# 1222
Chapter 1223: City Slaughter
Although the vitality of those few agents who died was strong, to wish away their god's mark, these offerings were still insufficient.
The 【Holy Grail】 needed more lives as offerings.
Cloud could kill those agents to serve as sacrifices for the 【Holy Grail】, because they had struck first, but these innocent citizens……
Cloud agonized in place for a long while before finally closing his eyes and letting out a long sigh.
"I'm sorry…… I don't want to die……"
He opened his eyes, a resolute gleam flickering in his gaze as his figure transformed into lightning, hurtling toward the center of the city at breakneck speed!
"It's an intruder! The intruder has the 【Holy Grail】!"
"He wants to use us as sacrifices!"
"He killed the old city lord!! Everyone, attack!"
"……"
The moment Cloud landed, several residents around him began shouting, and immediately several divine artifacts came whistling through the air!
Even without the old city lord's control of the King's 【Royal Scepter】, Wu City still had numerous divine artifacts lurking within.
Cloud narrowed his eyes, slowly raising the 【Holy Grail】 in his hand, about to make a wish, when a dull thud suddenly rang out from a nearby alleyway!
Clang——!
A golden ripple emanated from the shadows of the alleyway, instantly covering the center of Wu City, and also enveloping the 【Holy Grail】-grasping Cloud.
The moment he saw this golden ripple, Cloud's pupils constricted sharply!
The King's 【Royal Scepter】?!
Cloud wouldn't mistake it—when they first entered the King's Treasury, all the agents had been drained of their spiritual energy by this golden ripple, leading to their collective capture.
But the old city lord had clearly already been killed by him—how could anyone else wield the 【Royal Scepter】!?
Cloud looked toward the alleyway where the golden ripple had appeared, only to see a familiar figure standing ghost-like in the shadows, one hand gripping the 【Royal Scepter】.
—Number 22.
Number 22 clutched a mass of indistinct flesh in one hand while grasping the 【Royal Scepter】 in the other. Those cold, sinister eyes fixed on Cloud and his 【Holy Grail】, the corner of his lips curling into a smile.
"I told you…… I have a way to obtain the 【Royal Scepter】."
As Number 22's voice fell, his powerful spiritual realm transformed into pale golden threads, flying out from within Cloud's body. Cloud felt his body empty out, nearly toppling face-first onto the ground!
Dammit!!
Cloud's heart sank.
He had thought that with the 【Holy Grail】 in hand and having killed the only one who could control the 【Royal Scepter】, he was now the strongest presence in Wu City…… But he never expected that Number 22 would actually have taken control of the old city lord's legacy 【Royal Scepter】!
At this moment, he had already stepped within the activation range of the 【Royal Scepter】.
Cloud's mind raced as he forced himself to stay alert, clutching the 【Holy Grail】 tightly, and was about to speak his wish:
"I wish, for my realm to be res——"
Before the words "restored" could be spoken, Number 22—having absorbed Cloud's spiritual energy—shot forward like a startled swan!
Stripped of his spiritual realm, Cloud had completely become an ordinary person holding the 【Holy Grail】, while Number 22, having fully absorbed Cloud's "Klein"-peak spiritual energy, experienced a surge in power.
Number 22 raised his hand in a wave, and an unprecedented wave of lust surged from the depths of Cloud's heart. His entire body felt as if ants were crawling beneath his skin, endless hallucinations filling his mind in an instant, briefly robbing him of his ability to think.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Number 22 had already charged to his side.
He flicked his foot out like lightning, kicking the 【Holy Grail】 from Cloud's palm, while simultaneously pivoting his body and driving his palm straight through Cloud's chest.
Puchi——!!
Blood sprayed, splattering across Number 22's face and onto the ancient stone bricks beneath their feet.
Cloud's consciousness gradually returned. He stared dumbly at the hand buried in his chest, at Number 22's ice-cold expression, and struggled to open his mouth as if wanting to say something.
Number 22's eyes narrowed, and he directly seized the heart clenched in his fist and ripped it out from within Cloud's body!
Cloud's body convulsed, the light fading from his eyes as he collapsed stiffly to the ground, his breathing ceasing entirely.
"……Without a realm and God's Ruins, even the 【Ten Preceptors】 are nothing more than this."
Number 22 flicked the heart aside, tossing it toward the 【Holy Grail】 lying on the ground. Wisps of blood threads extended into the crimson liquid, the water level rising a bit more.
Number 22 bent down to pick up the dark-gold chalice, gazing at the rippling surface of the wine within, his smile growing more pronounced.
"The 【Holy Grail】 that can fulfill any wish, and the 【Royal Scepter】 that can commandeer any power…… Now, who beneath the gods can stop me?" A low laugh escaped Number 22's throat. He paused, as if having thought of something, a savage killing intent flickering in his eyes.
"Once I get my hands on the 【King's Treasure Sword】 that can slay gods, I'll kill that woman, Pherousa……
I still need more offerings."
Number 22's gaze fell upon the Wu City residents nearby.
For some reason, the moment they contacted Number 22's gaze, the residents of Wu City felt a chill spread through their limbs, as if some icy presence was pouring from the soles of their feet up to the crown of their heads.
That was killing intent!
Whoosh——!
Number 22's figure turned into an afterimage, darting into the crowd at breakneck speed. Cold gleams flashed again and again, followed by waves of wails and exclamations.
Bodies fell like wheat being harvested, densely strewn across the hard stone roads. Blood seeped rapidly along the grooves between the bricks, staining the streets of Wu City crimson.
In their haste, several divine artifacts shot skyward, streaking directly toward the frenziedly slaughtering Number 22.
Number 22's expression remained unchanged as he raised the 【Royal Scepter】 and smashed it against the ground. Golden ripples swept outward, sending all the divine artifacts flying!
The 【Royal Scepter】 could forcibly commandeer power within a certain range. Below the "Supreme" rank, these divine artifacts couldn't even approach Number 22, let alone harm him.
For Number 22, who possessed both the 【Holy Grail】 and the 【Royal Scepter】, this was nothing but a one-sided massacre!
As Number 22 advanced, countless residents lost their lives, falling in pools of blood, transforming into wisps of threads that flowed into the 【Holy Grail】, becoming offerings for wishes……
In this moment, the entire Wu City had become a living hell.
……
Meanwhile.
Asylum of the Gods.
"AAAAAAAAHHHH——!!"
A tormented roar echoed through the golden circle of the courtyard. Gilgamesh, chained to the throne, thrashed about like a madman, his bloodshot eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.
"A mere outsider dares to massacre in Uruk!!?? This king will tear you to pieces!!! Tear you to pieces!!!"
To the side, Bragi crouched in a corner with both hands clasped over his ears, unable to resist saying:
"He's lost it…… Gilgamesh has lost it again…… Monkey, you need to do something about him!"
Sun Wukong, seated on the stone throne, furrowed his brow. He rose from his seat and walked directly in front of the continuously shuddering black throne.
"Gilgamesh……"
"Kill you! This king will definitely kill you!!" Boundless divine power erupted from within Gilgamesh, making the earth tremble and quake.
"Release me…… Release me!! I want to kill him!!"