Saint Dominic Cathedral.
Moonlight pierced through the thick clouds, casting dim and hazy shadows upon the earth, while a faint mist had risen in the air at some unknown time.
Under the dual effects of the fog and dim moonlight, the cathedral was shrouded in pitch-black shadows, and those statues, which resembled works of art, now all exuded a dark luster.
Inside the cathedral, rows of black candles were lit, and dozens of figures in black robes held their hands clasped to their chests, eyes tightly shut, whispering prayers.
Among the crowd, there were students from Theological Seminary, Pess and Reed, Dean Julian of the Seminary, and the cathedral’s clergy, led by Bishop Keith; nearly everyone was present.
At the forefront of the crowd, the face of a mysterious person was blurred as he knelt on one knee, crushing insects and smearing their juices on the ground, creating an Inverted Pentagram Magic Array associated with the faith of Hell.
Several robed figures brought a wooden crate containing a half-man, half-insect Evil God Statue, and Black Sorcerer Quentin was also brought forth.
Observing the eerie atmosphere of the scene, Quentin began to sense something, loudly cursing and struggling, attempting to break free and escape.
The mysterious person glanced at Quentin, who immediately rolled his eyes back and fell into a silent sleep.
The mysterious person opened the crate and covered the half-man, half-insect statue with the darkly colored Holy Shroud, ordering people to place both the statue and Quentin on the Inverted Pentagram Magic Array.
The sound of prayers rang out as the ritual of descent officially began.
The murmuring chants emerged from the mouths of the robed figures, and as the ritual progressed, their emotions gradually intensified.
They felt the ’Lord’s’ attention, their hearts filled with hope and confidence for the future, plunging into an unprecedented satisfaction.
This satisfaction grew stronger and eventually evolved into madness.
The black candlelight surged, darkness enveloped the cathedral, and, accompanied by devout prayers, the entire cathedral was immersed in a bizarre yet sacred and solemn atmosphere.
The Inverted Pentagram shone with a cold light, the covered statue slowly writhed, and black tendrils extended out, crawling like insects all over Quentin’s body and burrowing into him through his mouth, nose, ears, and eyes.
Quentin convulsed, his hands suddenly raised, fingers spread wide as if to embrace something.
The Holy Shroud burst into fiery red light, like blazing flames or scarlet blood, with a stench of blood filling every corner of the cathedral.
An indescribably powerful presence suddenly arrived, descended upon the statue, and then surged into Quentin’s body through the black tendrils.
In the second before dawn was about to break, the statue beneath the Holy Shroud disappeared, and the dull brown sackcloth fell to the ground as the Inverted Pentagram Magic Array ceased to turn at that moment.
"Ah, the mortal world!"
Quentin, who had slept through the night, opened his eyes, now to be called the Thousand-Eyed Demon, the Evil God from Hell, one of the seventy-two Demon Kings, the Devil, the enemy of God, had come down to the mortal realm.
"Good morning, my respected Master, your servant Sigma offers you the most sincere respects. Did you sleep well last night?" the mysterious person said as he placed one hand on his chest, as gracefully as a butler.
"Sigma, you did well."
The Thousand-Eyed Demon twisted his half-man, half-insect body to stand up, waved his hand to pull aside a black light mirror, and examined the vessel that now carried his will.
It was not perfect, but it was sufficient.
Sigma, a disciple of the Thousand-Eyed Demon who called himself the servant of God, received the Daemon’s blessing in a dense fog, officially becoming a Disciple and obtaining the power bestowed by the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
He lay hidden in Jianhe County, leading a secluded life without causing any trouble. The Holy See had always suspected that there were minions of the Devil active in Jianhe County, but due to the lack of evidence and inability to find the person involved, their investigations always came to nothing.
Unlike other disciples of the Devil, Sigma was very rational; he always waited for the right moment, never acting unless success was certain.
The Thousand-Eyed Demon was very pleased with this servant. The Holy Shroud, a vessel suitable for his descent, fallen servants of God, all the conditions for descent, no matter how stringent, Sigma had met them all.
"Sigma, how shall I reward you?"
The body of the Thousand-Eyed Demon wobbled, the insectoid parts withdrew into his body, the chaotic thoughts also calmed, becoming indistinguishable from a normal person.
At this moment, the Thousand-Eyed Demon looked like any ordinary human; if he stood on the street wearing trousers, no one would recognize his true appearance.
"My Master, your descent is the greatest reward for me." Sigma presented a suit, placing it respectfully before the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
"Well said, but I must give you some reward."
The Thousand-Eyed Demon looked around and fixed his gaze on the Holy Shroud; with a wave of his hand, he transformed the Holy Shroud into a Black Robe, conferring it upon his most loyal and capable servant.
The robe was a magical garment, its wearer’s thoughts could activate the Inverted Pentagram to harness the unique powers of the Thousand-Eyed Demon.
Extract the souls and thoughts of others, turning their power into one’s own.
As a servant of the Thousand-Eyed Demon, Sigma had already been granted similar abilities; wearing the robe transformed from the Holy Shroud, his powers would see a significant enhancement.
Sigma was puzzled; he did not speak until after he donned the robe and then questioned, "My Master, the Holy Shroud is so named because it wrapped the remains of a saint; it should be our enemy. I understand breaking the seal of Hell, but why could it be engraved with an Inverted Pentagram?"