Chapter 59
The cavern trembled violently.
Dust crashed endlessly from the ceiling.
The sealing formation had nearly spread across the entire volcanic floor now.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
And at the center of it all—
John slowly lifted his head.
Silence spread across the battlefield instantly.
Because his eyes had changed.
Completely black.
No emotion remained visible inside them anymore.
Only darkness.
The crimson aura surrounding his body deepened violently—
until even the red itself began darkening.
Darker.
Heavier.
Almost black.
The pressure flooding the cavern became unbearable.
Several justice worshippers instinctively stepped backward.
One ritualist nearly lost control of the chant entirely.
Ritualist: "…W-What is happening to him…?"
Black lightning crackled wildly around John's body.
But this time—
something else answered him.
The volcanic floor beneath the battlefield suddenly trembled.
Not from explosions.
Not from magic.
Something underneath was moving.
The commander's expression tightened immediately.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
The obsidian ground erupted apart.
Massive stone arms burst upward violently from beneath the cavern floor.
Several justice worshippers screamed as they were crushed instantly.
The entire battlefield descended into chaos.
Another explosion shook the cavern.
Then another.
Gigantic creatures made from volcanic stone slowly pulled themselves out from the earth itself.
Towering.
Burning.
Their bodies cracked with magma and black lightning together.
Justice Worshipper: "…Earth magic?!"
Justice Worshipper: "No… this isn't normal…"
One stone creature slammed its massive arm downward violently.
BOOOOOOM.
Holy barriers shattered instantly.
Several justice worshippers were blown across the battlefield.
John slowly stepped forward.
The divine chains binding him cracked harder with every movement.
CRAAAAACK.
And somehow—
he looked even more terrifying now.
Not because he was angry.
But because he no longer looked human at all.
The black flames twisting around him moved unnaturally.
His eyes remained completely dark.
Emotionless.
Like something ancient had awakened inside him.
Even the volcanic heat around him distorted strangely.
Several justice worshippers unconsciously backed away.
One of them whispered shakily.
Justice Worshipper: "…Monster…"
Nearby ritualists began panicking.
Ritualist: "Commander!"
Ritualist: "The seal—!"
The commander immediately stepped forward.
Golden aura erupted around him once more.
Commander: "Everyone knows the plan."
The battlefield froze briefly.
The commander's gaze hardened.
Commander: "Go."
Several justice worshippers hesitated.
Justice Worshipper: "…But Commander—"
Commander's voice cut through the cavern instantly.
Commander: "COMPLETE THE SEAL!"
BOOOOOOM.
Holy energy exploded outward from his body.
Commander: "Get inside and secure the Blood of Peace!"
Another stone creature erupted from the volcanic floor behind them.
The cavern shook violently.
Commander: "That is your mission!"
The justice worshippers immediately gritted their teeth.
Then began retreating toward the deeper ritual chambers while others stayed behind to protect the formation.
John's squad instantly tried intercepting them.
BOOOOM.
Fire collided against holy barriers.
Thunder cracked across the cavern ceiling.
One of John's squad members slashed through a justice worshipper before shouting:
Squad Member: "Stop them!"
Another immediately got intercepted by Divine Devour chains.
Justice Worshipper: "You're too late!"
The battlefield split apart into complete chaos.
John's stone creatures continued destroying everything in sight—
but the sealing formation still continued spreading.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
At the center—
the commander slowly stepped forward alone.
Golden aura flowing around him like burning sunlight.
Opposite him—
John stood surrounded by black lightning and darkened flames.
The volcanic winds screamed through the cavern between them.
The commander looked directly into John's blackened eyes.
Commander: "…I see now."
A pause.
Commander: "…So you truly are one of them."
John tilted his head slightly.
Still smiling faintly.
But something about that smile felt deeply wrong now.
Commander: "One of the souls saved by the goddess."
Another pause.
Commander: "…The son of the Goddess of Earth."
Silence spread across the battlefield.
Several nearby justice worshippers widened their eyes.
Even John's squad briefly looked toward him.
But John only laughed quietly.
Low.
Unstable.
John: "…Hahah…"
Black lightning crawled harder across the cavern walls.
The commander's golden aura intensified.
Commander: "I don't know what happened to you."
A pause.
Commander: "…And honestly, it no longer matters."
Golden chains slowly formed around his arms again.
Commander: "But even if it costs my life…"
Another pause.
His golden aura erupted harder.
Commander: "…I will protect humanity no matter what."
The cavern trembled harder.
John slowly raised one hand.
The volcanic ground behind him twisted violently.
More stone creatures began rising from the earth.
John's smile widened slightly.
Cold.
Terrifying.
John: "…Really?"
Another laugh escaped him.
Almost playful.
John: "…Then let's see how long your justice survives."
BOOOOOOOOOOM.
Black lightning exploded across the battlefield.
At the same time—
the commander's golden aura erupted violently upward.
Light and darkness collided once more.
And the battle truly began.
…CHAPTER 59 ENDS…