Chapter 47: Chaos Line
[…….]
A silhouette sat on the high Divine Throne, legs crossed, chin resting in one hand, looking down. The alienness of the attire, not of this world, added to its majesty.
She instinctively knew. That being was a god.
It was then that human eyes, having beheld the form of a god, went completely blind.
“Come out of that shell, Strict Order and Goodness.”
“……!”
The voice was as clear as the azure sky yet as dark as the deep sea, as if combining the most exquisite melodies yet as empty as the universe.
It was an echo that felt like both blessing and calamity at once.
Hers were ears that dared to hear the voice of a god. This time, the price was not merely the loss of a single organ.
Her eardrums burst, and her brain was concussed.
“──.”
Her collapsing body couldn’t even let out a single scream.
Holy light completely devoured her flesh and soul. It was the moment a human who had usurped divinity vanished.
“Huuuh…”
Her hair returned to its original color, and her feet landed on the ground.
Having used Divine Descent, there was something she had to do. She reached into her inventory.
[
A legendary fever reducer so powerful it is said to cure even divine fever!
It’s an orange-flavored syrup. A syrup spoon is included, so be sure to take the correct dosage.]
It was a reward received upon completing ‘Incantation Cult Master’s Mission Stage 6’ – preventing Doomsday.
Following the system’s instructions, she sipped the potion with the syrup spoon.
[‘Scales that Judge Souls’ asks if that syrup spoon isn’t for giving medicine to babies.]
‘Wow, it feels like a parenting story, I like it.’
She carefully sealed the remaining potion bottle and put it back in her inventory.
When she stood up again, her expression had turned serious.
“Let’s go, Agnes.”
<Okay.>
There was a place even more secret than this called the Sanctuary.
Following the map’s guidance, she proceeded to find a hidden passage. After a while, an empty room appeared.
Above, a straight shaft stretched endlessly. From it, the echoing sound of wind was loudly heard.
“It’s not a ceiling. It’s the sky.”
<What? Really?>
“Yes.”
It was so impossibly far away that the sky appeared small enough to be covered by a palm.
As she drew forth her divine power, an updraft rose from the floor. Her body floated up like a giant balloon, gaining altitude.
[
[
……
As the sky grew closer, the air pressure and temperature dropped.
Divine power skills wrapped around her body, layer by layer, to protect her life.
After a long time, the oppressive view of only stone walls finally changed.
Her vision opened up dramatically.
“…….”
The peak of a pure white snowy mountain greeted her. It was an extreme environment with biting cold, enough to frost her lungs and burst her blood vessels.
However, there was no raging blizzard. She quickly realized this was because the air lay flattened.
The moment she stepped here, a tremendous sense of pressure was felt. She shifted her gaze to find its source.
“…….”
“…….”
Against the curved horizon, the back of a man who bore a millennium of solitude was visible.
His long, black hair rustled, and a beautiful face turned to look at her.
“Hello, Aillet Rodelain.”
A casual greeting. Yet, her retinas stung.
She instinctively knew she would never forget this moment.
“I missed you.”
The Final Mastermind, 100th iteration Tesillid Argent.
Because he welcomed her with a smile so heart-wrenchingly sweet.
The Holy Incantation Army, led by Tesillid Argent, the Holy Sword’s Master, advanced with unstoppable momentum towards their destination.
And finally, they arrived at Pan-El, the capital of the Elfenheim Holy Theocracy.
As expected of a place where a Demon King had taken residence, the city was severely demonized.
The Holy Incantation Army annihilated demons and approached the Pontifical Palace. The Pontifical Palace was virtually the Demon King’s Castle, so the level of demons guarding the vicinity had also drastically increased.
Nevertheless, thanks to the efforts of Serentra Continent’s strongests – Aronjake Hispenril, Romina Lekandro, Fliegel Knight, and Moriphis Marcelion – a breakthrough path was steadily being forged.
Amidst the fierce sounds of battle, someone shouted:
“Look ahead! The Pontifical Palace main gate is within sight!”
“Woah! Not much left!”
“Sweep them all away and break through!”
It was a moment when knights were roaring like battle cries, burning their aura further and cutting down demons.
“All subjugation forces! Disperse on the central avenue!”
“Disperse! Disperse!”
Romina Lekandro’s fierce roar echoed through the battlefield, and knights repeated the command, scattering in perfect order.
It was then that all allies disappeared from the front.
Shhhweeeek!
A colossal Light Siege Ram pierced the air. Melting all enemies in its linear trajectory, it flew towards the Pontifical Palace main gate.
Gugugu-geuk!
The Demon King’s Defensive Barrier activated over the blackened triumphal arch. The Light Siege Ram, colliding with the obstacle, spun idly in the air.
As its rotation speed increased, the siege ram’s energy turned incandescent, and then at a certain moment:
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwangg!
The black barrier shattered, and the siege ram penetrated the main gate.
“Huh.”
“Hick.”
“Hiccup!”
Even their own allies couldn’t hide their astonishment at the skill’s power, which had breached the enemy lines with a single strike.
The owner of the siege ram was clear.
For the skill, optimized for siege warfare, was composed of aura of the purest color in the world. It was what was called Divine Aura.
At the focal point of everyone’s gaze, a holy knight, like something out of a painting, stood amidst a swirling wind.
Tesillid Argent, a handsome man with silver hair seemingly sculpted from holiness, adjusted the Chlamys Cloak draped over his left arm and spoke:
“The Incantation Master has opened the way for us. We’re entering.”
“Yes, yes, sir!”
His calm demeanor, despite displaying overwhelming strength, instilled immeasurable confidence in his allies.
Someone, in admiration, unconsciously muttered:
“Indeed, the Holy Saint’s man…”
“Take care of your man, Chez.”
“Ah, Priest Hestio! Your injuries?”
“You understood right away?”
Of course, not everyone felt the same way. Someone else felt dejected:
“An awakened Holy Aura user, Aura Master, Holy Sword’s Master, and even a Prince… I can’t compare…”
“Don’t lose confidence, Ray.”
The brief moment of casual conversation was all the rest they got.
They had to enter the Pontifical Palace before the demons swarmed again to block the path and the demonic barrier recovered.
Maintaining formation, the Holy Incantation Army swiftly advanced through the main gate.
Passing through the black triumphal arch, where demons were carved instead of angels, a desolate courtyard greeted the subjugation force.
The eerie air mixed with demonic energy, like a cold hand, touched the bodies of those who were tense.
Those who had instinctively taken a deep breath at the chilling sensation flinched.
“Th-this energy?!”
“Is it potent poison?! My body… Cough!”
Each of their Three Great Powers reacted automatically. They began to circulate rapidly within their bodies, as if to protect them.
“M-must hold my breath…!”
The subjugation force believed this was due to the demonized air of the land.
But the reality was different.
“You can breathe comfortably. It’s unavoidable anyway.”
“Lord Tesillid…?”
The demonized land follows the rules of a dungeon. And under Abyssinis’s authority, the absolute law governing the Demon King’s domain was as follows:
“The demonic energy of the Demon King’s domain corrupts beings. As time passes, we will become demonized.”
“Gasp!”
“Let’s hurry. Abyssinis is presumed to be in the Grand Chapel.”
The Pontifical Palace occupied by Abyssinis was practically the Demon King’s Castle. Such a place would not easily permit invaders.
Indeed, shortly after the Holy Incantation Army resumed its advance, the defense system activated.
<Unauthorized…>
<Cannot pass…>
Black, viscous things rose from the ground, taking on the forms of various monsters.
Giant skeletal grim reapers, horned bipedal goats, spined reptiles, and fallen angels with torn wings, their wicked eyes glinting.
Viscous demonic energy and a pungent killing intent filled the courtyard.
“Individual response!”
“Break through!”
Privilege for Possessors