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〈 Chapter 205 〉 Schurz (4)
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“Kill those three.”
The High Priest’s command had barely dropped when the Apostles all charged in.
Zhwiing
An Apostle darted in, swinging his sword at the rushing Schurz.
That guy’s sword was fast enough to be a threat even to a Saint-level Hero.
But Schurz flapped his wings mid-air and twisted his body, causing the attack to miss.
Instead, he quickly created an ice pillar from the ground.
Zap!
The sharp ice pillar rose as if to impale the Apostle rather than just trap him.
However, an Apostle charging from behind swung a hammer of ridiculous size and smashed the ice pillar to pieces.
Then he directly swung the hammer at Schurz.
Bang!
What blocked it was a barrier cast by Stella.
Of course, the barrier shattered under that one blow, but by then, Schurz had already escaped the area.
‘But…’
Ever since the Apostles got involved, the distance to the High Priest could not be reduced at all.
‘Each one of them is strong.’
Not sure if they were Saint-level strong, but each Apostle possessed at least high-level strength.
‘I’ve thought this before, but what on earth are these guys?’
The hoods of the white robes they wore seemed enchanted as the insides were not visible.
Moreover, their voices were all modulated, sounding like the same man.
‘I don’t know where they crawled out from…’
But right now, I didn’t have the luxury to think about that.
The objective was to break through and kill the High Priest.
However…
‘It just can’t be done.’
I felt Beron’s absence heavily.
If he was the Knight responsible for dealing damage as a magic swordsman, it was Beron who always held the front lines steadfastly.
On the other hand, all I had was the talent for dodging, unlike Beron.
Of course, someone at the level of a Saint-level Hero shouldn’t have a weakness.
“Out of my way!!!”
Even if I couldn’t push them back, I could break through.
I transformed the tips of my wings into icicles and shot them forward.
Of course, they all got blocked before reaching the High Priest, but thanks to that, a little gap opened up.
It was the moment I charged through that gap.
‘Hmm?’
From the corner of my vision, something shimmered.
Then a sword popped out from that shimmer.
Clang!
It was Duke who had unexpectedly caught up, blocking the attack with his spear.
His motion was so succinct that it was hard to even comprehend what had happened.
“Not rusty, eh?”
“Gotta be higher up than the underlings to control them.”
He had been leading an organization called the Hero Association, separate from the Church, to suppress Heroes so that a second Beron wouldn’t arise.
But that task seemed surprisingly difficult.
“No wonder you look old.”
“You bastard…!”
By the way, despite having a brief conversation, they hadn’t lost focus on the battle.
Yet… the Apostles still formed an unbreakable line.
Of course, if I used the power of my wings and Stigma more, I might be able to break through somewhat…
But that wouldn’t suffice.
I needed something stronger.
And to prepare for that stronger something, I needed to conserve my wings for now.
It was at that moment.
Stella’s magic, which had managed to survive independently with the full use of barriers and Blink, was completed.
‘Perfect timing.’
Her magic would finally clear a path.
After all, the magic she had just activated was…
Meteor.
The highest-tier magic that drops a massive fireball from the sky.
Crack!
The ceiling of the Church Headquarters was completely obliterated.
Then… it was like a fireball dragged up from hell had crashed into the High Priest’s room.
‘Wings…!’
Schurz spread his wings to shield himself and Duke.
As for Stella, she was far enough from the epicenter and had a magic shield specialized in fire, so she’d be fine.
Crackle!
His ice wings melted instantly upon contact with the heat of the Meteor.
Of course, that amount of ice didn’t stop growing out from his back…
‘Can’t just stand still now.’
Now was the opportunity.
He strongly released cold air around him as he spread his wings.
However…
‘Damn it.’
He was shocked by the scene before him.
‘Is the High Priest unscathed even after taking a Meteor hit?’
A dome-like barrier formed around the High Priest.
Inside that bright red barrier, numerous Apostles still remained.
It seemed that barrier had some ridiculous resistance against magic.
‘In that case…’
I’d have to break through directly.
With the number of combat-viable Apostles significantly reduced due to the Meteor,
It was worth a shot.
Just as he stepped into the High Priest’s barrier.
‘Huh?’
Suddenly, his body felt heavy.
Yet, the rushing Apostles moved quickly.
‘What is this…!’
I could hardly lift a foot.
It felt like my wings had suddenly become incredibly heavy.
‘Is it the High Priest’s power?’
Thinking back, there had been an odd scene in the Snowflake Vision earlier.
The High Priest had caught Freira, who was trying to turn back, without even using his hands.
‘Crap!’
At that moment, a blade was streaking towards him, which Duke deflected with his spear.
“Get a grip, Schurz!”
Right, now wasn’t the time to panic.
‘For now…’
The overly heavy wings were nothing but a hindrance.
So I retracted my wings.
From here on out, I could only fight using the Snowflake Emblem and my swordsmanship.
Sure, my body was still heavy.
But without my wings, I could at least move more freely.
I should be able to fight somehow.
‘Damn, this is tough.’
He swung his sword desperately.
Even with the High Priest’s unnatural pressure pushing down from above, it felt like his muscles were going to tear, but he gritted his teeth and swung.
It seemed Duke was sharing the same sentiment.
“Hey, Schurz, I didn’t plan to follow you.”
“Then want to quit now?”
“Well, that doesn’t sound like a bad idea, honestly.”
But Duke continued to methodically swing his spear.
Maybe he was fighting even better than Schurz.
After all, he was someone who achieved 3rd place in the Hero Ranking with just a spear, unlike Schurz, who relied on wings and other weapons.
His steps might be heavy, but his spear remained sharp.
Deflecting enemies left and right with his thrusts looked like he was reaching the spear’s true end.
But even for him, the situation was grim.
“The enemy just keeps multiplying.”
He already figured out the reason.
In the distance, fallen Apostles shone and rose back to their feet.
“Damn it, I’ve heard of something similar… the medical arts of the White Knights of Leim Kingdom.”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I just heard rumors. The Church is backing that up.”
Whether those rumors were true or not mattered little.
What was clear was that the current situation was far from good because of it.
“Damn, they rise again just as we knock them down.”
To make matters worse, not only was he slower, but the number of Apostles was not dwindling.
If this continued…
“Cough…!”
Just then, an arrow came flying in and lodged itself in Schurz’s left arm.
‘What was that?’
He thought he had dodged the arrow.
But then it suddenly changed direction.
‘Wait, did it actually hit me?’
It moved in mid-air as if it were alive.
He finally looked at the arrow stuck in his arm.
‘What on earth is this?’
It resembled a black ‘thorn.’
Feeling a chilling sensation, he yanked it out of his arm.
But that was the moment.
‘This is…’
Not good.
Sensing something, he asked Duke.
“Remember what I said before? How about we seriously think about that?”
“What?”
“How about quitting?”
“What’s with you…?”
The moment he turned around, Duke noticed the bad look on Schurz’s face.
“You…”
“At this rate, it’ll all be for nothing. So…”
“Schurz, let me ask you something.”
Duke asked with a serious expression.
“Do you truly want to sacrifice your life to kill the High Priest?”
He didn’t quite get the intent behind the question.
But…
“Is that even a question? Of course I do…”
That was the instant.
Scrape.
Duke suddenly swung his spear and severed Schurz’s left arm.
“What the heck…!”
Astonished, Schurz hurriedly froze the severed area to stop the bleeding.
To which Duke said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world,
“You asked first if I wanted to quit, right?”
“That doesn’t mean you can just attack me…”
“If you’re gonna quit, you should make sure the High Priest gets the message.”
“You…”
Duke grabbed Schurz by the collar and lifted him.
Then he spoke to him.
“You said you wanted to kill the High Priest, even at the cost of your life. You know what to do.”
Duke threw Schurz in the direction of the High Priest.
At the same time, he began to step out of the barrier.
“Duke, you bastard…!”
Left alone inside the barrier, Schurz struggled to rise.
He was set on killing the High Priest at all costs, even if it cost him his life.
“Hah…”
He breathed heavily as he gazed at the High Priest.
Then he pointed his sword at the Apostles in front of the High Priest.
His eyes burned with rage.
He was ready to ignite one last time.
But for some reason, the High Priest ordered the Apostles.
“Clear the way.”
As the Apostles moved aside, a path formed.
Through that path, Schurz continued to walk forward.
He felt his body growing heavier with each step, but he somehow managed to keep moving.
“Thanks. For clearing the way.”
Not that it was necessary.
To that, the High Priest replied,
“Thanks? Do you really think you could make it this far?”
“Well, honestly, I don’t think so either.”
The black thorn he was hit with had to be coated in poison.
Duke had prevented the poison from spreading rapidly by cutting off his left arm, but it was severe enough that his whole body was already beginning to stiffen.
It wouldn’t be strange if he died right now…
“But if I can kill you by dying…”
He smiled.
“That’s a gain.”
It was at that moment.
Duke, who had used Schurz as bait to escape the barrier, raised his spear.
His movements outside the barrier were like lightning.
No, bolts of actual lightning sparked off his spear.
He threw that spear… with all his might.
Throwing spear technique.
His throwing spear technique was precisely why they didn’t need an archer in this party.
It was both precise and powerful.
Moreover….
The spear technique’s pinnacle.
It was the technique he had pursued since he lost a promising ally to the 13th Demon King during his rookie days after watching the 13th Demon King’s sword technique.
He had called the 13th Demon King’s swordsmanship “End of Swordsmanship,” and himself aimed to create the “End of Spear Technique” by incorporating it into spear techniques as much as possible.
Of course, technically, it just boiled down to throwing spear techniques.
Yet, that very technique now shone.
Flash!
His spear flew with a blinding light.
At a speed no one could react to… it grazed the High Priest’s cheek.
In that moment, she tilted her head to evade.
“Hmph…”
She said, seemingly puzzled.
“Was this all worth sacrificing comrades for?”
Her gaze was on Schurz.
His chest was now pierced by Duke’s spear.
“Well, thanks to you, it was an unexpected attack, though…”
“Blood…”
Schurz had been hit by a near-fatal blow, yet he opened his mouth.
For some reason, he was even smiling.
“Looks like I’m bleeding, you bastard…”
With those final words, he collapsed.
In his place, Duke spoke up.
“Your spear has Schurz’s blood on it.”
The blood of Schurz, who was already poisoned out of his mind.
Of course, he hoped the spear would strike the High Priest directly, but he had already secured insurance using Schurz’s blood, which would soon be dying from poisoning.
But…
“Why is she still okay?”
Then the High Priest, looking calm, responded,
“Oh, the poison you mean? Was it the thorns? I guess you could think of them as poison.”
“What?”
“Sure, call it poison if you want. But the thorns move by the user’s will. So it doesn’t affect me.”
As if to prove that point, the High Priest indeed appeared to be fine.
‘Damn it.’
In that moment, the Apostles began to charge at Duke again.
Therefore, he had no choice but to pull out his spear once more.
As soon as he did, the foremost Apostle swung his sword at him.
Bang!
It was at the moment he received that sword.
The heavy sensation of the sword.
For some reason, it felt familiar.
“Haha…”
No, there was only one person who could wield a sword with such oppressive weight.
“Beron, what are you doing here?”
Having recognized the Apostle’s identity, he shouted to Stella.
“Stella, burn Schurz’s body!”
“Duke? What are you talking about…”
“If this continues, Schurz has a high chance of becoming an Apostle!”
Now, the only hope left was Allen Pleuk.
So…
“We’ll burn Schurz first, then me! And…”
This was the best way to leave at least a glimmer of hope.
“Run and tell Allen Pleuk about all this!”
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