Chapter 449

The outstretched left hand couldn’t reach and stopped.

The swinging sword felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

Dragging both legs as if shackled, the vision spun and flickered like a broken LCD screen.

Chains wrapping around the entire body tightened, suffocating.

Literally the worst condition.

It’s been so long since such a tough battle, I couldn’t even gauge it.

“Ugh… Argh…!”

In the midst of it, the remnants of the charm magic I somehow broke left only lust behind.

Every time I moved, a burning heat and stimulating pleasure surged between my chest and legs.

Disgustingly.

It’s a good thing there was only one lunatic trying charm magic in the middle of a desperate battle. If ten of them had cast it simultaneously, it might have been dangerous.

“Haah… Huh… Haah…”

After somehow cutting down two more, I exhaled hot breaths with a flushed face and drank the holy water I had tucked in my belt.

Originally saved for fighting Rübitz, but it seemed like I wouldn’t get to use it properly if I saved it any longer.

The holy water of Elpinel, blessed by Lacey.

It was said to provide some resistance to mental magic or curses.

Indeed, it was as she said.

As the lukewarm liquid seeped into my stomach, my spinning and flickering vision returned to normal.

The curse of weakness shattered, and my limbs, heavy like waterlogged cotton, regained strength.

My mind cleared like a transparent lake.

Even the pleasure that had been driving my body wild gradually faded.

The effect is certain.

Although it didn’t break the binding magic, at least the effects of curses and mental magic were significantly weakened.

And once strength returned to my body, this level of binding was no problem.

“Kyaaaah!”

– Crash!

The chains shattered just by stepping forward with full strength.

Scattering the remnants of divine light like dust, I charged towards the enemies again.

“Oh, Elpinel’s holy water!”

“Push through with force!”

While the holy water’s effect permeated my body, curse magic wouldn’t work.

They seemed to know that too, stopping their curses and only pouring binding and attack magic.

No explosion-type magic, likely to avoid harming their allies.

‘Leave the flying ones to me!’

[Now you’re giving orders!]

Hersela complained but controlled her solidified martial energy to deflect the incoming magic.

Crimson tentacles, lightning, and ice arrows collided and dissipated one after another.

Blocking magic like this consumes a lot of energy, but there was no choice.

If I kept dodging, I wouldn’t get a chance to attack.

Trusting Hersela’s skill, I ignored the distant magic and charged at the priests ahead.

Durandal’s blade, filled with energy, emitted a sharp aura.

“Block him! Buy time somehow!”

The priests in front began casting magic simultaneously.

A spiraling flame surged forward, resembling a snake.

I tore off a wall with my left arm and used it as a shield.

The flame vortex collided with the wall fragments, scattering in all directions.

The red-hot rocks melted and dripped from the heat.

…Not as hot as I thought.

I threw the mostly melted fragment aside and accelerated my steps.

Dodging the rain of ice spikes from above, I leaped over the cold stream on the ground and charged at them, kicking off the wall.

“Fall back!”

The presumed high priest swung his arm, and a highly compressed air bullet flew towards me.

Like a semi-transparent giant’s punch.

With overwhelming force befitting a high-level spell.

I roared like a beast and swung Durandal with all my might.

A blue lightning bolt drew a semicircle, splitting everything in its path.

– Boom!

Jin’s blade shattered the magical force, and overwhelming power scattered even the divine light.

That was good.

But the air bullet burst like a balloon, sending shockwaves in all directions.

“Ugh!”

“Ahh!”

Several priests caught in the shockwave collapsed, and a couple were flung down to the first floor.

I was also swept back by the force.

If it were fire arrows or something, I might have withstood it, but this kind of pushing shockwave was impossible to endure mid-air.

Unless I had wings.

‘Ah damn, jumping attacks are trash.’

[You knew that and still jumped?]

I flew backward, letting out a frustrated sigh.

Deflecting the following magic with Durandal.

Soon, the short flight ended.

– Thud!

My body slammed into the prayer room wall.

The impact, like a several dozen kg iron block hitting, shattered the rock wall, scattering fragments before my eyes.

“Cough…!”

Thanks to Asha’s armor, there were no major injuries, but the shock from my back forced a dry cough.

“Now! Attack all at once!”

“Die!”

The magic bombardment began without a moment to breathe.

“Ah, seriously…!”

The distance widened again.

I had no choice but to run around like crazy, dodging the incoming magic.

“You cowardly bastards—! Fight me up close!!”

A shout filled with anger.

Of course, their response was a barrage of flames.

A deafening explosion seemed to overturn the world.

—

…Honestly, this is really dangerous.

Anxiety drenched my spine, and my mouth dried up.

Even though I was dodging and countering to minimize damage, the wounds were gradually accumulating.

The martial energy was also diminishing as it countered the magic.

Even though there were two hundred priests, I thought their mana or divine power would be running out by now… but the intensity of their attacks showed no signs of weakening.

Do these bastards have infinite mana? No, that can’t be.

Unless they’re consuming magic stones like water…

I don’t know.

With no time to think, as stopping even for a moment would mean facing dozens of spells.

I tried to intimidate them with martial energy, the technique Hersela called “Heavenly Demon’s Descent,” but…

『Serénus potéstas – Clear Reason』

As Rübitz, who was watching, shone with divine light, the priests, momentarily frozen in fear, quickly regained their senses and charged again.

A mental stability spell. Or maybe a miracle.

In any case, it was the opposite of the martial energy that instilled fear.

“You bastard…!”

“You seem nervous, Ai-shan Gi-or. Where did your earlier arrogance go? Two hundred priests are nothing, you said. Is it tougher than you thought?”

Rübitz, floating in the air, taunted in a relaxed tone.

“Shut your mouth!”

I threw a dagger from my pocket at him.

The black blade tore through the air.

But he calmly extended his left arm and shone with divine light.

『Ultoris præsídĭum – Avenger’s Protection』

The light from his fingertips wrapped around the black iron dagger, and Asha’s dagger, flying like an arrow, turned back towards me.

A reflection spell this time…!

A spell that returns projectiles like arrows to their owner.

Normally, it wouldn’t reflect a master knight’s attack, but… how much mana was he using? His reflection spell even blocked my attack!

I hurriedly swung Durandal to deflect the dagger aiming for my neck.

– Clang!

With a clear metallic sound, the dagger hit Durandal’s blade and flew sideways, embedding into the wall.

“Did you think we had no means to deal with a monster like you? Our god, Grimnir, is a great sage who governs the abyss of magic with endless wisdom. We, his servants, do the same.”

“All talk…!”

I glared at him, grinding my teeth.

The sense of crisis running down my spine grew stronger.

The fact that this guy, who had been mostly watching since the initial attack, suddenly spoke up… probably meant the spell he was preparing was complete.

Indeed, the symbols and strings above his head had formed a dazzling magic circle, shining with divine light.

Three times more magic circles than during the initial meteor shower.

It reminded me of Isabella, who poured out magic like water.

…This is bad. Really bad.

After nearly ten minutes of fighting, I hadn’t reduced their numbers much, and their mana showed no signs of depletion.

And now their leader was seriously joining the fray.

“If strength is lacking, overwhelm with numbers. If fear is your weapon, cut off emotions. This is human wisdom, the depth of magic.”

“Ah, is that so? That wisdom doesn’t seem to be killing me.”

Though scorched and scratched here and there, I still had no major injuries.

I was somehow managing to respond to the relentless magic storm.

They were probably holding back on high-level spells that could cause widespread destruction, fearing being buried alive.

“Indeed, their attacks alone won’t easily bury a hero. They lack the decisive strike. But… isn’t that why I’m here? Now, behold his power!”

Rübitz spread his arms, praising the god in an impassioned tone.

A blinding light. An immense amount of mana surged above his head.

It was beyond what a single person could possess.

The output resembled a siege magic cast by dozens of mages pooling their mana.

In terms of sheer power, it surpassed even the energy I possessed!

“Praise and receive it! The divine power of Grimnir, the god of magic.『 Heavenly Authority 』!”

Rübitz shouted the god’s name with joy.

The next moment,

The sky unfolded above the prayer room’s ceiling.