Ch.6Fight

Compared to Serena, who had experienced countless duels during her eight years in the Royal Knights, Christine’s movements were simply following her instincts.

She heavily relied on her intuition, thinking, “I should strike here,” or “I should block here.”

Thanks to her extraordinary physical abilities, she probably hadn’t felt any particular inconvenience with such a crude strategy until now. But against an opponent of equal or superior skill, she was nothing more than a moving punching bag.

For instance, when facing Serena like now.

That’s why Christine was getting relentlessly pummeled by Serena.

She was so simple that she fell for every feint, lagged behind in speed, and had a shorter attack range compared to Serena who wielded a sword.

Her evasion was poor, and her defense was even worse. Though their strength was nearly equal, that hardly mattered if Serena avoided strength contests altogether.

What good was the power to shatter three or four trees with a single punch or make the ground ripple with one stomp if she couldn’t land a hit?

Meanwhile, whenever one of her attacks missed, four or five counterattacks would lash across her entire body. The fight between Serena and Christine should have been settled long ago.

However, there was a specific reason why the fight hadn’t ended. Serena hadn’t been able to land a single effective blow on the crazy woman before her.

‘She’s tough.’

The hardness of that body was almost bizarre. Despite allowing countless strikes and slashes, she didn’t show even a single scratch.

It was on a completely different level from steel, which typically comes to mind with the word “hardness.” It seemed like even divine metals like mythril, orichalcon, or adamantium would barely compare.

Even the World Eater’s blade was useless. It felt like it was cutting, but nothing actually got cut.

That made it even more bizarre. If the blade simply bounced off or couldn’t penetrate at all, like a normal sword striking armor, that would be understandable. But the strange thing was that each attack felt like it connected properly, yet her skin remained unscathed.

Even for Serena, this sensation was a first.

If she could have used mana, she wouldn’t be wasting time like this. Serena frowned, recalling that crazy woman’s unique ability that her lord had once mentioned.

Mana nullification.

The ability to return all mana flows directed at herself to nothingness.

It had no distance or time limitations, consumed nothing, and was a constantly active ability that blocked all mana flows even if Christine wasn’t aware of them.

Before Christine, mages were no different from ordinary people, and knights faced significant restrictions on actions like body enhancement or using techniques.

Right now, even Serena was wasting time because she couldn’t cut Christine without coating her blade with mana.

It was different from simply blocking magic. Rather than stopping magic after incantation was complete, it prevented the very act of incantation itself.

The moment one tried to do something using mana directed at Christine, the mana was already gone.

Moreover, the concept of “mana directed at oneself” was extremely comprehensive.

If someone tried to cause an avalanche by magically exploding a mountainside, and Christine was within the range of that avalanche, mana nullification would activate during the incantation of the explosion spell.

Whether directly or indirectly, whether there was intent to harm Christine or not, the ability activated as long as she was included in the area of effect.

Even more vexing was the fact that she could voluntarily turn off mana nullification specifically for magic that contained no killing intent or hostility. It was an absurdly unfair ability.

The explanation had ended with a playful smile suggesting that even the king of this country would be helpless against Christine.

“What an annoying woman!”

Serena deflected a punch and struck Christine’s nape.

With a crisp impact sound, Christine’s body flew off and tumbled away. An innocent tree was caught in her path and had its base shattered.

Serena turned her gaze from Christine, who was rolling across the ground tearing up the surface, to look at the rock.

The recent attack had created some distance between them. Though it would probably be closed in less than a second, that was more than enough time for Serena.

Her goal wasn’t to defeat Christine but to free her lord. She simply hadn’t had the opportunity because that crazy woman kept persistently attacking.

Christine, noticing what Serena was trying to do, forcibly scraped the ground to stop herself. But it was already too late. Mana rippled through the World Eater.

The statement that mana couldn’t be used if Christine was involved in any way also meant, conversely, that mana could be used as long as it didn’t directly target Christine or include her in its area of effect.

Apparently, cutting this rock that the crazy woman claimed God had mercifully dropped wasn’t considered hostile intent toward Christine.

“I’ll free you now, my lord.”

Just as Serena was about to swing her sword, something struck her face with great force.

This caused the World Eater’s trajectory to twist, and the mana blade that would have completely obliterated the rock left some remnants instead.

Innocent trees behind her were caught in the misaligned sword strike and fell in droves.

It was enough. Serena confirmed the rock fragments, each about the size of three or four people side by side, and turned the tip of the World Eater sideways.

Although she hadn’t perfectly achieved her goal, her lord would somehow be able to clear the rest and escape on his own.

From a distance, Christine approached Serena with staggering steps. The falling rock fragments reflected in her vacant eyes staring ahead.

“As a heretic, what do you think you’re doing…”

Her voice trembled faintly, suggesting the impact had been quite severe. Serena impassively brushed her cheek with her hand.

A few stone fragments came off on her hand. Had Christine thrown whatever she could grab?

“Taking out the trash.”

“Tr-trash…?”

“I removed the trash defiling my lord’s body. He will likely rise soon.”

“…Is that so.”

Christine’s voice dropped to a low growl. The atmosphere that leaked out was ominous. Serena naturally gripped her sword with both hands.

“Because of my unworthiness, for God to suffer such humiliation… This sin, I shall atone with the heretic’s head. Please, please wait.”

Intense killing intent was directed at Serena.

Things were about to get a bit troublesome. She didn’t think she would lose. But she didn’t think she could win easily either.

As Christine took a step forward, the ground beneath her foot cracked like glass. Serena’s eyes narrowed. Stepping on dirt should cause it to be crushed, not cracked, right?

“First, I’ll cut off the arm that committed that blasphemy.”

“Try if you can.”

The distance between the two gradually closed. And just as they were about to lunge at each other—

“Enough.”

At the quiet voice of a man, both of their bodies froze.

The situation was assessed very quickly. Serena immediately knelt on one knee. Christine remained standing in place with her hands clasped and eyes closed.

As the killing intent that had enveloped the surroundings disappeared like a lie, a deep sigh filled its place.

The surrounding forest was completely devastated.

Yes, of course it would be. Two of history’s greatest geniuses, raised to find ways to kill me, had been fighting each other.

Because of Christine’s ability, Serena couldn’t even use mana properly, yet seeing this destruction makes me wonder whether I should be grateful for that ability or not.

Looking at the culprits of this situation, kneeling demurely on the ground, Serena’s body flinched.

Seeing dozens of trees shattered—trees so thick that one couldn’t wrap their arms around them—I figured the lord of the nearby city would have a tough time for a while.

With rumors of a dragon appearing already making the city’s public sentiment unstable, having a forest closer to their city destroyed as if by an earthquake would be difficult to manage.

Various embellished rumors would spread again.

The scene looked like an ogre army had invaded and fought a battle here. But since there had been no reports of large-scale monster sightings, all kinds of speculation would surely abound.

And then, if there was a plausible speculation, it would simply become the truth.

Thankfully, Serena had almost completely shattered the rock, allowing me to escape on my own at the right moment. If I hadn’t been able to get out, this wouldn’t have ended with just one forest being destroyed.

To Serena, Christine was a crazy woman who had crushed me without warning, and to Christine, Serena was a blasphemous woman interfering with her communion with God. They had more than enough reasons to fight to the death.

It was truly fortunate that I could stop them before they started fighting in earnest. Especially since Christine seemed to have briefly drawn upon holy power at the end.

“Serena.”

“Yes, my lord…”

Serena answered in a shrinking voice.

She seemed dejected, probably expecting me to scold her, but I had no intention of scolding Serena at all.

Why? Because it was Christine who ambushed Serena, and it was Christine who struck me first.

Though I can’t be certain since I was trapped under the rock, the reason Serena couldn’t free me immediately was probably also because of Christine.

How unfair would it be to scold someone who was just minding her own business before getting caught up in Christine’s madness?

Meanwhile, the true culprit of all this, Christine, was kneeling with her gaze fixed on me in ecstasy, as if her earlier frenzy had been a lie.

When I patted the spot next to me on the tree I was sitting on, Serena’s face brightened, and she hurried over to gently take her place beside me.

Naturally embracing my arm and rubbing her face against my shoulder, expressing satisfaction with her whole body, it seemed there was no need to comfort her further.

Now all that remained was Christine.

Christine showed no reaction to the sight of Serena clinging to my arm and nuzzling against me. She was probably too focused on me to think about anything else.

“Christine.”

“Speak, my God.”

“Come here too.”

At my call, Christine clasped her hands in front of her chest and began approaching slowly on her knees.

Just as I didn’t scold Serena, I had no intention of scolding Christine either. As I told Serena, I could just get hit and regenerate, so why get angry? I was just going to lie quietly under the rock.

If I hadn’t been with Serena, Christine would have crushed me under the rock and prayed for about a week before freeing me.

That would have been a better outcome than having the forest completely destroyed like this. As long as no one with terrible luck interrupted Christine’s prayers.

I extended my hand to Christine, who had approached on her knees right in front of me. Seeing this, a tear rolled down from Christine’s eye. A tear of joy.

Christine, trembling with ecstasy, barely managed to grasp my hand.

She opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, lightly licking the tip of my index finger, then twisted her body as if struck by lightning, letting out a faint moan and fidgeting her thighs.

Even while doing so, her tongue didn’t stop. It slowly moved down the joints of my finger, leaving a trail of transparent saliva.

When my other fingers naturally brushed against the tip of Christine’s nose, a small sound of her inhaling sharply through her nose was heard.

She wasn’t content with just once, as she inhaled a few more times before the sound finally subsided. Drool trickled down between her protruding tongue and lips.

Her right hand, which had been holding my little finger, had somehow found its way between Christine’s thighs. The way her forearm was actively moving under her nun’s habit made it clear what she was trying to do without needing to be told.

Christine’s mouth opened wide, revealing her bright red tongue and gleaming white teeth. Then she bit my index finger and swallowed it whole up to the third joint in one go.

Simultaneously, there was a cracking sound of bone breaking.

Serena, who was attached to my side, was startled and opened her eyes wide, but when I gave her a reassuring look, she quietly buried her face in my shoulder again.

There was no need to let Serena know what Christine was doing right now.

According to her, this was a ritual to accept my immortality or something. I’ve told her hundreds of times that it’s useless, but Christine was undeterred.

Still, I didn’t completely stop her, leaving it be with a glimmer of hope. At least I wasn’t losing anything.

After biting off my index finger with her front teeth, Christine was busy chewing and crushing it. Each time Christine moved her mouth, there was an echoing crunching sound of finger bones being pulverized by her molars.

Not long after, Christine’s Adam’s apple moved slightly. She must have swallowed my finger.

Her tongue diligently licked the severed area, cleaning up the flowing blood. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say she was licking up the blood as well.

Of course, there were no exceptions to my recovery. Feeling the piece of meat she had just chewed and swallowed crawling back up her esophagus, Christine gagged and retched slightly.

When I tapped her tongue with my index finger, which had regained sensation, Christine immediately bit off the finger again with her front teeth, as if she had been waiting for it.

From the outside, it was quite a suggestive scene.

A beautiful, busty nun kneeling at my feet with an ecstatic expression, holding my finger in her mouth, and actively moving her hand between her thighs while playing with her fingers and tongue.

Perhaps someone with peculiar tastes might mistake it for a couple engaging in outdoor play with a specific concept.

Only the reality was a bit grotesque.

This nun, who was servicing my finger with her tongue, was actually chewing up an infinitely regenerating finger, using the sensation and the pungent blood scent filling her mouth as a side dish while moving her fingers to reach small climaxes.

“Christine. Take your mouth off for a moment.”

As soon as I spoke, Christine’s head moved back. She was still chewing on the bitten-off finger, and above her slightly moving mouth, two eyes filled with ecstasy on the verge of climax looked at me.

Blood dripped from the rough, torn surface where teeth had bitten through.

“How did you get here?”

“I have offered all the sacrifices, my God.”

With a “beh” sound, Christine opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. On it lay my finger, terribly chewed and mixed with saliva.

“Sacrifices? Don’t tell me you still…”

As I trailed off, focusing my consciousness on my finger to restore the wounded area to its original state, Christine smiled gently.

“The thousand human sacrifices I promised to God then, I have faithfully fulfilled.”