Ch.251251. Desperate Struggle

BANG! BANG! BANG!

On the rooftop of the royal palace.

The explosive sounds were the result of combat that transcended human limitations.

Findenai’s Baekseol slashed fiercely, cutting Pelestan in half. A violent wave of blood surged like a tsunami, creating a grotesque scene.

“Tch!”

Findenai clicked her tongue and immediately activated the Blood Claw Glove she was wearing.

As Pelestan’s blood was absorbed and her strength recovered, the blood she was drawing in suddenly transformed into a spear-like shape and pierced through her palm.

SQUELCH!

“…!”

At the same time, Pelestan’s blood seeped into the hole in her palm.

Feeling as if her palm might burst from the pain, Findenai desperately spun her body around with Worshuzu.

Only after flinging away Pelestan’s blood did Findenai examine her throbbing hand.

Her blood-soaked hand was trembling uncontrollably.

“Impressive.”

Pelestan, emerging from the blood puddles scattered everywhere, was genuinely amazed.

“You truly keep getting stronger without limit. I wonder where your ceiling might be.”

Pelestan had noticed that the woman called Findenai was growing stronger the longer their battle continued.

Normally, one would decide not to prolong a fight with Findenai.

But Pelestan was different.

Because…

“I also specialize in prolonged battles.”

Blood splattered everywhere.

The longer the battle continued, the more blood accumulated on the battlefield.

This made it an increasingly suitable place for a blood mage, providing a foundation for him to rampage even more.

“Blood Claw Glove. A valuable piece of equipment. I’ll be taking it.”

Pelestan coveted the glove Findenai was wearing. Hearing this, Findenai’s face contorted with anger.

“Like hell you will.”

She might lose everything else, but she had no intention of giving up this glove. Not only was it equipment that helped recover her strength in prolonged battles…

‘Wear it, it’s yours.’

It was the first gift she had received from Deus. Findenai had no intention of letting others touch her belongings carelessly.

“Haaah.”

But clearly, the battle situation was becoming somewhat unfavorable.

No matter how much she wielded Baekseol, her opponent would turn into blood and evade her attacks.

It was difficult to rush in recklessly.

She glanced briefly at Deus. The Malseok was already more than half filled.

Souls were coming to Deus much faster than before, and Owen’s performance continued without interruption.

Saintess Lucia was on one knee in an exhausted state, suppressing clouds of holy power.

The battle between the Dark Spiritmaster and Heralhajade was so bizarre it was difficult to comprehend visually.

With all the souls of the continent gathering in this land, the two necromancers had weapons at their disposal.

But the battle dynamics were rather peculiar.

While Heralhajade snatched souls one by one to use as magic…

The Dark Spiritmaster, on the contrary, blocked attacks with protective magic she created and rescued the souls used in magic, guiding them to Deus.

At a glance, it might seem like the Dark Spiritmaster was doing this because she had the upper hand.

But she was fighting while squeezing out every last bit of her ability.

“Everyone’s in a hurry…”

Moreover, a giant butterfly and lightning were battling in the sky.

What a complete mess, thought Findenai with a smirk as she slammed Baekseol hard into the ground.

“Now that I’m sufficiently warmed up, let’s end this.”

“…I won’t let you go so easily.”

A chill began to settle. Though Findenai’s entire body was burning hot, when she exhaled, a misty vapor flowed out.

Looking almost like cigarette smoke, it gave Pelestan an inexplicable sense of dread.

The explosive fighting spirit Findenai had been emitting had now subsided quietly.

The rough heat that had been emanating from her entire body was now cooling down.

Pelestan finally realized that the source was the halberd named Baekseol that she was holding.

The cold it emitted showed no mercy even to its owner.

From the sweat freezing on her cheeks and the blood on her hands gradually turning to ice, it was clear that Findenai was also suffering considerable damage.

“Haaah.”

A low breath.

Baekseol drawing a quiet parabola.

And then.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

The cold of Baekseol froze everything in its path. Pelestan suddenly discovered that his feet were firmly frozen, and the blood he had been manipulating had turned into chunks of ice.

“This is…”

“Weapons that bare their teeth even at their owners are surprisingly common, aren’t they?”

Findenai took out a cigarette from her pocket and put it in her mouth. After lighting it with a lighter, she seemed to calm down a bit.

The ice fragments stuck to her cheeks and her snow-white skin looked as if she might have frostbite.

“When a battle goes on for a while, my body gets so hot I can’t control it.”

In that sense, Findenai thought Baekseol might be the perfect weapon for her.

Remembering that the person who gave her this weapon was Deus, Findenai gave a bitter smile.

“He knows me too well.”

She had no major complaints about the current situation, fighting to protect that man.

But her opponent, like Findenai, had reasons he couldn’t give up.

CRACK!

“AAAAARGH!”

Pelestan exerted force on his frozen legs and stepped forward.

There was no surrender, no hesitation.

Realizing he would eventually lose if he remained still, he clenched his fist tightly and swung it wide.

Ironically,

In the end, both were fighting to protect someone. They both had the grand goal of saving the continent.

It seemed they might have much in common if they actually talked.

“Haa.”

Findenai exhaled deeply with the cigarette in her mouth. The cold had now risen to an unbearable level, so she let go of Baekseol and also leaped forward.

WHOOSH!

Pelestan’s fist contained heat that could melt the cold. The blood stains all over were giving him hot energy.

Unfortunately, his fist only grazed Findenai’s white hair.

THUD!

As Findenai’s strike hit Pelestan squarely, he froze like a doll with its batteries removed.

THUMP!

He collapsed to the ground, his body stiff.

The cold from Baekseol froze him completely, restraining him.

Seeing this, Findenai crouched down. The cigarette she had been holding fell to the ground, and she breathed roughly, placing her hands on her trembling knees for support.

“This… is damn hard.”

She had faced one formidable opponent right after another. Realizing that fatigue had accumulated in her body more than expected, Findenai took a moment to catch her breath.

But she didn’t rest, immediately turning around.

She couldn’t handle Baekseol right away as the cold hadn’t dissipated yet. Instead, she drew the club attached to her waist.

CLICK!

It instantly transformed into an axe.

Though it was a less than ideal weapon, it felt comfortable in her hand as she had used it for a long time.

Just as she was about to move to help the Dark Spiritmaster who was facing Heralhajade…

RIIIIIP!

A sound of something being violently torn came from the sky.

The giant butterfly that had been protecting souls in place of the spirit master.

The king of spirits had been split in half and was disappearing into a handful of light.

It created an illusion as if spring rain was rising toward the sky instead of falling.

Though golden light was scattering into the sky…

The master of lightning couldn’t return to the ground yet.

Because even though she had torn and killed the spirit king, the battle wasn’t over yet.

Erika Bright.

Despite losing what was like a guardian deity to her, she was still steadfastly facing the god.

* * *

CRASH!

Lightning strikes from a clear sky.

The violent blow that completely burns away the remains left by the Spirit King of Light demonstrates the overwhelming and magnificent divinity of a god.

But even so.

Despite having already lost her most reliable ally, Erika Bright still refused to give up.

Her body was trembling.

Whether it was due to the mana she had used to her limit or mourning the death of the Spirit King,

Erika wondered.

But the answer was given by the god she was facing, Raizer.

“Are you afraid?”

Afraid?

Ah, yes.

That’s right.

Erika was afraid.

She was terrified.

That she was facing a being with absolute power.

That her mana was already so depleted that she could barely control it properly.

Yet despite this.

Raizer still stood calmly with his arms crossed, without having suffered any injury.

Everything was frightening, but.

What scared her most was.

“You, going to that man.”

That the absolute being before her would block Deus’s path.

That was what frightened Erika Bright the most.

“Ha, aagh!”

She draws up mana once more.

The other spirits that had followed the Spirit King of Light were at least keeping Erika’s body afloat, so mana wasn’t being wasted on unnecessary things.

But even so, her body was already screaming in protest.

A bitter taste of blood filled her tongue.

The brilliant light magic at her fingertips had lost its strength, now emitting only a faint light like a firefly without substance.

Even with the help of spirits, Erika’s body simply couldn’t endure anymore.

Magic that was more like a desperate struggle shot forth.

The delicate flash of light that flew out sadly didn’t even reach near Raizer and was burned away by the lightning that worshipped him.

“Enough. That is sufficient.”

A mage with enough skill to handle a Spirit King. Raizer acknowledged this as he extended his hand.

Lightning burst forth, following the same trajectory as the flash Erika had just fired. It was truly massive and majestically engulfed Erika.

She couldn’t even scream.

Her body, wrapped in black smoke, plummeted to the ground.

“Foolish courage is called recklessness.”

Raizer dusted off his hands, scattering lightning, and slightly turned his head.

The cloud of holy power was no longer moving at all, perhaps because Hertia had died.

“Tsk.”

Regrettable, but unavoidable.

Raizer lowered his gaze to check the rooftop of the royal palace.

He didn’t spare a glance for anyone else. Only for the black-haired man.

He had gathered souls into the jewel and placed the door of the general store right behind him, ready to move.

In his jewel, which he was focusing on so intently that he couldn’t see the surrounding situation, most of the souls scattered across the continent had already gathered.

Success.

Raizer let out a genuine exclamation. If left alone like this, that man would surely succeed.

He would save the continent in a way different from Luanes.

More beautifully and magnificently.

Originally, Raizer too might have applauded and praised his great achievement.

“That is not destiny.”

CRACKLE!

Raizer hadn’t descended to the continent directly to save it.

To act according to destiny.

The duty given to gods.

He had no intention of letting the flow he had waited for thousands of years be twisted by a mere human.

Lightning struck from the sky once more.

The god of lightning and clouds was now glaring at Deus from right in front of him.

CRACK! CRACK!

Ominous lightning scattered around.

Holding it, Raizer extended his hand.

The Malseok was already almost filled with souls. Completely destroying it would be no different from Luanes’s attempt to annihilate souls, so.

He scattered lightning somewhat violently, but.

THWACK!

A delicate arm clung to his arm.

A woman with the spring scent characteristic of spirits.

Erika Bright, who had just been directly hit by lightning.

She had somehow flown back and clung to his arm, continuing her pitiful resistance.

The remaining spirits had helped her.

Raizer understood that much, but he wondered why she continued such pitiful struggles.

Raizer suddenly felt curious.

If there are no teeth, use the gums.

If there is no magic, she blocks him directly with her body. Erika was struggling like that.

“It’s futile.”

CRACKLE!

Electricity flows again.

Erika’s legs went limp as she screamed. But her hands were still gripping tightly.

Black smoke rising from her entire body.

Her flesh burning, her brain trembling, in danger if she didn’t receive treatment immediately.

But Erika wouldn’t let go of Raizer.

She didn’t even have the strength to shed tears.

But still, Erika wanted to overcome and protect.

Even with an ugly struggle, she wanted to save him.

The brief gap created by Erika’s desperate struggle.

“You bastard!”

Findenai, who had defeated Pelestan, had enough time to intervene.

BANG!

Findenai violently struck down with her axe at Raizer’s hand that was reaching for Deus.

Yet his body remained firm. True to his stubborn character, he didn’t back down.

CHOMP!

Erika bit his electrified arm with her teeth to fix her position. Then she immediately extended her hand toward Raizer’s face.

She drew up mana from her core. Blood flowed through her teeth, and her eyes, squeezing out every bit of mana she had, turned red as if blood vessels had burst.

Even her mana displayed a blood-soaked red color instead of the usual golden light.

“You won’t succeed!”

BOOM!

Erika’s magic hit Raizer’s face directly. It was enough impact to make him flinch slightly, but Findenai immediately followed up by swinging her axe with both hands.

CRASH!

“Ugh.”

At this point, even Raizer seemed to feel some impact as he frowned.

But that was really it.

In the end, it seemed they couldn’t inflict any damage on the god.

But the reason they were fighting wasn’t to kill the god.

It was to buy time for one man.

The sky was now visible.

The scenery that had been surrounded by countless souls was now completely empty.

The horizon beyond could be seen.

The moon that had risen in place of the setting sun was visible.

The time of the spirit master Deus Verdi.

In his hand, he now held the land of rest where the souls of the continent slept.

Calmly.

Opening his eyes, looking around, and regaining his senses, Deus.

Even with Raizer glaring at him with hateful eyes right in front of him, there was no wavering in his eyes.

WHOOSH!

A backdraft from behind.

A staff of ominousness that reversed the flow.

The thrown staff merely grazed the Malseok in Deus’s hand.

But with just that slight impact.

Souls began to escape through the gaps again. The barrier holding them had collapsed.

As Deus quickly turned his head.

There was Heralhajade wearing a crow mask, staring this way as if entranced.

The Dark Spiritmaster who had been blocking him.

Was no longer visible.