My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"How could the Temple of Twilight and the Holy Empire of Elysium be secretly cooperating? Has Velix completely lost his mind?"

Leon's handsome face grew colder as his fists clenched tightly.

He didn't know how the Temple of Twilight had managed to forge ties with the Holy Empire of Elysium's palace, but he was certain that Velix must have known they were a dangerous heretical faction.

There was also an unwritten treaty between the Holy Empire of Elysium and the Holy Orthodox, clearly prohibiting either side from allowing heretics to spread their doctrines or set foot within humanity's territory.

Yet Velix had chosen to collaborate with the Temple of Twilight—a group undeniably classified as heretical. Such a move was a blatant breach of the treaty.

Beside him, Athena noticed the shift in Leon's emotions. Her gaze fixated on the group of black-cloaked figures.

"Why are you hostile toward them, Leon? I'd like to know," Athena said gently.

Snapping out of his anger, Leon exhaled deeply, forcing himself to regain composure.

"Actually..." Leon narrowed his eyes slightly before beginning to explain everything to Athena.

He recounted the sneak attack by someone claiming to be the Seventh Apostle of the Temple of Twilight, his brief confrontation with the Second Apostle, and what little he knew about the Temple of Twilight's origins.

Athena listened closely, her expression growing colder with each word. A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes, and a palpable aura of murderous intent surrounded her.

"So, they're followers of the evil god destined to be your enemy?" Athena asked, her voice cold.

Leon nodded, gently patting her shoulder. "Yes, they are followers of that evil god. I never expected such a following to exist, let alone form a mysterious organization like the Temple of Twilight. This isn't a recently formed cult—it likely dates back to the era of 7,000 years ago."

The figure who claimed to be the Seventh Apostle—and whom Leon had killed earlier—revealed that the Temple of Twilight had ancient origins, rooted in beliefs drawn from an old text written by a traitor during that era.

Leon couldn't comprehend why such a traitor would exist. Surely, they must have known how cruel and destructive the evil god was. The devastation that ravaged the world 7,000 years ago was undeniable proof of his brutality.

Athena fell silent at Leon's words, then suddenly recalled the message from her ancestor.

"Although the Evil God has been sealed away, his influence lingers. Many were deceived by his power, and they will pose a threat to the Fated One."

"Are these the people the ancestor warned me about?" Athena muttered, her expression tinged with conflict.

They were supposed to be the ones helping Leon, the Fated One, to fight the Evil God. Instead, they had turned to worship the very evil they were meant to oppose, and it filled her with deep anger.

"Athena? Why are you silent? Are you alright?" Leon's gentle, concerned voice broke through, snapping Athena out of her thoughts.

"I'm fine," Athena replied softly, shaking her head. She turned her gaze back to the group, then asked, "So, do you want to move now?"

Leon flashed a playful smile and nodded. "Yes, I've gathered some unexpectedly valuable information. Now it's time to finish them off."

He paused, turned to Athena, and asked, "By the way, could I ask for a little help?"

Athena was slightly taken aback but said nothing, instead smiling warmly.

"Of course."

***

"We'll be ready within the hour to crush the rebellion. I'll send you a map with the locations of the cities affected, and you'll depart in groups of twenty. Understood?" The black-cloaked man on the altar asked, his tone nonchalant.

"Understood!" The cloaked men below him responded in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.

"Good!" The man chuckled with satisfaction, then continued, "Now, let's—"

Before he could finish, the sound of distant footsteps echoed, followed by sharp clapping, interrupting him.

*Tap... Tap... Tap!*

The man and his followers were visibly startled, instinctively turning toward the noise. They saw a handsome man walking toward them, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The man was tall, clad in a stunning white robe. His black hair, as dark as the night sky, framed his face, while his golden eyes drew the attention of everyone who saw him for the first time.

With each calm step, he exuded a powerful and vaguely threatening aura, causing the black-cloaked man on the altar to frown in suspicion.

"Who are you!? How did you find our hiding place?" The man demanded coldly, his voice laced with killing intent.

This temple, where they were hiding, was well concealed, surrounded by dense trees that obscured the entire area. The surrounding forest, stretching for hundreds of kilometers, remained untouched and wild, making it impossible for anyone to stumble upon it. Then, how could this handsome man of unknown origin have discovered their hideout?

As confusion and caution filled the air, Leon stopped a few meters away from them, his gaze casual as he surveyed the scene.

"You don't need to know how I found this place," Leon said nonchalantly, his expression hardening as he added, "What matters is that I'm here to kill you all. So, prepare yourselves before I start."

His blunt words left them speechless—especially the man on the altar, whose expression beneath his hood momentarily froze before flushing red with fury.

"How dare you speak such arrogant words in front of me?!" The man roared, his voice seething with rage.

The sound echoed through the hall, causing the entire structure to tremble.

He gritted his teeth, pointing at Leon with burning hatred. "Not only did you infiltrate our hideout, but you also had the audacity to challenge and belittle us. Do you think we're soft targets?!"

Though he had encountered many arrogant and shameless people, this was the first time he had encountered someone as boldly audacious as Leon.

In response to the man's rage, Leon remained unfazed, his arrogance undiminished.

"If I really think of you and your group that way, does it even matter?" Leon inquired dismissively, pointing at them with clear disdain.

"You..." The man's fury reached its boiling point at Leon's words. Clenching both fists, he leaped down from the altar, pointing at Leon and shouting, "Everyone! Hear my command! Kill this intruder and crush him to his bones! We'll teach him what remorse is!"

"Yes!" The black-cloaked men responded in unison, their eyes burning with hatred. With explosive killing intent, they charged toward Leon.

Unfazed by their approach, Leon stood his ground, a casual smile playing on his lips.

"Now, Athena," he murmured softly, folding his arms across his chest.

*Boom!*

Moments after his whisper, a shockwave erupted behind him, sending the black-cloaked men flying as they tried to rush him.

At the same time, an overwhelming pressure descended from above, forcing them all to the ground, rendering them completely immobile.

"Damn it... What's happening!? Why can't I move!?" One of them exclaimed frantically.

His comrades struggled, but it was pointless—they were trapped, unable to move an inch.

The black-cloaked man who had been standing on the altar earlier experienced the same suffocating pressure, his face drained of color beneath his hood.

"What is this? My body is frozen by an immense force! Who's doing this?" He wondered, a deep sense of dread washing over him.

Suddenly, his gaze snapped to Leon, and his eyes widened in horror.

"Is this your doing!?" he asked, disbelief lacing his voice.

Leon didn't bother to answer; he simply stared at him, along with the other black-cloaked men lying immobile on the floor, with an expression of indifference.

"As I said before, I came to kill you all, and now is the time," Leon declared coldly.

He then extended his hand, and a flash of white light materialized, transforming into the exquisite Holy Sword of Zenith.

The moment the man laid eyes on the sword, his terrified expression froze, and his heart raced uncontrollably. Enjoy new stories from empire

"That sword... That sword... Is that the Holy Sword of Zenith, the weapon of the Sword Hero? How is that possible?" His voice trembled in horror.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though his rank in the Temple of Twilight wasn't as high as the seven apostles, he was still a high-ranking member with access to the temple's deepest secrets. The Holy Sword of Zenith was known to belong to the Sword Hero of this era, who was suspected to be the Fated One—an enemy of the Evil God and everything they stood for.

How did the sword end up in the hands of this handsome young man?

Suddenly, his breath hitched as a bold and terrifying realization struck him.

"You... You... Are you—" Before he could finish, Leon swung the Holy Sword of Zenith, sending a slash of holy power toward the nearest black-cloaked men.

*Slash!*

In a single, effortless strike, more than fifty heads were cleaved from their bodies, their blood spraying out like a fountain.

The horrifying sight left the remaining black-cloaked men frozen in terror, mouths opening and closing in shock. Before they could react, Leon swung his sword again, severing hundreds of heads in another swift motion.

He continued to cut through them with chilling precision until only the man who had once stood on the altar remained, his face pale as though he had drained of all color.

"Now, you're the last one left. Are there any final words before you join your friends?"