Ch.41Ep.41 Clashing Beliefs

As Brina was taking Elysse away from Arsia, creating some distance between them.

Kraud, who had transformed into Elysse’s appearance, quietly moved in front of Arsia.

“…”

However, she no longer saw Elysse as Elysse.

A wall that must be overcome.

She had reached the state of breaking human limitations, the final step to obtaining an Order.

“Usually, one obtains an Order by sitting quietly and gaining enlightenment… but cases like this aren’t unheard of either.”

“…”

Arsia’s eyes grew hazy as she was drawn to the voice.

Kraud assessed her magical power, trying to ensure she could acquire her Order in the best possible environment.

“Let’s see… Since her magic isn’t specialized for combat, the ability needed to acquire an Order wouldn’t be combat-related, but enlightenment.”

“Move aside… I, I will be with her.”

“She’s certainly established her conviction, so my mission is to support her until that conviction fully takes root.”

In truth, guiding a martial artist in a trance state onto the right path is no easy task.

Any killing intent or injury inflicted would affect the martial artist in some way.

One wrong move could lead them into delusion and ruin everything.

However, this story doesn’t apply to someone like Kraud.

He had helped countless spirits acquire their Orders over time.

Among them were spirits who had struggled far more than Arsia to attain their Orders.

To put it bluntly, guiding Arsia onto the right path would be a piece of cake compared to them.

“So don’t worry, come at me, child.”

“I will… be with her!”

Boom!

As Arsia stepped forward with full force, numerous spirit fires rose behind her back.

Normally, Kraud would have extinguished all those spirit fires with just a wave of his hand.

But since he was disguised as Elysse, he needed to create an environment where he could navigate through her techniques as naturally as possible.

“Haaaaaah!”

“Oh my.”

Following Arsia’s guidance, countless spirit fires circled in the sky.

Then they fell toward Kraud.

But no matter how restricted he was from fighting properly, Kraud was still Kraud.

He lightly stepped back and sliced through the spirit fires with his scythe.

Enraged by this, Arsia began using other magic to pressure him.

‘If she were the type to fight better when losing her mind, she’d be a berserker with close combat skills.’

Though he wasn’t sure what kind of hybrid a smart berserker would be, anyway.

While this might have been Arsia’s best attack from her perspective, it wasn’t for Kraud.

Her attacks were literally no more threatening than a swarm of flies to him.

“Concentrate your conviction into one and pave the right path for it.”

“Shut… up…”

“That is the only direction in which you can move forward.”

Although he wasn’t sure if she could comprehend his words, Kraud offered as much advice as he could.

But she probably only heard the vibrations of his vocal cords.

Arsia had entered a trance state, and there was a high probability she didn’t even know what she was saying.

‘But she shouldn’t take too long to realize it either.’

Looking at Arsia’s eyes, which seemed completely devoid of reason.

Kraud began to move so she could quickly obtain her Order.

***

“What is this place… now.”

It wasn’t a question born of genuine curiosity, but rather a mutter of disbelief and resignation.

The Underworld summoned by the Sword of Judgment suddenly collapsed, transforming into an empty space with nothing in any direction.

Moreover, Veichel, who had been visible until just now, had disappeared.

In this situation, where he was essentially isolated alone in a single space.

Black smoke formed a shape, which then transformed into Veichel.

“How is it? Isn’t it beautiful?”

“…Beautiful?”

“This is a domain created by the resident. A space not permitted to Kadinant people.”

Veichel looked around the space with eyes full of admiration.

But Radios couldn’t understand her words.

A space not permitted to Kadinant people, she said.

“Then what are you using right now?”

“That’s because I’ve transcended the category of Kadinant people, haven’t I?”

“Haha, is that so?”

Come to think of it, Veichel possessed an Order, which meant she had transcended the human category.

Starting as a Kadinant person and moving beyond that range meant she was free from Olympus’s control.

“So what is this place for?”

“This is a boundary that exists only once in the past, present, and future.”

“That name sounds so pretentious.”

It might have been cool if it were longer, but it was just tacky.

Whatever Yog-Sothoth was, he clearly lacked naming sense.

“I think I can use my full power here.”

“You weren’t at full power until now?”

“Something like that.”

Bang bang bang bang!

With those words, magical spears infused with Veichel’s magic formed all around, surrounding Radios.

Finding himself suddenly surrounded by blades, Radios let out a laugh of resignation.

Setting aside the fact that the Sword of Judgment had been deactivated.

Even if he used it again, it would be impossible to summon the Underworld.

“Veichel. Did you forget what Kynee’s other ability is?”

“..!”

[Skill: Using ‘Kynee’s Concealment’.]

[All your presence completely disappears.]

[Attack power increases by 150%!]

[Defense power increases by 150%!]

[Health increases by 150%!]

[Speed increases by 150%!]

The helmet that could use the Sword of Judgment, Kynee, had another ability: invisibility.

This invisibility not only made him transparent but also increased all his abilities.

Why hadn’t he used it until now?

Because the ability boost from the Sword of Judgment was much greater.

Veichel’s eyebrow twitched, perhaps because she hadn’t thought about this while focusing on blocking the Sword of Judgment.

Radios deliberately remained silent, waiting for Veichel.

Until she grew tired of waiting and began tearing through the entire space with her magic spears.

Radios had absolutely no intention of moving or making a sound.

“If you’re going to keep hiding like that… I won’t just stand still either.”

Grrrrrk.

The space distorts.

Something is about to happen.

The magic spears that covered every direction disappeared, and red lasers began pouring down in their place.

This was soon…

“There you are!”

“..!”

Becoming invisible works on the same principle as operating a reflective panel.

By pouring down lasers densely, one could accurately detect the body of an invisible human.

“It would be better not to think about running away.”

“Kuk!”

Having located Radios’s position, Veichel drew her spear and charged at him.

Veichel approached with rapid speed.

Radios immediately dropped his invisibility and countered with his magic sword.

Clang!

She was fast. And unlike before, she was stronger and sharper.

If a spear attack came from the right, an invisible blade aimed for the temple from the left.

It felt like fighting two people at once.

Additionally, fighting in mid-air was a huge disadvantage as he couldn’t fix his center of gravity.

Even without using Yog-Sothoth’s Order.

Just possessing an Order made Veichel familiar with this space.

In contrast, Radios was barely managing to counter Veichel’s attacks with Astrape.

‘If this continues, I’m finished. But…’

Using the goblin mask would be like showing all his cards.

Veichel’s trump card had not yet been revealed.

No matter what, he needed to find a way to draw out her trump card here.

“Flashing Thousand Swords…”

“..!”

Woooong.

Using the Flashing Thousand Swords without the goblin mask was like committing suicide.

But Veichel knew well how dangerous the Flashing Thousand Swords was.

Moreover, the fact that Radios used it meant he was cornered.

“Penetrating Wing Point Breaking Spear!”

The moment Veichel brought out her hidden technique to counter the Flashing Thousand Swords.

Radios grinned as if she had fallen for his trap.

And withdrew the Flashing Thousand Swords.

“Penetrating Wing Point Breaking Spear.”

“Damn it!”

“You shouldn’t fall for something like that, Veichel!!”

Booooom!!

The same skill, tracing the same trajectory, collided in the same way, and vanished the same way.

It was as if he had mocked her from the beginning with the intention of copying her skill.

“Radioooooos!!”

“Seems like you’re a bit angry?”

“In that case!”

She had more advanced techniques, but showing them would mean having them all copied.

Rather than that.

Ziiing.

As Veichel stretched out her left arm, photons gradually gathered in the empty space.

Radios somehow felt a chill run down his spine.

No, he was actually feeling a chill.

Because the weapon in Veichel’s hand was not a spear, but a crescent blade!

“Barzai’s… crescent blade?”

“I didn’t want to use this, but I have no choice.”

Crackle. Sizzle.

As if it were a substance that shouldn’t exist in this world.

Her left arm began to rot and decay bit by bit.

Meanwhile, Radios could only gulp at the dense aura of the Outer God emanating from Barzai’s crescent blade.

Barzai’s crescent blade was like Poseidon’s Triaina.

No, to be precise, it was a sacred artifact existing at a much higher level.

From the moment she pulled it out, Veichel was essentially saying she was ready for mutual destruction.

Or perhaps summoning this space itself was a prerequisite for using Barzai’s crescent blade.

“If you want to die peacefully even now, I’ll behead you gently. How about it?”

“…As if I would.”

Although Veichel’s arm had completely rotted, leaving only bare bones.

She moved Barzai’s crescent blade with a cold smile, as if she felt no pain.

‘Here it comes..!’

He wasn’t sure what attack would come, but if he could just use the goblin mask at the right timing–

“Space Cut.”

“..!”

Slash!

Before he could even react.

The space constituting Radios’s form was precisely cut.

‘What is th–‘

It wasn’t a wound.

The components that made up his being were simply split exactly in half.

His vision rapidly blurred.

His breathing became increasingly labored.

Radios captured Veichel, who was exhaling rough breaths, with his wavering gaze.

And simultaneously.

Boom!!

The deployed boundary also met its demise with a tremendous explosion.