Takeru was fast. Flying leisurely, it took less than ten minutes to travel from the mansion to the village. Upon arrival, Takeru noticed Ram had already gathered the villagers.

"Ram-san, how long must we wait here?" As soon as he landed, Takeru heard the village chief asking Ram.

"As for time, probably about two more hours. Please wait patiently." Takeru, having flown down, took over the conversation.

"Takeru-sama!" Seeing Takeru land with Rem, the village chief and others respectfully addressed him. Because Takeru had casually dealt with the Great Wolgram before, everyone treated him with great respect.

"Enemies are about to attack. Please stay inside for a while." Takeru spoke softly, placing both hands on the ground. Soon, thick walls of earth rose, completely surrounding everyone.

Of course, Takeru left sufficient windows and a door.

"Takeru-sama, this is..." Seeing Takeru's method, the village chief said in astonishment.

"The scene later might be a bit bloody. Please look after your children." Takeru gently explained. Then, magical power surged from Takeru's body. Through a special flow, a transparent barrier rose within the earthen walls.

The earthen walls weren't meant to protect everyone… or not entirely. The barrier was the true means of protection.

After handling this, Takeru sat calmly with the sisters, Ram and Rem, on a stone pillar created with earth magic.

Above, Takeru spread his Observation Haki and quickly detected about a dozen Witch Cultists approaching.

As time passed, more and more people entered Takeru's sensing range, and his gaze grew colder.

"Let's begin, Ram, Rem." When the time was about right, Takeru calmly addressed the two.

"Understood. Leave it to us." Hearing Takeru, the two jumped down from the stone pillar. The Witch Cultists below stared blankly at Ram and Rem descending from the sky.

What greeted them, however, were sharp wind blades or a flail.

Thud, slash...

The sounds of blades meeting flesh continued. Each sound meant another Witch Cultist perished.

"You detestable beings!" Looking at the Witch Cultists before her, Rem's eyes turned blood-red, and her horn involuntarily manifested.

Although Ram's horn had been healed, Rem's hatred for the Witch Cult would not fade...

Seeing the berserk Rem, Takeru and Ram sighed, but weren't overly worried.

As for Ram, though she also manifested her horn, she remained incredibly rational.

Countless invisible wind blades were summoned, easily slicing through every Witch Cultist in sight.

In Ram's hands, all the Witch Cultists were helpless, each easily cut in two by a single wind blade, losing their lives.

"Why... why, why are you interfering with our trial? So 'diligent'... my brain is trembling!" Suddenly, a peculiar voice rang out.

Takeru and the others noticed a man with neatly trimmed, deep green hair, a gaunt figure, emotionless, eerie eyes, and his head tilted, appearing in their view.

Looking at the Witch Cultists being slain by Ram and Rem, he held his head and wailed.

"Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti." Seeing his arrival, Takeru jumped down from the stone pillar.

"Ara, you know me?" Hearing Takeru, Petelgeuse tilted his head at a ninety-degree angle to look at Takeru.

"Well, you could say that. Or perhaps I should call you Geuse?" Hearing his words, Takeru spoke again.

Hearing the name Geuse, Petelgeuse seemed to recall something, clutching his head tightly.

"Why... why does that name feel familiar? No, no, I am Petelgeuse, not Geuse. Ha, my brain is trembling..." Hearing the name Geuse, the somewhat calm Petelgeuse became frantic again.

"You people... unforgivable!" After a moment of frenzy, Petelgeuse directly unleashed his Unseen Hands toward Takeru.

However, unfortunately for him, under the coverage of Observation Haki, the Unseen Hands could be clearly perceived.

Gently extending a hand, Takeru looked at the rapidly approaching Unseen Hands. "Gluttony!"

As a light shone from Takeru's palm, all the Unseen Hands attacking him were devoured by Takeru's Gluttony. Takeru felt his mana reserves rapidly increase.

"What is that? Why... can you see my Unseen Hands?" Seeing Takeru easily devour the Unseen Hands, Petelgeuse was extremely puzzled, then turned furious.

"You... unforgivable!" Saying this, an even larger number of Unseen Hands erupted from his body.

"Petelgeuse, although it's a pity Beatrice can't bid you farewell, it seems it's not necessary anyway." Speaking softly, Takeru's gaze was filled with coldness.

"Sage Art: Lightning Release: Kirin!" Raising his right hand high, the clear sky instantly clouded over, with thunder and lightning flashing.

As Takeru reached out, massive amounts of lightning rapidly gathered around Takeru, creating a spectacular sight.

Above Takeru's hand, a colossal phantom of a lightning-formed Kirin appeared in everyone's eyes.

Combined with this scene, it was an extremely awe-inspiring sight for those present.

"It's all over, Petelgeuse." Speaking softly, the quickly formed lightning Kirin charged toward Petelgeuse under Takeru's control.

Its terrifying speed gave Petelgeuse no time to dodge. He vanished into nothingness amidst the powerful lightning.

However, despite the body's death, Takeru sensed his spirit had escaped.

"Indeed, simply doing this really is useless." Takeru mused lightly.

He then looked toward a Witch Cultist not far away.

"So terrifying, terrifying! That ability to command lightning!" Looking at Takeru, the now re-possessed Petelgeuse spoke again.

"You know, Petelgeuse, no matter how many times you revive, it's useless." Looking at him, Takeru spoke calmly.

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it! Ah, Witch! I am your most devout believer, grant me power!" Petelgeuse bit his own fingers while muttering chaotically.

Simultaneously, a massive number of invisible arms erupted from within him, attacking Takeru directly.

However, facing these attacks, Takeru, as before, devoured them, adding to his stored mana.

"Boring. Sage Art: Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet." Watching his actions, Takeru expressionlessly spewed a terrifying stream of fire, instantly reducing him to ash.

Soon, Takeru sensed his soul floating out again. Sensing the soul, Takeru's expression remained calm.

"Mahapdama." Speaking the name softly, the surrounding space and time froze as Takeru's ability activated.

Then, Takeru slowly walked over to the now soul-form Petelgeuse. Sensing his still-confused soul, Takeru showed no mercy. A pitch-black arm fiercely struck his soul.

Sure enough, with Takeru's attack, he felt it hit something solid. Then, Takeru mercilessly struck several more times before releasing the time-space freeze.

"Arghhh~" As time resumed, the damage Takeru inflicted on Petelgeuse fully manifested. Everyone heard a peculiar scream, though unsure of its source.

As his soul dissipated, an even more peculiar existence emerged from within his soul, then directly entered Takeru's body.

This sudden change startled Takeru, but he didn't panic. This existence strongly resembled the Authority of Sloth, [Unseen Hands]!

"Takeru-sama!" Regaining their senses, Ram and Rem stared blankly at Takeru, who seemed to have teleported, not understanding why Takeru, who was just in front, suddenly appeared at Petelgeuse's original location.

"Kill the remaining Witch Cultists. Completes the mission." Looking at Ram and Rem, Takeru spoke calmly.

"We understand." Hearing Takeru, they nodded, then went all out. In less than a few minutes, all the invading Witch Cultists were dead.