episode_0165

Certainly, I did think that they hadn’t invaded with full force from the start.

Whether they were planning for a long-term war, or if they were bringing out a carefully hidden ultimate move, I don’t know.

Mainly because I don’t really know anything about the Holy Spirits.

If it was going to be like this, I should have asked the Saintess in more detail.

Even if I had just heard that there were stronger Holy Spirits besides the normal ones, I would have been able to deal with it.

Leaving the regret behind, I quickly joined the Crown Prince.

“What happened? It seems different from ordinary Holy Spirits.”

“Listening to what the other priests say, it seems that a high-ranking priest who had already died has appeared as a Holy Spirit.”

“…Is that also one of those things visible far away?”

The Crown Prince quickly surveyed the battlefield, and then, made a decision.

“But even so, we cannot abandon Zone 0. We must call for all reinforcements.”

“It’s possible that other zones are also receiving similar attacks.”

“No, if they are elite Holy Spirits of that level, they were probably directly kept in the Zone 1 main base. Since people often get buried in Zone 1 when they die in reality.”

As expected of a world where a god exists and a group serving him exists, excluding bodies that died in the labyrinth, at least the bodies that died in the labyrinth city are all gathered in Zone 1.

Therefore, cemeteries, or places where bodies can be stored, etc.

Various facilities developed.

There’s no way they wouldn’t have prepared facilities to store past priests appropriately within those.

Since the Church, from the beginning, held absolute power that even the Empire couldn’t rashly touch, no one would have even thought about finding such secret facilities.

“Even in a situation where we give up all other zones, we must protect Zone 0.”

At that moment, the Crown Prince’s knight cut down one elite Holy Spirit.

However, he seemed quite exhausted, panting for breath, and the surroundings were completely destroyed during the fight.

“Do we have to face so many of those?”

“Furthermore, that’s not the end.”

Immediately, miscellaneous ordinary Holy Spirits re-entered the bodies of the elite Holy Spirits.

As a result, the body was reconstructed once again, resurrecting the Holy Spirit of Priest-Elder Zerus.

“…Can Holy Spirits not be dealt with like Paladins?”

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince’s knight and the Holy Spirit began to fight once again.

However, unlike the beginning, the difference between the exhausted knight and the Holy Spirit, who was back in perfect condition, quickly began to widen.

To the extent that the knight was pushed back to near us right after the first exchange ended.

“Was a priest originally someone who knew how to fight like this? Even the current Priest-Elder wouldn’t be this capable.”

“There’s something more. Perhaps that’s why I can’t affect the Holy Spirits.”

No matter how powerful the Ariel Church is, a priest is not strong enough to defeat a knight single-handedly.

It would be a reasonable perspective to see that something more was added while creating something called a Holy Spirit.

The Priest-Elder Spirit immediately flew towards where I and the Crown Prince were.

A definite movement that seemed to target the Crown Prince.

If we can’t finish it by killing it, there’s no choice but to suppress it.

I quickly changed my Joker Card.

Soon, I entered the Holy Spirit’s sight.

『Battle Start. Draw 4 cards.』

『Energy 5/5』

『Joker Card – Draw 1 designated card additionally on the first turn.』

I immediately used a card.

[Chain Hell]

Mana chains rising from the ground quickly bound the Holy Spirit’s arms and legs.

Immediately, the Holy Spirit imbued powerful strength and shattered them.

As expected, I can’t do anything with a 3-cost card anymore.

Just as I was about to use another card.

Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince appeared beside me.

The Crown Prince pulled a dagger from his pocket and stabbed the air.

Simultaneously, with a bang— an explosion occurred, sending the Holy Spirit flying far away.

“The power to push everything away. It’s the perfect power for someone like me who needs to protect himself.”

The Crown Prince looked down at me with a triumphant expression.

“…It’s not that I can’t fight. Do you know how many cards the Empire has? I even used that black card myself last time.”

“You used that yourself…?”

“Speak more favorably. Say that I, the Crown Prince, directly checked the danger.”

Certainly, in a world where anyone can become strong by getting cards, it’s inevitable that people with more money will be stronger.

Of course, this is just based on specs due to lack of practical experience.

For now, we endured the immediate danger.

It’s not over yet, as Holy Spirits kept attacking Zone 0 from afar.

Since enemies with the power to defeat knights are infinitely resurrecting, the front line cannot be maintained.

They are cut and cut and cut again, but they keep pushing in.

Of course, there are strong individuals here as well.

But enemies flooding in endlessly aren’t something that can be easily handled like that.

“……Are they fully intending to fight until someone runs out of strength first?”

Currently, the Guild Master is dealing with countless Holy Spirits far away.

But the enemies’ actions are very intelligent.

They don’t seem to intend to defeat the Guild Master, just sticking close and somehow dragging things out.

Because elite Holy Spirits are tough anyway, they are using that strength accurately.

They are waging a war of attrition by endlessly regenerating with overwhelming numbers.

If we could know where the end of that is, we might be able to counter them.

But we still know too little about them.

Currently, Zone 0 is occupied by numerous high-floor explorers and the knight order, excluding the Guild Master.

Even these forces are being pushed back little by little, and casualties are gradually accumulating.

Ultimately, the Crown Prince made a decision.

“……Abandon Zone 0.”

Immediately, soldiers who heard the Crown Prince’s words pulled signal flares from their pockets and fired them into the sky.

Along with the red signal flare, mages activated a sound amplification magic.

“Abandon Zone 0 and retreat!!!!”

Having shouted loudly, the Crown Prince immediately turned his steps, and I and Grace followed him, retreating from Zone 0.

*

Labyrinth City has 12 zones in 12 directions centered around Zone 0.

A simple city structure where the corresponding zone is in the clockwise direction.

So, where is the farthest place from Zone 1? Naturally, it’s Zone 7.

But the place we headed to is not Zone 7.

The place we headed to is Zone 6.

It is the zone with the largest entrance gate in Labyrinth City.

There are quite a few gates connecting the outside and inside of Labyrinth City.

To the extent that there is at least one in each zone.

But whether they dreamed of a natural fortress, or intended to trap monsters exploding from the labyrinth as much as possible in case of emergency.

The entrances are not that large.

Except for exactly the 4 entrances in the East, West, South, and North.

Zone 12, Zone 3, Zone 6, Zone 9.

With Zone 12 already taken, and Zone 3 also on the verge of being taken.

Our options were Zone 6 or Zone 9.

There was only one reason for specifically choosing Zone 6 instead of Zone 9.

Because the South Gate of Labyrinth City is the largest, and the road is well-maintained.

That’s why Zone 6 was built like a planned city, unlike other zones.

There are buildings capable of withstanding external invasion.

There are also lodgings to house numerous tourists and merchants from outside.

And most importantly, the reason why Zone 6 is significant is.

The Guild’s First Branch, commonly known as the Guild’s Headquarters, and core facilities are concentrated here.

After finishing the evacuation and the mages blocked the entrance connecting to Zone 0, the Holy Spirits no longer pursued.

They also know that it’s quite a forced choice to rashly attack Zone 6.

I, who remained until the very last to help with the evacuation, was finally able to rest a little.

“You’ve worked hard.”

The Crown Prince also stayed and fought until the end, similar to me.

Of course, all the Crown Prince did was just push things away, but that was enough to fulfill his role.

As expected, item power.

It’s a world where if you have a lot of money, you’re bound to be strong.

Everyone started resting after the intense fight, but the Crown Prince still couldn’t rest.

As the core commander of the current civil war, he had to receive reports and issue commands again.

“Holy Spirits are reportedly splitting up and invading each zone!!!”

“We are reportedly receiving contact and managing to hold them back for now.”

As expected, the snowball effect of losing Zone 0 is quickly starting to roll.

The Crown Prince sighed heavily.

“If it was going to be like this, we should have just gathered the troops and blocked them from the start.”

As I also saw by participating in the meeting, due to the greed of protecting each zone, they failed to protect Zone 0, which is in the center.

Perhaps they made that choice because there were many strong individuals in Zone 0.

In conclusion, since the enemy persistently clung on and they had no choice but to flee,

Ultimately, the snowball will roll bigger and result in significant damage.

“When will the reinforcements come, I wonder.”

Unfortunately, teleportation magic can only be used by a few people excluding the Tower Master, and even then, only for a small number of individuals. Sending a large number of people is practically impossible.

No matter how quickly a country close to here prepares and rushes over, it will take at least 5 days.

“Can we hold out for the remaining time?”

“I don’t know. I hope the remaining zones can hold out as much as possible.”

The enemy’s strength is unknown.

If their attack on Zone 0 was their gathered strength to some extent, then the enemy’s offensive might be delayed more than expected.

However, this is merely an optimistic view.

From the beginning, the Church, which had openly sharpened its blade to swallow the entire Labyrinth City, was far from having its strength depleted to that extent.

Sure enough, like delivering ground and pound on an opponent once downed, the enemies continued their offensive without stopping, and in fact, advanced at a faster pace.

“Zone 3 has been captured!!!”

“The civilians?”

“They reportedly managed to escape with the help of the knight order and explorers in that area!!! And they are currently heading this way!!”

“…That’s fortunate.”

“However….”

“Is there something more?”

“There are reportedly no survivors among the knight order and explorers who were in Zone 3.”

“……Understood.”

At the Crown Prince’s command, the soldier saluted and left.

The Crown Prince let out a deep sigh, then let out a self-mocking laugh.

“Ivan, I am truly a devious person. I momentarily thought the knight order and explorers who died helping the civilians were more regrettable than the civilians who evacuated.”

“Because each soldier is precious in this situation.”

As we were silently staying inside the barracks, feeling a little gloomy like that.

Suddenly, someone entered the barracks with confidence.

“Ah, Guild Master.”

A person whom even the Crown Prince couldn’t address casually.

The Guild Master of Labyrinth City confidently entered, gave a light bow to the Crown Prince, and then.

Immediately got to the point.

“As Sir Ivan just said, every single troop is precious in this situation, Your Highness.”

Had he already been listening to our conversation?

The Crown Prince’s eyebrows, which had furrowed in annoyance for a moment, narrowed.

But as if not caring, the Guild Master continued speaking.

“In this unprecedented situation, the Guild has decided to make a decision.”

“What decision are you speaking of?”

“Follow me. Your Highness, and also the two Apostles.”

The Guild Master, who invited me and Noah, who is in my shadow.

He immediately walked outside in silence, as if he wouldn’t listen any further.

I and the Crown Prince quickly followed behind him.

We continued forward and reached the Guild Headquarters.

Perhaps because it was an emergency situation, there were countless people working, creating a scene filled with passion. Something noticeable caught my eye.

Many people were continuously taking things out from underground.

It was difficult to guess what they were as they were still wrapped in bundles, but I immediately realized that these were the things the Guild Master was talking about.

“What are those?”

“They are all the cards, magic tools, and equipment the Guild possesses.”

“Did you have this much? It’s comparable to the Empire.”

“From now on, we will distribute these to all citizens free of charge.”

Because he spoke so lightly, as if he was just going for a walk in front of his house, my and the Crown Prince’s reactions were a little slow.

“……What?”

“…Yes?”