Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Battle in the Abyss Part 4

On the secluded narrow path, the disheveled villagers moved hastily with dejected faces.

Behind them, the contours of their long-time village were still visible.

It was their home that they relied on for survival. If possible, no one wanted to leave. However, looking at the black sun symbolizing death and hearing the muffled explosions from within the village, none had the courage to turn back.

In the crowd, Aelia’s face was clouded with worry.

“Barry…” the girl softly called her brother’s name, as if wanting to say something but unsure how to begin.

“…What?”

The boy named Barry was also in low spirits.

“Do you think little Shirl will come back to find us?”

“…She definitely will. Didn’t you see? Shirl is a knight of the Pope…”

“Do you know what that means?”

“…Probably a very powerful knight, right?”

“Not just powerful!” Barry tried to smile, attempting to soothe his sister or perhaps just convincing himself.

“The title of a knight of the Pope might sound similar to a church knight, but the meanings are entirely different. Knights are merely a term of respect the church uses for warriors. You shouldn’t mistake a knight of the Pope for just a slightly better knight.”

“So, little Shirl is really powerful… even more so than Father?”

“How can Father compare to a knight of the Pope? Even though he is impressive too…” Barry scratched his head in frustration, “How do I explain this… Oh, Sword Saint Lena would surely know!”

“Of course! The great hero who single-handedly slew the demon Hippodorus over twenty years ago, saving humanity from disaster! Everyone knows, don’t take me for a fool.”

“What if I tell you he’s part of the knights of the Pope?”

Aelia’s eyes widened instantly, disbelief written all over her face.

“You mean…”

“And Elizabeth, Queen of the realm, is someone you admire, right?”

“You wouldn’t tell me…”

“She’s also a knight of the Pope~”

Barry started boasting with pride, momentarily forgetting about their exile.

“So, knights of the Pope are not ordinary knights. They are titles given by the holy church to heroes.”

“Then, Flare Lapulia…” Aelia trembled with excitement.

“You guessed right!”

“So, little Shirl…”

“What are you two talking about?”

Ellen, walking ahead, asked curiously.

“About the knights of the Pope,” Barry shrugged.

“Oh, those legendary heroes?”

“Ellen! How could you know too!”

“…Isn’t this common knowledge?”

“Hahaha, my sister is foolish, so she didn’t know.”

Barry mercilessly mocked his sister.

“…”

Seeing his fiancée’s face flush, Ellen realized he had said the wrong thing and chose to remain silent.

“So, since Shirl is a knight of the Pope, she must be as powerful as them. You have nothing to worry about… Everything will be fine.”

His last words seemed more like reassurance for himself.

“But that monster looks powerful too…”

At that moment, the ground suddenly jolted.

Following that, blinding white light appeared in the distance, turning everyone’s faces pale.

“Boom—”

A loud rumble made the villagers restless.

“…Quick, look over there!”

“It looks like that black sun…”

“That sun seems to have exploded…”

“Seems like…”

“So, little Shirl won!”

As the white light faded, the black sun in the sky vanished.

“Barry! It’s little Shirl! It must be her! She won!”

Aelia grabbed Barry’s hand and jumped up excitedly.

Barry also looked delighted, but being a boy, he remained calmer than Aelia.

“Calm down, Aelia, let’s wait and see…”

“Surely little Shirl won! The monster has disappeared! Let’s go back now?”

Aelia attempted to run back, but Barry quickly pulled her back.

“Sister! Wait a bit longer. I know you’re anxious, but we need to wait. If the battle isn’t over, rushing over would only cause trouble…”

Barry bit his lip until blood came out.

Over there, the one fighting the monster to the death was the person he loved. And he could do nothing.

How could he accept it! How could he not want to rush over!

“…Maybe the black sun was temporarily destroyed. We don’t know the situation in the village. Aelia, listen to Barry. It’s safer. Trust the power of the knights of the Pope.”

Ellen’s thinking was much more mature, guided by his intuition as a future hunter.

“Ellen! What did you say!” Aelia’s eyes turned red with rage, her long-suppressed emotions finally erupting, pointing at Ellen with both hands, “What knights of the Pope! What great heroes! I don’t care!! Do you know, Ellen, the one risking her life to protect everyone over there is my sister!!!”

“I know…”

“With such a commotion, she must

Injured! She must have lost a lot of blood! She would feel so much pain, maybe she’s already lying on the ground unable to move… No, I need to go and check on her.”

Alya shook off Barry’s hand and ran towards the village.

“Alya!!” Barry chased after her.

Ellen looked at the hesitant villagers who were still standing in place.

They had heard Alya’s words, their faces filled with hesitation, but they didn’t dare to take action.

“…”

With a determined bite of his lip, he took a step toward the two who had run far away.

…………

“Roar——!!!”

In the roar like a tidal wave and mountain collapse, with each step Whitey took, the ground trembled slightly.

That attack was incredibly powerful, the white beam sweeping across the ground, leaving a deep trench that was steaming, emitting heat even from ten meters away.

The monster’s trail had long disappeared.

“Whitey!! It’s me, here… Cough, cough.”

As soon as I spoke, I coughed up a small mouthful of blood again. My chest felt like it was being pricked by needles, making it hard to breathe.

“Grrr grrr.”

Whitey heard my voice and slowly walked over with heavy steps.

I struggled to turn over, lying on my back in a sprawling position.

It’s over. Alya and the others are finally safe.

“Hehe, hah… Cough, cough.”

So tired.

Whitey stretched out its claws and picked me up.

“Sss—Whitey, gently, it hurts…”

Moving my body hurt terribly. I didn’t know which wound was causing the pain, but every part of my body ached.

This time, it was clearly more severe internal injuries. During the first fall, because of the protection of the black smoke, only my waist was injured, which wasn’t serious. But during the second fall, I was too focused on striking and almost forgot to use the black smoke for protection. At the last moment, I remembered, but the concentration of the black smoke was insufficient, resulting in a chaotic fall that left me unable to stand.

If not for Whitey’s timely arrival, this eighty-pound person might have been done for.

Still lacking experience, getting carried away in fights.

In such high-level battles, recklessness can be very dangerous. I pulled that thing down from the sky, but ended up half-dead myself.

At this moment, I suddenly hated that scoundrel, Hairy Nobleman, immensely.

When you should appear, you’re nowhere to be found, but when you shouldn’t, you pop up like a ghost, scaring me. Isn’t eliminating monsters your job?

Such… childish behavior.

Knight scum.

I curled my lips.

Whitey carefully held me in its palm, lowering its huge head to look at me.

“… What are you looking at?”

“Grrr grrr.”

“Put me on your shoulder, let me rest.”

I’m a bit sleepy… No, wait, do I need to see a doctor now?

After all, with my delicate little body, falling from over a hundred meters twice…

No, I think I need medical attention.

“Whitey, you…”

Before I could finish, I felt intense shaking. Whitey reacted quickly, turning around instantly and shielding me with its chest.

The next moment, black smoke surged from all directions.

“Roar——!!!”

This time, Whitey’s roar contained pain.

“Whitey!” I called out in panic.

What’s happening? That thing, having taken that devastating attack head-on, isn’t dead?!

“Whitey, put me down!”

I was shielded by Whitey’s claws, unable to see anything, and dared not activate the black smoke for fear of hurting it, feeling helpless inside.

But Whitey didn’t listen to me, or perhaps it couldn’t understand what I was saying.

“[Abyssal Language] Execution.”

Hearing this voice made me panic.

I struggled desperately to break free from Whitey’s claws, fell, and hit the ground, groaning in pain.

Lifting my head, I saw nothing but a sky-obscuring black fog. Whitey was wrapped tightly, its white fur like scorched grass, withering and curling up.

It turned its head angrily, opening its fierce mouth.

“Buzz… Buzz… Buzz…”

Countless white spots instantly appeared in the air and were sucked into Whitey’s mouth, condensing into a ball larger than its head.

“Boom——!!!”

Another blazing white beam shot out, breaking through layers of black smoke, revealing the monster’s figure.

Seeing that thing, I leaped up using an ice pillar, black flames flaring as I rushed forward.

The monster’s armor was in tatters, black liquid dripping from gaps, looking heavily wounded. Yet, its body remained agile. Its lower tentacles coiled, lifting it into the air to dodge Whitey’s attack while raising its withered right hand to counterattack.

Not a chance!!!

I pushed my right hand outward forcefully, the frost explosion causing the black flames to change direction, straight towards the monster.

“Rumble——!!!”

The intense explosion flipped it over, allowing me to land steadily on top of it.

Both hands pushed forward, palms close to its dog-like face.

Die.

“Boom boom boom boom——!!!”

Ice pillars mixed with frost exploded in front of me, completely encasing the monster.

Not yet finished!!

Ignoring the excruciating pain, I took a deep breath.

Black flames spewed from my palms.

“Boom——!!!”

“Crack crack crack crack…”

The ice pillars shattered under the impact of the black flames, scattering crystal dust that painted the surroundings beautifully.