The cloaked man paused at Kaelon's question before bursting into laughter.

  "Hahahaha! That's what this is about?! You must have a death wish or something."

  Kaelon's eyes sharpened and he pressed his burning blade to the man's neck. He let out a scream as the swords flat pressed on him. Kaelon left it there for a few seconds before letting up.

  He didn't care if anyone heard the man scream. This was the slums, people died everyday, a scream wasn't going to get anyone's attention. If they were still right by the house maybe someone would notice, but they were a distance away from it.

  "Answer the question. Who are you? What are you doing in that house?"

  The man shook in Kaelon's grip, struggling to get away. Kaelon tightened his grip on the man and pressed his burning blade on the man again. A blood curdling scream echoed in the alley.

  Tears streamed down the man's face as his voice went out. The pain was excruciating and he wouldn't hold much longer. With tears in his eyes the man finnaly yelled.

  "...Fine! I'll talk! Just don't do that again! My name is Rick, I'm part of the Sin Congregation. We are doing some sacrifices back at that house to keep the monster wave going."

  Kaelon processed what he had to say, a thoughtful expression on his face. Immeadiately after Rick stopped, Kaelon raised a hand. His fist moved quick, connecting with the back of the cultists neck and knocking him out.

  Rick crumpled to his knees and fell to the floor. Kaelon scooped the limp man up onto his shoulder. Looking around Kaelon made sure no one was around before heading back to the monastery.

  Drunkards looked on as he left the slums, a man on his shoulder. Walking up the monastery's stairs Kaelon headed inside. The first thing he did was go up to a priest inside.

  "Hey, have you seen Sir Kane anywhere? I have an urgent report to make."

  The priest thought to himself for a second before pointing to the Abbot's office.

  "Sir Kane and the Abbot are currently meeting in the Abbot's office."

  Kaelon thanked the man befoe hurrying tl the Abbot's office. Knocking on the door Kaelon waited. From behind the door an aged voice spoke out.

  "Come in."

  Opening the door Kaelon set the man on his shoulder down. Pointing ag his he began speaking.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt your meeting but I have something to report. Just now, I went to the slums to clear my head. I was walking around when I saw someone familiar, Ludwig Vinhal II. I followed him to some abandoned house and waited. This guy here is apparently a part of the organization that caused the monster wave. I caught him after he left the house alone."

  Kane and the Abbot's eyes widened at Kaelon's words, surprise written on their faces. Kane turned to Kaelon with one question.

  "Where is this house? We can raid it and capture the cultists before the monster wave gets here."

  The Abbot nodded with a serious expression, indicating his interest in the matter. Kaelon thankfully remembered the way to the house. He nodded and spoke.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  "I know where the house is. I can take us there whenever."

  A smile emerged on Kane's face, his expression brightening instantly.

  "Great! Go and gather the squad. We'll team up with the monastery's monks and do this tonight."

  As Kaelon stepped out Kane turned to the unconscious man on the floor. He looked ag the Abbot and said.

  "What about this guy? Can you guys lock him up here?"

  The Abbot nodded befoe callkng someone to the room.

  "Put this man in a cell. Make sure he doesn't harm himself in there. He could kill himself the second we stop looking."

  The Abbot's attendant bowed deeply before grabbing Rick. Like Kaelon, he put the limp man on his shoulder and put him in a cell.

  Kaelon ran through the solemn corridors of the monastery. Finally, he reached the guest quarters. Outside the paladins were training, going through sword formations.

  Stepping forward Kaelon sighed in relief.

  "Good everyone is here. Guys we're going to be heading out soon so get ready. Kane will behere soon to explain everything."

  The paladins scattered at his words, most going to equip themselves. A few minutes later the paladins stood in the courtyard Kaelon practiced in yesterday.

  From the other side Kane and the Abbot could be seen walking side by side. Behind him was a crowd of monks armed with various weapons. Meeting them in the middle Kaelon led the crowd to the slums.

  Wherever they went the people hid inside their homes. The usually ever populated slums were pin silent and empty as theh made their way through. Ag the end of the path was the house of the Skn Congregation.

  As they neared the house Kane began barking out orders. The paladins and monks spread out and tried to surround the building at a distance. Kaelon stood side by side with him, observingthe house.

  His skin still tingled just seeing the house. In fact the feeling was stronger than before. Something definitely wasn't right here.

  Suddenly robed men burst from the house. They lifted their hands and a dark energy was released. Some kind of ritual array surrounded them. Flashing as their energies were infused into it.

  Kane was the first to move, shooting at the house. Landing in the middle of the cultists Kane brandished his sword. Surrounded by cultists Kane stood tall. his sword ready.

  Cultists began rushing at him their hands holding weapons and weilding dark energies. Kane took these attacks head on, cultists fell as he moved.

  The others weren't idle. the Abbot almost immediately joined Kane in fighting cultists. The surrounding monks and paladins began praying, encasing the area with a golden divine barrier.

  A few combatants stepped up once the barrier was in place, Kaelon being one of them. He held a glowing red sword in hand as he rushed forward.

  Stepping into the cultists array Kaelon felt some mild discomfort. His body was weakened by the array's energies but Kaelon still clashed with cultists. The glowing blade moved like a red flash, leaving wounds everywhere it went.

  A burning pain assaulted Kaelon as wounds began appearing but he kept moving. The other combatants dared the same if not worse than him. Many had to retreat due to their wounds but thankfully none had died.

  One stand out among them was Arka, his staff twitling as cultists fell. In the end after just ten minutes every cultist outside had either killed themselves or been captured. Kaelon, Arka, Kane and the Abbot gathered before the door.

  Kane steeped up to it and with one movement kicked it off its hinges. The four stepped inside first, the rest following behind. Immediately as they stepped in, the stench of blood assaulted them. Broken furniture littered the hall as they walked toward a living area.

  There they saw something beyond anythkng they had imagined. A ritual array, much like the one ougside. covered the floor. Only it wasn't made from the usual ink or energy. It was made with blood.

  Inside the blood red array they could see symbols of monsters and curses. Kaelon walked around the room, looking for anything suspicious.

  The Abbot had settled in examining the arrays. He conjured a notebook from his robes and began writing with astonishing speed. Arka supportingfrom the side.

  Kane was surveying the house when from another room he shouted.

  "Kaelon! Come help me with this real quick! There's a basement behind this shelf!"

  Kaelon followed his voice to the room diagonally from the living area he was in. Stepping inside Kaelon saw Kane standing in front of a bookshelf.

  "Hey Kane. What did you need my help with? Aren't you strong enough to move a shelf?"

  Kane turned to him with a laugh.

  "It's not the shelf I need help with dumbass. There could be an ambush waiting for us through there."

  With no hesitation Kane stepped forward and kicked shelf. Like the door from before, it was blown open. The bookcase tumbled down a set of stairs completely collapsing.

  Kane and Kaelon stood at the top of these dark stairs. The unnatural energy of the house way thicker inside. Taking a deep breath Kaelon looked at Kane before they both headed down.