"Sometimes the greatest battle isn't against demons... but the voice inside telling you you're not worthy to fight them."
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Location: Balete, Quezon City – Abandoned Seminary
11:13 AM
The structure was silent. Nature had long since tried to reclaim it—vines wrapped around shattered stained glass windows, the stone steps cracked like brittle bones.
But today, it wasn't nature's presence Jomarie felt. It was something colder.
Something holy.
"This was once the training ground for the Archdiocese's secret order of exorcists," said Divine Starlium's voice—now calmer, more human, more present.
"But they were all slaughtered. One betrayed the rest."
Jomarie stepped past a door half-hanging off its hinges. Inside, dozens of white robes lay on the floor, still untouched by time. He didn't speak. There was no need to.
He could feel it.
The weight of those who failed.
SYSTEM INTERFACE:
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> [New Protocol: Exorcism Training Unlocked]
> [Instructor: "Father Venancio" – deceased spiritual overseer]
> [Objective: Endure the Three Chains of the Faithless]
> [Note: You must not draw Sky Piercer. No weapons allowed.]
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A faint breeze passed.
Then a voice echoed.
Old. Bitter. And dead.
"So you're the new vessel of Heaven's pity."
"Another child with guilt in his eyes and rage in his blood."
A ghostly figure materialized from the altar — a man in robes, eyes glowing faintly. A priest… but the crucifix he held was cracked. Broken down the middle.
"Do you believe in God, boy?"
"Or just the power He gave you?"
Jomarie stared at him, jaw tight.
"I don't even believe in myself. But He still brought me back."
"Then let's see if you're strong enough to keep what He gave."
---
CHAIN ONE: The Chain of Doubt
The ground shook. A dome of light surrounded the church, cutting off the outside world. Jomarie dropped to one knee as dozens of familiar voices whispered around him.
"You're just a houseboy."
"You wanted to die, remember?"
"You're only alive because someone else pitied you."
His breathing grew shallow. The walls closed in. His legs shook.
"They're just voices," he muttered.
"Just ghosts."
But his hands were trembling.
Then a familiar sound rang out:
A slap.
He turned—
His mother stood before him. Not real. A fragment. But her voice was sharp.
"Big brother, why did you let go? We were the ones left behind."
He choked back the lump in his throat.
"I never stopped loving you… I just couldn't carry it all."
Then he yelled:
"I'm still here, aren't I?"
The voices vanished. Light cracked through the dome.
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> [First Chain Broken – Doubt Resisted]
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CHAIN TWO: The Chain of Mercy
A girl walked into the church. She looked no older than 8. Pale skin. Hollow eyes.
"Help me…" she whispered.
Jomarie blinked.
"Mika?"
But it wasn't her.
The girl opened her mouth — and the demon inside growled. Sharp claws, veined eyes, and a laughing tongue unfolded from her chest like an emerging parasite.
"You know what to do," said Father Venancio coldly.
"She's 70% possessed. If you wait, the demon will consume her. Kill her now."
Jomarie stared.
"I said no weapons."
He stepped forward. The demon hissed, crouched on all fours.
"One wrong move, and she dies," the priest warned.
Jomarie knelt.
"You're not her. But she's still in there."
He reached out—not with fists, but faith.
> "Soul Trap: Jaa Geuksang."
A pulse of holy light circled the girl. The demon shrieked, clawing at the barrier.
"Why are you risking this?!"
"Because I'm not God's executioner," hesaid, "I'm His chance for mercy."
The demon shattered mid-scream. The girl collapsed into his arms, whispering thanks before fading from view.
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> [Second Chain Broken – Mercy Upheld]
> [New Passive: Compassion Resonance LV.1]
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CHAIN THREE: The Chain of Obedience
"Last trial," said Father Venancio.
"Disobey, and you fail."
A mirror appeared before Jomarie.
In it, himself.
But different.
This version of him was smirking. Confident. Dripping with demonic energy. And in his hand was Sky Piercer—the real one.
"I already saved one child," Jomarie said.
"What's this?"
The mirror Jomarie raised his hand. Behind him, five ghostly figures appeared — his siblings.
One by one, the demon-self cut their throats.
"You were too slow."
"You trained too much. Spared too many."
"You didn't kill when you should've."
Jomarie screamed and charged forward—but his blows passed through the mirror.
Father Venancio spoke calmly:
"You want to save them all. But sometimes, you must obey the will above yours. Even if it breaks your heart."
The mirror Jomarie grinned.
"So what will you choose? Save or obey?"
---
Jomarie dropped to his knees.
He didn't speak for several minutes.
Then he stood. Tears down his face. Voice steady.
"I'll do what He tells me…
but I'll never stop trying to save them all."
The mirror shattered.
The false siblings faded.
And so did the chains.
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> [Third Chain Broken – Obedience Tempered by Love]
> [Spiritual Rank: Exorcist LV.2]
> [Blessing Unlocked: "Voice of the Soul" – Can hear trapped host consciousness during possession]
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Father Venancio's ghost stepped forward, eyes softened.
"You're the first in decades who chose faith over convenience."
"Go now, Demon Slayer. You're more than a weapon."
"You're an exorcist."