muttered a phrase as if reciting an incantation.
"For freedom."
"For the city."
The soldiers pushed away the fear they had been experiencing until then and stood tall like a well-forged steel sword.
Bishop Fedilac watched that scene with interest.
"Hooh. Impressive. They're not elite for nothing."
To endure the fear and mental exhaustion he imposed with just the words about being for the city. Human will is truly mysterious. Sometimes it seems like it would break with just a touch, yet sometimes it doesn't crumble no matter how much you try to suppress it.
There wasn't some grand cause or firm belief behind their ability to rise like that. With just that one purpose of wanting their city to do well, they could unite and fight. From Bishop Fedilac's perspective, who had been thinking of toying with those paralyzed by fear, it was a bit disappointing, but that didn't change the situation.
"Come. Come and unleash your power to your heart's content."
Corrupted beings began to appear from countless holes opened in all directions. Just looking at their numbers, they were far more than all the ones they had fought so far combined.
-Kroaaak!
The corrupted beings roared and charged toward the soldiers.
"Everyone defend!"
"Form a battle formation! Hold out as long as possible!"
"Pour out everything you have!"
To block the fierce offensive, Tirna's soldiers also did their best. They couldn't have such complacent thoughts as conserving strength. Having come this far, they had to fight with all their might.
Flying corrupted beings attacked from everywhere. Corrupted beings hiding in the ground suddenly popped out, and they also shot poison gas and spikes from afar.
Some threw their bloated bodies and exploded the acidic pus liquid stored inside like bombs, while others extended their tentacles long to grab soldiers.
The soldiers also counterattacked without backing down. The mages' magic decorated the air and swept away the corrupted beings. Magic stored in capsules activated and hindered the corrupted beings, while armored soldiers stepped forward and tore the corrupted beings apart alive.
The number of corrupted beings was overwhelmingly greater than the number of dying soldiers. But corrupted beings continued to appear endlessly.
This place was a massive spawning ground that created corrupted beings. The moment corrupted beings died, their corpses were recovered and new ones were quickly produced from the spawning ground.
Moreover, Bishop Fedilac wasn't staying still either. Sharp tentacles flew from all directions, targeting the soldiers.
"Ugh! Get away!"
When the witch Maia waved her hand, translucent swallows appeared and decorated the air. As the swallows passed, tentacles were cut off and fell rustling. But there were too many tentacles for that.
'Dangerous.'
Plimene assessed the battle situation. Though they were somehow holding out for now, this side was overwhelmingly disadvantaged. Such fights don't end with strength being gradually worn away. There's a minimum number of people needed to maintain battle lines. The moment that quota becomes insufficient, it would collapse instantly like a sandcastle before waves.
Some factor was needed to break through this situation.
'But how?'
Unless more external support came, it seemed hard to expect that right now. It was the moment when Plimene bit her lips tightly.
─────!!!!
Trinity Building shook.
"Kroaaaak!"
That wasn't all. Bishop Fedilac, who had been assimilated with the space creating countless cocoons and spawning grounds, was also affected by the aftermath.
He let out a scream filled with pain while being confused by the suddenly occurring abnormal phenomenon. The corrupted beings under Bishop Fedilac's influence were equally confused.
Due to the collapsed command system, the torrent-like offensive instantly became disorganized.
"Everyone, now! Retreat as far back as possible!"
Even while everyone was confused, Plimene didn't miss the rare opportunity that had arisen. Tirna's agents and soldiers maintaining their formation slowly retreated. Even during that time, Bishop Fedilac couldn't chase them.
"What the hell is this! What's happening inside here?!"
He was rather confused by the suddenly occurring abnormal phenomenon.
"Kuheh. Is this all?"
The bishop who had been breathing fire from his mouth looked at Senaka and Krollakia with a bitter smile. Krollakia frowned as he looked at his scales singed by the flames.
"Hey. My beautiful scales got damaged. How are you going to take responsibility for this?"
"Your mouth is still alive. If not that, should I melt that snout first and seal it shut?"
The bishop approached with thumping footsteps. Krollakia stood as if protecting Senaka and rolled her eyes.
This was a big problem. It was true that Sister Senaka's power was tremendous, but unfortunately, the opponent was someone cold air didn't work on, so they couldn't deal any damage at all.
But to run away, the guy had cunningly used other believers to completely block all escape routes. Now that it had come to this, they absolutely had to see the end here.
Then Senaka tapped Krollakia's body. Very urgently at that. Considering her usually leisurely personality, it was an impossibly intense reaction.
"Sister. Why suddenly──"
Krollakia couldn't finish her words because suddenly the entire building shook.
However, the amazing thing happened after that.
Far away at one of the escape routes the believers had been blocking, a black shadow appeared and slaughtered them all.
Krollakia's eyes widened as he shouted with a voice full of joy.
"Sister Malina! You came to save us!"
When Malina discovered Krollakia and Senaka like that, she urgently shouted.
"Everyone run away!"
"Run away? What do you mean suddenly?"
No sooner had Malina's words ended.
From the flesh passage she had burst out of, terrifying yellow flames spouted forth.