Ch.99Chapter 99. The Seven Holy Knights (9)

Chapter 99. Surviving as Paladin (9)

“Kugh!”

Asha staggers and falls after taking my secret technique.

But it was only for a moment. She opened her eyes wide and stood up again.

– …!

Damn, I didn’t imagine it wouldn’t work. Is it because she’s Tuga’s avatar that she doesn’t take much damage even after seeing Roa’s form or power?

“How could you do this!”

A stream of blood flows from Asha’s mouth. So I did cause some damage after all.

“Do you really want to see this through to the end? Lord Malak!”

Black energy envelops her body. Lakye is busy dealing with the shield bearers who were protecting Asha.

The shield bearers were crab-people, and while they weren’t avatar-level, they seemed to have received plenty of Tuga’s blessings.

The speed at which they block the meteor sword with their shields is extraordinary. They’re not at Lakye’s level, but they have exceptional reflexes.

Tang! Tang!

The shield, shaped like a crab’s body, was made of something that deflected the meteor sword twice without taking much damage. Looking closely, I could see it was coated with dark energy.

Asha… you’re exceptionally good at giving buffs. It might break if I strike it a few more times, but I probably don’t have that luxury.

“I’ll join in!”

Jackson joined us, cutting down enemies with his dual swords.

The way he moved like flowing water, simultaneously attacking and defending with his long sword and dagger was, how should I put it? It made me understand why he insisted dual-wielding was superior.

From a technical standpoint, he was the best warrior I’d seen so far. Did he acquire some hidden skill like ‘Dual Wielding’?

The Bella sisters and Hanna were also fighting hard in the middle. The two sisters deflected enemy attacks with quick, nimble steps, and Hanna was…

“Come on! Come at me! I’ll fucking tear you apart!”

She was swinging her knife while covered in enemy blood. She was the very image of a crazed butcher in massacre mode.

Hanna… she’s kind of scary when fighting. I don’t want to get close to her. Is this how she charged at Lakye’s Brown Rock tribe?

It’s fortunate she was captured with her limbs intact. Yeah.

“Where do you bastards think you’re going! Light Snare!”

Gukbap is using his skills to bind those trying to rush the fence to kill the villagers.

“Climb up!”

“Kill the prey first!”

Some have already reached the fence. Blocking the path of those who were advancing while cutting zombie necks were Matrva’s villagers who had received the reinforced tattoo blessing.

“Stab! That bastard first!”

“Ahhh! My legs are too fast!”

The villagers were floundering at first, not well-adjusted to their newly acquired power, but soon regained stability and faced the enemies.

Though individually weaker, they were holding their ground well due to superior numbers.

Good. They seem to be doing fine without our help. Gukbap just needs to keep guarding the gate.

Dina… where’s Dina? I thought she was fighting hard until just now, but where did she disappear to?

“Kuhuk!”

At that moment, a sword pierced through Asha’s chest. The woman holding the sword was Dina, who had suddenly appeared with a “pop.”

Ah. She used a skill that temporarily erases her presence!

“Judgment Strike.”

With Dina’s quiet murmur, the sword flashed with light. The light filled Asha’s body.

It’s a skill I’ve never heard of before. Probably a level 6-7 skill like Celestial Wings.

But even this time, Asha didn’t fall.

“How dare a goddess’s lackey!”

She swung her hook-like hand to grab Dina’s wrist. As Dina stepped back slightly, the sword embedded in Asha’s heart was pulled out.

“I am Tuga’s avatar! Did you think you could kill me like an ordinary human? Foolish creature!”

Dina deflected the black energy shot from Asha’s hand with her sword and retreated toward Lakye.

“That was my trump card, but it failed.”

Dina glanced at Lakye and me with a bitter smile.

– No, it succeeded.

The assassination might have failed, but we’ve gained the upper hand.

“Insolent wenches…”

Asha’s movements became noticeably slower. It might not have been a finishing blow, but it was certainly a critical hit.

She didn’t die despite having her heart pierced, but she definitely took damage.

My Totem of Confusion and Dina’s surprise attack were meaningful after all.

“I’ll hold them off! Hurry!”

Jackson raised a dust storm with his dual swords, obscuring the shield bearers’ vision.

Lakye and Dina simultaneously dashed toward Asha like arrows.

“As you know, I cannot use Celestial Light, the level 8 skill.”

Of course I knew. Dina had told me she couldn’t use it for days after firing Celestial Light twice in succession to stop the cloud demon.

– It doesn’t matter.

I just believe in Lakye, who has always brought me victory.

As for me, I just need to act as Lakye’s support totem. I’ve already used up my Totem of Confusion, and I’ve used zombie control and reinforced tattoos to support the villagers, so there’s not much else I can do.

I already activated Malak’s Domain, but as always, it doesn’t seem to do much damage to strong opponents. The only helpful thing left is the Healing Totem?

– My guardian, I’m counting on you.

“Lord Malak is watching. I cannot lose.”

Lakye flashed a cool smile, meeting my eyes. A smile only I could see.

Now, charge! My 6-star unit, half-god half-human beauty Lakye! Brother believes in you alone!

Boom!

The two superhumans and one monster collided, and a fierce battle began.

Dina deflected spells, and Lakye slashed through Asha’s body with the meteor sword.

Asha wasn’t just taking hits either. Skilled in both magic and physical combat, she fiercely resisted, swinging her shell-covered hands and feet.

She fights quite well. Did she learn some kind of fish kung fu?

But it was just temporary resistance. She couldn’t gain the upper hand against Lakye, who had obtained the meteor sword and killed a tunnel demon close to a high-ranking demon, and Princess Dina, who had hunted a high-ranking demon with her special forces.

Asha collapsed, covered in blood from the meteor sword.

“Ah, High Priestess Asha!”

“The avatar of Lord Tuga!”

The sea monsters rushed to protect Asha, but couldn’t approach due to the other paladins’ interference.

“L-Lord Malak… we were destined to be together… why…!”

Asha’s tearful calls of my name until her final moment were… difficult to watch.

Even though she was a cannibal who killed Earth people, hearing her cry out so desperately makes me feel unsettled.

Perhaps it’s proof that my heart is still that of an ordinary human.

“I was to be… Lord Malak’s… bride…”

“Bride?”

Crunch!

Lakye stomped on Asha’s face.

“A filthy monster like you becoming Lord Malak’s bride? Know your place.”

“If, if only you weren’t here.”

Asha glared at Lakye with eyes full of murderous intent.

“What should we do, Lord Malak?”

Although Lakye seemed filled with the desire to kill, she left the final decision to me. She respected my opinion.

Asha would have made many unilateral decisions. In the end, we were not destined to be together.

– Put her out of her misery.

Lakye nodded and stabbed Asha’s neck. With a gurgling sound, Asha’s demon eyes slowly closed.

With her internal injuries and pierced heart, it must have been her time to die.

[There is a blessing you can learn!]

[There is a blessing you can learn!]

The status window announced Asha’s death. A victory with a bitter aftertaste.

I deliberately checked the blessings calmly. Two of them this time, huh.

[Potential Explosion: Brings out all the potential of the chosen target. You can bestow this blessing on one follower, and it can only be used once.]

An individual blessing. Raising potential… it seems to mean I should give it to the unit with the highest potential.

Let me check the next one before deciding.

[Divine Manifestation: The Roa of the barbarians, Storm God Malak, temporarily manifests on earth by consuming enormous mental power.]

Holy shit!

What is this? Wasn’t this a blessing I should learn near the end?

Potential Explosion isn’t the important one. Let’s get this first. With this alone, I could sweep away both the shadow and the cloud.

Click.

[20,000 points required.]

…20,000 points? Ha. What is this? When am I supposed to collect all this?

It’s good to be shown the ultimate goal, but the hurdle is so high it makes things more complicated.

Whatever, let’s give it a try. Gathering followers and points will become easier.

Fortunately, I can buy the Potential Explosion blessing right now. Let’s purchase this first.

[True Malak: Why?]

Startled! Why is True Malak suddenly here?

Is he telling me not to buy Potential Explosion and to hold out?

[True Malak: I’m curious why you made that choice.]

Ah, I get it. He’s asking why I killed Asha. Why I threw away the opportunity to cooperate with another Roa.

Unlike the others, True Malak may be human-friendly, but he’s still a divine being. He probably doesn’t understand humans any better than the rest.

What should I tell him? That I can’t tolerate cannibalism? That Asha would eventually try to manipulate me? That there’s no future in defeating demons with them?

After contemplating what to say, I sent just one simple message.

[Salvation and victory are different]

True Malak is connected to my soul anyway, so he should be able to understand my intention.

[True Malak: Perhaps]

[True Malak: The earth might need you more than me.]

With those words, a new message appeared.

[You have obtained the ‘Incomplete Manifestation’ blessing!]