The High Priestess stood at the center of the altar at its center. Her breath came shallow but steady, lips curved faintly in thought.

All three Golems had been destroyed. Around her, the circle of more than twenty Followers was gone.

Only one remained.

An all-out attack was necessary to achieve the desired outcome. The Golem through whose body the Life Force of ten Followers flowed was powerful, but killing the Fox wasn't the objective. Capturing it without damaging it fatally would be difficult.

'With a Kitsune's Life Force, I will be able to precisely locate Azaroth's Heart. It's likely that one of the two sources is the one that has been feeding on Azaroth's magic for so long. The other is the one who holds the Heart. Azaroth's Heart is the goal, the being that has swallowed part of its magic must be captured as well, and the Kitsune will allow the capture of both, making it the priority.'

Far from the Black Church, Amon moved silently among the shadows. The Black Stone on the back of his hand pulsed with a faint violet glow, resonating with the corruption still lingering in the air.

"Can we get moving?" Syl and Akane complained.

"Yes, yes." Amon muttered as he crouched beside the scorched remains of the Golem that Akane and Syl had fought.

He stealthily pressed his hand to the remains, and the Black Stone pulsed in response, pulling the remains into itself. He inhaled sharply, savoring the heat of energy rushing through him.

"Let's get going." Amon said as he walked past Akane and Syl.

"...!"

"Hm." Syl nodded.

The three started walking having, once again, only napped for a little while.

Unfortunately, Amon hadn't been able to swallow the Golem's entire body.

One fragment escaped him. A jagged leg, which had been shot deep into a nearby tree trunk during the battle.

Having accepted the Golem's loss, the High Priestess had ordered it to separate its leg from the rest of its body and shoot it away. A last-minute order and decision that could potentially change the night's outcome.

***

The last remaining Follower knelt before the High Priestess, forehead to the dirt. His black hair fell loose around his face.

The High Priestess' pale hand extended, brushing against his cheek. Her touch was warm, gentle, and all-consuming.

She did not whisper a word.

He shivered, his black hair lightened as her fingers remained on his cheek, strands bleached gray as if decades had passed in seconds. His body trembled, but he did not resist. His devotion outweighed his fear.

Light gathered at her fingertips, coiling down her wrists until both hands shone.

"Look after them." The High Priestess whispered as she pressed her fingertips together.

The glow flared, and she disappeared.

The Follower gasped as if struck, sagging to the ground. His chest heaved, his hair now streaked white.

In the High Priestess' place lay the remnant of the Golem's jagged leg, its crystal edge still glimmering faintly purple.

The Follower staggered, dragging himself to his feet. With both arms, he lifted the shard and carried it to the altar. He laid it down reverently, then turned to face the ten unconscious Followers lying in neat rows.

***

The forest shook.

The ten-soul Golem ran like a gigantic bull, breaking down trees as it went, each step smashing bark and roots apart. Its chest pulsed with a violet glow, corruption steaming from its cracks.

Its body was covered by smoke and dust as it charged.

The High Priestess appeared in the forest, her form shimmering into being right where the Golem's cut leg used to be. Her blindfold tilted slightly as she raised her head.

From the shadows, the rest of the Followers stepped out, one by one, until they circled her. Each of them dropped to their knees, foreheads pressed to the dirt.

The High Priestess raised her hand, and silence fell.

All eyes remained lowered.

Minutes passed, and the thunderous thumping grew louder and louder before stopping at once.

The High Priestess pressed her palm against the Golem's side, and the corruption under its hide quivered.

"Go on," she whispered. "Bring me the Fox."

The Golem bellowed, the sound shattering branches above. It pawed the ground, its many hearts thundering.

The High Priestess smiled faintly.

"Go."

The bull crashed through the forest, following its prey's scent.

Akane's ears twitched.

"Something is coming." Amon whispered.

"Seriously?" Syl muttered.

"It's huge." Akane said, slowly turning around.

"Fuck me…" The female Hobgoblin cursed.

'Must be related to those two Golems.' Amon thought to himself, cracking his neck. "The two of you can go."

Syl and Akane immediately frowned, confused by him.

"I'll deal with it."

"Huh?"

"Why? Think you don't need help?" Akane asked, staring into the distance.

It only took a couple of seconds for the large cloud of smoke covering the ground and the Golem to become visible.

"Can't throw the work at the ladies all the time now, can I? I'll deal with this one."

"You're being suspicious." Syl muttered.

Amon temporarily directed his gaze at her wrists.

"But fine." The female Hobgoblin added.

"Fine?" Akane frowned.

"It's probably coming after me anyways. I'll teach it a lesson, then join you."

"Wouldn't it make more sense for us to teach it a lesson together?"

"Let's get going." Syl said, pushing Akane forward.

"What the hell? Aren't we in this together?" The Fox complained.

"See you, later." Amon waved with a chuckle. 'I'll try to deal with this quickly. The Golems were conjured. If I deal with this thing, I might find out who is conjuring them.'

'Not like I can do anything about this.' Syl thought as she pushed Akane. 'I'm not as strong as they are, and I need him to keep some things from her. I have no choice but to take his side, whatever he is planning.'

Tree trunks hit the ground as its legs dug into the ground.

"That's a big boy." Amon chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

A thunderous roar resonated, forcing Akane and Syl to turn in his direction.

"Stop pushing me!" Akane shouted. "Why are you helping him take more risks? We can deal with that thing if we fight together. What's wrong with you?"

Syl pressed her lips together.

"He said he wanted to fight it alone, so…"

"So??"

"Maybe it's revenge or something. Amon wants to keep that thing for himself. You never know what might have happened between them."

Akane scratched her chin. She did not know much about Amon's past. "You think?"

"Let's just stay here and wait for him. We don't have to go further away. If it sounds like he's in trouble, then we'll go back to help him. How does that sound?"

"Hm…" Akane frowned, suspicious. "Fine, I guess. But don't think I don't notice that something weird is going on here."

'Since he has talked to Rai and the others, I have no choice but to do whatever he says!!'

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