Chapter 228

I was starting to be sure of it: Gaia really dislikes me.

And not just a mild dislike, but a level of hatred. My hands were proof enough of that.

Just now, Erica cast a divine barrier. It has basic defensive capabilities along with divine power imbued within it.

If I set my mind to it, I could break it easily. But remembering what happened before, I relaxed my strength.

It felt more like a gentle tap of curiosity rather than an all-out attack. Yet, since I was already charging at it, the impact was still quite strong.

‘Is it really this powerful with just a light tap?’

I watched my slowly regenerating fist. It wasn’t completely scorched like before, but the flesh was certainly burned away.

I could still stand firm against most flames and explosions. However, I was especially vulnerable to Gaia’s divine power.

Even Gulrak’s lightning didn’t do this much damage. There was definitely something off.

‘Well, I could break it…’

It’s easy enough to shatter the divine barrier. It doesn’t have particularly high durability.

But I couldn’t help but hesitate because it hurt too damn much when I touched it.

I was used to pain, but this was on a different level. It felt like dipping my hand in hydrochloric acid.

No matter how tough I am, I hate pain. Even adults are afraid of needles after all.

“Is your hand okay? You seemed to get hurt badly earlier.”

“I’m fine. It’s all healed.”

“Thank goodness. But is it supposed to be like that? I don’t really know much about Lady Gaia.”

Kara expressed her confusion while looking at the divine barrier and the person hiding within it.

It seemed she thought I was hurt because of the divine barrier.

However, while I felt that way, to Kara, it was just an ordinary protective screen.

“Try hitting it. I’m the only one reacting like this.”

“Really?”

Thunk!

Kara hit the barrier with her fist in response. The result was as expected.

Unlike me, her fist was completely fine. This left her puzzled.

“That’s weird. Why are you the only one reacting?”

“I have no clue.”

“Can you break it?”

“Yeah, if I had a weapon.”

If I had a weapon, it wouldn’t be impossible to break. But punching it just felt too painful.

“Here, there’s something suitable. Take it.”

“Thanks.”

Just then, there was a combat hammer lying around. It was the weapon wielded by the guy blessed by Erica, who charged at me.

For reference, he’s currently encased in a white barrier. Time will pass, and once he regains consciousness, he’ll charge again.

However, as Malboro explained, if he’s unconscious, then resurrection is impossible.

‘Let’s just break it first.’

The divine barrier has a distinct difference from a regular one: you can’t see in from the outside.

On the other hand, from the inside, you can see outside. They’d be watching everything I’m doing.

I need to prepare for that. Since they saw me causing a commotion, they could decide to unleash divine power at any moment.

Bang!

I gripped the combat hammer with both hands and swung down hard. Maybe I put in more force this time, but cracks began to form already.

I planned to break it slowly, as a single hit might cause an explosion. So, I swung the hammer down again.

<Crack! Crash!>

Swinging down like chopping wood, I got it close to breaking. I stepped back while still holding the combat hammer.

Since they might try to catch me off guard from the inside, it was better to keep my distance.

‘Good thing I found a solid weapon.’

I picked up an axe lying on the ground instead of the combat hammer. Of course, it was left behind by another student.

I gripped the axe with both hands for throwing and got ready. The last step was to completely smash the divine barrier, now barely holding together.

Seeing how the barrier cracked and didn’t seem to be repairing, it looked like Erica was holding back as well. But I wasn’t going to just take that.

“Hah!”

With a forceful throw, the axe soared through the air. With the added spin, its destructive power would be considerable.

Crack!

The axe hit the divine barrier right on target, just like it got stuck in wood.

Normally, it would bounce back, but being stuck meant it had lost its effectiveness as a barrier.

<Crack- Crinkle->

As I expected, the barrier showed signs of breaking. Just in case, I kept Kara close.

“Kara. If divine power shoots out from there…”

“You want me to block it? Got it.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Bang!!

While I was chatting with Kara, the divine barrier shattered into pieces. As soon as I saw that happen, I pointed my finger.

I planned to knock Erica out before she did anything ridiculous. Given her personality, she could just suddenly unleash divine power.

“… Blessing!”

“Huh?”

Just as the barrier shattered like glass, Erica and her guards became visible inside.

Had she been reciting a prayer already? Erica shouted, raising her fist towards the sky with all her might.

Yeah. Remember that time when Ragnarok shattered? She’s pulling off the same move that Rize showed back then.

‘That phrase…’

Chill!

In an instant, everything went cold. I felt the blood in my body turning ice.

Wilderness instinct screamed that danger was near, and I looked up. A column of golden light was falling towards me.

As expected, the moment the barrier broke, Erica seemed to cast a divine spell on me. Thankfully I anticipated it; otherwise, it would’ve been dangerous.

‘But…’

Just as I jumped back with Kara, I sensed something was off.

I clearly dodged the column of golden light, yet it was still right above me. And why was it coming down towards me?

‘No way…’

Suddenly, the divine spell meant for great demons flashed into my mind from the Soul World. It looked like an ordinary blessing, but it wasn’t.

It was a spell that buffs the player while inflicting horrible dot damage on demons.

Strictly speaking, it’s a ‘blessing’ that only benefits ‘living beings.’ Conversely, it was deadly for demons…

‘Sacralization?’

It’s notoriously known for inflicting terrible pain. It’s so useful that people use it in the latter parts of battles.

Even though it consumes an immense amount of divine power, the spell itself is an easy one. If you can accurately target it with your eyes, it’s done.

Flash!

The shimmering column of light descended toward me from the sky.

Screeeech!

“AAAHHHHH!!”

I screamed in agony as my entire body burned.

It wasn’t just burning; it felt like my whole body was melting away.

I’ve never felt this level of pain in the forest. Even being bitten by a wolf or suffering from poison, I’ve managed to endure.

But not now. Physical pain aside, I was bizarrely mentally disoriented.

“Sivar! Are you okay?! Stay conscious!”

“Ugh… it hurts…”

Soon enough, the blessing disappeared. But the pain lingering in my body remained intact.

I lay on the ground, shaking. My body was slowly regenerating, but my mind wasn’t.

“Now’s the time! Hurry!”

“Sister! What’s going on?! Why is Sivar acting like this again?!”

“AHHHH!”

“I don’t know! Just protect Sivar!”

All sorts of chaotic voices swirled in my ears. Luna seemed to have joined in.

‘It hurts. Why? What’s the reason? Why does divine power hurt so much?’

Even though I wanted to calm down, my body wouldn’t settle. The questions remained unresolved, and my head just grew more chaotic.

If it was just physical pain, I could endure it. But my body wouldn’t respond.

It was strange how I reacted particularly to divine power, especially that of Gaia.

If I had poured acid on my hands, it wouldn’t have caused this much chaos.

“Cough!”

“Just hold on a bit longer! You take care of the back!”

“Y-yes!”

“Yeonju! Don’t just watch; do something!”

It hurts. My body regenerated entirely, but the pain didn’t fade.

The scars left on my body ached, and they wouldn’t easily heal.

‘Why… what on earth… why…?’

What did I do wrong to Gaia that I had to endure this kind of pain?

I’m the victim here. I was just living a normal life when I was suddenly dragged into this place.

So why do I have to suffer this pain? Why does Gaia hate me?

‘What’s more… she didn’t even answer me…’

She didn’t respond, even in the temple. Gulrak even sent a spirit to persuade me.

But what about Gaia? What did I do wrong that makes her dislike me?

I want to know the reason. I’m the one who was forcibly dragged here.

[Excellent… experiment…]

What is that?

[To the next stage… the vessel…]

What’s this voice?

Among the chaotic thoughts, muffled voices began to surface.

Could be a man or a woman; it was hard to tell. Maybe it was both.

As memories of the wounds I had received came to mind when I touched the scars, something began to sporadically surface.

‘Discovery. Experiment. Confinement. Pain. Sacred. Vessel.’

Each word resonated in my head. I couldn’t quite get a grasp on it.

I didn’t remember the situation itself. Only scattered words came to mind.

‘Our… child…’

No. Let’s discard all of that. I’m done with everything now.

I only want to draw Gaia out now.

If she won’t respond from her side, then I need to make her respond from this side.

That was my conclusion while I was struggling with pain, both mentally and physically.

I forced myself to calm my trembling hands and looked up.

“Protect the priest!”

“If we protect the priest, we can win!”

The priest is the problem. Those blessed by Gaia are all a bunch of issues.

Gaia is the only one who brought me this pain. Even if Gulrak disapproves, he hasn’t inflicted this kind of suffering.

‘The reason is…’

I’ve consistently said that I don’t know the reason. Even Gaia wouldn’t answer.

So let’s make her answer. If I cut off Erica’s head, at least that would grab her attention.

‘But Erica is of Chaos… No, Gaia. Not yet.’

I quietly gripped the hammer that was lying beside me. The only thing left was to charge at Erica.

“Sivar! Are you coming to your senses?”

“… …”

“Sivar? Why aren’t you answering…?”

I ignored Kara calling my name. What mattered now wasn’t Kara.

It was Erica over there. I casually ignored my surroundings and advanced straight toward Erica.

Since I was determined to run, the students wouldn’t be able to stop me. In other words, it meant I was right in front of Erica.

“Hah…!”

“… …”

As I closed the distance to her, Erica’s eyes widened in shock.

Now that I look closely, she wasn’t in her usual muscular form, but a normal silhouette. Given her smaller chest, she must have exhausted her divine power.

After all, sacralization, while easy, has a heavy toll on divine energy. She must have used up a lot of it before.

[It’s fine…]

Not fine. I ignored the voice that crept into my ears and raised the combat hammer.

Pouring all the negativity I could muster, I struck down fiercely. I had infused magic into it, so Erica wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

The protective barrier given by the academy would have no meaning now. There was no need for power control at all.

I would hear from Gaia by any means necessary. Why she is making me suffer.

Whish—

In a moment of slow time, I caught Erica’s horrified expression.

Her pale face contrasted sharply with her pink hair. It was an excellent look.

Just as the hammer was about to land on her head, my vision suddenly changed.

KWAAAAAAHHH!!

But my hammer didn’t stop. A resounding crash filled the arena.

The shockwave spread everywhere, and my hair and clothes flapped wildly.

Had it been Erica’s head, the shock would have been non-existent. In other words, something sturdy had protected her.

“… It seems I’m not too late.”

“… …”

A familiar if not too familiar back figure. I stood there staring at it blankly.

The figure slowly turned to face me, having blocked my attack with her back.

“It’s alright. Sivar.”

“… … Rize.”

It was Rize. Not in her muscular form, but her normal appearance.

Was it because of my attack just now? A thin trail of blood ran down her mouth.

But she smiled. As if it were nothing, she was trying to calm me down.

[It’s okay.]

At that same moment, Rize’s voice rang clear in my head.

Unlike the jumbled voices from earlier, Rize’s voice was crystal clear.

As my mind began to fade away, Rize naturally embraced me. A plush, warm sensation.

At the same time, it felt oddly nostalgic. Come to think of it, had Rize ever hugged me?

Maybe with Eli, but not Rize. Not even during our time living together.

“Do you have something to say?”

“… … Yeah.”

I squeezed out the words as my consciousness began to blur.

“I don’t like… pain…”

I didn’t understand why I had said that.

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