Demon Bible-Chapter 51: How Pleasant It Sounds - The Old Priest's Sudden Death

Aro was stunned. It had always been him knocking weapons from his enemies' hands, but now the tables had turned and his own weapon had been disarmed, leaving him momentarily unable to react.
He saw that Naimes, who had been rushing over moments before, was now standing beside the village guard, his sword slightly raised. With a flick, the falling long sword was sent flying back into Aro's hand.
"Come on, I'll match whatever force you use - no bullying," Naimes said to Aro after glancing at Op who had stopped moving.
Aro retreated slightly, his fingers tightening around the hilt as he caught Op's current situation in his peripheral vision.
The reality of their circumstances became clear in his mind.
Given the current situation, they were already at a disadvantage. No need for words - only battle remained!
The blade shifted angle as Aro lowered his stance, emitting a beast-like roar before charging toward Naimes in a blur of motion.
His sword rose from an oblique angle, but upon sensing Naimes's blade meeting his, Aro twisted his body to redirect the strike to another direction, attempting to guide Naimes's sword to follow.
Yet his plan failed. Naimes withdrew his wrist while stepping forward, then swung his arm forward, using the counterweight ball on the knight sword's hilt to thrust forward.
The hilt struck directly at Aro's shoulder. His hand went numb, the sword slipping from his grasp once again to embed itself in the ground as Aro himself stumbled backward.
He staggered several steps back before finally stabilizing his falling center of gravity.
No sooner had his body settled than Naimes turned his blade, sending the inverted long sword on the ground flying up once more to land back in Aro's hand.
"Some talent, but too much wasted. Still coming?" Naimes offered his assessment, then asked Aro if he wished to continue fighting with the gentle tone of a host offering a guest another cup of tea.
Aro breathed heavily, his single arm numb and powerless, gripping his sword with extreme difficulty.
In this moment, he understood one thing clearly - his technique was being completely overwhelmed.
If the comparison between the village guard and himself was that of beast versus tool-using human, then the gap between himself and Naimes was like insect versus dragon.
The disparity between them far exceeded the difference between him and the village guard.
If he continued fighting, he would definitely die.
A chilling killing intent, hidden beneath Naimes's gentle smile, had already coiled around him like a serpent.
Glancing at Op in the distance and seeing the other man shake his head, Aro released his grip on the hilt and chose surrender.
"Surrender is no disgrace. Your sword technique is too extreme. Technique reflects life - by letting go, your swordsmanship can advance further."
Naimes could see the limitations of Aro's technique at a glance.
All of the other's techniques were maintained through an extremely radical mindset.
This approach would only make one's skills become extreme.
Extremity itself wasn't bad, but uncontrolled extremity could only mean the other was losing control.
And uncontrolled technique was worthless.
"The core of technique as I understand it is control. Your perception is that technique's core is emotion-driven. But at this moment, I am stronger than you."
"Therefore, I am truth."
After dealing with Aro who dared to keep fighting, Naimes walked toward Op.
Along the way, two half-bodied people lay collapsed on the ground, blood trickling from their mouths, not daring to move for fear of disturbing Naimes.
The two desperadoes were also exceptionally well-behaved now. They clearly sensed that the Nest Beast hairs on their bodies had wilted at this moment, not daring to bristle at all.
Continuing forward, the dual swordsman who had just gotten up when Naimes appeared now hung his head low, not daring to look at Naimes.
His sword-gripping hand trembled continuously as his inner worldview was reshaped once again.
He had always believed himself to be a genius, only slightly inferior because he encountered a monster like Aro.
Until this moment, he realized that both he and Aro were merely somewhat talented.
Before true genius, they were like fireflies and candles, foolishly believing themselves to be the moon and sun in the sky.
At the same time, deep resentment took root in his heart. He wanted to improve his innate talent, wanted to become a master swordsman.
Thinking this, the dual swordsman couldn't help but raise his head to look at Naimes's retreating back.
He wanted to learn swordsmanship from him.
Then, Naimes stood before Op.
The transparent feather-air snake squirmed uneasily, not even daring to flick its tongue.
The Nest Beast's black hairs around Op rapidly retracted back into his body, becoming extremely docile.
The fierce beast that required expensive medicines to suppress now appeared so powerless.
This made Op understand the key issue - the Nest Beast's ferocity was never the problem. Not being strong enough was the problem.
If he were strong enough, like the old priest, then the Nest Beast would only be modified to become a convenient tool in the other's hands.
"Are you really Naimes?" Op asked this way.
"Identity isn't important. What matters is that I am here right now," Naimes didn't directly answer the question, just smiled at Op: "Just as now, I am here, so your identity might change accordingly."
This was persuasion to surrender.
"Nothing is beyond negotiation," Op regained some confidence.
Pur couldn't be negotiated with because faith filled his mind - conventional interest transactions couldn't move him.
But Naimes was different. Though strong, Naimes wasn't impossible to communicate with.
"The old priest only wants the experiment to succeed."
"Let's eliminate Isabella together, then find a way to obtain some whale materials. That will satisfy the old priest's requirements."
"We can completely join forces, benefit from all sides, turn this place into our paradise."
Op described his ideal future.
"The old priest won't live much longer. You could be master of this paradise, Mr. Naimes. You can obtain everything you want."
"If that's all, I think I may have overestimated you," facing the temptation Op offered, Naimes just shook his head, speaking with some disappointment.
"Why is your vision always limited to this small village?"
"Just some whalehide ore smuggling profits - are you already satisfied?"
"Vision determines your upper limit," Naimes looked down at Op, then said: "Your vision is limited to the village, so you'll be trapped by the village."
"The old priest's whole life was limited to bloodline experiments, so his life was inevitably trapped by bloodline experiments."
"Now I ask you, Mr. Op - have your eyes ever seen the world beyond?!"
Naimes's question, accompanied by his oppressive presence, penetrated deep into Op's heart.
He had witnessed the extravagant excesses of Breathspring City and observed the bustling commercial activities of Wavetail Town.
His head involuntarily nodded slightly.
"Good. Then let the old priest become my stepping stone to advancement."
"The old priest dies suddenly in a forbidden experiment, the holy knight restores order - how pleasant that sounds!"