As Erias felt the powerful energy rising from below, she furrowed her brow.
Allen, now grotesquely transformed, was charging towards the High Priest.
“Damn brat…!”
[Transcendent Magic: Cage Made of Spring Breeze]
In a hurry, she channeled mana and extended her hand. This transcendent magic was originally meant to imprison enemies but could also serve as defense depending on its application. The Crown Prince assured that the Holy Country would protect them, so the intended targets of her magic were still the petrified kings of the Eastern Union.
KWAANG-!
“Ugh…!”
When Allen’s power collided, the cage violently shook. If hit directly, the magic barrier would’ve surely broken.
Having safely protected the kings, Erias called out sarcastically,
“Don’t kill him, I said! Are you trying to wipe this place out?!”
“ROAR!!!”
Already with his eyes rolled back, Allen couldn’t hear her.
BANG! KWAANG!
“Tch, lost his mind, has he? What an idiot…”
Erias shifted her gaze. Black Wolf was flying through the air like a limp noodle, thrown by the High Priest to divert Allen’s charge. Yet Allen continued swinging his lance toward the High Priest.
Tsk…
“Forgetting who you’re supposed to protect, are you?”
Having no choice, Erias had to temporarily leave the battlefield. Using telekinesis to grab Black Wolf, she teleported to the front of the Holy Country.
“…! Infantry Palace… No, Lady Erias… Ah, Master of the Tower?”
Startled by Erias’ sudden appearance, Senna clutched her chest and bowed.
The flustered girl looked up at Erias, who casually told her to call her anything and gently placed Black Wolf on the ground.
“Revive this one. He’s unconscious but still breathing. Can you do it?”
“H-Have to try!”
Senna hesitated but began channeling divine power.
‘His heart…!’
Her expression darkened as she examined Black Wolf’s wounds. It would’ve been easy for the legendary Holy Maiden who once fought the Demon King, but she was still inexperienced…
Moreover, the divine magic’s power had significantly decreased due to heretical interference.
[Divine Magic: Light of Blessing Healing]
As Senna attempted divine magic on the blood-soaked Black Wolf, her mind went blank. She was reminded of the moment Ariana got injured on the Island of Wisdom.
‘I can do this. I can…!’
She was still trapped in that nightmare. Though she thought she’d moved past it, seeing Black Wolf lying there like a corpse made her hands tremble. Divine magic, like any other magic, required spiritual power. With her wavering mind, casting perfect magic was impossible.
Click…
“Calm yourself.”
Pope Alberto placed his hand over hers. Wrinkled from years of service, his touch made Senna look up. He smiled gently.
“You can do this. Don’t confine yourself to a small room. You’re already a grown adult and our one and only precious Holy Maiden.”
“B-But… I couldn’t save even one friend…”
“The Goddess doesn’t lend her strength to those who don’t believe in themselves. Didn’t you always say you wanted to be a proud disciple?”
“…”
Those words changed Senna’s gaze. She remembered the determination she vowed while crying.
I won’t let anyone get hurt in front of me ever again…
“The only person I can trust right now is…”
Herself. The situation where she couldn’t rely on the Goddess’ intervention made Senna’s spirit stronger instead. Even if she was inexperienced, even if she couldn’t communicate with the Goddess…
She was the Holy Maiden.
“Hmm…”
After taking a deep breath and opening her eyes, Senna felt the warm energy transmitted through her palm. It was the lifelong accumulation of divine power from Pope Alberto, vast like the ocean. While communication with the gods could be blocked, the divine power built up through one’s own efforts couldn’t be erased, even if it was just a fragment. It was enough to boost Senna’s courage.
“The Goddess is always with us.”
Alberto maintained his smile even in this tense situation. The soft smiles that helped her endure the hard days at the convent came to mind. Senna nodded.
“I won’t forget anymore.”
“Good.”
Having confirmed the determination in the eyes of the young woman like his granddaughter, Alberto slowly withdrew his hand. Turning his gaze to the horrific battlefield before him, he knew the Holy Maiden had started walking her own path and no longer needed his protection.
“If the Holy Maiden shows such strength, then this old man can’t just stand by.”
In reality, his lifespan was almost over. Only a few trusted subordinates knew this, not even Senna. He didn’t want to hinder the tender-hearted girl’s future. But now, it was alright.
Now that the sun was beginning to rise…
“O Goddess. Grant us the shining dawn.”
After finishing his prayer, Alberto slowly took a step forward. With each step, light blossomed in the conference room filled with darkness, like a sunrise breaking through the night sky.
“…”
“…What…?”
All eyes turned to the Pope as everyone was fighting fiercely.
“Evil one. Dweller in the dark. Corrupter who preys on human weakness. Do not forget.”
Behind Alberto, a brilliant halo bloomed. His wrinkled eyes softened.
“Dawn always comes.”
[Proclamation of Holiness: Dawn Breaks You]
The pinnacle of divine magic, Holiness. The very Pope himself cast it, enveloping the conference room in warm light. The gentle light of dawn caressed the royal guards tainted by demon energy.
“Wh-where am I…?”
“I-I was doing what…!”
“I-I thought…”
The holy light dispelled the demon energy. The guards, confused, gradually regained their senses. The face of Libido Urtica, the Archbishop of Lust who had spent a long time brainwashing them, twisted upon seeing this.
“Damn it…! You old bastard!!!”
“Ho ho, do not underestimate human resilience. Heretic. Though humans may waver, they burn brightly when they have a center to hold onto.”
“Stop joking around! Can humans who cannot communicate with the gods withstand the Demon King’s power!”
“But you… Aren’t the Demon King, are you?”
“Y-YOU…”
Gulp…
Pope Alberto suppressed the spurt of blood rising in his throat. The Archbishop was right; the power of divine objects was formidable. It was difficult for him alone, unable to borrow the Goddess’ strength, to bear it all as an old man.
‘O Goddess, please protect this old man…’
Not here. Not now. If he showed weakness here as the central figure, the spark of hope would be extinguished. With the enemy’s full strength yet unknown, he must show his best form here, even if it costs him his remaining life, until the impatient enemy makes a mistake.
“Let’s see how much you can endure with that frail body!”
Just as Libido was about to release miasma from the divine object Nix…
“Do you forget who’s right in front of you?”
“!!!”
Thanks to the Holy Ground that Pope Alberto risked his life to create, Allen, who had regained his senses, pointed a cold spear tip.
“You damn son of a…!”
The spear blade sharpened by black aura pierced through Libido’s torso.
***
Meanwhile, outside the meeting room isolated by the divine object.
“Ugh…! Damn bastards attacking from behind?!”
“Will you survive betraying the alliance?!”
“Tch, annoying.”
“AHH!”
The man who cut down a soldier from the mercenary nation of Kaguru Kingdom wiped the blood off his sword and spoke.
“There’s no ill will. A knight follows their lord’s will. Surrender quietly, and I’ll spare your life.”
Though sighing inwardly, Percival Erieard, captain of the Arion Kingdom’s Wave Knights, knew the situation well. He didn’t like betraying the alliance as a knight, but he had no choice since the king’s orders were above his own wishes.
“Damn…!”
Due to the surprise attack by the Arion Kingdom army, the already large power gap widened further. The survivors gathered in one place as the Arion Kingdom army tightened their encirclement following Percival’s instructions.
“What should we do…?”
“At least surrender and think about what to do later…”
“How can you say that when we don’t know what’s happening to His Majesty!”
“That’s why we need to preserve our strength more than ever!”
All higher-ranking officers were trapped inside the meeting room. Even if someone tried to give orders, they couldn’t command soldiers from other nations. They were allies, but ultimately foreigners.
Without a clear command structure, the soldiers were merely a motley crew.
“I’ll give you one minute. If you don’t surrender…”
CHUNK
At Percival’s gesture, the kingdom army’s spears moved closer. The allied nation soldiers could only swallow dryly at the sight of the spears reflecting sunlight and gleaming coldly.
“Uh, might as well surrender…”
“Yeah. Life is precious.”
Just as everyone’s spirit was about to break from someone’s words…
“Hmph, this was annoying enough. Now it’s gotten more troublesome.”
Someone slowly walked out from among the allied forces. The somewhat small figure with his face hidden under a helmet confidently approached Percival.
“We’re in the same boat, aren’t we?”
“Who are you?”
“You should speak more respectfully. Looks can be deceiving.”
Someone noticed the emblem carved on the armor and muttered with wide eyes.
“The Empire…?”
Realizing the man’s affiliation from those words, Percival said indifferently,
“So you’re the famous Guardian Knight. I’ve heard much about your renowned name, but isn’t this bad timing? No matter how famous you are as the Empire’s Guardian Knight, can you handle this many troops?”
“Such arrogance from someone who’s barely Expert Mid-tier.”
Vincent’s mockery made Percival frown. Before he could respond, a nearby knight shouted loudly. It was the deputy captain of the Wave Knights.
“You insolent dog! How dare you talk to the captain of the Great Wave Knights like that! Bow your head immediately!”
“Tsk, impressive becoming a captain with such skills. I’m impressed.”
That ridiculous statement made Percival ask,
“What’s your rank then?”
“Unfortunately, Vincent isn’t here or I wouldn’t have to talk so much.”
The small mouth revealed the name of the deputy captain of the Guardian Knights. There was no way foreigners would know that name. Only fellow Guardian Knights realized the situation and moved quickly without hesitation.
“Loyalty! We greet the golden brilliance that protects the Empire’s starlight!”
“Loyalty!!!”
The hastily lined-up Guardian Knights shouted loudly. They hadn’t known either. That one of their companions who ate, slept, and moved together was actually the ‘Captain’ like the heavens.
“My apologies for not knowing!”
“Apologies!!!”
Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, the Guardian Knights broke out in cold sweat. How could they have known that the person they thought was a recruit or doing some kind of cosplay was actually the disguised captain?
Fortunately, they hadn’t bullied him too much since it was an important mission.
“Sorry. Though it was the Emperor’s order, I tricked you all.”
“Not at all!”
“No problem!”
“Yeah. The fault lies with the deceived ones.”
The casual response made the young man look at his subordinates with a cold gaze. Instantly, the atmosphere changed.
Glug…
Looking around silently, the young man murmured,
“Special training for those who couldn’t take out ten enemies here.”
“We understand!”
Seeing the disciplined response, the allied soldiers whispered. Even if they didn’t know much about the Empire, they could guess what kind of person could make the usually haughty Guardian Knights behave like this.
“What’s going on here…”
“Are these really the same people…?”
“Impossible, that small person is the captain…?”
From appearances alone, it looked like a child scolding adults. The cognitive dissonance was so strong that they forgot they were in a dangerous situation. The Arion Kingdom army was the same.
“Huh, what’s this situation?”
Percival chuckled nervously, pointing his sword at the young man and said,
“You’re the captain and you’re this small? Ridiculous. Does the Empire lack talent?”
“I find it embarrassing too. For someone as inexperienced as you to be a captain. How lacking in talent must they be…”
Tsk tsk…
The young man mocked Percival with his tongue clicking and then smirked.
“Hmm, did you ally because you’re weak? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have survived.”
“You damn brat…!”
“Don’t call me brat. It annoys this brat.”
“…I’ll take that as a refusal to surrender. Kill them all.”
Following Percival’s orders, the kingdom army slowly tightened their encirclement.
“Wh-what…!”
“Damn it! In this situation, we’ll take out as many as we can!”
Staring blankly at the situation, the allied soldiers hastily picked up their weapons. Truly, they were a ragtag bunch. Percival smirked at their pathetic sight.
“I don’t quite believe it, but since you’re also a captain, I’ll deal with you personally. I wonder what the emperor’s face will look like when I bring him the captain’s head.”
“Don’t worry. Those heretics won’t care about your death.”
“…Let’s see if your mouth matches your skill!”
Unable to tolerate the young man’s provocation, Percival charged at him. To the young man, the movement was painfully slow as he lazily drew his sword.
“Too bad to use against someone like you, but I better finish quickly or the Crown Prince will scold me.”
[Power: Stopping Flow and Motion]
“W-what the…!”
The sword tip wouldn’t move. Percival couldn’t hide his bewildered expression as the sword he had swung for countless years remained completely still. The young man calmly emitted aura.
“Know this as an honor. The start may be humble, but the end…”
Is disappointingly similar.
No matter how I think about it, it wasn’t grandiose.
“At least you’ve seen the Master level before dying. No regrets, right?”
“N-No…!”
Fear finally entered Percival’s eyes as death approached. How could he have guessed that the seemingly young lad was the legendary Master he’d only heard about? As the dazzling golden aura bloomed, Percival begged for his life for the first time.
“P-Please spare me! Even a Master would struggle against this many soldiers, right? Spare me and…”
“You’re still being disrespectful. I said looks can be deceiving.”
“S-Spare me please…!”
SNICK-
A cheerful cutting sound echoed.
CLUNK
Percival’s shocked head fell onto the grass.
THUD
His body followed, headless, splattering the green field red. The overwhelming power of the Master left no one daring to move. In the suddenly silent atmosphere, the young man tilted his head.
“What are you waiting for? Didn’t I say ten?”
“Understood!”
The Guardian Knights urgently swung their swords. They had to catch at least one before losing their captain.
