The cardinals never dirtied their hands under normal circumstances; however, this time the circumstances called for the Cardinals themselves to step onto the stage.
The 12th Cardinal was sent to observe the ambush and step up in case the target proved to be more challenging than expected.
And good thing he was there to witness the ambush.
The Chaos elementals were summoned by the collective effort of the Cardinals and given to a true messenger of Chrunus.
The great Chaos Elemental was the only truly sentient elemental of Chaos that was known.
It was sent only when Chrunus himself had ordained the heresy too powerful.
[Etem ej abals? Dapan!] The elemental's divine voice reached the Cardinal's ear.
'Target is too powerful?!' Understanding the language of Chaos was rather difficult, but the Cardinals spent years perfecting it.
For anyone not blessed by Chrunus himself, the language would seem like screeching, but for the 12th Cardinal, it was a beautiful melody that he could understand without issues.
However, soon after the message reached him, the most divine Chaos elemental dissipated.
While the Chaos Elementals could never truly be destroyed, they could be dispersed and then reconstructed later.
However, this time it didn't feel like it was dispersed, but destroyed to its very fundamental level.
He stared at the light that chased away the mist as if it were a mere cloud of dust and not the divine presence of Chrunus himself.
As it reached him, he felt his very body burn.
However, he was not made of Chaos; as such, he would not die.
But it did not mean it didn't hurt a lot.
Without much deliberation, he ran.
While he could possibly fight, it was unwise to fight without reporting his new intel to other Cardinals.
With a graceful stride, he passed the gates.
The entire city was devoid of the most holy chaos mist.
Not only was the chaos eradicated, but it was replaced by a feeling of order.
It disgusted him, but he could not fix such a thing just yet.
Dashed through the city, his cloak billowing in the wind.
He was incredibly powerful, and yet he couldn't fight Aurelia just yet.
The Cardinals never fought alone, and he would be damned if he broke that tradition.
His form turned into mist as he passed through the very gaps of the buildings.
The meeting place of the Cardinals was only accessible by one with gaseous form.
It was one of the many reasons nobody ever knew where they were situated.
However, just before he was about to enter, he felt the presence they were supposed to neutralize.
While Aurelia tried to be stealthy, it was hard to hide as a literal beacon of light and order.
A small piece detached, a spec of mist rushed away, skittering through the cracks like a worm.
If the Cardinal fell here, then others must be warned; only Chrunus may save them.
Despite their overwhelming power, Cardinals knew fully well that they should never fall to pride.
It was a bane of lesser men for a reason.
His fingers twitched.
He had never felt afraid before.
Many people with great power often forget what fear was, leading to the buildup of pride and eventually hubris.
It truly was a novel experience to experience such a primal terror when facing the beacon of light that stood before him.
For a moment, he could even laugh at the misfortune he was about to experience.
[Greater Mantle of Chaos] he was shrouded by mist, his form resembling more that of an elemental than a human.
The powerful mantle of dark mist would protect him from anything, excluding this light that seemed to dispel it.
[Gravity Orb], [Armament of Chrunus: Bow]
He would have to fight with all he had, even if the city was demolished, the cardinal's life was more important.
He drew the dark string, an arrow materialized before rushing towards the beacon, instantly disintegrating as it approached.
And then the light stopped.
"[God's Holy Light] really is powerful, huh~" Aurelia giggled, her presence growing infinite in size in the Cardinal's eyes.
He gulped, 'She is not worried at all.' He gritted his teeth.
Even if he died here, other Cardinals would know what happened.
Chrunus would act, and he would embrace his faithful once this beacon of order had been dismantled.
"I am the 12th Cardinal of the Church of Chrunus. Stop where you are."
She stopped, for a moment he thought she obeyed, but instead she placed her hand onto her forehead, "SO I was right, good. Cedric will be so proud when I bring him your ashes~" She grinned as she charged at him.
He barely had time to dodge.
'Such speed!' He exclaimed as he found himself flying by a powerful kick to his body.
If it wasn't for [Greater Mantle of Chaos], the kick alone would have split him in half.
He coughed a small amount of blood before launching his prepared gravity orbs.
[Invert Gravity] Aurelia was sent flying before a black hole collided with her.
However, instead of disintegrating her the ball merely popped.
"You remind me of my father... he used similar attacks." Her brows furrowed.
"I guess this just shows how much I have grown."
The way she nonchalantly talked while in front of one of the most powerful men in all of humanity sent shivers down his spine.
Worst of all, it wasn't merely arrogance, but instead confidence.
She proved when she launched him with a single kick.
Just as he was about to get his bearings, Aurelia charged behind him, his eyes barely following the speed of the apostate queen.
She brandished her blade, making the Cardinal widen his eyes.
He could not afford to get hit by that thing, no matter what.
It was his natural counter.
And yet he never had a chance.
He was a caster and a ranger, he could never fight someone equally powerful who specialized in getting close and personal.
The Zenith cut through his mantle, ending his life before he could even utter one last prayer to Chrunus.