Ch.112112. Revenge Expedition (1)

# Holy Shock Trooper

They are shock infantry deployed to the front lines, charging toward the enemy, and also a type of penal unit composed of sinners.

To distinguish them from other believers, all body hair is permanently removed, and a mark is branded on their forehead to identify them as a Holy Shock Trooper.

Although they appear similar to other legion members due to receiving blessings, for clear distinction, they are given black-dyed armor and weapons.

These Holy Shock Troopers, with their entirely blackened appearance, are deployed to the front lines until death, dedicating their lives to “atonement.”

In essence, this is both a punishment and an act of mercy.

There are two main ways one becomes a Holy Shock Trooper:

First, those who violate doctrine through excessive fanatical speech or actions, causing harm to the order due to their extreme fanaticism.

In such cases, they are interrogated by heresy inquisitors, and if they show no significant remorse, this immediately leads to capital punishment.

However, if they sincerely repent for their fanatical behavior, they are given the opportunity to atone by serving as a Holy Shock Trooper.

Since such fanatics are typically shocked by the realization they’ve violated doctrine, most join the Holy Shock Troopers without resistance.

Meanwhile, another similar case exists:

When someone commits a sin that cannot be forgiven by simple punishment but is not severe enough to warrant execution.

These individuals are forcibly conscripted into the Holy Shock Troopers regardless of their will, and after mental reconditioning, they fight with a terrible sense of guilt about being sinners.

Among these two recruitment cases, the first reason accounts for a considerable number.

“G-Great God of Blood! Vengeful God who bleeds for us!”

Persha, a Holy Shock Trooper offering fanatical prayers at the temple located in their garrison, was recruited for such a reason.

He was originally someone who nearly faced execution due to false accusations but was freed with the help of the order and even succeeded in getting revenge.

Perhaps this experience was too stimulating for him?

Arrested for attempting to proselytize in public despite being a layperson who wasn’t permitted to do so, he ultimately volunteered to join the Holy Shock Troopers.

In any case, Persha, who became a member of the Holy Shock Troopers through these circumstances, was faithfully observing a three-day fasting prayer at the temple in the Holy Shock Trooper garrison.

As a consequence of his enhanced and transcendent body obtained through blessing, his metabolism had increased, making three days of starvation potentially life-threatening… Yet Persha persevered steadfastly in his prayers.

Maintaining the same posture for over 72 hours while endlessly repeating the same words, he was in a trance-like state, but there are natural limits to what mental strength can endure.

Thus, just as Persha began to feel his consciousness growing hazy—

《Find the path. Embark on a pilgrimage. Reclaim the relic.》

He was startled awake by a voice so shocking it seemed to be branded into his brain, a voice so impactful it momentarily stopped his breathing.

“……..?!!”

When he regained his senses, Persha found himself holding a hollow sphere containing an arrow.

※ ※ ※

After Persha’s shocking experience, the Holy Shock Trooper garrison was thrown into chaos.

After hearing a mysterious voice, he found himself holding an unidentified object.

While it could be a divine miracle or revelation from their god, there was also a significant possibility it was a false miracle created by another deity to deceive them.

Therefore, just as they were about to invite a heresy inquisitor for thorough verification, direct orders came from the central temple of the Vengeance Order.

“Sinner Persha. From now on, according to the will of the Great Bloodstained God, you shall embark on a pilgrimage.”

“T-The will of the Lord…!!”

“If you follow the arrow, you will find answers at its end. Also, you will have companions, so move to the temple of Bethes within a month.”

“Yes, Priest!”

As conveyed by the priest of the Holy Shock Troopers, Persha had to embark on a pilgrimage as revealed in the vision. Despite being suddenly expelled to undertake an indefinite journey, he was happy.

As a servant of God, to receive orders and embark on a journey according to divine will—

It was like becoming the protagonist of an ancient heroic tale he had heard from his parents, so he was genuinely honored and overjoyed.

Thus, he rode a Blood Wolf summoned directly by the order and headed swiftly toward the port city of Bethes.

Though it was an arduous experience, riding a wolf for over ten days through rugged mountains, Persha endured it as an ascetic practice and ultimately prevailed.

“Are you perhaps participating in the journey…?”

“Yes, Priest. I am Persha, a humble sinner of the Holy Shock Troopers.”

Upon arriving at the port city, Persha met companions who, like him, had received revelations and were embarking on the journey.

First was Priestess Vermel, who welcomed him.

A 7th-grade veteran priest capable of using Level 2 magic, she was originally a follower of Justitia-Astraea, the Goddess of Justice, but converted after becoming disillusioned with the duality and corruption of that order.

Her specialties were magic that summoned holy flames and mace attacks, and her strength was proven when she crushed a bandit’s skull with her mace.

Next was Azcalan of the Avenger Legion, wearing red armor.

A veteran among the Terangs who had been there since the legion’s inception, his current position was similar to that of a non-commissioned officer.

In the Avenger Legion, which typically fought in formation, he was authorized to arm himself with a sword and axe separately, which testified to his experience.

There was also Eric Bjornson, an Inquisitor apprentice.

Though an apprentice, he had fulfilled all conditions except for mid-level awakening.

With all the equipment of an Inquisitor, he was likely the strongest among them.

In total, these three plus Persha, the Holy Shock Trooper, made four.

These four who had received direct revelations prepared for departure and practiced working together, during which they realized that each possessed considerable strength.

And so time passed. On the day of departure:

“Everyone, return safely.”

“Yes!”

“…!”

With Azcalan, who had the most experience and leadership, as their leader, the expedition boarded a ship and began sailing toward their destination—the land where the Kingdom of Levia was once located, across the inland sea in the southern part of the Rom Empire.

The voyage proceeded quite smoothly.

There were no sightings of the fish-people common in these southern waters, nor did sea serpents or krakens make an appearance.

At most, they were attacked by man-eating flying fish or giant lobsters, which were slaughtered by the expedition members and veteran sailors, becoming excellent provisions.

Thanks to this, they reached the coastal waters of the Kingdom of Levia without significant threats, and the ship that dropped them off on an uninhabited shore quickly departed.

“…Let’s move out. Follow quietly.”

The four headed toward the former territory of the Kingdom of Levia, which emanated an ominous and chilling aura.

And when they reached what could be called inland after leaving the shore, the four expedition members discovered the source of that spine-chilling energy they had felt at the coast.

“…Un-dead.”

“Blasphemous things that insult God…!!!”

The former territory of the Kingdom of Levia was not only devastated but also stained with the necromantic energy of the undead, and various naturally occurring undead were shambling across the land.

Poorly armed low-grade skeletons, zombies of various reanimated creatures, low-grade ghost entities, and even bizarre plant undead.

The moment they saw these undead—”not vampires”—which were essentially an insult to souls that should return to God’s hands, their eyes widened with rage.

“…We can handle them sufficiently. Good, we’ll deal with them here.”

“…Yes.”

“…”

The moment Azcalan, the expedition leader, gave the order to engage after his assessment:

“UOOOOOOOO—!!!”

“For the God of Vengeance—!!!”

“Burn them all—!!!”

“…!!!”

With their respective battle cries, they threw themselves at the horde of undead.