Chapter 36: The Appearance of the Evil Spirit Knight!

Once the evil boss known as the "Wicked Spirit Wizard," Zorn Korrick, had been a force of devastation.

He had heartlessly sacrificed countless villages and small towns, even unleashing terrifying cataclysmic powers to transform entire vibrant city-states into dead cities of ruin. His sole purpose was to cultivate an environment of "Cataclysm," utilizing the essence of death and disaster to leverage even greater power from the "Origins of Calamity."

The efficiency was undeniable, but it came with a cost: it made him a common target.

He was ambushed and struck down by a coalition of churches and secret sects. After narrowly escaping, he was left severely wounded, his spirit ravaged. Desperate, he resorted to even more intense blood sacrifices and massacres, which only drew further pursuit and heavier injuries. After several rounds of this attrition, he had not gained anything; he had suffered a crushing loss.

The current Zorn, however, prefers a steady, sustainable approach. While the gains are neither as explosive nor as rapid, they are safe. No one notices Zorn quietly leveraging power in the shadows, and even if they did, they wouldn't care. To the outside world, he is merely a "weak wicked spirit."

Moreover, using "Cataclysm" to leverage power is only one of the paths Zorn is taking to grow stronger. The "Steam Factory" he is currently planning is a legitimate and open road. Beyond that, Zorn has many other cunning schemes in motion. Relying on a single path is an easy way to narrow one's future. To become a terrifying evil god, one must broaden their horizon with every step.

As the hidden trap ritual began to operate, gray rats were drawn in one after another, including some mutated specimens. It was here that the value of the "Spiritual Rat-Man Core" Zorn had invested became apparent; its effects were far superior to an ordinary trap ritual. In just a short while, over a dozen gray rats had been captured and sacrificed. The writhing cataclysmic energy permeating the air was being continuously absorbed, and the swirling black mist grew steadily and methodically.

Feeling the thickening black mist, Zorn let out a soft breath.

"Once I have leveraged enough black mist, I can establish my 'Spiritual Domain' within this source of calamity."

"That will be my personal territory in the land of origins, an exclusive area that no one can invade."

"By the time others realize this place can be claimed, I will have already seized a great deal."

"A powerful Spiritual Domain will allow me to evade many potent forms of divination, investigation, and prying, better concealing my true self."

"In short, the benefits of a 'Spiritual Domain' are vast indeed."

"Until that domain is constructed, mastering this swirling black mist will allow me to awaken some formidable and practical dark-attribute extraordinary sorceries early on during my upgrades."

Just as Zorn was contemplating which powerful sorceries he could unlock with the mist, the swirling black mist before him silently dissipated.

"Oh? Is someone coming?"

His heart stirred slightly. As a special trap, it would dissipate and cease hunting the moment a powerful spiritual presence approached, only resuming once the presence had departed. Aside from the occasional drip of water and the squeaking of gray rats, the sound of footsteps echoed from afar, drawing closer.

They were not alone; it seemed two parties were converging here. Zorn retracted his presence, leaning into a corner untouched by the blue fluorescent moss, hiding perfectly within the darkness.

Soon, the footsteps stopped.

"Uncle Morrison!" a crisp voice rang out.

"Hmm!" a heavy, nasal grunt responded.

After a long silence, the deep, gravelly voice spoke. "Viscount Brine’s shipment was stolen."

"I... I have already learned of this from them," the younger voice replied. "Uncle Morrison, are there any other resources?"

Faced with the question, the silent darkness offered no response, save for the faint squeaking of rats.

"Yesterday, the feast began once again," the crisp voice continued, narrating in fragments. "She was a very young girl, only thirteen or fourteen. Her body was so soft, she could barely stand, and she cried so bitterly."

"I used my blade to slit her throat, and as expected, the blood of a virgin—it is exceptionally sweet." The crisp voice became high-pitched and excited. "But those damn rats... the way they looked at me, it was as if they were looking at food."

"How... how dare they!" A roar echoed like thunder. "I am a great Wicked Spirit Knight, listening to the Great One, wielding unparalleled and terrifying power."

"Every time I sleep, I hear the Great Egunus calling to me. In these sewers, I can feel the darkness nourishing my soul. With every rat I devour, my strength grows. I can see, hear, and scent the malice those damn Rat Kings hold for me. How dare those wretched vermin harbor malice toward me? I will kill them all. I will eat them all."

"I am the true heir of the Blood Source. I am the supreme knight wielding forbidden power. All who stand before me must die... must... die..."

As he spoke, the voice grew increasingly excited, frenzied, and hysterical. The air filled with a terrible, spreading wicked energy, blowing through the blue moss like a gust of wind. It was clear his mental state was quite... vibrant.

In the dark corner, Zorn quietly sensed the surging wicked power, already realizing the truth.

"The one favored by the Forbidden Blood Source—a Wicked Spirit Knight!"

"Hmm... a peer boss has appeared. But he looks severely corrupted already."

"Instead of developing his own inner strength, he chooses to worship a superior entity of the Forbidden Blood Source. How ignorant and foolish!"

Zorn rubbed his temples. This was not surprising. Extraordinary power had only just begun to surge, and no one had truly witnessed the terror of the wicked spirits born from the remains of the evil god Egunus. When the world-class boss, the "Wicked Spirit Wizard" Zorn Korrick, acted as the avatar for that evil god and initiated a few more city-state-level cataclysmic preludes across the Saint's Continent, everyone would recognize the horror of Egunus from the ancient historical eras.

But for now, the wave of steam had only just begun to rise. The wicked spirit sequence derived from Egunus had only recently been born; it was not yet time for it to exert its full power.

"Calm down... Butch," the heavy voice commanded.

The restless power of the Wicked Spirit Knight known as Butch gradually quieted.

"Although we failed to acquire resources this time due to the theft, I have contacted a new seller. They have excellent resources in their hands."

"Wait a few more days... just a few more days, and I will get them for you."

"Besides," the heavy voice paused, "I heard from them that the theft was likely committed by another wicked spirit."

This immediately caught the attention of the Wicked Spirit Knight. "Another wicked spirit?" he asked urgently. "Uncle Morrison, can we catch him?"

"I desperately need another portion of the Great Egunus's flesh. I am willing... I am willing to pay any price."

The man in the darkness shook his head helplessly. "He is a very cunning fellow. Based on the 'announcement gift' he left behind, his 'wicked spirit characteristics' are quite weak, nowhere near yours, Butch. Among your kind, he is merely scrap."

"But he used the heavy rain, the thunder, and other diversionary tactics to prevent us from tracking him. The chance of catching him is minuscule."

"However, do not worry, Butch," the man consoled. "According to the news I have received, there are several other hidden wicked spirit sequences in Ogran City."

"They are all lying in wait, lurking in the shadows, and restless. They are all trying to find one another."

"But right now, the advantage is yours."

"The power leveraged by the 'Forbidden Blood Source' is terrifying, causing the cataclysm here to writhe and become a hotbed for your nourishment."

"This is your home turf, and your opportunity. Grow stronger in this cataclysm. When the power of the disaster reaches its peak, you must reveal yourself in Ogran City and carve a profound 'Stigma of Calamity'."

"A unique Stigma of Calamity that belongs only to you."

"Just as that fellow used Ogran City as his canvas to carve his stigma with his announcement gift."

"This is your cataclysmic power. No one is better suited than you to write this chapter of death!"

"Once you have established enough of an advantage, you will be qualified to seek out and devour the other wicked spirits... such as those weak ones!"