Chapter 195

Chapter 195

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 195: Yearning (5)

…Dagon…!

Though his appearance had changed beyond recognition over several months, Viola recognized Dagon from his distinctive gestures and missing right arm.

In the end, it seemed he couldn’t let go of the past and chose the worst path.

If he had realized his sins and retreated to the countryside to live quietly, it might have been better. But ultimately, he couldn’t suppress his evil nature.

Viola firmly resolved that today she would sever all ties with Dagon.

“It’s Group Leader Dagon… He kept running and running, and finally ended up here.”

Only after hearing from Viola did Allen realize the identity of the opponent. His appearance was in such a wretched state that he was unrecognizable.

Indeed, he had become an immortal…

He was no longer human, so his status window didn’t even appear. In other words, he was an immortal.

Though he had been so worn down by his long life as a fugitive, one couldn’t underestimate the power of a former Top 10 group leader. Especially since he was notorious for being a ruthless bastard who used any means necessary. Moreover, despite clearly being an immortal, it seemed he had even obtained the Finger of God, as his index finger was perfectly intact.

Of course, no matter how immortal, it was impossible for a human body to handle the Finger of God. Eventually, he would self-destruct with time, but honestly, it was absurd to think he could hold out until then. Humans couldn’t help but grow weary, unlike an immortal.

Still, since the Milk-Jug Mage’s flare was fired into the sky, Teams 1 and 2 would see it and rush here immediately. The distance had already increased significantly, and with the immortals blocking the path, it would take some time, but the fact that reinforcements from the Top 10 were on their way was reassuring.

Anyway, a bloody battle with Dagon, who had become the King of the Immortals, was inevitable.

Ah, aaaaah.

The face of the immortal shedding tears of blood was filled with indiscriminate rage. Now, only a desire for destruction remained.

“Fight! Everyone, form up!”

The Allen-Mercenary Group raised their shields and weapons.

At the same time, Elena began her incantation. A destructive elemental magic was cast for the King of the Immortals.

Group Leader Viola, along with her two close aides, as well as the Blind Saintess, and Itty Titty Natasha stepped forward.

The King raised the Finger of God and then laid it sideways. Then the crushed body of the Liberation Army turned into a rod and flew like an arrow toward the opponent.

Of course, the strength of the five who set out to take down Dagon was among the best in the mercenary group. Such a flimsy attack could hardly touch even a hair.

Viola, who approached the maddened Dagon, swung her sword with all her might. Intending to kill with a single strike… However, the sword that touched his body bounced off with a metallic clang as if striking a boulder.

!!!

The hardness of the one with the Finger of God was beyond imagination. She instinctively felt that it would not be easy to inflict meaningful damage on him.

At that moment, his fist moved toward her chest like lightning.

Group Leader Viola urgently supported the side of her sword with her forearm to block the punch, but her bone snapped immediately from the impact.

!!!

Of course, being as tenacious as she was, she didn’t let out a single groan, just gritted her teeth firmly.

And taking advantage of that moment, the remaining four didn’t miss the chance to attack the enemy.

Especially the Blind Saintess’s fist of fury shook not the exterior but the interior. Of course, her finger bones seemed to fracture with a single punch, but there was no time to lament the pain due to his fierce counterattack. If not for Viola’s precedent, she too would have likely been caught off guard and hit hard by the enemy’s counter.

Uwaaaaaaa.

The King of the Immortals, roaring like a monster, was struck by powerful elemental magic.

It was an immense destructive power. Even those who were quite far from the King were blown back by the impact.

The Milk-Jug Mage panted slightly, preparing the next spell. Knowing that the immortal with the Finger of God wouldn’t crumble with just one blow.

As she expected, Dagon rose resolutely from the flames of mana.

Though skin was distorted, muscles burst, and bones broken, the Finger of God pointing to the sky lifted the King’s body.

He raised his left arm high towards the sky.

Simultaneously, dozens of black pillars began to rise throughout the city.

They were the fragmented bodies of immortals, broken into pieces… Yet still not dead.

“Shit…”

That massive cloud of flesh became a giant finger.

And the floating object plunged straight towards Team 3.

The Milk-Jug Mage canceled the spell she was casting and quickly erected a shield.

With an immense roar, the shield, struck by the massive finger made of the immortals’ bodies, cracked with a loud snap.

“Ugh…!”

Elena put all her strength into maintaining the shield. It was a dangerously close call.

Viola and the other five momentarily scattered to avoid the attack, then charged towards the King again. The giant finger split into multiple branches to attack those who dared to challenge the King.

The Blind Saintess felt despair as the monster didn’t crumble despite her relentless punches.

Then, her left arm got hit by a bizarrely twisted branch of the immortal that flew from multiple directions.

!!!

With a tingling sensation, her left arm fell.

Aaaaaaahhhhh.

The Blind Saintess collapsed forward from the dizzying pain and shock of losing a part of her body.

Itty Titty Swordsman swiftly rushed in, cradling Ordnung and rolling on the ground. Just then, a barrage of stems pierced the spot. Had she been a moment later, she would have been skewered like meat on a stick.

“My arm, m-my aaaarrrrm…!!!!”

Natasha hurriedly gathered her severed left arm and took her to where the group was. Of course, that place was also in chaos, battling against the relentless undead.

Ordnung, lying on the ground, convulsed.

Master, Masteeer…!

“Ordnung! Ordnung, get a grip! Damn…!”

Allen slapped the Blind Saintess’s cheek a bit roughly to snap her out of her panic.

Her face, with blood streaming down, was pale due to panic, dehydration, and bleeding.

Fortunately, she regained consciousness, but her body was not in a normal state.

“Healer! Healer!”

The healer of the Viola-Mercenary Group ran disheveled towards Group Leader Allen. She positioned herself to reattach the Blind Saintess’s severed arm, but Ordnung refused.

“I can endure. It’s fine. Prioritize others over me…!”

“Shut up and just attach it, you damn bitch!”

Allen shouted as he grabbed and shook Ordnung by the collar for her unnecessary consideration.

“You need to attach it and fight again, don’t you–!”

The healer, desperately squeezing out her holy power, managed to reattach Ordnung’s arm. However, it wasn’t perfect and could fall off again with a slight shock.

Allen grabbed the back of Odnung’s neck, panting heavily, and made eye contact before solemnly speaking.

“Odnung, you must help. You must not fall. Understand? You have to do it. You have to…!”

And once again, a giant finger descended towards Team 3.

This time, the Milk-Jug Mage erected a barrier to block it, but the impact was so strong that her nose started bleeding.

“Odnung, if you understand, nod your head!”

The Blind Saintess nodded vigorously. As soon as the barrier disappeared, she charged at the King of the Immortals again.

Master, if only Master were here…

If it were Master Yupi’s fist, it could have pierced that monster’s body.

The Master could do it, but the disciple couldn’t.

It should be the same fist. Why?

Odnung’s fist struck the immortal’s body again with force.

Bones in her hand shattered, and muscles tore.

Thud!

This time, she kicked the head with the top of her foot.

Then the top of her foot got wrecked.

The battered Ordnung stood up, limping.

Master.

I guess this is as far as I go.

He’s too strong.

I can’t beat him.

He’s a real monster.

She thought of her master.

She imagined the Master looked at his disciple and smiled crookedly.

-You foolish girl.

Ah.

-When will you become a person, huh?!

Damn it…

The Blind Saintess, who had given up, clenched her fist again.

Yes.

I need to become a person.

Ordnung ran.

Dodging the barrage of attacks flying at her.

With all her might.

To her limit.

Following her master.

The Blind Saintess grabbed the back of his head with her battered left hand, and punched his head with her right fist.

Her fist shattered, the bone protruded from her elbow, muscles tore, and her skin twisted.

The man’s face caved in, and eventually, her fist shattered his skull.

Ah.

I did it…

At the same time, a bundle of stems burst through her lower abdomen.

It roughly tossed her to the ground.

And just as the bundle of stems was about to attack her again.

A tremendous flame engulfed the King of the Immortals.

Suspended in midair, in a combat stance, was Ghost Flame Grenzo.

Feeling the advance was too delayed, he left Team 1 alone and rushed to where the signal came from.

“Foolish bastard.”

Grenzo stretched his hand towards the sky. Then, a flaming meteor fell.

He grasped it and dropped it over the King of the Immortal’s head.

The meteor plunged down, completely smashing the crushed head of the King of the Immortals and embedding deeply from his neck to chest.

Even so, he knelt on one knee, refusing to fall.

…Truly a monster.

Ghost Flame brought the hellfire from the End of the World, feared even by demons. He attempted to burn his body, but even that didn’t work on the King of the Immortals.

A being more dreadful than a demon.

…If only the King of the Immortals had a sound mind, he would have been a truly difficult opponent.

Even after losing his head, he didn’t stop.

As if by instinct.

After all, his true form was the Finger of God.

The person known as Dagon no longer existed.

Having taken a hit, he launched a barrage of tendrils at Grenzo. Soon, even more black pillars rose in the city.

The Gate Opener, Ghost Flame Grenzo, snorted.

How dare you?!

He burned the incoming tendrils with hellfire, leaving not even ashes.

The struggle between the two began.

Group Leader Viola took advantage of the gap and swung her noticeably curved sword. However, once again, it failed to deal a significant blow. The attacks from the remaining members were the same.

Right at that moment…

The Blind Saintess, who had been lying on the ground, slowly rose.

Blood gushed from the hole in her abdomen.

Her right arm, with bones protruding, hung limp.

She dragged her shattered left foot.

Yet her bright eyes, undaunted, shone with determination.

If this is the will of God, I shall accept it as well.

Her eyes saw the Finger of God.

Then tears of blood flowed down her face.

A powerful energy flipped her insides.

She approached him.

He was still fully engrossed in his deadly battle with Ghost Flame Grenzo.

And then…

Her mouth suddenly clamped down on his finger.

!!!

His knee struck Odnung’s stomach hard, but she didn’t let go of the finger she was biting.

As if she was ready to die.

If this is the will of God…

She would gladly offer herself.

Odnung bit the finger with such force that her teeth broke and her gums were crushed.

Normally, it wouldn’t have budged, but it had somewhat softened from Grenzo’s hellfire.

!!!!!

Even after repeatedly kicking her stomach, she didn’t fall, so this time, a stream of tendrils changed direction and poured towards her.

But Grenzo wouldn’t just stand by and watch that happen.

He created a shield to protect her. At the same time, the four who were waiting for an opportunity charged again.

“Tear him apart!!”

Viola fiercely stabbed his remaining left arm with her sword like a club, desperately trying to sever his finger.

And then… the finger that was cracking… finally broke off.

The Blind Saintess fell backward with the Finger of God in her mouth.

The body, missing its head and finger, flailed.

As the bundle of tendrils disappeared, Allen instinctively knew she had finally succeeded in removing the Finger of God.

The Blind Saintess spat out what she had been holding in her mouth onto her left palm.

Pant, pant, pant.

Then, barely standing, she limped toward the altar.

Her stomach pierced.

Her right arm shattered.

Her left arm detached and reattached.

Her left leg broken.

Towards the end.

To see the end.

To offer the Finger of God.

Ordnung stood tall in front of the altar.

She placed the finger on her palm and just quietly observed it.

For some reason, she did not offer the finger…

After a while, in such a mess, Allen ran closer to her and shouted.

“Offer it! Get rid of it right away!”

Why should I?

She had gained nothing.

There was no revelation from God here, no will of God.

Just a broken body.

But there was a finger.

This beautiful thing.

The Finger of God.

The mercy of God.

The power of God.

At least this.

At least this!

Why can’t I have anything?

There is no revelation from God.

I need something material.

I need the finger.

Ordnung’s body trembled violently.

Damn it!

Reading Ordnung’s swirling thoughts, Allen cursed fiercely inside.

“Ordnung, snap out of it! Hey, you can’t do this! You can’t! Ordnung! You told me. You said you’d repay them! You said you’d punish those who disturbed the will of God! You promised to sacrifice the finger and set everything right!”

…So what’s left for me? A shattered body? A pierced stomach? Just chalk it up to the will of God? No, this is the will of God…!

“Ordnung, why are you acting like this all of a sudden, huh? We’ve come this far. We’ve worked our asses off to get here! It’s all over now! Please, I’m telling you, it’s over. You just need to offer that. Ordnung, just drop the finger. Offer it on the altar, then it’s over. Ordnung! Ordnung…!”

But she continued to give no response.

Allen was truly at his wits’ end.

…It seemed as if some incomprehensible, mysterious force was constricting her.

Perhaps, whoever holds that, would be tempted by such allure.

That was why the first immortal did not ultimately offer the Finger of God.

Ghost Flame Grenzo summoned mana just in case.

If she did anything suspicious, he was prepared to annihilate her instantly.

Group Leader Viola held her broken weapon tensely. And so did those who fought alongside her against the King of Immortals.

Allen raised both hands as if to ask for a moment’s pause.

Then, like approaching a criminal holding a hostage, he cautiously took steps toward her.

“Ordnung! Ordnung! Look at me! I said look at me! Ordnung!”

Slowly, her face turned towards him.

On her face was the undeniable greed of humanity.

A greed that no human could ever overcome.

The desire to become a god.

God.

A god worshiped by all.

“No, it’s not a god, it’s a monster. Ordnung! You saw it. You saw it yourself. Was that a god? That thing isn’t a god!”

Allen took a few more steps forward. Natasha stayed close to his side, prepared for any contingency… and ready to strike down even a comrade if necessary.

“Ordnung!”

What do I have left?

I can just become a god.

Then I can have it all.

Power, honor, and money…!

Money, gold, gold coins, lots of money…!

Reading her thoughts urgently, Allen realized he couldn’t persuade her with talk of divine will or revelation.

The most fundamental reason she was tempted was material.

Her favorite thing…

Money.

“If you get rid of that, I’ll raise your salary to 130 gold coins!”

Allen shouted, thinking he had nothing to lose.

Then, Ordnung seemed to flinch slightly.

It seemed to be working much better than before.

“No, 150 coins!”

Everyone looked at him as if asking what he was suddenly talking about.

But he was serious.

For her, this would be much more effective than clumsy persuasion.

Yeah, damn it…! You need resources? Then I’ll negotiate with money!

“Shit, 170 coins!”

Then her body trembled slightly.

He read her inner thoughts that it would be nice to raise it a bit more.

Damn it, you greedy bitch!

“Fine, damn it…! 200 coins! I’ll give you 200 coins, so throw that damn thing away right nooooow!!!”

Ordnung’s hand tilted, and the finger fell onto the altar.

The Blind Saintess resisted the temptation of the Finger of God and offered it to God.

200 gold coins.

That was the price the Finger of God was sold.

Oh, God…♡