Chapter 149 – The Saintess and Her Guardian (27)

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“Do not interfere with my pure love…!”

“That’s not love.”

I deflected the surge of energy rushing toward me and charged at Vempir.

From the three intertwined energies to spears forged from bloodlust and holy power, she even unfurled her twin wings, firing explosive feathers like some kind of shooting game.

I didn’t even need to teleport. Closing the distance while keeping her on edge was enough.

Triceratops, which had been wild and erratic just moments ago, seemed to settle down after hearing Edel’s words, now emitting energy steadily.

“You dodge like an insect…!”

“Ever seen a bug this pretty?”

The closer I got, the more Vempir’s smug grin twisted.

Just a few meters apart now.

I effortlessly weaved through the bursts of holy power fired from her wings, flashing her a mocking smile.

If you’re gonna borrow an angel’s power, at least get creative with it.

I’ll admit, her destructive force was impressive, enough to bisect me and sever Edel’s arm, but without versatility, she was just a one-trick pony.

She clearly relied too much on whatever technique had given her results before.

Among the Saintess’s skills, there were things like “Saintess’s Prayer” or “Angel’s Descent”, but—

Yeah, right.

Couldn’t exactly imagine the prideful Vempir kneeling in prayer or summoning an angel for a 2v1.

“Almost there. You ready?”

“What difference does it make if you get closer?!”

Plenty. I can punch you now.

But sealing you right away would be no fun.

Triceratops arced like a crescent moon, lashing toward her.

Vempir must’ve assumed the angel’s wings couldn’t block it, she quickly melted into the shadows.

Has she not improved at all?

Reusing a technique that already failed once? Pathetic.

If I used a light spell, she’d just counter with holy power again—so this time, I changed tactics.

Instead of crimson energy, Triceratops emitted a soft pink glow, gnawing away at the shadows.

“Wha—?!”

Vempir had probably expected me to use a light spell, but holy power alone wasn’t enough—she was forced out of the shadows.

Seizing the moment, I grabbed her face and slammed her into the ground.

“Ghk—!”

Her wings would’ve shielded her from most of the damage, but the humiliation alone was worth it.

Look at her, squirming like this over a simple grab.

Too proud to admit she just got manhandled.

I couldn’t even see her expression under my palm, but I could imagine it perfectly.

Honestly, how did Edel lose an arm to her?

Even with the temporary holy barrier halving his stats, it shouldn’t have been possible unless he let his guard down completely.

And Edel doesn’t just “let his guard down”.

Is there something I’m missing?

I’d ask him after sealing Vempir, but for now, I tightened my grip, making sure she couldn’t escape.

“Y’know, Edel’s ideal type is someone stronger than him. I had some expectations after you took his arm, but this is just disappointing. How’s someone this weak supposed to catch his eye?”

“Grrk—! Let go…!”

“We’re not done talking. Oh, and he loves good cooks. Like, the best in the world.”

Vempir detonated the holy power within her, forcing me to teleport back to avoid the blast.

Rude. I wasn’t finished.

“And for gods’ sake, do something about that stench! No one’s gonna like you if you smell like rotten eggs! Even the Saintess is probably suffocating in there!”

This time, I charged a magic circle and fired.

Vempir retaliated with her own triple-energy blast.

The two forces collided, erupting in a blinding light, each pushing against the other in a contest of raw power.

“Ideal type? Cooking? Stench…? Those are just fantasies. The strong devouring the weak, that is the truth of this world! And in the end, the Black Knight will be mine!”

Wow. I’m giving her love advice, and she’s ignoring it.

If you like someone, at least try to match their preferences.

Just yapping about love without putting in effort?

Yeah, no. I can’t just seal her like this.

If I don’t teach her what love really is, she’ll just break free in a century and be just as annoying.

I channeled more mana, and my magic circle flared brighter, slowly overpowering her blast.

“How…?! I’m being pushed back…?! Me, with the power of a god?!”

Hilarious.

She actually thought stealing the Saintess’s power would let her rival the Demon King?

Sure, holy power was strong, but raw mana, without even dark magic mixed in, was overwhelming her.

Because the sheer volume is incomparable.

Just before her attack collapsed entirely, her wings shielded her, but unable to withstand the heat, they were sent flying.

The ground melted in the aftermath, leaving a smoldering trail.

Feathers scattered as her wings lost their form.

Vempir barely escaped, bouncing across the ground like a skipped stone before crashing into a wall.

I aimed Triceratops at her and flashed the same infuriating smirk she’d given me earlier.

“You think the Saintess’s power is something special? To borrow Edel’s words, ‘A weakling stealing another weakling’s power is still just a weakling.’”

Two pairs of wings? That’s it?

You’ll take Edel? Defeat the Demon King?

Know your place.

Vempir’s face twisted further.

Already ugly, but now she looked downright demonic, like she’d killed me a hundred times in her head.

“Fight me seriously. This can’t be all you’ve got.”

“You…! You’ll regret those words!”

Her aura shifted.

The tattered remnants of her wings darkened to a deep crimson, redder than blood itself.

The moon above dyed the same hue, casting an eerie glow.

A thick mist of blood magic seeped from her body, swallowing the surroundings.

Just like in the game, a landscape drained of life, where even breathing stole vitality.

Finally, with wings drenched in blood, she rose, wielding a massive cross-shaped spear, descending like a fallen angel.

Tears of blood traced down her cheeks, dripping from her chin.

Phase 2? No, maybe even Phase 3.

“Good. Now we’re talking. Still weak, though.”

I smirked, matching her intensity.

Hiding this much power until now?

Fine. Fight me with everything.

That way, you can’t whine later about holding back.

Now, all that’s left is to show her just how beautiful and powerful love can be.

But first, I’ll have to wear her down a bit.

In this state, the Guardian wouldn’t stand a chance.

Like a crimson meteor, Vempir descended, tearing through the air with a deafening roar, her spear aimed straight at me.

At the same time, the blood mist closed in from all sides, alive and suffocating.

Our weapons clashed again, reducing the battlefield to ruins.

“You underestimated me. Keep resisting, and I’ll shred you to pieces.”

Her feet sank into the ground from the force.

The blood mist morphed into storm-like blades, slashing at me from every angle.

I wanted to avoid getting hurt in front of Edel…

But now, I’ll never hear the end of it after this fight.

If not for love, I’d have sealed her already.

“You won’t last much longer either.”

In contrast, the cross-shaped spear corroded under Triceratops’s curse, losing its form.

We glared at each other, locked in a battle of attrition—

While around us, blood magic and mana clashed violently.

Explosions erupted in the turbulent currents, lethal to any normal being who dared approach.

Lucent