Ch.134Martyr (2)

The golden angel descended upon this land.

Believers, overcome with emotion at the sight of the sacred body revealed for the first time, lowered themselves. Rupiel released all his power.

“Your Excellency. It’s him!”

The Legion also faced him. The sight of a beam of light descending through the cloud-filled sky was beyond majestic—it was terrifying. They could immediately understand the Judge they had only seen in scriptures.

Rupiel. The one who assists the Archangel.

Though not individually powerful, his skill in handling divine power was enough to crush even a warrior angel. The power he had concealed solely to confront Durin was of such high caliber that it could suppress a demon’s instincts.

-Durin.

The Judge’s golden eyes swept across the earth. Merely with his gaze, a divine halo arose. As the wave swept over the land, new sprouts grew from the devastated earth.

“Rupiel.”

Durin did not back down either. Death enveloped the demon. He protected the Legion so they wouldn’t be burned by the Archangel. The collision of powers spread a massive shockwave. The Regent advanced slowly, not yielding to the pressure.

“Finally, we meet face to face.”

-I always knew it would come to this.

“Did you anticipate victory?”

-I hoped for it.

“You’re less arrogant than the others. Archangel.”

The demon mocked the angel. Their leader, hidden in the dark clouds, was still looking away.

“Even after burning a hundred thousand holy warriors, he didn’t bat an eye. Does he abandon those he should protect?”

The divine power continued to be pushed back. The power of God easily pushed away the domain of an Archangel. Unless the God of Light descended, there was no way he would be outmatched in rank.

“Must all lands except the papal territory burn before you look upon the human realm?”

-I will bear it. Regent. If I endure the suffering of the human realm, soon the Archangel will spread his duty.

“So you too refuse to take responsibility.”

Durin finally stood on the hill. It was the position from which he had charged with the suicide squad. He could now face the Archangel from an almost equal position.

“Death is escape, Rupiel.”

-Strange words coming from the child of the Goddess, Durin.

“My mother would not accept someone like you.”

Crack.

Durin clenched his fist tightly. A long greatsword emerged. Death overlaid the red fighting spirit that resembled a rogue’s. The moment the powers of the two gods met at close range, sparks erupted. Though they were merely exchanging glances, ordinary soldiers dared not even think of raising their heads.

“The only place for a fearful lamb is in the disgusting embrace of light.”

-Durin! Watch your mouth.

Divine power exploded. The battle finally began. Unable to control his anger, Rupiel stretched out his arm to seize and kill Durin. A golden fist falling from the sky pressed down on the demon.

Crash!

Durin didn’t even defend. He overcame the pressure with pure fighting spirit.

“We have endured for a thousand years. Do you pour out your anger because you cannot bear a moment’s insult? The Legion, which has endured far worse insults and pressure, was not swept away by emotions like this.”

-Grrrr.

“You desire martyrs yet lack detachment? Don’t disgrace the saints who went before. You ultimately wanted to be like them, but you fall short. To think an Archangel cannot do what even a demon has done.”

BOOM!!

Death pushed back the light. Darkness rising from the hill split the world in two. Under the divided dark clouds, the brilliantly cast divine power weakened. Durin sneered at the Archangel who easily gave up his domain.

“That’s your limit.”

-I’ll shut that mouth of yours.

Light and death intersected. The red fighting spirit was blocked before the Archangel. The priest order, having regained their senses, began to support by creating a wall of divine power. In contrast, Durin stood alone. The light that grazed his shoulder pauldron burned all space.

“Your Excellency!”

The Legion, unable to help from afar, cried out. Their voices carried concern. Durin used those voices as fertilizer for the future.

The Regent’s struggle would stimulate their will. Without sparing himself, he boldly extended his sword.

CLANG!!

Once again, he struck down the extending light with his sword. The red fighting spirit burned in the flames. Demonic energy showed its vulnerability before God’s power, burning itself.

In its place, Death aided its child. It pushed back all the life force trying to penetrate, helping maintain the domain.

-Heaven will never fall!

With a light gesture from the golden angel, bundles of divine power targeted the demon. The will to purify was powerful. The hill where Durin stood was completely devastated, disappearing in a massive explosion.

WHOOSH!

A sword wind cleared the dust. Durin soared high into the sky. Unlike before when he only used war horses, he now flapped wings covered with a membrane. With Death enveloping them, he could maneuver even in a land full of light.

-You bastard!

The angel continued to fire divine power. The priest order also shifted from defense to attack. Dozens of lines were drawn in the sky. The celestial wrath, burning death as it charged, struck Durin.

BOOM! CRACK! CLANG!!

The great demon did not yield. He lightly rotated his body, deflecting all attacks. The fighting spirit loaded on the thick greatsword burned the path ahead while Death opened the way.

“Hup!”

He quickly approached the Archangel. As Rupiel prepared for close combat by extending his hand, a sword emerged.

“Lord Secretary!”

This time, screams erupted from the priest order. They were terrified by the fierce momentum of the great demon.

-Do not interfere. This is my fight!

A blade longer than Durin’s greatsword revealed itself to the world. The extraordinary sword was swung horizontally. All the fighting spirit that had flown to pressure the angel melted away.

-Come! Great Demon!

The Archangel, having steeled his resolve, swung his sword again. Durin had somehow reached right in front of him, breaking through the divine power wall. Black wings and white wings finally faced each other up close.

CRASH!!

The powers that had last clashed a thousand years ago collided again.

Life and death. Divine power and demonic energy. Warriors carrying the deaths of their ancestors and leading the current era aimed for each other’s throats.

-Urgh!

The difference in raw strength was significant. The secretary, relying on divine power, could not overcome Durin’s strength, honed through countless battles. Just blocking the sword that had thrust forward bluntly sent him flying back.

CRACK!!

Before he could hit the ground, two attacks came in. The remaining defensive wall was taken down in one strike, and the rest of the divine power was devoured by the death that followed.

CLANG!!

He barely blocked it with his sword, but Durin was a step ahead. The moment he received the upper attack, he immediately twisted his sword and penetrated the empty space.

-ARGH!

He pressed down on the angel’s shoulder pauldron with his thick blade. Though it didn’t cause physical damage, death rose up, contorting the angel’s face in pain.

“Protect the Secretary!”

“We must buy time!”

The longer the close combat continued, the more advantageous the great demon became. Recognizing this, the holy knight order rushed in on war horses the moment the battlefield moved to the ground.

“Those are true sacrifices. Do you understand?”

Durin kicked the secretary. The angel, unable to overcome death, rolled shamefully on the ground. His white wings were soiled.

Several old knights rushed to protect him.

“AAAAAAHHH!”

“I value your will.”

Durin readjusted his grip on the sword. He took a different stance from the crude fighting style he had shown earlier.

Hack!

He struck down the one who charged at the front with his greatsword and captured the next knight with death. Crack. Blood spurted from the breaking helmet. In a situation that should have been filled with fear, the knight did not retreat.

“Good!”

Durin’s excitement grew.

He stomped his foot hard, stopping the charge once. As the momentum faltered, he rushed between the knight order, following the flow.

Death’s wings spread wide. Just brushing against the membrane caused knights to fall from their horses one after another. They writhed in unbearable death before going limp.

The gap became overwhelming. This was not the Durin who simply engaged in power struggles on the battlefield. Death was not a power humans could handle. Even the elite soldiers composed of angels could barely withstand it, but all had their necks severed under Durin’s sword.

“Good Lord.”

A knight who had assisted the Archangel was shocked. Witnessing the martial prowess of the Infernal Regent, it seemed as if their will to fight would wane.

Until just before, they had thought he was an opponent they could handle, but today they were being mercilessly destroyed.

One thought dominated his mind:

“On the Regent’s board, we were merely chess pieces.”

Through appropriate battles, he had raised the morale of the Legion. Through occupation, he had united an army of diverse races under one banner.

Durin had been enduring all along. He had pushed the Legion to the edge of the cliff, extracting their maximum potential.

The Legion had finally gained the capacity. They could fight against angels. The moment he confirmed this, Durin engaged in battle without restraint.

“He intends to kill all the holy warriors here except the Archangel.”

The knight trembled. Even glancing at the recovering Archangel did not inspire confidence.

“Is this a battle we can win?”

It seemed that even if they threw themselves in to prove their faith, they would not return.

Even as the battle intensified, the wavering grew stronger.

From the moment death was taken from them, the holy warriors could not be certain.