Chapter 111 – Retribution (4)

“Rubia!”

Shhhk!

Dozens of arrows and a fierce gale ripped through the air the moment Serr’s voice reached Rubia’s ears. Reacting instantly, Rubia summoned her divine power, erecting a protective barrier around herself and Serr.

“Excellent work.”

With the barrier secured, Serr summoned dozens of spirits, then detonated them simultaneously.

KABOOM!

A massive inferno erupted.

“Tch, how bothersome.”

Sirin watched from a distance as their enemies, cleaved by her greatsword, fell in pieces. Clicking her tongue, she flicked a flame from her fingertip onto the pile of corpses.

“Their endless regeneration is disturbingly like our own.”

Serr chuckled softly, glancing around as she smoothed her skirt.

“…I sense divine power.”

“Indeed. Not an exact match, but it bears the signature of Rubia’s divine energy.”

“Those damned wretches…they’ve caused more trouble. Tch. This area is clear for now. Let’s move.”

Sirin gritted her teeth and snapped her fingers. Their bodies lifted into the air, then shot forward like projectiles.

“Noah…is Noah alright? Is she hurt?”

“Her body is intact, but…she’s in a precarious situation.”

“Ah…”

Hearing a sound like the heavens splitting, they’d feared the worst for Noah and rushed from the cave.

But waiting for them was a grotesque army: hundreds of figures radiating a sinister power.

Artificially created Masters.

Though a step below Kalt in terms of raw power, these were still formidable foes.

Severed arms were replaced with legs scavenged from the battlefield. Spilled entrails were haphazardly stuffed back into torn abdomens. Heads exploded, yet bodies continued to move—a macabre display of unnatural resilience.

But they couldn’t simply ignore them. Cartia Village would be in grave danger.

Resigned to eliminating them all, they found themselves unavoidably delayed. Meanwhile, the ominous power and horrific shockwaves emanating from Noah’s location intensified.

Rubia was frantic. It was her fault. Her anger had driven Noah from the cave and into this nightmare.

She’d wanted to follow, but couldn’t bring herself to run after Noah in just her underclothes. By the time she’d dressed and emerged, Noah was nowhere to be found. Helpless and frustrated, she could do nothing but stew in her guilt.

“Rubia, don’t fret. That brat Noah doesn’t appear to be losing.”

Despite her comforting words, a shadow of worry crossed Sirin’s face. Noah wasn’t losing, but the Bracelet of Verdure was nearing its limit.

If Noah removed it, two Masters would be child’s play. But if, as in training, she tapped into her life force or disregarded death, the situation could easily unravel.

“Do you not have faith in Noah?”

Serr summoned several water spirits, detonating them one by one as she cocked her head.

“We do, but…”

“I believe Noah is more than capable of overcoming this.” Serr obliterated the eleventh spirit, offering a reassuring smile. “I jested earlier, but Noah is so powerful that even I, a genius of the age, wouldn’t guarantee victory against her.”

“…I understand.”

Despite sensing the immensity of Noah’s power echoing from afar, Rubia remained uneasy.

She knew Noah’s strength. She believed in her ability to overcome anything.

But the thought of Noah facing this alone, without her, filled her with a profound sense of failure.

If only she’d reacted differently. If only she’d swallowed her pride and chased after her, underclothes and all.

Then Noah wouldn’t be fighting alone. Even if she were, at least Rubia could be there.

“Priestess Rubia, you should start considering how you’ll apologize to Noah.”

Serr chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“…Would you mind terribly if I struck you? Just once?”

“If it assuages your guilt, I offer you both cheek and backside.”

Thwack! Slap!

“Kyaa!”

Two bolts of divine power struck Serr’s head and bottom, eliciting a yelp.

“Ouch… You really hit me…” Serr pouted at Sirin, who merely shrugged.

“You brought it upon yourself.”

“But…Noah and Rubia’s reactions were so entertaining…”

“And that, my dear, is why you have no friends. Now do be quiet.”

“No friends… True, but still harsh.”

Serr rubbed her sore head, a mournful expression on her face.

“Rubia, my apologies. I’m too exhausted to teleport us as I did before.”

“Sirin, there’s no need. If I’d been more competent, none of this would have happened.”

“Was Noah really that formidable? Enough to trouble even you?”

“She’s restrained by the Bracelet of Verdure now. Back in my lair—no, during training—simply keeping her contained took immense effort. And near the end…ahem. Never mind.”

Sirin cleared her throat, glancing at the sky.

Suddenly, the azure sky turned crimson. A black sun, devoid of light, appeared.

“…The Black Sun.”

Serr’s usual gentle tone was replaced by a cold, quiet dread.

“Oh…no…”

A despairing whisper escaped Rubia’s lips.

And then…

A jagged, black scar ripped across the face of the black sun.

“It’s come to this. We have to go. Now.”

“…What…what is that?”

Rubia recognized the Black Sun from the battle with Kalt.

But the horrific scar tearing across the sky was new.

And it wasn’t just a scar. A malevolent energy seeped from the fissure, carrying with it the wails of despair and terror.

“That’s Noah’s handiwork.”

“What? Such a monstrous power…?”

“Monstrous, you say? Perhaps. We’re almost there. Be ready.”

Sirin offered Rubia a grim smile, raising her greatsword and channeling her magic.

Serr summoned several human-sized spirits, preparing for battle.

And there, in the heart of a landscape that resembled the end of all things…

…lay Noah, collapsed in a pool of blood.

“Noah!!”

Garlia’s severed arm regenerated before it even hit the ground.

Legs, torso, head—it didn’t matter. He regenerated instantly.

[Looks like this bastard rewinds time to heal.]

Not just his body, but his stamina, magic, his entire state reverted to pre-battle condition.

And then…

Screech! Crack!

Where I’d stood moments ago.

Where I would stand moments later.

Sword scars etched themselves into existence.

One step back—sliced.

One step forward—sliced.

As if the past and future were being carved apart…

[Fucking hell. What a bullshit ability.]

I pushed myself to the limit, Carpeng’s ferocity and Cartia’s voice barely keeping me ahead of the attacks. But the longer this dragged on, the sooner I’d collapse.

The initial volley of dozens of arrows had become hundreds, limiting my movements further.

But that wasn’t the real problem. The real problem was the growing fog in my mind.

I could obliterate Garlia—limbs in one strike, body in the next.

But every blow muddied my consciousness. Every wound brought the urge to simply die and be reborn.

This was bad. Really bad.

Only Cartia’s grounding presence and Carpeng’s furious prodding kept me from succumbing. Without them, I might have already ended it.

I’d planned to conserve my strength for the archer, too…

But there was no other way…

[That’s enough. Can you even perceive him anymore?]

‘I can expand my senses, but then I’ll be hit.’

[Just say you can’t. Ten seconds left.]

Cartia’s sarcastic words were followed by the echoing shockwaves of destruction.

Each swing of my greatsword tore through the air.

The surrounding magic was completely annihilated, leaving nothing. Even the air thinned, making it hard to breathe.

[Forget the archer. Kill this bastard. Now. Time’s running out.]

I nodded, kicking Garlia away to create some distance.

‘…Doggie, just five seconds. Protect me.’

I gathered every last ounce of strength, pouring it into the greatsword.

Frey resonated with my intent, bolstering my battered form.

Garlia’s expression contorted. The hundreds of incoming arrows became a torrent.

Trusting in Carpeng’s power, I focused.

Pain—like a lightning bolt through my skull.

Every cell, every fiber of my being screamed in agony—melting, tearing, rupturing.

Blood poured from my eyes, nose, and mouth.

Five seconds that felt like an eternity crawled by.

As Garlia’s greatsword loomed…

…I unleashed Frey.

There was no sound. No roar, no explosion.

Just a silent line, etched from the earth, rising through Garlia’s body and into the heavens.

The surrounding landscape disintegrated.

Garlia’s form, his power, was swallowed by the line, collapsing inward.

The all-consuming scar continued its path, tearing across the Black Sun, leaving a gaping wound in the world itself.

The arrows stopped.

Time, fractured and distorted, resumed its normal flow.

Garlia’s mangled remains crumbled into dust.

My strength evaporated, Frey dissolving into motes of light. Carpeng’s ferocity, its hold on me weakening, gently lowered me to the ground.

And then, through the ringing in my ears…

…came those voices.

Annoying. Infuriating. Hateful.

But…

Familiar. Yearned for. Beloved.

“Noah!!”

A fading tendril of ferocity retrieved my greatsword, placing it in my hand and fastening the Bracelet of Verdure.

The pain subsided slightly, my vision clearing.

Rubia was falling from the sky, Serr’s face etched with shock, Sirin yelling, “Are you mad?!” as she caught Rubia.

[Hey, can you hear me?]

‘Yes…’

[Good. When Rubia gets to you, cough up some blood. Dramatically.]

‘…Why? She’s worried enough.’

[Trust me. Then, pass out.]

‘Pass out? Like I can just do that?’

[If you have to, have Doggie knock you out.]

The tendril of ferocity above me wiggled in agreement.

‘Are you insane?!’

[Just do it. You’ll wake up in bliss, I promise. And Rubia needs a lesson, don’t you think?]

‘Ugh…fine…’

“Noah! Noah! I’m so sorry! It’s my fault… sob…Noah…I… sob…”

Rubia landed, pulling me into a tight embrace.

[Now!]

“Ugh… hack… cough…gurgle…”

“Noah?! No! Please…please, no…”

As instructed, I coughed up a mouthful of blood.

[Doggie! Hit me! Hard!]

‘Wait! Gently—’

Crack!

Pain exploded in my skull.

And then, darkness.