episode_0453

Just before dawn.

After a few hours of restful sleep, the knights, who had completely relieved their fatigue and brought their condition to its peak, began their activities in the darkness.

“Let’s start by setting up the barrier.”

“Understood.”

Their first action before the battle was to install a wide-range barrier centered around the church.

This place was soon to become a chaotic battlefield where hundreds of hunters would clash.

The barrier was a precaution for this purpose.

To protect the city and its residents, who were just beginning to recover from the destruction that would emerge from the fight.

“Barrier installation complete.”

“Good job.”

With just a press of a button, they had completed the preparations for the immediate creation of the barrier.

Now that the battlefield was set, it was time to prepare for the battle.

Angela, dressed in casual attire, directed those gathered in front of her.

“After gearing up, we can assemble.”

It was two hours before the start of the battle.

—

Ashen armor and thick shields.

And knights adorned with various weapons on their backs and waists exude a formidable aura.

By looking at them, one could understand why the Vatican Orthodox Church held such high esteem.

These individuals possessed skills surpassing even the top tier within Grade A.

And the knight commander leading them was stepping into Grade S.

“You’ll regret it if you underestimate us.”

Clad in heavy armor and shields, these individuals weighed approximately hundreds of kilograms.

Imagine monsters wearing such gear charging towards you without any difficulty.

Consider how terrifying it would be if those who were willing to defy death for the sake of God charged at you.

“Is everyone ready?”

“Yes!”

A faint ripple spread around them.

As they were preparing for a surprise attack, the voices were not loud.

But they were resolute.

As if they had resigned themselves to die here.

Facing the immensely heavy knights, Angela opened her mouth with a smile.

“Don’t worry about dying. As long as I’m here, none of you will die.”

Clad in silver armor mixed with gold, wielding a vicious-looking mace and a shield adorned with a stylish cross pattern on her back, she resembled a painting.

If the Valkyries who once roamed the battlefields of the gods existed in the present era, wouldn’t they look like her?

Boosting the morale of her allies with just one sentence, she declared,

“We are commencing Operation Purge of the Bright Church from now.”

With a mace and shield in each hand, transitioning into a combat stance, she delivered her final words.

“Advance, everyone.”

Having said that, she stood at the forefront, leading the knights forward.

I turned my head to look at Seoyeon standing stiffly beside me.

“We should go too.”

“Huh? Oh, yeah…!”

It was the first time I had seen her so tense.

Even during a similar operation in China, she didn’t seem as frozen.

“Why are you so tense? You fought well in China.”

As I asked, she replied with a wry smile.

“I guess… because I’ve been through it once before, it feels scarier…”

“I see.”

Was that it?

Depending on the person, sometimes the first time is easier.

Because they don’t know anything.

They just follow orders and do things without knowing, and often it ends without much trouble.

But usually, after doing it once, the subsequent times are harder and more frightening.

Now she understood what those meant.

Hunter versus monster was different from Hunter versus Hunter.

Realizing the horror, Seoyeon looked at me with a worried expression and spoke.

“Can you make a promise with me…?”

“What promise?”

“That I won’t get hurt this time.”

There was a hint of fear in her eyes.

I realized I had misunderstood.

Seoyeon wasn’t afraid of the operation itself.

She was simply worried about me.

Afraid that something like what happened when her life was threatened by Yeopo might happen again.

Instead of telling her not to worry, I informed her of the reality.

“Once you choose the path of a hunter, you can’t avoid getting hurt.”

No matter how prepared you are, variables arise, and crises strike no matter how cautious you are.

That’s what being a hunter is about.

A profession where getting injured or dying is not unusual.

That’s why it’s not easy to say you won’t get hurt.

Promises are even harder to keep.

“Well, that’s true.”

The guy before me quickly becomes sullen at my words, pursing his lips.

Perhaps he’s starting to open up emotionally.

Every time this happens, memories of his childhood suddenly come to mind.

Even back then, when he got sulky, he’d purse his lips, just like he’s doing now.

I continue speaking with a wry smile.

“But don’t worry this time.”

“…?”

While I may promise to come back alive, I rarely claim I won’t get hurt.

But this time is different.

“I won’t get hurt today.”

Even if all the fanatics of the Bright Church were to attack me, I’m confident not a single hair on me would be harmed.

There’s only one person who can make me feel threatened in a perfectly laid-out plan.

The patient apostle, Angela Lopez.

With her skills, even my preparations might seem inadequate.

But it’s fine.

She’s on our side, isn’t she?

“Let’s catch up before falling behind.”

“Yeah…!”

Chasing after Seo-yeon, who has somewhat regained her composure, we walk ahead together.

As dawn breaks, faint light filters through the buildings scattered around us.

Standing tall against this backdrop is a towering building.

Angela shouts from in front of it.

“May divine punishment befall the despicable enemies of the innocent!”

“Divine punishment-!”

The first goal is swiftly dealing with the vulnerable enemies to reduce their numbers.

“Charge!”

Leading the charge, Angela and the holy knights accelerate with determined footsteps.

In an instant, they reach the church grounds and kick open the massive door in front of the building, revealing a surprised face as it swings wide open.

“Oh, no…! What is this!?”

Across the open door unfolds a vast space where hundreds of hunters, fully armed, stand facing us.

It’s as if they knew we were coming.

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

A voice echoes through the armed hunters, emanating from a figure standing vaguely on a dais beyond them.

Clad in a white robe, a man in his early forties stands there.

He gives off a kind impression.

Lines formed by gentle laughter and age adorn his face.

This man, looking warm and kind, extends his arms with a bright smile and continues speaking.

“Welcome.”

He is none other than the leader of the Bright Church.

An S-rank villain notorious worldwide for his formidable abilities.

Brain Washer.

“Our prospective disciples of the church.”

Beneath his seemingly friendly smile lies a sharp malice.

“Now, brothers and sisters! What are you waiting for? Let us guide our prospective disciples into the embrace of our faith, hehe…!”

Empowered by the leader’s command, the hunters charge forward with sinister grins, signaling the start of the battle.

Reacting swiftly, Angela regains her composure and shouts.

“Don’t panic! Nothing has changed!”

Indeed.

The objective remains the same.

To eradicate the Bright Church.

Of course, with the operation exposed, things have become more challenging.

The vigilant paladins quickly raise their swords and shields to engage in combat.

“I’m going too…!”

Seo-yeon, who was watching the situation beside me, joins in.

“Hmm….”

Although the battle that has just begun may seem tense at first glance, the reality is that our side is at a disadvantage.

One holy knight is facing as few as five and as many as eight hunters.

Their unique resilience and toughness may make them appear strong initially, but their limits will soon show.

“It can’t be helped.”

Pulling out the ace card a little early.

Quietly stepping out of the building, leaving behind allies engaged in fierce combat.

* * *

The one who purchased the Guardians’ property worth 4.4 billion was none other than Kim Dojin.

He purchased ten of the S-grade magic stones, each costing over 5 billion.

And he buried them around the church’s premises.

So, why did he purchase these and bury them in the ground?

To expand his domain.

[Activating the Dominator’s Domain.]

To make this small piece of land given to him even larger.

He constantly researched, experimented, and realized.

Everything within that land belongs to him.

Not just the magic, but the ground he treads on, the air he breathes, the rustling wind, and even the people.

It’s just that he still lacks the power to control them as he wishes.

What needs attention now is the magic.

“All magic within the Dominator’s Domain will move according to my will.”

The magic naturally residing within the domain will all be under Kim Dojin’s control.

In other words, it means that all the magic within it is usable by him.

Kim Dojin became curious.

“Can’t the domain be expanded further?”

As his abilities grow, it’s only natural for the domain to expand as well.

What intrigued Kim Dojin was not the natural growth accompanying his abilities but a forced expansion.

And he found it.

By establishing the amount of magic and interference required to activate the Dominator’s Domain into a formula and inscribing it into the magic stones.

The edge of the line drawn by the Dominator’s Domain.

Activating the formula inscribed in the S-grade magic stone placed there from a distance.

Creating another domain after a while.

And a message.

[Activating the Dominator’s Domain.]

The newly created domain naturally intertwines with the area centered around Kim Dojin.

The domain doubled in size.

Activating the formula inscribed in the magic stone placed at the edge of the newly drawn boundary.

[Activating the Dominator’s Domain.]

And the cycle continues.

[Activating the Dominator’s Domain…!]

[Dominator’s…!]

[Domin…!]

Ten magic stones and Kim Dojin.

A total of eleven domains merge into one vast entity, encompassing the extensive headquarters of the Bright Church.

He felt it.

The magic forcibly expanded within the vast domain seemed to be connected to his nerves.

“Ha…, this feeling is killing me.”

Indeed, he was smiling.

Not a normal smile but a dangerous grin engulfed in an indescribable sense of pleasure.

His gaze shifted outside the building towards the two groups fighting back and forth.

“Huh.”

Amusing.

It felt like watching grown-ups observing children fighting in the neighborhood.

“…Except for Angela.”

What about her?

She was like an adult trying to stop children from fighting but getting involved and grabbing the kids by the hair, acting like a bully.

That’s how formidable she was.

“Is she a true master?”

It seemed like she was demonstrating the true power of a master whose potential had blossomed to its fullest.

But even for her, the current situation didn’t seem easy.

More precisely, the crisis was looming over the paladins she led.

“It seems like we’re reaching our limits.”

Their recovery rate couldn’t keep up with their deep wounds.

If things continued like this, they would face complete annihilation.

Watching this, he made a decision.

“Let’s take the initiative.”

To seize full control of this battle.

To do so, he needed to capture both the enemy’s and allies’ attention with a powerful impact.

And something good came to mind.

The grand magic discovered in the S-rank dungeon in England.

Known for requiring an immense amount of magic power, deemed impossible to use alone.

It was the pinnacle of fire magic in fantasy novels or games, familiar to all as the ultimate skill.

“Meteor.”

Kim Dojin decided that now was the time to reveal the shocking truth to everyone.

The ultimate fire magic known as Meteor, believed to be the ultimate fire spell, actually held an uncomfortable truth.

Upon learning this, they will be captured by a shock and terror as immense as when they realize the fact that Santa Claus does not actually exist in this world.