Chapter 10 : Hidden Achievement — The Holy Sword, Durandal
Chapter 10: Hidden Achievement — The Holy Sword, Durandal
Liz stood at the center of the camp.
Spread out before her were all their possessions.
A few chipped logging axes, several rusted hunting knives, and a few sharpened wooden spears.
There was also Ulf’s crude hunting bow, which he treasured like a gem—yet only three arrows remained.
The people accompanying her were Ulf, David, Siance, and three other relatively strong men.
“Did everyone hear clearly?”
Liz’s expression was solemn. “The camp is our foundation. The Holy Light of the Angel is our boundary!”
“When we go out, we’ll make noise to lure them here—only a few at a time.”
“If too many come, retreat immediately within the Holy Light’s range. Understand?”
Ulf nodded vigorously. “Understood, Lady Liz! Hit and run—we’ll wear them down bit by bit!”
David, a man usually taciturn and reserved, swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple rolled as he spoke with a dry voice: “Lady Liz, what if… what if we lure too many and can’t run back in time?”
“Then fight to the last moment!” Liz cut him off, her tone stabbing straight into their hearts.
“But remember this—if you die outside, your corpse will only turn into one of them and come back to threaten your family.”
“If you die within the Holy Light, at least your soul will find peace. If you fear death, then stay inside the church and pray.”
David’s face paled.
He then gripped his wooden spear tightly, the last trace of hesitation fading away.
The former hunter Siance, whose arm bore scars, grinned, showing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. “Scared of what? Better this than starving or dying of thirst! Let’s do it!”
He wiped his hunting knife with practiced ease, his movements carrying a cruel calmness.
Liz pressed down the heaviness in her heart.
How could she not know they were dancing on the edge of a blade?
Everyone who went out with her might never return.
There were only forty-eight people in the camp, including infants and children. Every adult capable of work was precious beyond measure!
Looking toward the church, Liz silently prayed in her heart: ‘Lord Angel, please protect us…’
——
The operation began.
The plan was simple yet effective.
Liz and the others moved around the area just beyond the edge of the Holy Light’s coverage, with the church as the center.
They deliberately made noises.
David was responsible for throwing stones to startle the ghouls wandering the forest.
Once one or two were lured away from the main horde—
Liz and Ulf would pounce like tigers.
The others stood guard on the perimeter to prevent more ghouls from being drawn in.
However, the battle proved far harder than they had imagined.
The ghouls knew no fatigue, driven only by their maddened hunger for flesh and blood.
Their claws carried a rancid, deadly poison—one scratch was enough to spread a fatal infection.
“Ah!” A short cry of pain rang out.
Siance’s arm was slashed by a dying ghoul, leaving three bloody gashes.
The wound quickly blackened, burning with searing pain.
“Retreat!” Liz commanded without hesitation.
She cleaved the ghoul’s head open in one swift stroke, foul black blood spraying out.
Grabbing the staggering Siance, she shouted, “Back to the church! Purify with Holy Water!”
Ulf and David covered them as they swiftly retreated into the invisible golden boundary.
The moment they stepped into the Holy Light’s range—
The ghouls that had been chasing them let out terrified screeches.
Instinctively, they halted at the border, staring at them with murky eyes, drool dripping from their mouths.
Inside the church—
Marianne had already prepared the snowmelt blessed by the Angel’s power.
They called it Holy Water.
The clear water was poured onto Siance’s blackened wound.
“Ssshhh…”
A faint white smoke rose as Siance stifled a groan. The blackened blood slowly turned red again…
——
But a far worse situation arose the following afternoon.
Liz and her group successfully lured three ghouls.
Just as they were locked in fierce battle—
Two more suddenly burst from the forest shadows.
They moved swiftly, pouncing first upon David, who was guarding the perimeter.
David’s soul nearly fled his body in terror—he turned and ran.
But just as he neared the range of the Holy Light, he tripped and fell.
“No!” Ulf’s eyes widened in horror, unable to reach him in time.
Buzz—!
From the church spire, a blinding golden light flashed!
Two beams of golden radiance blasted the shadows behind David!
Under the sacred power—
The two ghouls vaporized instantly, turning into wisps of dark smoke that quickly dispersed.
David lay on the ground, gasping heavily, cold sweat soaking his back.
Ulf rushed over and helped him up. Both looked toward the church, hearts still pounding.
But Liz, upon seeing this, felt a surge of joy.
She had noticed a subtle detail—the sanctuary’s protective range was slowly expanding!
This was, without a doubt, a most wonderful discovery!
It also indirectly proved that the Angel’s power was gradually recovering!
However—
Their grueling battles still continued.
An entire week of tug-of-war, luring, and killing.
In the forest surrounding the camp, nearly a hundred ghoul corpses had fallen.
And of the original seven-member team—
Only Liz, Ulf, David, and Siance remained in the end.
When the final wandering ghoul had its head split open by Liz’s axe—
The camp fell into a brief silence.
No one cheered.
Only heavy breathing filled the air.
Everyone was utterly exhausted, each bearing wounds of varying severity.
“The area… is clear for now.”
Liz’s voice was hoarse.
She glanced at her equally weary companions. “Rest well for a day. Then… we can begin digging the canal!”
The next morning,
Liz began assigning tasks.
“Ulf, you’ll take ten people—you’re the main digging force.”
“David, take five people and handle the transportation of dirt and stones.”
“Siance, your wounds aren’t healed. Take three men and guard both sides of the canal. If there’s any sign of movement, raise the alarm immediately.”
“Marianne, take the rest. Care for the wounded and the children, and make sure the Holy Water supply remains steady.”
Liz’s arrangements were meticulous, accounting for the safety of every step.
“Understood!” everyone responded in unison.
At last, smiles appeared on their faces.
Water—the source of life—was finally coming!
Meanwhile, Lynn, who had been silently observing everything, heard once again the long-dormant mechanical voice within his consciousness.
【Detected: Followers under the host’s command have, within and beyond the sanctuary’s protection range, jointly purified one hundred units of filthy undead (ghouls).】
【Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Sanctified Domain (Beginner).】
【Reward Granted: Holy Sword — Durandal (Projection).】
“Though it’s just a projection, this sword likely reaches the level of a Fourth-tier artifact. It’s perfect to grant to Liz.”
“With the Holy Sword’s blessing, perhaps she can eliminate all the surrounding threats.”
That was Lynn’s thought.
Then—
Inside the church, before the altar, a point of pure, radiant light suddenly flared.
It stretched, condensed— and as the light faded, a longsword floated quietly in midair.
Its blade was slender and straight, shimmering with a smooth, jade-like silver-white sheen.
The hilt was wrapped in delicate, unknown silver threads, its end set with a small gem of matching color.
The entire sword bore no unnecessary ornamentation— yet it emanated a profound aura of majesty and compassion.
“This… what is this?!”
Liz was the first to sense something strange and turned sharply.
She ran into the church—and froze the instant she saw the floating Holy Sword.
Ulf, Marianne, and everyone inside and outside the church were all struck silent, breath held by the awe-inspiring scene.
【Liz Hawke.】
【Thy courage and resolve—I have witnessed.】
【This sword is named Durandal.】
【The Angel’s blade, eternal and indestructible.】
【Wield this sword as My edge—guard this sanctuary, and protect the peace of My believers.】
“Duran… dal?”
Liz’s voice trembled uncontrollably.
She staggered forward, dropping to one knee, and reached out with both hands— as if to receive the holiest of blessings.
When her fingers touched the hilt, a vast and gentle power of Holy Light surged into her body—perfectly merging and resonating within her!
“My God… it’s Durandal!”
“The legendary Holy Sword! The Angel’s Sword!”
Ulf’s entire body shook with excitement.
He had once heard of the name in ancient knightly legends.
“Never dull, ever righteous—slaying all evil!”
“The Angel… the Angel has acknowledged us! He has bestowed the Holy Sword upon us!”
With a thud, Ulf dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
“Praise the Angel!”
“Thank You for Your divine gift!”
“Lady Liz—the Holy Sword Knight!”
Everyone in the church— men, women, and children alike—fell to their knees in reverence, offering the highest, most fervent prayers and gratitude to the Angel who guarded them.
After a long while,
Liz slowly stood, feeling the vast power flowing within the sword.
It felt even more immense and sacred than the Holy Relic she once saw at the headquarters of the Church of Light— the Sword of Saint Galgano.
An overwhelming sense of honor filled Liz’s chest.
“With all reverence, I shall obey the divine command!”
Liz’s voice rang firm and resolute, more steadfast than ever.
“This body and heart shall forever serve as the Sanctuary’s shield!”
“Where Durandal points—there shall corruption perish!”