Chapter 1476

<Chapter 1476> 1476. Paladin: The Journey of Evil’s Demise

“Paladin! I shall slay thee before thou hast fully grown! To come after me based solely on thine eyes is thy mistake and arrogance!”

The gargoyle grabbed my armor and soared into the air. The brute strength with which it clutched my armor was immense. Stormbreaker, my trusted weapon, began to buckle under the pressure. I unleashed even more lightning. The golden current caused the creature to scream in agony as it staggered.

Bang!

I collided with a wall. The beast darted through the air, repeatedly slamming my body against the walls.

‘This won’t do… My stamina will run out before this demon’s does.’

I must conserve my ultimate techniques, Heavenly Heart and Full Recovery, for as long as possible. It would be far better not to use them if I wish to grow stronger.

I tilted my head back as far as it would go and kicked the gargoyle’s stone head.

Even with its helmet, an excruciating pain coursed through my skull. Meanwhile, its stony head remained unscathed.

“Hahaha! Is this thy desperate struggle? Excellent. Do thy worst!”

Ignoring its taunts, I delivered another headbutt. My skull felt like it might shatter. Blood trickled down from my forehead. Still, I did not stop.

“Hahahahaha! Paladin, thou art doomed! By none other than Lord Gollig! I shall slay thee!! Hahahahahaha!”

Zzzt! Zzzt!

I squeezed out every last ounce of lightning and launched another kick.

A portion of the beast’s head exploded. Losing its balance, it plummeted downward.

[Using Instant (刹那). Remaining stacks: 6]

I used Instant not to mitigate the fall but to finish off the creature.

[Using Instant (刹那). Remaining stacks: 5]

Kaboom! As I hit the ground, my sword cleaved through its body. I continued to swing my greatsword, ensuring there would be no chance of survival.

Black smoke erupted from the gargoyle’s corpse and seeped into my body—demonic souls, the essence of corruption.

[Level up.]

My level increased. I immediately allocated the gained points into my health. Though slight, my body felt lighter.

– Abandon restraint.

– Thou hast power. Why not use it as thou desirest?

– Defile women. Release the desires within thee.

The whispers of demons reach my ears. These are their tricks to lead me astray.

“Be silent.”

The demonic whispers refuse to cease. Ignoring them, I joined the battle between the paladins and gargoyles.

The battle ended with all gargoyles slain.

Of the seven paladins, two perished.

“I shall begin the purification ritual.”

Spoke the elderly bishop.

Before me stood a hexagonal bath filled with holy water. Naked as the day I was born, I entered the bath. Lying still within it, I relaxed my body. Submerging myself completely beneath the water.

Outside the bath, the bishop and priests murmured their prayers. Their incantations transformed into divine power, seeping into the bath. The purification commenced.

The souls of demons and corrupt beings that wouldn’t wash away with mere holy water began to vanish, purified. The purified essence became my strength.

[Divine power increases by 1.]

This was why I refrained from using Full Recovery or Heavenly Heart to rid myself of the taint of corruption—to gain divine power through the purification ritual.

[Name: Eugene

Origin: Paladin

Level: 9

Strength: 10 Agility: 6 Health: 6 Divine Power: 7

Skills: Holy Light (Lv. Master), Holy Aura…]

[World]

The water steamed as I rose from the bath. Priests approached with towels to dry my body, and the bishop bowed his head in reverence.

“All we can do is perform a purification ritual. Anything beyond that, such as consecration…”

“I’m aware. Raise your head, Bishop Melasis. How many Paladins are ready for immediate action?”

“In total, 12 Paladins are prepared for battle. Could another demon have appeared nearby?”

“No. While traveling to the church, I inspected this village. It’s a large settlement, bustling with people… and hidden heretics. I’ve received a vision from the Goddess to head toward Valentinier. However, I cannot ignore the sight of heretics masquerading as humans. Gather the Paladins swiftly, and assemble the villagers in one place. I will personally execute these traitors.”

Kiiiiing!

The Holy Sight activates. No demon or heretic can escape my gaze.

I decapitated 47 heretics.

Their EXP was absolutely satisfying.

[Name: Eugene

Origin: Paladin

Level: 13

Strength: 14 Agility: 6 Vitality: 6 Spirituality: 7

Skills: Holy Sight (Lv. Master), Holy Aura (Lv.1)]

All points go into Strength—it directly affects attack power. Increasing Strength gives the most noticeable and efficient results.

I swung my greatsword, feeling it as light as a dagger.

“Paladin, please rest for a day. We’ll treat you with the utmost hospitality.”

“No need, Bishop. I must reach Valentinier as quickly as possible. A horse exchange would be appreciated.”

With a new steed, I departed the village.

Though I told the bishop I’d head straight to Valentinier, I veered off course.

Wandering through an empty forest, I found a waterfall.

Behind the waterfall lay a hidden cave. Inside, the path was blocked by a wall. Clad in armor, I charged at it. KABOOM! The wall shattered, revealing a new chamber. Lighting the space with a torch,

It was an ancient temple. The walls were covered in faded murals depicting demons tormenting humanity, while the Goddess Herianne descended with wings of light to bring salvation.

‘This world was plunged into despair when demons appeared… until Herianne unfolded her radiant wings and bestowed the light of salvation upon mankind.’

That’s what a Paladin is.

And Paladins aren’t unique. There are currently eight of us in this world, including myself.

‘Paladins aren’t invincible.’

If they were, all demons would already be dead. In reality, demons hold the upper hand over Paladins.

I examined the mural depicting the history between Paladins and demons before entering deeper into the cave. At its center stood an altar. Before it hovered a Great Demon with black wings, facing off against the Goddess Herianne with her radiant white wings.

They resembled each other.

The altar rested between them.

‘Is this altar for the Great Demon, or for the Goddess Herianne?’

My goal was the horn atop the altar.

A severed Demon Horn.

In the game, this item was called [Horn of the Primordial Demon]. It was necessary for the hidden ending.

I discarded the torch and gripped my greatsword with both hands. A golden aura erupted around it.

-You should stop now, young Paladin.

A deep voice resonated. Its source was the Demon Horn.

I glared at the horn with my Holy Sight.

-This artifact before you is the Horn of the Primordial Demon. You can seal the soul of a Great Demon with it.

“Who are you?”

-I am Bejithula, one of the Five Great Demons. Betrayed by my kin, I’ve been imprisoned here.

Uuuuung.

My Holy Aura burned brighter.

-If you destroy this horn, I will cease to exist. Do you understand what that means?

“I know. An immortal Great Demon will perish.”

The soul of a Great Demon differs from those of lesser demons or heretics. Even if you kill a Great Demon, their soul lingers, reappearing decades later to spread evil anew.

-Indeed. Here lies your chance to eradicate demons forever. Hunt and kill the other Great Demons, sealing their souls here. Then exterminate them all at once. You could save this world from demons entirely.

“Do you think I’m naive?”

-What nonsense are you spouting?

“Hey? I’m telling you how to deal with the Great Demons! The method to kill those who betrayed me!”

“I know that when the five Great Demon souls gather in that demon’s horn, the Primordial Demon will be resurrected.”

“- …Wasn’t that Paladin just awakened not too long ago? How do you know this?”

“I saw it in a game.”

“The Primordial Demon is the final boss of the hidden ending.”

“I recalled the quest. The quest was about killing the Great Demons, not the Primordial Demon.”

‘The Primordial Demon is a being capable of destroying the world. There’s no reason to confront such a dangerous existence.’

– “I see, you’re not going to tell me, huh? Smart Paladin, listen carefully. The only way to kill the Great Demons is by using the Primordial Demon’s horn. Seal and eliminate four Great Demon souls. Then the Primordial Demon won’t revive, and the four Great Demons will be annihilated. As for the remaining one, you can seal it or do whatever you want.”

“Because I’ve been locked up for hundreds of years, I didn’t know. The sect has already devised a way to kill the Great Demons. We don’t need the Primordial Demon’s horn to kill them.”

– “What? Wait a moment. How can you be sure… GAAAAAH!”

I swung down my greatsword.

The Primordial Demon’s horn broke in half, and Beji Sura’s scream filled my pupils.

I swung my sword again. The demon’s horn shattered completely. The Great Demon’s scream ceased.

[Level Up.]

Notification windows appeared all at once.

I exhaled while lowering my sword.

‘One down first.’

Four left.

[Name: Eugene

Origin: Holy Knight

Level: 25

Strength: 20 Agility: 9 Vitality: 9 Spirituality: 7

Skills: Holy Light (Lv.Master), Holy Aura (Lv.1)]

I allocated my stats into strength, agility, and vitality. Spirituality is important, but I don’t need it right now. What I need immediately is physical ability for growth.

‘There are other ways to increase spirituality.’

I arrived at the Grand Cathedral of Valentier in the big city.

Demon-infested as this world is, the power of clerics surpasses even that of nobles. Naturally, churches and cathedrals became the centers of towns and villages.

In front of the Valentier Cathedral stood dozens of holy knights in armor. People visiting the cathedral kept quiet and maintained order. They wouldn’t dare cause trouble in front of the cathedral. Even nobles dressed in fine clothes looked downward like commoners.

I walked toward the cathedral entrance, stepping on the pure white marble stairs, passing by those waiting in line.

People murmured, and the holy knights frowned at me.

Kiing!

I activated Holy Light. The attitudes of the holy knights immediately changed. They all drew their swords and plunged them into the ground.

“We were guarding! O new Paladin of Valentier!”

“I’ll greet you later.”

I passed through the holy knights and entered the cathedral.

Walking across the clean marble floor, I headed deep into the cathedral. Along the way, I encountered priests who stopped what they were doing upon seeing my eyes and greeted me.

“P, Paladin!”

“Yeah.”

I gave a casual response and moved on.

I pushed open the splendid door located deepest in the cathedral.

It was darker there than elsewhere. With no windows letting light in, candles illuminated the space. It was wider than the chapel, and holy water pooled around. At the far end stood a statue of Goddess Herianne, and in front of it knelt a woman in white, praying.

Her long hair reached down to her buttocks. Looking closely at her back, you could see some skin between the strands of hair because the back part of her dress was cut out. On her back was a tattoo—a winged cross. The emblem of the Church.

This wasn’t just any tattoo; it was a stigmata, proof that she had been blessed by Goddess Herianne.

I approached her as I stepped on the sacred floor of the sanctuary, and she slowly rose and turned to look at me. She wore a white veil covering her face.

“O Paladin, welcome. I am Amelie. As the Saint of Valentier, I have been appointed by our Lady to guide and assist you.”