The moment the blindfold was removed...
Evans collapsed to one knee.
His breathing became ragged as cold sweat poured down his face.
An overwhelming pressure crashed down upon him like an invisible mountain.
Run.
Run!
RUN!
Every instinct born from his dormant demonic bloodline screamed the same command.
The Sacred Energy in this place...
It's overwhelming.
If I stay here... I'll die.
With trembling hands, Evans slowly raised his head.
The chamber gradually came into view.
It was vast and dimly lit, illuminated only by rows of soft lights that cast long shadows across the floor.
Surrounding him stood dozens of Sacred Warriors and government officials.
Most had already drawn their weapons.
Not a single one took their eyes off him.
Evans forced a bitter smile.
I close my eyes for a few minutes... and somehow I become the most famous person in the country.
Great...
I'm completely screwed.
His gaze shifted behind him.
Arthur and Ruby stood several meters away, silently observing the situation.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally...
Evans looked forward.
His heartbeat nearly stopped.
Three figures sat upon an elevated platform overlooking the entire chamber.
A brilliant light concealed their faces, making it impossible to distinguish their features.
Yet their presence alone was enough.
Evans didn't need to see them clearly.
He already knew who they were.
The strongest Sacred Warriors in the country.
His pupils contracted.
One wrong move...
...and I'm dead.
Swallowing nervously, Evans slowly began to rise to his feet.
The reaction was immediate.
Metal rang throughout the chamber.
Spears were lowered.
Guns were raised.
Dozens of weapons locked onto him in an instant.
Every pair of eyes watched him as though he were a monster waiting to strike.
Evans froze.
Seriously...?
I only tried to stand up.
Then...
A foreign thought surfaced within his mind.
Pathetic humans.
Why not crush every last one of them?
His expression darkened ever so slightly.
For the briefest of moments, irritation flickered across his face.
Then, just as quickly...
It vanished.
Evans' eyes widened.
...What?
Why would I think something like that?
A chill ran down his spine.
Those weren't his thoughts.
At least...
He desperately hoped they weren't.
A calm yet authoritative female voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"Evans Ashford, as you have already been informed, you are here to undergo a second assessment of your Sacred Energy and physical attributes."
The room fell silent.
"If the results remain unchanged, we will have no choice but to conclude that you possess Demonic Energy."
Her voice remained steady.
"And should that unfortunate conclusion be reached..."
"...your execution will be carried out immediately."
Evans' fists slowly tightened.
Beneath his calm exterior, an overwhelming wave of anger surged through him.
I understand why they're being cautious...
But what kind of justice is this?
Their damned system won't even let me explain myself...
They're prepared to execute me without hearing a single word from me.
What crime have I actually committed?
A sharp pain suddenly pierced his head.
He winced.
Then...
Voices.
Cold.
Hostile.
Unfamiliar.
"Demon scum."
"Kill him."
"Burn him alive."
"He deserves to die."
The voices echoed relentlessly before vanishing as abruptly as they had appeared.
Evans instinctively grabbed his head.
"What... was that?
Before he could dwell on it any longer, the woman's voice continued.
"Should execution become necessary..."
"...the responsibility will fall to Council Member Zach Hollow."
The name alone sent a chill down Evans' spine.
...Zach?
A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
Evans' entire body froze.
Slowly...
Almost mechanically...
He turned his head.
His eyes caught a glimpse of dark purple hair, black sclera, and piercing violet pupils.
He immediately looked away.
Seriously...?
Out of everyone in this country...
Why did it have to be him.
A young man's voice suddenly rang out from the council seats.
"Enough talking."
"Let's begin the assessment."
The moment those words were spoken, Evans quietly closed his eyes.
System...
The crimson interface appeared before him.
---
[Shop]
[Items:]
[Sheep's Cloak]
---
He focused his thoughts on the item.
A notification immediately appeared.
---
[Alert]
[Sheep's Cloak has been purchased.]
[Available Stat Points: 5]
---
Relief washed over him.
It worked...
He let out a slow, silent breath before continuing forward, with Zach following only a few steps behind.
Soon, he arrived before a large object concealed beneath a black cloth.
A young woman dressed in a neat black suit stepped forward, a tablet tucked beneath one arm.
Without a word, she grasped the edge of the cloth.
Evans' eyes widened.
Rose...?
She pulled the cover away, but barely acknowledged his presence.
If Rose is here...
Then Mr. Copper must be here too.
His eyes swept across the crowd.
It didn't take long to find the elderly man.
Mr. Copper stood among the gathered officials, his expression far colder than Evans had ever seen.
There was no warmth in his eyes.
Only caution.
Only suspicion.
Evans gave a bitter smile.
I almost forgot.
To them...
I'm no longer Evans Ashford.
I'm a potential threat.
As if sensing his gaze, Rose briefly looked toward him.
For the briefest moment...
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Then it disappeared just as quickly.
Even so...
Evans found himself smiling ever so slightly in return.
At least...
Someone still remembered the person he used to be.
The black cloth slid to the floor.
Beneath it stood a large machine with an enormous crystal sphere embedded at its center. Countless glowing runes stretched across its metallic frame, pulsing faintly with Sacred Energy.
Zach stepped forward, his tired eyes barely open.
"Evans."
"Place your hand on the crystal."
Evans swallowed.
His legs felt unusually heavy as he slowly approached the machine.
When he was only inches away, he could feel dozens of eyes fixed on him.
Every Sacred Warrior tightened their grip on their weapons.
The officials watched without blinking.
Only Zach remained perfectly calm.
Evans slowly raised his trembling hand.
This...
This decides everything.
If the Sheep's Cloak doesn't work...
I'm dead.
His hand paused in midair.
Taking one final breath, he gathered every ounce of courage he had left.
Then...
He placed his palm against the crystal.
For a heartbeat...
Nothing happened.
Then the crystal erupted.
A magnificent golden radiance burst from its core, flooding the entire chamber with brilliant light.
The warmth was gentle.
Comforting.
Almost... holy.
Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes.
Even Evans stared in stunned disbelief something like this doesn't usually happen on a whim.
What's happening...?
Just as suddenly as it had appeared...
The golden light vanished.
Silence.
The chamber became deathly quiet.
All eyes turned toward Rose.
She stared at the tablet in her hands.
Her pupils trembled.
"No..."
She whispered.
"That... can't be right."
Her voice shook as she slowly lifted her head.
"Evans Ashford..."
She hesitated.
"...Sacred Energy Rating..."
"...Zero."
The tablet nearly slipped from her grasp.
The single word echoed through the chamber.
"Zero..."
Evans stood motionless.
His expression became completely empty.
"...What?"
That one word escaped his lips like the final breath of a man who had already accepted death.
No one answered him.
The silence lasted only a moment.
Then—
A calm, emotionless voice cut through the chamber.
"Commence the execution."
Time itself seemed to stop.