Scheiterhaufen (before battle)

Rrraaaaaaah!!!

Hey, wait…!

Sinclair leapt forth to chase Kromer before anyone could stop him.

However, he's blocked by the remaining N Corp. Inquisitors.

In response, he swings his weapon with a tremendous force I never thought he could exert, crushing the head of the one who grabbed him.

The Inquisitor collapses to the ground before even a gasp could escape their mouth.

Sinclair would normally keep to the back of our group; this was the first time I saw him charge in unprompted like that.

…What the - ? The hell have you been dawdling in the back for if you could do that?

I remember with clarity that I had ended your lives.

I undoubtedly witnessed torn brain tissue spill through the cracks in your skulls.

And yet, here you heretics are, before me on your feet.

You're not the one to complain about miraculous recoveries…

Guido examines me closely with his piercing glare.

He then slowly nods as if his observation gave him the knowledge he needed.

You there, the one possessing the head of a heretic.

You must be the false shepherd enticing this herd into blasphemy.

He proceeds to nudge his chin at the nailed corpses in the courtyard.

They committed the grave sin of entering the site of hallowed rites with their unclean bodies.

Thus, they have been punished with the same penalty as heretics receive.

They have also been subjected to the humiliation of bodily mechanical intrusions being installed against their will.

But you are different.

The sin of worshipping a heretic is less severe than indulging in heresy oneself.

Therefore, as long as you are willing to repent and cleanse your minds of sin…

We, the Hammer, are willing to demonstrate forgiveness.

So I implore you, ye pitiable foolish sinners, led astray by temptation.

Shake off the allure of that false miracle, and kneel before me.

The confrontation came to a standstill. No one seemed willing to speak first.

<So you've all been under my spell or something all along? Who'd've thought that.>

I tried cracking a joke to lighten the mood a little, but no one laughed.

Dante… That man… He just insulted you. He doesn't even see you as a human being.

<I mean, you guys call me clockface all the time too…>

That's not the same at all! Besides, I've never used that nickname…

Ishmael grunted.

So you think throwing some fancy words around will be enough to persuade us, eh…

Listen up, Faceplate: You're the one who needs a little shaking off. Seems to me your human brain's just as defective.

……

You were given ample opportunity.

You are no different from those we hung and nailed after all.

I am a Hammer.

I am a tool for the One Who Grips, tasked with the great mission of piercing the false flesh of heretics.

I shall bind thee to a nail, and lay thee down furthest from soil.

For he who shan't repent…

Oi, when are you gonna finish your stupidly long taunt?

…is not granted rest beneath the earth.