Chapter 89 : The Conqueror and the Holy Kingdom (3)
Chapter 89: The Conqueror and the Holy Kingdom (3)
Boom-! Boom-!!
Deafening explosions, as though heaven and earth were being torn apart, continuously battered their eardrums.
The trembling ground made it difficult even to keep one's footing.
Amidst it all, Leon calmly surveyed his surroundings with cold eyes.
'There aren't any human corpses. Was this the Saint's doing?'
Perhaps his claim that he wanted to protect the Holy Kingdom hadn't been a lie.
There wasn't a single trace of human presence nearby.
Even after extending his senses to their limits, within a hundred zhang of the area, he couldn't detect anyone except members of the Demon Race.
It seemed they had been evacuated beforehand.
Apparently, the Saint had anticipated a situation like this long ago.
“W-What is happening?”
At that moment, Baylen, who stood beside Leon, asked in bewilderment.
“You weren't told? The Saint has allied himself with the Demon Race. From this point onward, it's safe to call this a war.”
“No, that's not what I meant.”
Baylen shut his eyes tightly.
It seemed he was organizing his thoughts.
Soon, he spoke.
“That's not what I'm asking. I roughly understand what's going on.”
“Then what are you hesitating for?”
Leon pointed toward the Demon Race.
“Let's go defeat them.”
“......”
Baylen fell silent.
Despair filled his solemn face.
Leon understood how he felt.
The Pope had been murdered without warning.
On top of that, war had broken out.
Anyone would be confused.
But the events had already begun.
Baylen was a wise man.
Now that he'd heard the explanation, he'd regain his composure soon enough.
“Hoo... I suppose there's no helping it.”
Just as Leon expected, Baylen quickly calmed down.
As expected of someone who had once served the Holy Kingdom.
He controlled his emotions well.
He seemed to have experienced battlefields more than once.
“Leon, I'm terribly confused right now. So tell me—what should I do?”
“What should you do...”
Leon glanced around the battlefield before answering.
“For now... our goal should be to survive.”
“Understood. Do you know where Sister Saintess went?”
“She ran off somewhere on her own. I think she's evacuating the people nearby...”
“A meaningless effort.”
“There isn't anyone around here besides us.”
“We should regroup with her anyway.”
Just as Leon was about to search for Sibelte—
“So this is where you are.”
The Saint blocked their path.
“Leon. The only child of the Conqueror whom we can subdue.”
“The Saint.”
Leon replied.
“So... subdue me?”
“What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I'm truly sorry.”
“I was the one who betrayed you.”
“But this, too... is for humanity's sake.”
“I hope you'll understand.”
At that moment—
Around fifteen Holy Knights surrounded Leon.
The aura each of them emitted was extraordinary.
Every single one had reached at least the realm of Sword Aura That Wounds from Afar.
“How amusing.”
Leon smiled.
“So you're planning to capture me... and use me to restrain Father?”
“No matter how great the Conqueror is... surely he still cherishes his own blood.”
“I know it's a cowardly tactic.”
“But this, too...”
“Is for humanity's sake.”
Leon finished the sentence for him.
“Isn't that right?”
“...Yes.”
“Hah.”
Leon let out a short laugh.
For humanity's sake.
Yes.
The intention sounded admirable.
No—
It was beyond admirable.
But...
Was the method truly right?
Leon could roughly guess the Saint's reasoning.
An enemy humanity could never defeat would one day invade.
He must have agonized endlessly over how humanity could survive.
Eventually...
He had reached this conclusion.
If victory was impossible...
Then surrender first.
Become their slaves if it meant preserving humanity's lives.
It was the mindset of someone who believed that no matter how filthy life became, living was always preferable to dying.
That was precisely why Leon felt even greater pity.
The intention wasn't wrong.
Only the method was.
Sometimes...
Living wasn't truly living at all.
And becoming slaves of the Demon Race...
Was worse than death.
Leon asked,
“How long have you been working with the Demon Race?”
“Why do you ask?”
“If you had met us just a little sooner... you never would've joined hands with them.”
“That's why I asked.”
“It's regrettable.”
“......”
The Saint's face twisted like that of a demon.
Murderous intent filled his eyes.
“What do you know?”
“I know the Demon Gods are the same beings as the Evil God, Jeozudin.”
“The Conqueror said the same thing earlier.”
“Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
“How could mere mortals ever be equal to a god?”
“The Demon Gods may be stronger than us...”
“But they are not gods.”
“If that's what you believe... then I have nothing more to say.”
“But there is something you should know.”
“The Demon Gods don't want humanity.”
Leon pointed toward the sky.
“Up there.”
“The Transcendent who watches over us as that brilliant star.”
“What the Demon Gods truly seek...”
“Is Solar's life.”
“We're nothing more than spoils of war.”
“......”
Displeasure crossed the Saint's face.
Naturally.
Even after joining hands with the Demon Race...
His heart still belonged to Solar.
He couldn't possibly welcome the idea that the Demon Gods were targeting his god.
“You fool.”
Seeing that expression...
Leon chuckled.
“You know one thing but remain blind to the next.”
“What you did wasn't merely betray humanity.”
“You betrayed your own master, Solar.”
“...Nonsense.”
“Does it look like nonsense?”
Leon grinned.
It was a smile identical to Zeke's.
“I merely told you the truth.”
“Whether you accept it... is entirely your choice.”
Saint Celeste thought,
'He doesn't look like he's lying.'
It was deeply unpleasant.
He had somehow endured the guilt of betraying humanity.
But betraying Solar...
That was different.
'Could it really be true?'
'Were the Demon Gods truly after Solar's life?'
If so...
Then what meaning had all his actions held?
The Supreme God, Solar, had once said:
No matter what hardships came...
Treasure your own life.
That was why he had betrayed humanity.
As long as one remained alive...
Opportunities could arise someday.
If one died...
Nothing could be accomplished.
Even planning for the future required staying alive.
'But it's already too late.'
There was no turning back anymore.
So...
What should he do now?
Crunch-!!
Celeste bit down on his own lip.
Blood trickled from the torn flesh.
The sharp pain cleared his muddled thoughts.
“You may sever my limbs if you wish.”
“But spare my life.”
Having steeled his resolve...
Celeste spoke.
Cold determination shone in his eyes.
It seemed he had made up his mind.
Watching him...
Leon slowly smiled.
“Good.”
“After all...”
“A man who has already drawn his sword should at least cut down a radish.”
“But I haven't finished speaking yet.”
Wooooong-!!
Leon's sword let out a ghostly wail.
The screams of countless spirits pierced everyone's ears.
Merely hearing it made their minds grow dizzy.
“Saint.”
“You're mistaken about more than one thing.”
“The first misconception... was what I just told you.”
“The second...”
Slash-!!
In that instant...
Leon's sword flashed like a ray of light.
A Holy Knight's head flew through the air.
Splaaash-!!
The severed head struck the ground.
A fountain of blood erupted skyward.
The headless corpse, unable to accept its own death...
Reached toward its neck.
Of course...
Its hand never found its head.
That had long since fallen to the ground.
Silence descended.
Unlike the silence surrounding Zeke...
Which had been born from overwhelming martial might...
This one was different.
Gulp.
Someone swallowed nervously.
It was silence born from Leon's power—
Power far beyond anyone's expectations.
And from the ominous aura flowing from his entire body.
Everyone tensed.
The youth they had dismissed as insignificant...
Had reached an unimaginable level.
Watching them freeze...
Leon spoke.
“Your second misconception...”
“Was believing you could capture me.”
Compared to the Empire's knights...
The Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom were significantly weaker.
By the standards of the Martial Alliance...
Most of them would merely rank as First-Class martial artists.
Even the strongest among them...
Barely reached the Peak Realm.
Leon suddenly laughed to himself.
It felt as though only yesterday...
He had been persecuted as a third-rate ronin.
Now...
Even Peak Realm martial artists looked weak to him.
They said frogs forgot when they were tadpoles.
It truly was so.
Wooooong-!!
A blue haze rose from Leon's body.
Unlike Zeke...
Leon still had difficulty controlling crimson mana.
In a chaotic battlefield like this...
Blue inner force suited him better.
Wooooong-!!
He felt his dantian spinning violently.
The internal energy flowing through his meridians filled every part of his body with explosive vitality.
“Did Father strike you as someone who acted without thinking?”
Leon smiled fiercely.
“Why do you think he left me on my own?”
“Obviously...”
“Because he had a reason.”
Step.
Step.
Leon walked toward the Holy Knights.
His footsteps were as relaxed as if he were taking a stroll.
Yet...
Faced with him...
The Holy Knights trembled uncontrollably.
“You've made two fatal mistakes.”
“The first...”
“Was making my father your enemy.”
Terrifying.
“And the second...”
“Was rejecting Father's proposal.”
Their bodies froze beneath the overwhelming pressure.
Standing amidst the raging storm...
Watching Leon calmly advance through the violent shockwaves...
The Holy Knights thought,
'So this...'
'Is the Conqueror's son...'
'He inherited even his father's nature.'
Hair fluttering in the shockwaves.
Eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
He truly looked worthy of the title...
Little Conqueror.
Watching Leon slowly approach...
The Holy Knights instinctively realized something.
Today...
They might be witnessing the birth of the Conqueror of a new era.
Slash-!!
A horrifying slicing sound echoed.
Hot blood splattered across the floor.
The sight sent chills down everyone's spine.
Leon's sword never stopped moving.
Not a single Holy Knight managed to block it properly.
Every swing...
Sent another head rolling across the ground.
The difference in skill was overwhelming.
Even Baylen, who knew little about swordsmanship...
Could clearly see it.
Watching the slaughter...
Saint Celeste thought,
'How can this be?!'
He had assumed Leon was merely a young fool.
Someone without experience.
Without cultivation.
Without anything worth mentioning.
Yet...
Leon was massacring the Holy Knights.
Like a wolf among sheep.
Like a fish returned to water.
He rampaged wildly.
'This won't do!'
At this rate...
Everything would fall apart.
Celeste slowly began reciting a prayer.
He intended to bless the Holy Knights.
Among mages...
There were those capable of strengthening their allies.
Priests possessed similar abilities.
Unlike ordinary priests who specialized only in healing...
Celeste could multiply the strength of his comrades.
It was truly...
A blessing bestowed by the gods.
'Even so...'
'It probably won't matter.'
'The gap between us and Leon is already too great.'
'This is merely a temporary measure.'
Still...
He had to do it.
If he didn't...
The Holy Kingdom truly might fall.
Just then—
Flash-!!
A square-shaped barrier formed around Celeste.
“This is...?”
Celeste looked around in surprise.
“Baylen?”
“Long time no see, Brother Saint.”
“What are you doing?”
“Release this barrier immediately.”
“Don't mind me.”
“Just keep doing what you were doing.”
“I'm simply here to protect you, Brother Saint.”
“Nonsense!”
Celeste roared.
“Did you think I wouldn't realize your barrier blocks my prayers?”
“Remove it at once!”
“And then what?”
Unlike the furious Celeste...
Baylen remained perfectly calm.
Looking into Celeste's blazing eyes...
He spoke quietly.
“Brother Saint.”
“I understand your intentions.”
“But your method is far too wrong.”
“To begin with... I don't think it was ever a good solution.”
“It was the only solution!”
“Move!”
“We have to capture Leon before the Holy Kingdom falls!”
“You mean Leon?”
“Well now... that's a frightening thing to say.”
“Brother.”
“Even if you capture Leon... the Holy Kingdom is still finished.”
“Can't you see?”
“The Conqueror is furious.”
“At this point, we should accept that the Holy Kingdom is doomed and think about how to rebuild—”
“That's not it!”
“You don't understand how terrifying they are!”
Only then did confusion appear on Baylen's face.
Celeste looked utterly terrified.
His pale face seemed as though it would collapse at any moment.
'That's strange.'
'No matter how terrifying the Conqueror is...'
'Should someone really be this frightened?'
Baylen tilted his head.
Something felt off.
Now that the Conqueror had arrived in the Holy Kingdom...
Everything was essentially over.
After all...
It was the Conqueror himself.
Yet Celeste's reaction felt strange.
It was almost...
As though there existed something even more terrifying than the Conqueror.
“What's all this commotion?”
“You still haven't finished?”
At that moment...
Baylen's body froze.
He felt it.
An overwhelming power...
Far beyond anything he could possibly endure.
Forcing his stiff neck to turn...
Baylen slowly looked behind him.
There...
He saw four figures.
At first glance...
They looked human.
But the wolf ears atop their heads made it obvious they were anything but.
They looked like a fusion of humans and Werewolves.
True wolf-men.
Watching them...
Baylen thought,
'So these are the ones...'
'The monsters Brother Saint feared.'
It seemed...
Things weren't going to unfold as easily as they'd hoped.