Annihilation Crucifix

The Annihilation Crucifix is an Artifact++ angelic relic able to purify corruption and sever undead immortality. It first enters the story as the threat Alex uses to force the Undead King into a soul contract, although Alex does not physically acquire it until much later. (Chapters 44, 327)

History

From deterrent to angelic reward

Alex invokes the Crucifix’s reputation while the Undead King is weakened, explaining that it can erase an undead soul so completely that resurrection becomes impossible. Much later, he asks Volks to recover it from the Cursed Cathedral because he needs it against the Undead Lord and to remove Arcelia’s curse. Volks’s warning that only an angel can wield it makes Alex’s Angel Bloodline ceremony part of the acquisition path. (Chapters 44, 309, 325)

After Alex is accepted into the angelic race, the Crucifix appears before him as the angels’ ultimate item. Before he can carry it separately, the Crown of Calamity absorbs and processes it, adds it to its stored set, and derives Holy Blast from it. The relic is consequently retained through the Crown rather than destroyed. (Chapter 327)

Purification through the Crown

Alex first deploys the absorbed relic’s Holy Blast against the Hatred Demon. The attack concentrates his aura into purifying force whose damage scales with the target’s impurity, burning away the demon’s body while it is immobilized. (Chapter 389)

The Crown later rematerializes the Crucifix from golden particles so Alex can treat Arcelia. On contact it detects the Soul Curse, draws the black corruption out of her, and removes it completely; Arcelia wakes after the process. This manifestation confirms that Crown absorption preserves the artifact’s direct cleansing function. (Chapter 413)

Abilities and properties

• Removes surrounding darkness, cleanses impurities, and can sever an undead being’s immortality by annihilating the soul, preventing resurrection. (Chapters 44, 327)
• Its stated wielding restriction centers on angels, though its description also allows undead, elves, and select chosen users. Alex obtains the Angel Bloodline before receiving it. (Chapters 325, 327)
• Crown absorption grants Holy Blast, an aura-based shockwave whose damage scales with a target’s impurity; the Hatred Demon must first be held still so Alex can land it. (Chapters 327, 389)
• Can identify and purge a curse rooted in a soul. The text demonstrates this on Arcelia, not as a universal guarantee against every curse. (Chapter 413)

Ownership and custody