Lord of Prayer

Chapter 373: Chapter 245: The Missing Federal Agent

The ancient book was steeped in history and remarkably well-preserved. Its hardcover was engraved with intricate, mystical patterns, and at its very center was a solemn title in gold foil stamping.

"*Hecante’s Black Book*?"

Zhou Chen muttered the title to himself and opened the cover.

Instantly, his pupils constricted.

In the very center of the title page was a line of small, flowing script—the author’s name.

—Authored by Hekant of Fallen Paradise

Holy shit!

Zhou Chen’s face was a mask of disbelief and shock. ’Fallen Paradise!’

He knew the secluded organization known as Fallen Paradise had existed during the Old Era and was active toward its end. But he never could have imagined its history stretched back another five hundred years before that. It was an organization of incredible antiquity!

What was even more preposterous was that the Dark Curse Techniques recorded in *Hecante’s Black Book* could actually be used!

’Doesn’t that mean the Extraordinary existed in the world more than five hundred years before the end of the Old Era? Perhaps... even earlier?’

’I wonder if those historians have researched any of this... Hmm... With so many Restricted Areas in the world, the Star Association must have unearthed plenty of related history from them. So why has Extraordinary Studies never mentioned any of it?’ Composing himself, Zhou Chen continued to read.

The book deconstructed Mysticism and Religious Theology from a dark perspective, detailing the deeds of Satan. It described how he transformed into a serpent to trick Adam and Eve into eating the Forbidden Fruit. This led to their expulsion from the Eden Garden by God, making Adam and Eve the ancestors of humanity and simultaneously causing the birth of Original Sin.

Satan seized the power of Original Sin and became the king who ruled Hell. Throughout the long ages, he unceasingly coveted the Mortal World, seeking to transform it into a Purgatory and destroy God’s beloved humans. Once he achieved this goal, he would lead the armies of Hell to invade the Celestial Realm and challenge God’s authority.

The book also contained records of more than thirty Dark Curse Techniques, along with numerous spells, symbols, and knowledge on the study of emblems. The Curse Technique ritual Natas used was the final one described in the book.

According to the author, this Curse Technique ritual was not his creation. It had existed for a very long time, and its origins were lost to time.

The Curse Technique ritual could grant its caster immense Dark Power. This Dark Power needed to be fed with death, chaos, and the seven original sins of human nature. Upon reaching its final stage, the caster could master the Seven Original Sin Powers and obtain the might and authority of the King of Hell, Satan.

The book listed several examples. Major historical disasters such as the Black Death, the Great Famine, mass hysteria, the dancing plague, and the Apocalypse Explosion were all events triggered by Heretics performing rituals in a vain attempt to obtain Divine Power. However, they were always stopped before they could advance the ritual to its final stage.

They were stopped by an organization calling itself the "Star Association."

Zhou Chen’s hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the ancient book. He froze, staring in disbelief at the words written on the page.

’The Star Association...’

He swallowed hard. ’It seems the Star Association has just as long a history, and just as many hidden secrets...’

’Also, this is a global live broadcast. They’ll definitely cut such important information, right?’

After letting his mind wander for a moment, Zhou Chen quickly finished the rest of the book. The subsequent content made no further mention of the Star Association, Fallen Paradise, or any other ancient organizations.

As for the Curse Technique ritual, it was too late to stop it. Natas had already evolved to the final stage, mastering the Seven Original Sin Powers and becoming a true Hell Demon.

Now, they were left with only one, simple and brutal option: kill the caster.

[Final Mission: Kill Father Natas and rescue Akita Town from its cycle of destruction.]

The mission on the competition’s System Panel had already changed. Their final task was to kill the demonized Father Natas.

This would be no easy task.

Because all of Akita Town was Natas’s "battery."

Now, nearly all the townspeople had been corrupted by the seven original sins, giving full rein to the darkest aspects of human nature. As long as chaos and sin existed for even a single second, Natas could draw a ceaseless supply of Power from them. freēwebnovel.com

Zhou Chen couldn’t help but worry for Yao Hu. Even if he broke through to Tier Three, his odds of victory seemed incredibly slim.

The profane sin supplied by seventy thousand townspeople was enough to make Natas virtually invincible.

Perhaps a weapon forged by Renie from the Light of Spiritual could effectively counter him. The problem was that forging a weapon using Spiritual Power as a material was exceedingly difficult. Even Renie, a disciple of the current Fire God, couldn’t complete it in a short amount of time. She likely wouldn’t finish in time.

Zhou Chen placed the ancient book back on the altar. Holding his breath, he walked to the edge of the deep pit and looked down. Shattered remains nearly filled the chasm to the brim.

Cyan Flame ignited beneath his feet, stretching down into the chasm. It touched the bottom only after extending more than two hundred meters, a depth that truly shocked him.

’Over a thousand people died here. Judging by the marks on the bones, they were all eaten. Combined with that book... Natas is undoubtedly a Satanic Heretic. Heh, and on the surface, he’s still the benevolent Priest of Akita Town...’

Zhou Chen speculated, ’Natas’s motive is probably quite simple. Perhaps he saw the strength of Supernatural Powers in the news and wanted to obtain power that transcended the mortal world. By some stroke of luck, he successfully performed the Curse Technique ritual and obtained Dark Power. Afterward, he went around Akita Town kidnapping people, corrupting minds, and causing disasters, all to nourish that Dark Power.’