The march to the human capital took three days.
Lucifer led a huge, heavily armed group. He didn't move quietly or sneak through side roads.
He rode Elara's summoned Nightmare Steed, a huge creature of black smoke with glowing red eyes. Behind him, four hundred Aether-Steel Dragoons floated above the dirt roads in tight, flawless formation.
They looked like an invading army.
In the distance, the Sanctum of Solaris rose into the sky. The capital was a vast city of white marble, gold-domed temples, and tall towers. A huge wall of glowing white stone surrounded it, shimmering with holy magic.
Lucifer tugged on the reins. His Nightmare Steed snorted, sending up a cloud of dark smoke from its nostrils.
In his past life, he had fought and bled to protect this city. He remembered the smell of burning marble and the gold domes crumbling under Abyssal fire.
He remembered the screams of the people as the Royal Army fled, leaving the citizens to die.
The Sanctum of Solaris was beautiful, but it was rotten to its core. It was ruled by corrupt nobles, cowardly generals, and a Church that sold salvation for gold.
Lucifer felt no nostalgia. He only felt cold and calculating purpose. He was not here to save the city. He was here to strip it of its resources.
"The main gate is heavily guarded," Elara said, riding her own Nightmare Steed beside him. Her silver wings were tucked under a dark cloak, hiding her celestial form.
"I see two hundred Royal Guards on the wall, enchanted ballistas, and a heavy iron portcullis."
"They won't use them," Lucifer said.
He nudged his mount forward. The Dragoons followed in absolute silence, save for the hum of their engines.
The procession reached the massive, arched entrance of the Sanctum of Solaris.
A line of fifty Royal Guards in polished silver armor blocked the road. They held heavy halberds and carried large kite shields painted with the golden sunburst of the Crown.
A fat, red-faced toll collector stood behind them, clutching a leather ledger.
As Lucifer approached, the guards tensed. Their eyes widened. They had never seen Aether-Steel Dragoons. The four hundred towering, faceless mechanical centaurs looked like a legion of iron demons.
The toll collector wiped sweat from his brow. He stepped forward nervously.
"H-Halt!" the collector shouted. His voice cracked. He raised a shaking hand. "By order of the King... all armed companies must state their business and pay the entry toll! Fifty silver coins per head!"
Lucifer didn't slow down. He rode the Nightmare Steed straight toward the guards. The beast snorted a cloud of sulfur into the toll collector's face. The man coughed and stumbled backward.
Lucifer looked down from his saddle. He did not draw a weapon. He simply let a fraction of his Warlord aura bleed into the air.
The physical pressure of his Sovereign's Weight washed over the Royal Guards. It was not enough to crush them, but it was enough to make their armor feel ten times heavier.
Several guards gasped, their knees buckling under the sudden, invisible gravity. Their halberds dipped.
[System: Intimidation Check Passed.]
[Targets: Royal Guards (Level 25) - Status: Terrified.]
"I am High Inquisitor Lucifer of Obsidian," Lucifer stated. His voice was a low, commanding rumble that echoed perfectly off the high marble walls. "I am here on official Church business. I do not pay tolls."
He reached into his tunic and pulled out the heavy gold Sunburst Sigil. He let it hang from its chain, catching the light of the torches on the wall.
The toll collector's eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
A High Inquisitor was a rank above generals and dukes. They answered only to the High Pope. They had the legal authority to execute anyone who obstructed their holy duties. And this High Inquisitor had an army of mechanical monsters behind him.
"F-Forgive me, Your Eminence!" the toll collector shrieked. He dropped his leather ledger into the dirt.
He fell to his knees and bowed his head so low it scraped the cobblestones. "I did not recognize you! Open the gates! Open the gates immediately!"
The Royal Guards panicked. They dropped their halberds and hurried to the winches. The huge iron portcullis screeched as it was quickly lifted. The heavy oak doors swung open.
Lucifer spurred his mount. The Nightmare Steed trotted through the gates. The four hundred Dragoons followed.
The citizens of the capital froze.
The busy evening markets went completely silent. Merchants, nobles, and peasants stopped what they were doing and stared in absolute shock.
The capital was used to grand parades and flashy mercenary troops. They weren't used to quiet, floating war machines. The blue lightning on the Dragoons' lances cast strange, moving shadows across the white buildings.
Lucifer rode through the center of the city, ignoring the terrified stares.
"They look at you like a conqueror," Elara observed quietly.
"Let them," Lucifer replied. "Fear is more useful than respect. Respect can be lost. Fear is instinct."
He directed his column toward the Grand Cathedral of the Lumina Order.
The Cathedral was the largest structure in the city. It sat atop a high hill, completely dominating the skyline.
It was built entirely of white marble and massive panes of stained glass. A massive dome of solid gold crowned the roof, reflecting the setting sun like a beacon.
A wide, sweeping staircase led up to the Cathedral's main plaza.
Lucifer halted the Dragoons at the base of the stairs.
"Hold position," Lucifer commanded the machines. "Do not engage unless attacked."
The four hundred Dragoons slammed the butts of their lances against the marble simultaneously.
The thunderous crash echoed across the entire city block. They stood completely rigid, forming an impenetrable wall of black steel at the bottom of the holy steps.
Lucifer dismounted. He dismissed his Nightmare Steed with a thought, the beast vanishing into dark mist. Elara did the same.
Together, they walked up the massive, sweeping staircase.
At the top, the Cathedral plaza was bustling with activity. Dozens of high-ranking priests in white silk robes milled about, speaking with wealthy nobles in velvet doublets. Paladins in shining silver armor stood guard at the massive brass doors.
Lucifer and Elara reached the top step.
The Warlord did not wait in line. He walked straight through the crowd of nobles. His dark armor and the heavy Sunburst Sigil on his chest commanded immediate attention. The nobles quickly stepped out of his way, whispering frantically to one another.
Lucifer approached the massive brass doors. Four elite paladins crossed their heavy halberds, blocking the entrance.
"Halt," the lead paladin ordered. His voice was firm. "The Grand Cathedral is closed for evening vespers. Only the Holy Council may enter."
Lucifer did not slow down. He did not speak. He kept walking.
He activated a fraction of his Void Arcanist magic.
His dark eyes swirled. A microscopic pulse of Gravity Crush erupted from his chest.
The paladins gasped, the air violently forced from their lungs. Their halberds were ripped from their hands by the sudden gravitational shift, clattering loudly across the marble plaza.
The paladins dropped to one knee, completely paralyzed by the overwhelming weight of Lucifer's presence.
[System: Intimidation Check Passed.]
[Targets: Elite Paladins (Level 35) - Status: Suppressed.]
The crowd of nobles behind Lucifer gasped in collective shock.
Lucifer stepped over the dropped weapons. He pushed the massive brass doors open with one hand. The heavy metal groaned loudly, echoing into the vast, silent nave of the Cathedral.
He walked inside. Elara followed closely, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword.
The inside of the Grand Cathedral was stunningly lavish. Huge white stone pillars held up the high ceiling. Thousands of floating candles lit the space, bathing the long wooden pews in a warm golden glow. The air was thick with the scent of costly incense and ancient magic.
At the far end of the nave sat the High Altar. It was carved from a single block of pure sun-gold.
And standing on the balcony above the altar was the Saintess.
Lyra, the Dawn Saintess.
She was dressed in heavy, ceremonial robes of pure white silk, embroidered with intricate gold sunbursts.
A massive, heavy golden halo hovered slightly behind her head, a physical manifestation of her immense holy magic.
She was incredibly beautiful, with long, flowing blonde hair and striking blue eyes.
But as Lucifer walked down the center aisle, he looked closely at her face.
In his past life, she had been a symbol of hope. The people worshipped her as a living goddess. But Lucifer knew the truth.
Lyra was a prisoner.
The heavy ceremonial robes were designed to restrict her movement. The golden halo was a magical dampener, placed on her by the corrupt High Pope to control her immense power.
She was paraded around on balconies and altars to bless the masses and collect donations, but she was never allowed to fight.
When the Abyss finally breached the capital in his past life, the Church had locked her in a vault to save themselves. She died suffocating in the dark.
Lucifer stopped halfway down the aisle.
The Cathedral was completely empty except for Lyra and a dozen high-ranking bishops kneeling in prayer near the altar.
The bishops turned around, outraged by the loud intrusion.
"Who dares enter the sanctum during vespers?!" an old, withered bishop shouted, struggling to his feet. He pointed a trembling, gold-ringed finger at Lucifer. "Guards! Seize this heretic!"
Lucifer ignored the old man. He ignored the shouting bishops.
He looked up at the balcony. He locked eyes with Lyra.
Her striking blue eyes widened. She stared down at him. She saw the heavy Sunburst Sigil on his chest, but she did not sense a holy man.
"I am High Inquisitor Lucifer of Obsidian," Lucifer announced. His voice sounded like thunder through the massive cathedral, completely drowning out the shouting bishops.
He kept his eyes locked on the Saintess. He did not bow. He did not offer a prayer.
"I have three hundred million Contribution Points," Lucifer stated clearly. "And I have come to empty your vaults."