Inheriting the Novel

Descendant of the Saintess (2)

「The three people, including the successor of the Saintess, are currently crossing the domain. Prevent them from reaching this place.」

"Yes, yessir!"

As I quietly watched Delson turn on his heel and dash off, the angel slowly rose into the sky. In any case, they would not be able to stop the successor of the Saintess.

I only hoped they would at least deal with the annoying insects at her side.

'Good.'

The angel, igniel, wore a faint smile as he looked toward 'Ray,' who was on his way here.

The Saintess.

Just hearing that word made Igniel's skin crawl.

'I wanted to tear that carcass to pieces myself.'

But I could not dare go against the will of God.

Igniel had met Grancesia centuries ago.

No, not just met—he had even exchanged blows with her.

It was to punish that arrogant human who dared to gaze upon the incarnation of God so insolently.

'... Tch.'

At that time, I, igniel, was a young angel and suffered the humiliation of being thoroughly beaten by Grancesia.

What an embarrassment, being thrashed in front of the other angels.

Yet the Saintess, seeing me in that state, had even said,

'Why are angels so rude? Maybe you should take some lessons in basic etiquette first?'

How dare a mere human speak to the apostle of God that way?

I could never forgive her.

Never forgive her—no matter what.

Someday, I would make her repent.

So I thought. But in the end, was even the Saintess just a human after all?

One day, out of nowhere, I heard the news that the Saintess had died.

'Why did God not discard her physical body?'

The great God, Altair's will was not something a mere angel like Igniel could comprehend.

「Though I could not avenge myself on the Saintess, this is a good opportunity.」

I never imagined someone would have mastered Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art.

Today, I would strangle that arrogant Saintess's successor and redeem the humiliation of the past.

* * *

"Get them!"

The Holy Knights surged forward, and I could see them at a glance.

It was as if they knew exactly where we were headed; they were on us in an instant.

Kisea's eyes began to turn red, annoyed by the relentless onslaught of Holy Knights.

"Can I just kill all of them?"

"... I suppose so?"

"Clay, should I use Dragon Tongue...?"

"No, avoid that if possible."

It would be best to keep Mersaya's identity as a dragon hidden, especially since we'd be heading to Setram's capital, Ilishad.

'Well, at least there are no Inquisitors.'

Perhaps, since an angel was present, they hadn't bothered to send Inquisitors as well.

"For now, let's split up. Take care of the Holy Knights and soldiers for me."

"Why? Wouldn't fighting together be much faster?"

"The guy probably wants us to do exactly that."

"The guy? ... You mean the angel?"

I had already told the two about the existence of the angel.

"You're not actually planning to face the angel alone, are you?!"

"I'd rather do it alone."

"Ugh, are you saying I'm no help? Sure, I'm weaker than you, Clay, but..."

Kisea acted as if she was hurt, but I shook my head.

"No, it's just that angels are generally too much for humans to handle."

"Yes, Clay's right. The language of angels is like a revelation to humans—it can make you obey them almost without thinking."

In a way, it was similar to Dragon Tongue.

Of course, it was far below Dragon Tongue. All the angel's language could do was influence living beings' minds and make them act as commanded.

"... Well, you're Clay. I'm sure you know what you're doing. Fine, we'll take care of the small fry."

"And also prepare an escape route. After we get out of here, we'll have to go straight to Ilishad."

"Okay, leave it to me."

After exchanging glances, we split into two groups.

Kisea and Mersaya lured away the Holy Knights who were chasing us, and in the meantime, I ran in the direction of the barrier's center.

[Why is that angel sending such hostility your way? Did you ever do something to offend an angel?]

'Like I'd ever do something like that.'

[Really? How strange.]

Grancesia seemed puzzled by the killing intent directed at me.

'Honestly, what's with that guy?'

From the moment I broke through the barrier, I had felt murderous intent.

It was as if we were mortal enemies.

'There it is!'

I left the small village, crossed several hills, and soon caught sight of a building that looked almost like a temple.

[I can feel it. Michelle must be inside!]

'Jade, you're sharp as always.'

In the Atell Family territory, there were several buildings like this one.

Thanks to Jade's efforts, I'd already known which one Michelle was in.

'Well, that's not all that Jade figured out.'

But not all the info was accurate, so I needed Michelle's help, too.

'Alright, am I properly disguised?'

I ran a hand over my face.

It felt a little strange.

Of course, I wasn't in my usual appearance—I looked like "Ray."

'When I have to go in headlong like this, this look is the best.'

If I'd been in my form as Clay, I wouldn't have revealed myself so brazenly.

Naturally, Mersaya and Kisea had also assumed different disguises.

"Who are you?! This place is off-limits—gak!"

There were still Holy Knights guarding the temple, but they dropped with a few easy punches.

"Is he the intruder the angel spoke of?"

"That's the one said to be the successor of Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art..."

After a few went down, the Holy Knights seemed to recognize me and hesitated to approach, instead drawing back as if waiting for someone.

'It must be the angel.'

With a bored expression, I snorted.

It was ridiculous that, despite watching everything, the angel hadn't appeared yet.

Step, step.

Since I had no intention to wait for "the guy" to show up, I confidently strode toward the temple.

The Holy Knights all recoiled in terror.

「Truly, humans are of no use.」

A gentle voice rang out as a white flash descended to the ground.

Wings pure as snow spread wide, and golden, glowing eyes locked onto me.

"Ooh, the angel!"

"Forgive us! Please, save your poor servants!"

At the appearance of the angel in the crisis, the Holy Knights began worshipping him in unison.

The angel basked in their gazes and praise, glowing even more brightly.

[... This is why I don't like angels. All of them just love being worshipped like that.]

'Sounds the same as dragons to me.'

[No, dragons are fundamentally different. How should I put it—angels are just more childish.]

That was true in some ways, but to me, they both seemed about the same.

Higher-rank races seemed obsessed with such strange things.

「Successor of the Saintess, I've been waiting for you.」

"Then why didn't you just come out quickly?"

As I replied with a smirk, the angel's solemn face twisted in anger.

「Indeed, that arrogant attitude is just like the Saintess's successor.」

"What, have you met the Saintess...?"

「I have.」

According to the profile, this angel called Igniel had met Grancesia before.

'Is it someone you know?'

[Never seen him.]

'Could it be related to your lost memories?'

[It's just someone I don't know.]

Judging by how she answered without hesitation, she truly didn't recognize him.

「Long ago, in a desperate duel with the Saintess Grancesia, I was narrowly defeated.」

'So he says?'

[I'm telling you—I don't know anything about that.]

Igniel slowly extended his right hand, and a golden spear appeared in his grip.

「I'm glad to have another chance at revenge. Now, die cursing your ancestor.」

"I'm not even from the Atell Family, so she's not really my ancestor."

「Silence!」

At any rate, igniel's strength was exceptional.

Even his pure spear skills were top-rank Swordmaster level, and combined with the powers and physique of an angel, he was no easy opponent.

'Deltode,'

I drew out the power of the Supreme Blade through Genova, which had taken the form of gauntlets.

Even the tremendous physical power of an angel could not overpower a physique enhanced by the Supreme Blade.

And...

'Now, I can finally put its true performance to the test.'

Clang!

I parried his spear with my gauntlet, evading the golden light blasting out from his wings.

「Hmph! That movement is impressive. But unlike before, I won't lose!」

He truly was an angel.

Even though I had only parried a few of his spear attacks barehanded, my hand tingled from the impact.

'Let's try it now.'

This was a power I had grown used to through repeated use.

A crimson afterglow started at the engraving on my back, spreading through my entire body, surging with holy power.

The mighty holy power born from the Divine Blood invigorated my body, enhancing my physique severalfold beyond what it just was.

「What—what is that power?! There was no such technique in Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art!」

As expected, igniel gasped at the sudden change in my aura.

Being sensitive to holy power, he would have instantly noticed the transformation in my body.

But this was just the beginning.

「Playtime is over. I'll kill you at once!」

Maybe sensing the danger, the radiance enshrouding Igniel's body grew several times stronger.

His outstretched wings drew in mana from the air, transforming it into holy power focused on his spear.

I calmly watched, then took up my stance.

Left hand down, right hand up.

Spreading my feet wide, I gently bent my right knee.

'I'll mix the principle of Rotation into Heavenly Lord.'

The first movement of Heaven's Holy Ultimate Art: Heavenly Lord.

Combined with the principle of Rotation, which turns the opponent's attack against them—as the spear thrust toward me, I moved my right hand.

"Keugh?!"

My waist rotated, and as I spun the shaft of his spear with my left hand, I diverted the attack.

At the same time, I straightened my bent right knee, launching my fist like a bullet straight into his shoulder.

I had aimed for his chest, but as expected of an angel, he instinctively twisted away to evade.

"T-To suffer such humiliation. I allowed a human's attack to land."

He staggered back, pushed by the shock to his shoulder, only barely regaining his balance.

If he were a normal human, his body would have exploded on impact, but being an angel, he was only left with reddened skin.

"But it won't work a second time. An angel's eyes can see through anythi—..."

But my attack didn't end at a simple blow.

From the center of the blush spreading on his skin, golden lines began to radiate like spiderwebs.

"Kuaaaagh!"

Igniel let out a scream.

From the scratch spreading over his shoulder, gold light began to spill out.

"T-This... What is this?!"

Watching him writhing in pain, I smiled in satisfaction.

'Its performance is certain.'

The Heaven-Slaying Arms was not simply a technique to enhance the body.

It burned away the opponent's holy power, inflicting damage, with the effect spreading through their entire system like a deadly poison.

The holy energy created by the engraving on my back mixed with his, producing an otherwise impossible effect.

That was the very power Pilla Ganest had forged to contend with beings like angels and gods.

It was, as the name states—the power of Heaven-Slaying.