Chapter 312: World's Enemy (4) |
A dark cave.
[“It seems to be over. I don't need to intervene.”]
A pair of golden eyes, gleaming with a strange light, materialized in the darkness.
Sharp, reptilian pupils, slit vertically.
The eyes of a dragon, the largest and most powerful creature in this world.
Shri Hartgen, the Gold Dragon, in his true form, observed the flow of energy across the continent, then closed his eyes.
He had been prepared to intervene if necessary, as Horus had requested… but it seemed like he wouldn't have to get involved personally.
[“Though… the problem doesn't seem to be completely resolved.”]
He couldn't see everything clearly from this distance, but he could still grasp the general situation.
‘Was this his plan all along? To use him as a sacrifice to strengthen himself?’
If that was true, then the Apostle had been used and discarded.
One threat was gone, but the Immortal King, the continent’s greatest enemy, remained. It was still too early to let his guard down.
[“But it seems the Church’s losses aren’t too severe. That’s a relief.”]
Even with thorough preparations, there were bound to be casualties in a battle of that scale, especially against an opponent wielding such power.
Many of those who had formed the holy barrier were either dead or injured, and the paladins who had burned their life force to fight on the front lines would need a long period of recovery.
But considering the overwhelming power of their opponent, the casualties were surprisingly low.
If they hadn’t prepared in advance, it would have been a disaster.
‘At this rate… we can avoid the worst-case scenario. They should be able to handle the Immortal King now…’
He was particularly impressed by the Hero and the other warriors.
The continent’s power had grown far beyond his expectations. He had been worried about the dragons’ inability to participate in this war against the Immortal King, but it seemed their sacrifice in the previous generation hadn’t been in vain.
As Shri Hartgen nodded slowly, a strange sense of satisfaction washing over him,
[“Then… Kuh! Cough—! Hack—!”]
…a violent coughing fit wracked his body, and a stream of blood, like a waterfall, gushed from his massive, golden maw.
The blood, dark and clotted, pooled on the cave floor, its metallic scent filling the air.
[“…Huu… It won’t be long now. It’s time to prepare for the end.”]
He stared at the growing pool of blood for a moment, then cleaned it up with a simple spell.
He was fortunate that he could spend his final moments with his successor.
He had been prepared to sacrifice his remaining life force if necessary… but if that had happened, he wouldn't have been able to leave Horus his final gift.
‘May he become the hope of our clan.’
The old dragon closed his eyes, a wistful expression on his face, as if looking towards a distant future.
He had to conserve his strength for his final moments.
____________________
After the Saint’s public declaration that the ‘Apostle of the Foreign God’ had been banished,
The chaos at the holy land began to subside.
Church officials busily moved about, collecting the bodies of the fallen and tending to the wounded.
And then, the hero party arrived at the Roselia Temple.
“Huu, I’m late, as expected. Long-distance teleportation has its limitations…”
“Don’t mention it, Isea-nim. It’s thanks to you that we could even travel this far. You must be tired. Please rest for a while.”
Saintess Liesta, ignoring Isea’s tired sigh, immediately joined the healers, tending to the wounded.
Emergency treatment had already been administered, so there weren’t many critically injured patients… but there were still many who needed her help.
“Hmm, there are more injured than I expected.”
“It’s still much better than it could have been, Saintess. If it wasn’t for those who came with the Saint, the casualties would have been far greater.”
“Ah, indeed… That’s true. They were even more terrifying than the Immortal King…”
“…It’s all thanks to the Saint’s foresight and preparations. And that Vampire Monarch… If the Saint hadn't accepted him, he wouldn’t have helped us.”
As they talked, Heinrich’s foresight and wisdom were once again praised.
It was only natural, considering he had not only instructed the Church to prepare for the attack but also played a crucial role in the battle itself.
He had even dealt the final blow, banishing the Apostle of the Foreign God, and most importantly…
“Oh! May the Main God’s grace be with us!”
“Hahaha, a second Grand Blessing! What a joyous occasion!”
“Ah— The moment those wings of light unfurled… I can still see it clearly. To think I would witness such a miracle with my own eyes! Oh, Main God!”
Heinrich’s “Wings of Radiance”, revealed before tens of thousands of devout followers, had filled them with awe and reverence.
A Grand Blessing, bestowed upon him by the Main God as he drove his holy sword into the Apostle’s chest… and the beautiful wings of light that had unfurled, radiating a brilliant light!
It was a scene straight out of legends.
‘I’ll never forget this!’
‘This is truly the Main God’s guidance.’
‘I have to record this in detail. In my diary, and if possible, even in a painting…!’
The artists among the Church officials had already begun working on capturing that legendary scene on canvas.
It would be immortalized in murals and passed down through generations, a testament to the Church’s history.
They had witnessed a miracle, a divine blessing, and for the devout followers, it was a moment of profound significance.
“…Ah! Where’s the Saint now? I hope he’s not injured.”
“He’s fine, Saintess. He’s currently in the prayer hall, recovering from his exertions and adapting to his new blessing. It seems he needs some time.”
He had unleashed his power during the battle, but to fully master his new abilities, he needed time to understand their limits and fine-tune their usage.
After all, it wasn’t just an ordinary blessing, but a Grand Blessing that elevated him to a new level!
‘Excellent. A truly versatile ability.’
Inside a private prayer room in the Roselia Temple,
Heinrich, his newly acquired wings unfurled, his hands clasped together in prayer, smiled with satisfaction.
「Grand Blessing: Wings of Radiance」 possessed various functions.
High-speed flight, holy power amplification, enhancement of holy skills… and it could be used for both offense and defense, as well as providing buffs.
And more importantly…
‘They look so cool! A paladin with wings of light!’
Perhaps the Main God had sensed his envy of the Master’s wings and granted him this ability?
Heinrich stroked his radiant wings, nodding slowly.
Of course, he wasn’t the only one who had gained something from this incident.
Heinz the Second, who had immediately retreated after the battle, had acquired resistance to holy power from the Master’s blood, and Harley, who had bitten off a piece of his wing, had also gained some valuable genetic information.
…But not everyone had benefited from this major event—.
“Harris-nim? What are you doing here…? Shouldn't you be in the Enamel Continent?”
“Ahaha… This is all thanks to the World Tree’s grace. I’m glad I could be of assistance.”
Lydia, a High Elf from the hero party, looked at Harris, who had been summoned from across the sea, with a puzzled expression.
All he could do was praise the World Tree.
“Hmm, well, I suppose it was a major incident. A follower of an evil god from another dimension…”
She wasn’t convinced, but she couldn’t really argue with him.
There was only one transcendent High Elf, so they couldn’t really question his actions, no matter how unusual.
“Haha… That’s true. The surrounding area has been severely damaged. Perhaps we should help with the restoration? It would be beneficial for both of us.”
“Ah, that’s a great idea! We can even expand the forest. I always felt a bit… cramped here…”
Harris smoothly changed the subject and, leading Lydia away, began to work on restoring the devastated landscape.
And as the others gathered at the holy land were busily dealing with the aftermath of the incident, each for their own reasons,
“Quickly! Move! Hey, you there! Increase the forge’s temperature! That lukewarm fire isn’t going to do anything!”
“C-Chef! More meat!”
“Then chop it! This is war! We’re the supply lines! Anyone slacking off will get extra training!”
““Yes, Chef!””
…The third central dining hall of the Roselia Temple was bustling with activity for a different reason.
“Ah~ This is the life! The temple’s meat is excellent. I’ve been craving this! Hahaha!”
Harley, having made himself at home in the temple’s dining hall, ordered a massive amount of meat and settled down, a satisfied grin on his face.
Post-battle cleanup and damage control were irrelevant to him. He was a simple man with simple needs.
He had exerted himself, so it was only natural to replenish his energy with delicious, nutritious meat.
And he had worked hard, so he deserved this.
He devoured the meat, practically inhaling it, and then, feeling satisfied, reached a conclusion about the recent incident.
‘We drove out the intruder. That’s the end of it.’
He was curious about what had happened to the Master after disappearing from Auterica… but he had no way of knowing.
But judging by the intensity of their final clash, he couldn't be in good shape.
He was probably back on Earth, venting his frustration.
It was a satisfying thought… but he couldn’t be complacent.
‘This is just the beginning. I’ve only dealt him a single blow.’
This victory had only been possible thanks to their home-field advantage, superior intelligence, and the Master’s weakened state.
It wouldn’t be as easy on Earth, where his powers were restricted.
‘And Earth is practically his home ground.’
He needed even more power to defeat him there.
Overwhelming power, enough to overcome any limitations, disadvantages, or penalties.
‘…It’s okay. I’m doing well. I just have to keep going.’
In that sense, this incident, which had strengthened his avatars and weakened the enemy, was a positive outcome.
He didn't know when such an opportunity would come again, but he was confident he could continue to grow stronger.
‘Because I’ve always done it.’
As he was lost in thought, having finished the meat on his table and licking his lips in satisfaction,
A waiter, pushing a cart laden with freshly cooked meat, approached him.
“…Um, Harley-nim?”
He spoke hesitantly, a troubled expression on his face.
“Huh?”
“Even if it’s delicious, you shouldn’t eat the plates…”
Harley, confused, looked down at his table.
It was completely clean.
Not a single piece of meat, not even a plate, remained.
“Ah.”
No wonder the meat had felt a bit… hard.
He had been too distracted.
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