Archbishop (1)

Kuung.

Divine power and demonic energy gradually converged at one point, and it eventually caused a small explosion, spreading outwards.

The two people watching this felt as if the Milky Way floating in the dark night sky was setting off a chain of explosions.

Eventually, the faint darkness that enveloped the cave receded, and what appeared from within was a monster they had never seen before.

Yes, a monster.

Neither Kyle nor Vermillion could find any other descriptor for it besides “monster.”

It was as if, to make an analogy, they were seeing the end result of a devout man who believed only in God finally succumbing to darkness and walking the path of heresy.

The white priestly robes that the Archbishop had been wearing were torn to shreds, rolling around on the floor like rags.

The black horns pierced through the hat he had been wearing, barely leaving its shape intact.

And what about his appearance?

His entire body was mixed with black and white, creating an alien atmosphere as if even that was an attempt to maintain balance.

To make an analogy, yes. It was a dirty appearance, as if the black and white paints hadn’t been completely mixed to make gray, leaving remnants of the original colors here and there.

His eyes and nose were gone, and the shape of a human mouth forcibly attached to a round plate caused discomfort to those who saw it.

“…So that’s your true form, huh.”

– Yeah. Are you afraid?

The thing that used to be the Archbishop retorted to Kyle’s grimace, but for some reason, his lips didn’t move.

Instead, it gave a strange sensation as if his voice was being directly transmitted and echoing in their heads.

The feeling was somewhat different from the telepathic magic commonly used by wizards.

It felt as if someone was forcibly trying to shove the sound of scratching a chalkboard into their heads.

Vermillion was even worried that he might throw up if he had to listen to that voice for several hours.

Meanwhile, in response to the Archbishop’s question, Kyle smirked and answered by raising his magic power.

“Afraid? I’m just saying you’re ugly. Looks like I’ve seen the bottom of you bastards.”

– You dare…!

He had tried to provoke Kyle, but ended up falling for Kyle’s provocation instead, and he spat out an enraged voice.

Then, the white divine power and the dark demonic energy that boiled up from his body mixed together and began to resonate, threatening to collapse the entire cave.

‘He’s forcibly mixing demonic energy and divine power, creating a reaction to gain power. What a crude method.’

Only then could Kyle roughly guess the basis of the power of the high-ranking figures of the Dawn’s Eyes, specifically the Archbishop in front of him.

From the start, divine power and demonic energy are like water and oil, existences that can never be used together.

Demonic energy is the power created by humans to counter divine power.

But the result of forcibly mixing them together, no matter how, is that thing right there.

Perhaps the reason why the Archbishop lost his human form and became like that is related to this, Kyle speculated, and began chanting.

“Benedict.”

Then, brilliant golden powder was sprinkled over him and Vermillion, and their bodies were enhanced.

It’s not a magic I usually enjoy using, but in a fight against such a strong enemy, each move can make the difference between life and death, so physical abilities are also essential.

I didn’t want to use it if possible because it consumes so much magic power, but I guess I have no choice.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Kyle. It’ll be quite a strain to maintain it.”

Vermillion, knowing this, expressed his concern instead, but Kyle retorted sharply with a grumpy expression.

“If you know, then let’s finish this quickly. I can’t keep Sylvia or your lover waiting for too long.”

“…She’s not my lover, though.”

It was still just a one-sided crush, so he couldn’t bring himself to affirm the word “lover.”

Nodding his head with the hope that it would be so, Vermillion adjusted his stance.

Kuoooo─!

At the same time, the white divine power and black demonic energy swirling around merged together, and semi-circles of different colors drew a complete circle, which soon began to expand.

“It’s coming…!”

“Yes!”

Kwaaaang!

Immediately, Kyle spread his magic power to protect Vermillion and himself, and Vermillion, trusting his support, concentrated magic power above his head.

“Abcio.”

The huge sphere created above his head was fired directly at the Archbishop, and it soon began to attract the stones scattered around.

Compared to the gravity magic Kyle showed earlier, the power is a little less, but it is a good magic to control the opponent’s movements while the sphere remains.

Kyle, realizing the meaning, unleashed seven streaks of lightning forward as soon as the storm subsided.

Pajijijik!

– You think such tricks will work!

However, the Archbishop, who seemed to be barely resisting the power of the sphere, immediately waved his thick arms, and the lightning that was heading to strike him instantly lost its power.

Kyle’s eyes flashed at this.

I didn’t even think I could take him down with just that, but to neutralize it so easily without any effort.

Is he using some kind of trick?

‘I need a reconnaissance.’

Kyle couldn’t believe that he had simply overpowered it with force, so he immediately decided to come up with a plan.

He gave Vermillion a look, and as if they had been a team for a long time, he understood his instructions and cast magic again.

“Oclimo.”

As the word “blind” suggests, the thick fog that spread around instantly filled the cave.

Generally, enemies with considerable skill, such as the Archbishop in front of them, sense their opponents with magic power, etc.

Therefore, such acts of blinding them shouldn’t be very meaningful, but Oclimo magic is different.

This magic is different because the smoke itself spreads around with a certain amount of magic power possessed by the caster, making it difficult to find the caster’s location with just magic power detection.

In other words, it is a magic that blocks both sight and magic power detection at once.

‘How will he react?’

On the other hand, Kyle was looking inside through the third eye he had placed in the smoke even before the Oclimo magic was deployed.

As expected, the Archbishop seemed to be taking a defensive stance because he couldn’t find the enemy.

Then, I should see how he reacts if I attack in this state.

Swish─!

– You little trickster…!

Without a moment to catch his breath, flames engulfed the Archbishop’s front, top, and feet in that order.

In response, the Archbishop quickly covered his body with his arms, which were at least twice as thick as Kyle’s body.

Then, in the blink of an eye, the flames that were engulfing the top and front disappeared in an instant.

“……!”

It was a really fleeting moment, but Kyle witnessed the cause of that phenomenon and widened his eyes.

Just as the thought of, “Could it be?” was swirling in his head.

– To underestimate the power of God. You little brats.

Arms that were at least twice as thick as Kyle’s body stretched forward, and once again, the Archbishop’s voice echoed strangely in their heads.

At the same time, the smoke that had been spreading around disappeared in an instant, and a black sphere, like the one Vermillion had used, flew from the Archbishop’s hand and began to move forward, sucking in the surroundings.

“Keuk…!”

“Damn it…!”

The two people, suddenly pulled by a strong gravitational force, raised their magic power and resisted as much as possible.

But the Archbishop’s attack didn’t end there.

Hwareureuk!

Like a replay of the scene a little while ago, three streams of fire appeared above their heads, at their feet, and in front of them.

“Restingur.”

Kwaaa─!

Kyle, who first noticed that it was too late to avoid it, chanted, and a stream of water that rose from the floor completely enveloped the two, blocking the flames.

As steam spread thickly into the cave, Vermillion stared at Kyle with dazed eyes and said.

“Kyle, what the hell was that just now…?”

“…I don’t know what kind of trick it is, but it’s probably certain.”

Kyle also nodded, and as the steam cleared, he clenched his fist as he looked at the Archbishop, who was finally revealed again.

Kyle clearly saw what happened in that smoke when the two of them cast magic together earlier.

‘That thing, it wasn’t just a decoration.’

The white and black ornaments placed on the bandage-like objects wrapped around the Archbishop’s right and left arms.

At first, I thought it was just a religious vestment, but it seems that’s not the case.

I clearly witnessed the magic he cast a little while ago being sucked into there.

I wondered why it was maintaining its shape so stubbornly even when his body was swollen to that extent, but maybe that was the source of his power.

Whatever it is, it is undoubtedly the first thing they should aim for.

“Old man, you’re using some strange stuff.”

– Heh heh, you noticed? You’re a sharp one.

As Kyle gritted his teeth and spoke, the Archbishop twisted his body strangely, answering with ridicule without denying it.

As expected. That thing, should I call it a divine artifact?

Anyway, that bizarre ornament seems to contain the fraudulent power to return the opponent’s magic as it is.

Kyle frowned as the fight, which he had decided to finish as quickly as possible and return, seemed to be going less smoothly than expected.