Chapter 5: The Anomaly

The Bonding Ceremony was held in the central sanctuary of the entire church. Unlike the gilded splendor of the cathedral, the sanctuary was dimly lit, with only a single beam of sunlight streaming down from the stained glass above the colossal statue's head, illuminating the altar at the center. Priests dressed in white robes stood in a circle around it, chanting hymns in praise of the God of Light.

According to the ritual, the chosen Priest, under the protection of the assembly, was to inscribe a curse mark on the Witch and complete the purification ceremony, thereby formally establishing a master-servant relationship.

Accompanied by Sister Theresa, Elara entered the sanctuary, her pure white gauzy gown making her appear like a sanctified bride. She approached the altar, and a Priest nearby stepped forward, instructing her to lie down on it. He then secured her limbs with the restraints on the altar, pinning her hands and feet in place.

Aware of what was about to befall her, Elara felt a deep despair and closed her eyes in agony.

A young Priest entered the sanctuary through another door and approached the girl locked onto the altar.

The Priest, named Clive, wore an expression of evident disappointment. Although his academic performance was among the lowest in his class, leaving him with little choice, the Witch assigned to him was excessively unattractive. Her emaciated figure was covered in mottled scars, and her hair was patchy, resembling an unsightly mangy dog.

Clive felt that the Witch's ugliness was so extreme that he was reluctant to proceed. In terms of appearance, among the new Witches, he was particularly fond of Eugina, but unfortunately, his grades were far from deserving of her. Thus, he could only try to ingratiate himself with Eugina's master, hoping for a chance to taste the goddess's favor when the master was in a good mood.

Lost in thoughts of Eugina's snowy white and soft breasts, and looking at the repulsive Witch before him, the young Priest felt that fate had dealt him an unfair hand. However, the ceremony could not be interrupted. Resignedly, he untied Elara's sash, pulled aside her gauzy dress, and completely exposed her body.

Closing his eyes, he rationalized that she was, after all, a woman, and could serve to vent his desires. At worst, he could kill her later and find a replacement when the opportunity arose.

The sensation of being exposed before everyone caused Elara to shudder. The piercing fear rose within her again. She couldn't help but struggle, yet the restraints held her fast.

The figure of the young Priest overlapped with certain images in her mind. Her legs were forced wide apart, and a tearing pain in her nether regions was unbearable. She could hardly breathe as every orifice was stretched, subjected to an endless invasion. Pain and humiliation assaulted her mind relentlessly.

Clive felt that the Witch beneath him was reacting excessively. A mere casual fondling of her breasts caused her to close her eyes tightly, furrow her brows, break out in a heavy sweat, and begin to moan and struggle violently. He positioned his penis at the entrance of the girl's vagina, intending to finish the task quickly, but neither of their bodies was sufficiently aroused. His penis, not yet fully erect, could not advance further into the dry passage after entering just the tip.

As the Priest thrust into the girl's lower body haphazardly, an odd sensation came from his hand placed on her chest. It was as if something alien was wriggling inside her, pushing the skin into grotesque bulges. Elara's body convulsed violently, her limbs twisted into bizarre positions, and her joints crackled loudly.

"Hurry up and complete the bond!" the Guardian Priest nearby also began to sense that something was amiss.

Clive hastily slit his hand and pressed his bloodied palm onto Elara. The moment the Priest's blood touched her, the girl's eyes snapped open. Her originally hazel human eyes had now transformed into beast-like vertical pupils, gleaming with a dazzling golden light.

A demon had emerged!

The hearts of everyone present sank.

Insect-like, massive bone spurs burst through the skin of her back, and six of them lunged towards the terrified young Priest like a predator. Just as they were about to pierce through, a large hand grabbed Clive by the back of his collar and flung him backward, avoiding the attack of the bone spurs.

A burly red-haired man stood protectively in front of the Priest, assuming a defensive stance. His clenched fists gradually turned to stone, hardening into two massive hammers.

Elara's body continued to transform; the iron shackles binding her limbs were effortlessly broken, and her skeletal structure tore through the original skin, elongating continuously.

Eventually, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, a creature with slender limbs and a body covered in white bony plates emerged from its old husk, stretching out the six massive bone spurs on its back.

"The Bonding Ceremony has failed; exterminate the demon!"

With the command from the Guardian Priest, the large man charged at Elara like an arrow, his giant fist whistling through the air and slamming down with force.

The white creature that Elara had become leaped backward swiftly, and the marble altar beneath her feet was instantly shattered by the impact of the giant fist.

More attacks followed in quick succession, with various spheres of light and bolts of lightning striking Elara from different directions.

The white creature leaped and flipped through the air, parrying the onslaught with its bone spurs.

Its skeleton-like claws had an extraordinary leaping ability; the bone spurs dug into the walls, and it scrambled up the dome like a giant spider, breaking through the stained glass and leaping out of the sanctuary.