episode_0020

As Kariel and Beltan were in the midst of their fierce battle,

Eileen and Cheryl, the Queen of Dreams, continued their relentless fight.

Eileen, the strongest among the Paladins.

The clash between the two, one being a lieutenant of the Demon Army and the other leading the creatures of the Dream World, was an intense battle full of unpredictable fierceness.

Cheryl, living up to her title as the Queen of Dreams, asserted overwhelming power by making this space her domain, turning it into a realm of certain dreams without any hesitation.

Even though she displayed abilities bordering on godlike within this dream realm, the reality was that she was facing off against the strongest Paladin, feared even by the demons.

No matter how she claimed this space as her own and exerted her powers by perceiving it as a kind of dream, she was powerless against Eileen’s overwhelming divine authority.

Within the realm of dreams, she exhibited powers akin to a deity, but since the essence of this realm was created by the demons using magic, she was inevitably vulnerable to divine authority.

Furthermore, despite showcasing an aura and power close to that of a deity within the realm, when compared to a real god, she was nothing more than insignificant.

Nevertheless, due to her undeniable powerful abilities, Eileen also struggled in her fight against Cheryl.

“Tsk.”

Eileen deflected the incessant meteor shower with a flick of her tongue.

As the divine power emanating from her formed a sphere around her, Cheryl’s influence over the current space diminished.

Consequently, the size of the meteor shower noticeably decreased, allowing Eileen to seize the opportunity and swing her sword towards the empty space.

As a result, a line was drawn in the void, and the world split open.

With the world torn asunder, a space of darkness appeared, revealing Cheryl within it.

Cheryl, upon being exposed by the split world and seeing Eileen’s form, clicked her tongue and gestured with her hand.

The world began to reconstruct itself according to her will.

However, Eileen was not one to stand idly by and watch.

She leaped forward, propelling herself above the ground.

Still, there was a considerable distance to cover before reaching Cheryl.

Yet, as Eileen seemed to push against something in the void, her body floated up once again.

Fighting in this place, Eileen had come to realize one thing.

That was the fact that the rules of the dream did not apply exclusively to Cheryl.

While she couldn’t interfere with the world to the extent Cheryl could, she too was subject to some degree of influence.

Therefore, even now, she imagined there was something to step on in the void, and her determination applied to this space that could be considered a dream, allowing her to exhibit such prowess.

In reality, this would have been impossible.

Moreover, dreams are a realm of symbolism.

Being awakened to the symbolism, she utilized this space even more effectively.

Continuing to press forward through the void, Eileen.

In an attempt to stop her, Cheryl swung her arm forcefully.

The world moved according to her will.

However, the already acclimated Eileen momentarily halted the world’s movement by utilizing symbolism and swiftly arrived in front of Cheryl, swinging her sword.

Reacting belatedly, Cheryl twisted her body.

Due to her delayed reaction, her shoulder was grazed slightly.

Following this, Eileen swung her sword again.

The world protected Cheryl, concealing her form once more.

Cheryl grabbed her injured shoulder, grinding her teeth.

‘Damn it…’

This place was her world and domain.

No matter how strong one might be, it was normal to be unable to exert power within her domain.

However, as time passed, Eileen gradually adapted to this world.

Furthermore, going beyond that, her utilization of the characteristics of the dream world made her appear nothing short of a monster.

“I should wait for Beltan to win.”

A fight that should have ended already was still ongoing.

What on earth are they doing, still fighting?

Although I feel like saying “enough already.”

Without even having time for that, Ilene once again swept through the world.

“Pointless actions.”

Light spread around Ilene.

A massive light, incomparable to before, began to engulf the surroundings.

Sheryl noticed Ilene’s further interference in this world and clenched her teeth.

“This is my domain! Don’t meddle with human affairs!”

At her outcry, the world rapidly changed.

Dark clouds started forming in the sky, and numerous flying monsters appeared in the upper atmosphere.

Among them were sub-species of dragons known as wyverns.

Crack! Thud!

Lightning relentlessly struck down as aerial monsters appeared in the sky.

Countless flying creatures, including wyverns, roared and charged at Ilene.

Ilene lightly swung her sword without even turning her gaze towards them.

Superficially, it seemed like an ordinary action, but the ensuing shockwave was beyond imagination.

Shaaaah!

As hundreds of monsters rushed towards her, their throats being slit, the resulting shockwave continued endlessly. Sheryl immediately tried to retaliate by moving the world, but for some reason, the world did not budge.

Soon, she realized that control of the world had shifted to her opponent.

“Easy, isn’t it?”

Clearly a mocking taunt towards her opponent.

At this, Sheryl could no longer maintain her composure.

Gyaaaaah!

A howl echoed throughout the entire world.

In response, control of the world shifted back to Sheryl, and her scream shattered the world.

As the world, previously filled with color, crumbled, darkness revealed itself.

Amidst the collapsing world, a chasm of abyss swallowing everything emerged.

“Human scum-!!!”

A chilling voice, akin to a ghostly roar, once again enveloped the world.

With Sheryl’s outcry, the world underwent drastic changes, transforming into a new form.

As the abyss receded, the world began to fill up with color again.

In the changing world,

Ilene attempted to interfere with the world to stop her, but this time, she couldn’t even intervene.

Something blocked her path completely.

Continuing beneath Sheryl, the world kept changing until it was entirely filled with color.

The abyss reappeared, engulfing the world once more.

This time, instead of filling up with color, a sinister and dark magic began shaping the world.

“Is this the final stand?”

Ilene quietly opened her eyes, observing the world transforming and consuming her.

Unlike before, she couldn’t even interfere with this world.

Due to Sheryl losing her sanity and exerting more power than necessary, her impending attack practically ensured her demise.

Aware of this fact, Ilene prepared herself to defend against Sheryl’s final onslaught.

She couldn’t afford to underestimate an attack unleashed by someone becoming a high-ranking officer in the Demon Army.

Since there was a real possibility of losing her life, she had to be cautious.

“Hah…”

Ilene sighed, cooling down the heartbeat of her entire body, including her heart rate.

Focusing all her senses in one place, she unleashed all the divine power she possessed.

As if gathering all the light of the world into one, brilliant lights poured out around her.

The darkness of the world being consumed, combined with the sacred light illuminating it brightly, created a harmony of black and white.

“You shall die-!!!”

Within Sheryl’s cry, the world’s darkness poured onto Ilene like a waterfall.

Ilene stared at the approaching darkness and suddenly began to move.

Swish!

With her movements, the sword followed suit.

However, it wasn’t a slashing motion but rather a dance-like rhythm.

Along the path of the sword’s movement, light scattered, leaving traces behind.

Sensations akin to listening to a melody continued.

Even Sheryl, who stood far away, waiting for Eileen to be engulfed, momentarily got lost in her dance-like movements. Eileen’s appearance could be described as mysterious and beautiful, defying any simple definition.

The poignant darkness seemed captivated by the light’s melodic dance she performed, syncing with Eileen’s motions.

What was once just a speck in the darkness began to expand, asserting its presence.

The darkness continued to follow her lead.

In an instant, Eileen swiftly swung the sword with force.

As she wielded the sword, a massive light instantly pushed back the darkness, beginning to engulf it.

Only then did Sheryl snap out of it, attempting a belated response.

Her magic had already been relentlessly devoured by the divine power, growing in size.

Moreover, bewildered by the unclear nature of her magic or swordsmanship, she could no longer interfere with this world.

Facing an imminent death, despite pouring out so much, Sheryl felt emptiness in meeting such a trivial end at the hands of a single human.

“Damn it…”

Yet, not all hope was lost.

Sheryl left behind a faint trace using her last resort, so subtle that even that monstrous Palladium wouldn’t detect it.

“Though it may be like this now…”

She vowed silently to seek revenge someday.

With that determination, Sheryl closed her eyes.