Gargoyle Supremacy

An hour later, Carn arrived at his destination, descending onto the Liberty Statue's head. From this vantage point, the ruined city stretched out beneath him. Carn ignored the view and placed his palm against the metallic surface, communicating with his subordinate.

"Transfer a million Aether to me. Also, change of plans. I have a dungeon in Florida. Can you follow me there?"

The statue shifted slightly in response. Her torch dimmed as she redirected her stored energy toward Carn. A stream of silver energy began to flow from the statue's arms into Carn.

The transfer process took a while as a million Aether marks were a colossal sum, and the sheer volume of energy required careful modulation to prevent instability. Minute by minute, Carn controlled the surge of power within him, trying not to leak the precious energy.

The glowing current swirled around him, illuminating the sky like a celestial beacon.

The TV station crews were still lingering in the area behind the front line in New Jersey. As soon as the beacon emerged, they sent camera drones and helicopters over to capture the moment.

Instantly, they found Carn, who had arrived here in his gargoyle form. All curious cameras focused on him. As usual, critics came up with wild fantasies about what had happened on TV. However, Carn had no idea about it. He was too busy absorbing energy.

As the transfer neared completion, Carn rechecked his Aether balance. With 1.2 million Aether, he had more than enough Aether to deal with all 11 holy spirits, and he still had some leftovers to upgrade his dungeon.

He turned to the statue. Touching it, he thought of teleporting her directly to Florida and letting her guard his dungeon. Unfortunately, her sheer mass and weight would cost him too much Aether to do so.

As Carn preferred efficiency over chaos, he issued a command to the animated statue.

"Do you know the way to Florida? I need you to head there."

The Statue of Liberty shifted slightly before nodding. Without hesitation, she turned westward, as though she instinctively knew the direction. Ignoring the ocean that lay ahead, she began striding into the water, creating massive ripples that disturbed the otherwise tranquil sea.

Curious about her unusual method of travel, Carn observed closely. As she waded deeper, the seawater quickly reached her torso, slowing her to a snail's pace. Yet, despite the drag and the unyielding currents, her steady progress remained unhindered. The sea seemed powerless to impede her.

Minutes later, she emerged from the water onto the shores of Jersey City. Her massive form dripped with seawater. Without pause, she continued her march.

The sight of the iconic statue moving through their city sent the residents of Jersey City into a frenzy. People abandoned their vehicles, fleeing in every direction. Cars swerved and crashed in the chaos, while others simply turned back in a desperate attempt to escape.

Soldiers stationed in the area quickly mobilized to monitor the situation, deploying armored personnel carriers and calling in reinforcements. Military helicopters hovered at a cautious distance, their pilots keeping a watchful eye on the seemingly rogue statue.

Carn, aware of the commotion, was concerned about the innocent people as the civilians and soldiers had no connection to the holy spirits or the corruption plaguing the country. To avoid unnecessary harm, he gave her a direct order.

"Do your best to avoid casualties. Don't destroy any properties or vehicles, understood?"

The statue paused, tilting her head slightly as if processing his instructions. Then, with deliberate movements, she began to transform. From her back, a pair of immense stone wings unfolded.

With a powerful flap of her wings, the statue lifted 50 meters into the air. Another mighty stroke sent her soaring 200 meters above the ground. However, her ascent was accompanied by an intense gale.

The sudden burst of wind caught everyone off guard. Helicopters veered away to avoid the violent air currents, and their pilots struggled to maintain control. On the ground, soldiers scrambled for cover, diving into shelters as the storm-like gusts uprooted trees, shattered windows, and sent debris flying. Cars were lifted and hurled like toys, colliding with buildings or crashing into one another.

The scene descended into chaos, resembling the aftermath of an apocalyptic tornado. Carn frowned as he watched from above. The statue's transformation, while effective, had inadvertently caused destruction and panic.

Carn let out a weary sigh, realizing that the chaos caused by the Statue of Liberty's sudden flight could not be left unresolved. Reluctantly, he extended his hand, channeling a portion of his holy power.

"Mass Restoration."

Carn spent 100 gold marks to fuel the advanced holy spell.

A radiant ripple of golden light emanated from him, expanding outward in a perfect circle with a kilometer-wide radius. The light enveloped everything within its reach.

The transformation was immediate and awe-inspiring. Dust, sand, and grime within buildings were eradicated as if they had never existed. Broken glass shards scattered across the streets lifted into the air, reassembling themselves. In seconds, the shards merged seamlessly, forming flawless glass windows that sparkled in the golden light.

Flipped vehicles and shattered objects also responded to the spell's magic. They levitated as though caught in a time-reversing spell. Each dent and crack smoothed itself out, and the objects floated back to their original positions before the gale's wrath had struck.

The spell didn't stop at the properties. It extended its restorative power to the people within its range. Civilians and soldiers who had been injured during the chaos found their wounds closing and their pain dissipating. Even those with pre-existing conditions felt their aches vanished, chronic illnesses eased, and old scars faded.

Gasps of disbelief and awe spread among the crowd as the golden light faded, leaving the area pristine and untouched by the earlier destruction. Soldiers stared at their mended vehicles and equipment, while civilians touched their healed bodies in wonder. The sheer scale of the miracle was overwhelming.

All eyes turned upward, following the receding form of the Statue of Liberty as she flew steadily westward.

Carn glanced at the crowd below and saw their stunned faces. He shrugged off their silent admiration, relieved of his guilt. For him, this was just another way to stabilize his holy power.

.

.

Throughout the day, news stations across the nation were abuzz with updates on the undead invasion, the Statue of Liberty's unprecedented movements, and the devastation in Manhattan. Most broadcasts replayed the same footage: meteors of golden fire obliterating hordes of the undead, the Statue taking flight, and the miraculous restoration that followed. Amid the chaos, only a few niche channels touched on an enigmatic gargoyle captured in fleeting video clips. The mysterious entity sparked speculation but remained largely overshadowed by the larger events.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the masses were relieved. For 99% of the civilian population, life quickly returned to normal. Many tuned into the developments not out of fear but excitement, marveling at the surreal spectacle that had unfolded. Social media buzzed with amateur videos showing the giant winged Statue of Liberty soaring through the skies, flanked by fighter jets in tight formation. Comment sections exploded with theories ranging from military experiments to divine intervention.

Back in the quiet of her home, Wong beamed with pride, her chest puffed out as she replayed the news reports for the umpteenth time. To her, the day's events were a showcase of her son's abilities and influence, even if the world didn't yet know his name.

Meanwhile, Gwen, ever the enthusiast for heroes and adventures, found herself captivated by Carn's deeds. To her, he was like a superhero from the movies. He faced insurmountable odds, batted villains in secret, and saved the world with unmatched prowess. Her admiration for Carn only deepened. But when she thought about her failed kiss attempt, her face reddened, and she wished she could forget everything relating to that.

Han, however, watched the news with a far deeper understanding. Unlike Wong or Gwen, who admired the surface-level heroics, Han grasped the complexities behind Carn's actions. He knew what Carn had done, the risks he had taken, and the lines he had crossed.

He also knew that other countries might have already been ruined by now. This battle was just a prologue of what was about to come.

Seated in a luxurious hotel room, Han enjoyed a lavish full-course meal, complemented by a bottle of fine wine, paid with Ferdinand's credit card. Smirking to himself, Han raised his glass in a private toast.

"Cheers, son. Or rather, here's to the return of the 73rd Demon Lord."

Han finished the last of his wine in one gulp. He placed the empty glass back on the polished table with a soft clink. Rising from his chair, he began to pace, warming up his body.

Carn's battle, for now, had ended. However, this was merely a prelude to what was about to come. The forces that moved behind the scenes—incarnations, holy spirits, Lich King Kaim, Lich King Mordred, and opportunistic factions—would soon scheme, plot, and conspire to reclaim control and dictate terms. Han, however, had no intention of being anyone's pawn.

"It's my turn."

Han's skin turned red as he circulated his Aether, preparing for his upcoming battle. Calmly, he changed his attire and put on formal clothing. After adjusting his necktie, he created an Aether sword out of his energy, which hovered in mid-air. He directed it to the balcony and stepped on it as if it were a hoverboard in sci-fi movies. With a thought, the sword flew, carrying him along.

His destination was none other than Georgia Nuclear Shelter, where his colleagues and the elites should be hiding.

While flying, he recited a quote from a famous fiction series.

"Blood for the Blood God! Skulls for the Skull Throne!"