Archbishop (2)

The battle unfolded with incredible urgency.

And if one were to strictly weigh the advantages and disadvantages, Kyle and Vermillion were at a slight disadvantage.

In a way, it was only natural. How could the two mages possibly gain an advantage in a situation where their greatest weapon, magic, was effectively sealed?

Chwaruru!

“Damn it, it’s absorbing even this…!”

“This is troublesome. Minor wounds are one thing, but at this rate, it’ll be difficult to inflict a fatal blow…”

Barely dodging the shadowy hands rising from the floor, the two wore grim expressions.

At least, absorption was impossible unless they directly blocked with the ceremonial robes on his arms, so they could still manage to inflict some wounds.

The problem was that that level of damage wouldn’t be enough to take down that monster.

Furthermore, considering that their attacks could backfire like now if they were absorbed by mistake, they couldn’t even recklessly launch attacks.

– Heh heh, you fools. You charged in without understanding your place, and now you’re cowering with your tails between your legs.

The Archbishop’s mockery echoed in their minds, and the two frowned.

It was unpleasant, but it was true.

Unless they did something about those ceremonial robes, it would be difficult to seize the victory in this battle.

Right now, there was no other way but to focus on defense and look for openings.

“In the worst-case scenario, let’s just take Anise-yang and escape from here.”

“Would that be alright?”

“There’s no other way, is there? From the start, our goal wasn’t to defeat that bastard, but to come and save that person.”

“…I understand. Then Kyle, please create an opening. I’ll rescue Anise.”

“Alright.”

In the end, the two decided to focus on rescuing Anise rather than defeating the Archbishop right in front of them.

After all, if they just didn’t hand over Anise, they would have achieved their initial goal.

To this end, Kyle immediately began casting a great magic spell to blind the Archbishop.

“Caries.”

The already dark cave interior was instantly dyed with darkness.

A veritable great magic spell, teetering precariously between the 7th and 8th tiers even in the darkness realm.

Chiiik….

– ……!

And as the darkness that filled the surroundings consumed his body, bubbles rose from the Archbishop’s body like an iron lump thrown into hydrochloric acid, and it began to corrode.

Seeing this, the Archbishop’s eyes lost their composure, and his eyes widened for a moment.

To think that it had the power to melt even this strong body made by mixing divine power and magic.

He was an enemy, but he had to admit it.

To think that a man who didn’t even seem to be of age had this much power.

‘I knew it.’

Meanwhile, Kyle narrowed his eyes at the sight, which seemed to be somewhat effective as expected.

His hands, clasped together for the incantation, trembled.

Caries.

It boasts a range that is among the best in the darkness realm, and an overwhelming power that corrodes everything it touches. However, its corresponding shortcomings are also clear.

Unlike other magic spells that end once cast, this magic requires the caster to continuously pour in magic power to maintain it, which is a huge burden.

Moreover, since it is a high-level magic, it is virtually impossible to cast other magic while maintaining this, so the risk is that you are defenseless against enemy attacks.

And the Archbishop was, of course, aware of these shortcomings.

– You think you can play tricks on me!

Paaaat─!

Therefore, instead of making a fuss to somehow repair his melting body, he gathered his large hands in front of his chest and created light.

It soon grew infinitely larger, beginning to emit a light so bright that it completely repelled the darkness created by Kyle.

Kkigigigigik─!

“Keuk…!”

Soon, it emitted such intense light that he couldn’t even look straight at it, and began to make a noise that seemed to burst his eardrums.

He wondered if it was just a blinding magic to steal sight and hearing, but that wasn’t even the case.

The moment the light was emitted, Kyle felt the magic power in his entire body rapidly scattering.

It seemed that the light itself also had the effect of dispersing the surrounding magic power.

It was truly a magic that was the natural enemy of a mage.

But that didn’t mean he could undo the incantation and cancel the magic.

The fact that he used this method meant that the magic he cast was effectively working on the Archbishop.

“Kyle!”

“Don’t worry about me, just take care of your side…!”

Meanwhile, as Vermillion, who had gone to save Anise, cried out urgently, Kyle endured the sensation of his eardrums bursting and refocused the magic power that had begun to scatter.

Fortunately, the other side seemed to be somehow offsetting the light and sound by covering it with a barrier.

“Anise, come this way quickly…!”

“Th, thank you.”

As Vermillion untied Anise’s restraints and tried to take her to the other side, the Archbishop, who witnessed this, glared.

– You think I’ll let you!

“Vermillion!”

Then, he turned off the light magic he had cast and immediately created a light-forged wedge in his hand and threw it at Vermillion.

Unfortunately, Vermillion, who was deploying a soundproof barrier, was unable to hear his voice or sense his presence, and was slow to react.

On the other hand, Anise, who was being supported by him and watching his back, widened her eyes and hurriedly reached out her hand.

At that moment.

Kaang─!

– What…!

“……!”

Suddenly, a thick golden shield was created behind Vermillion’s back, easily blocking the wedge that should have pierced his abdomen.

Kyle’s eyes widened as he watched this from afar.

He had vaguely heard that Anise had a power called a miracle passed down through her family, but he never imagined she would have that much power.

Thanks to the opening created by it, Kyle did not miss the opportunity, canceled the Carius magic, and immediately concentrated magic power in his right hand.

“Protero.”

Then, the magic power concentrated in his hand soon turned blood-red, and when Kyle swung his hand, five huge slashes stretched forward with the majesty of a lion swinging its forepaws.

Chwaak─!

– Keuheup!

A huge sword mark was engraved on the Archbishop’s body, who was slow to react because he was aiming for Vermillion, and a stream of blood flowed from his mouth.

In that gap, Vermillion was able to take Anise to the entrance of the cave where Sylvia was.

“I’ll take care of the treatment. Drake-gongja.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

“Yes. It’s enough.”

Jiing.

Sylvia, thinking that it was not a big wound and that her magic power was enough, immediately put her hand on Anise’s body and poured magic power into it.

Then, all the minor wounds that had occurred while she was tied up were healed.

She added a word while looking at it.

“More than that, does that monster absorb magic?”

“Yes, it seems so. I guess the ornaments on both arms are probably the problem…”

“Ornaments…? You mean that jewel-like thing.”

Sylvia, who had heard the explanation, stared at the ornaments attached to the Archbishop’s arms in the distance as if glaring at them.

And then she suddenly threw out an incomprehensible word.

“If I can destroy those ceremonial robes, can we win?”

“Yes? W, well, it’s possible… But how would Eleonore-gongnyeo do that?”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll try. But it will take 1 minute.”

“I understand. Then I’ll tell Kyle.”

One minute in a situation where life is at stake, it would be quite long.

Thinking that it was a gamble worth taking if they could defeat that bastard, Vermillion hurriedly moved to Kyle’s side.

“…I’m sorry for making you clean up after me. Kyle.”

“Cut the crap. More than that, what’s going on? You seemed to be talking to Sylvia.”

“Eleonore-gongnyeo said she would destroy those ceremonial robes. However, it will take 1 minute…”

“1 minute? That’s just right. Anyway, my magic power is running out, so it’ll be hard to hold on any longer.”

He had been maintaining the great magic spell for a long time to rescue Anise, and the magic he cast after that was also a technique that required considerable magic power.

In this state, he instinctively knew that he would not be able to win even if he dragged it out for a long time, so Kyle decided to take the gamble.

From the beginning, Sylvia was the only goddess of victory and luck for him, so if she had a revelation, he had no choice but to try.

– What are you muttering about, you brats…!

Goooo….

Meanwhile, the Archbishop, who was offended by the previous attack, raised his power even more.

Even the sturdy cave that had somehow endured until just now was slowly screaming and collapsing in places.

Guessing that the moment Sylvia mentioned 1 minute later would be the moment to exchange the final blow, Kyle silently looked up at the Archbishop and clenched his fist.

Jiing.

“……!”

“That’s dangerous…”

At that moment, white and black light leaked from the ceremonial robes attached to the Archbishop’s arms.

Soon, when it gathered together above his head, the stalactite floating above his head disappeared without leaving even dust.

It was a high-density fusion of magic power and divine power that would make anyone’s legs tremble.

If you were hit by that head-on, it would be difficult to even collect your bones, let alone, your body would be oxidized as it was, like the stalactite you just saw.

“I have no choice but to take it head-on.”

Inevitably, Kyle decided to use the largest great magic he could use to offset the power as much as possible, even if he had to consume all of his remaining magic power.

– Die without leaving a trace, you heretic.

“Pespiro.”

Kwaaaang─!

Soon, voices flowed out from the mouths of the two almost simultaneously, and the huge beam of mixed white and black and the dark red magic power flowing from Kyle’s hand collided.

The aftermath was so enormous that Vermillion, who was standing next to him, could hardly open his eyes and watch.

Seureureuk.

The stones and rocks hit by the fragments of light spreading around disappear without a trace.

But even in this clash that seemed equal at first glance, the winner was already being predicted.

Kyle was finding it increasingly difficult to hold on, as he had gathered the magic power that had already run out and cast the great magic spell.

“Damn it…!”

He was barely holding on, gritting his teeth so hard that blood was flowing from his lips, but the Archbishop’s light was getting closer and closer.

Should he tell Vermillion to evacuate with the two women now?

It was the moment when Kyle’s mind was filled with worries.

“Kyle! Now’s the time!”

“……!”

His eyes flashed at Sylvia’s loud voice from behind.

At the same time.

Pagak.

The ceremonial robes attached to the Archbishop’s arms shattered with a thin scream.

The black and white light, which had suddenly grown to devour the two, rapidly lost its power and thinned.

– You bitch, what are you doing…!

Only then did the Archbishop’s eyes widen as he sensed something was wrong, and his voice was filled with embarrassment.

But Kyle did not miss this opportunity and poured out all of his remaining magic power.

Then, the dark red beam swallowed the light as it was and reached the Archbishop’s nose.

Belatedly, he stretched out his arms forward, trying to offset the attack through the ceremonial robes on his arms, as he had seen before, but this time nothing happened.

– Witch, how dare you…!

The Archbishop, surrounded by the blood-red light, was swallowed whole before he could even utter his last words.

As the cave began to collapse due to the aftermath, the two men had no choice but to hurriedly retreat and escape from the cave.