Apostle of the Goddess of War

Ch.191 Apostle of the Goddess of War

In the distance, the morning sunlight hit the mountain peak and scattered softly.

Achille recalled the words Sion had spoken as if passing by.

He had said the scenery of sunlight breaking on the ground was truly beautiful, and wished the Goddess would enjoy it too.

'Really.'

The ground seen from heaven was beautiful, but the scenery from below had a different charm. It felt more familiar. It felt like truly enjoying the true form of nature.

'Did humans see, hear, and enjoy things like this? It has quite the atmosphere.'

Achille felt she had really done well to go on a journey. She had not regretted it for a moment.

Even though it was a journey to recall her True Name, it was not hard. Rather, she felt happier than ever.

Mesilla approached Achille and spoke. The chatty Goddess of Waterways never left Achille alone.

"Achille. What are you looking at?"

"Just. Pretty things."

"You were interested in such things?"

"Of course. I have eyes and emotions."

"Eh. Really?"

Mesilla told other Goddesses that Achille was unfamiliar. They also often said nature was beautiful, but that was all. They did not truly enjoy things like flowers.

Rather, those like the Goddess of Wildflower were a minority.

"Lady Achille!"

Someone called the Goddess of War from below. It was a human who had been a bandit but reformed thanks to Achille. His voice was urgent.

"What is it?"

Achille turned toward him. People were pointing somewhere. Soon other Goddesses reacted the same.

"There!"

Thud thud thud!

Along with the shout, the ground began to shake. A large heartbeat rang from the soles of the feet to the heart. It got faster and closer. Dust was rising too.

"That is—"

Achille instinctively drew her sword.

Slide... The emerging blade reflected the sunlight. The light revealed the form of evil.

Achille frowned her pretty eyes.

"Demons."

To think they really existed…

Achille murmured and commanded the human group.

"Combat preparation! It's a demon attack!"

The people, now returned to being knights, quickly formed a camp.

Though there was no unified training system, familiar movements and formations remained in their heads. Even without the commander instructing one by one, a formation to face frontal attacks was completed.

"Haha! As expected, as expected!"

Someone said. Everyone laughed loudly. Hearts beat again.

"I know, right!"

"Feels like I'm finally alive."

"I agree."

"Good. Let's enjoy it! F*ck yeah!"

Everyone nodded saying, 'Yeah, banditry isn't what I should be doing.'

Fighting for someone, protecting, and devoting.

Though the Goddesses they served were different, the mindset to become sublime Holy Knights was the same for all.

They returned to the beginning. They transformed into brave warriors bearing holy duties.

Without anyone leading, they roared with one voice.

"For the Goddess—!"

Rumble rumble rumble!

Demons rushed in.

Collision.

Boom—!

Shockwaves transmitted sharply.

The floor they stood on dragged long. The ground dug deep, and faces wrinkled from exerting force.

Crash— Bang! Clang!

The formation nearly collapsed from the heavy physical force. But after enduring with trained bodies and unyielding spirit, they started a counterattack.

Stab!

"Die! Ugly monsters!"

Blood splashes. Blades lock with sharp teeth, piercing tough leather.

The suppressed violence finally boiled.

"Is this all you got! Monsters!"

"Neighborhood mongrels would be more threatening than this!"

"Hahaha!"

Stab! Stab! Clang!

Screeech!

Demons kept rushing in. There were more than expected.

The number running from afar increased. A black swarm rushed in like storm clouds.

Toward that place, a woman threw her body.

It was an amazing action that captured the gaze. Like a bird flying in the sky, even the posture of landing lightly was elegant.

Whoosh!

The swordsmanship is lively.

In an instant, the demons' torsos were cut in half. Like dreaming, the consecutive movements felt only beautiful.

Achille's sword dance was like drawing a picture.

It was domineering yet soft like water. There was no rigid form.

It was an appearance of changing like flowing water to cope with any situation, any enemy, any unexpected trajectory.

Clang!

Crash crash crash!

Demons could not use any strength. They were shredded quickly. They had to attack the human group far away but were overwhelmed.

It was a massacre where feet were caught by one woman.

Even for the human apostle, mere demons were no match.

No matter how much power she lost, no one could handle Achille's swordsmanship.

It was when the Holy Knight side had already finished cleaning up and was watching the Goddess of War's sword dance in a trance.

"……!"

"What is it?"

Everyone felt the same.

It was a sticky evil energy.

"This feeling that makes hair stand on end… It's been a while. I'm sure."

"It's an Evil God's energy."

"What is it?"

"Over there, look over there!"

On the hill where the sun was rising far away, a black shadow formed. A dark existence appeared with the sun at its back.

Achille also stopped swordsmanship for a moment and gazed at the evil energy.

"What is it?"

From the dry body, several tentacle-like stems stretched out. The swaying tentacles had a strange shape and struck the viewer's mind.

Swish!

Black rays were shot from the ominous existence.

"!"

Achille flinched in surprise and raised the blade.

Fwoosh!

She barely changed the trajectory with the blade. Achille's eyes widened. She couldn't help but be surprised.

"Demonic Energy?"

And it was of a considerable level. Even if not Evil God level, it was surely a level comparable to an apostle.

Now that all Divine power had disappeared, that existence's Demonic Energy was a huge threat.

'How exactly?'

How did such an existence remain?

Achille of course, and other Goddesses watching this had the same impression.

Especially Sirin, who was formerly an Evil God, was more confused.

Was there another Evil God who left such an existence separately and revealed malice only now?

However, the secret of that existence could not be revealed with any assumption or guess. Only the party involved would know the truth.

Whoosh!

Achille rushed in.

The black shadow slid on the field. The speed was tremendous. If one blinked, the shadow was away from the place caught in the pupil.

Achille reached at lightning speed. She swung the blade straight at the black existence.

"Aaahh!"

Crack!

The Goddess of War's sword strike was blocked by tentacles. After cutting a couple of tentacles, it was blocked as if lacking power.

Grind grind.

Tentacles began to wrap around Achille's blade. Achille opened her eyes wide and observed the black existence.

The face was full of running pus. It was an appearance close to a skeleton with only bones remaining rather than skin. The blackened skin was dried like a mummy.

Tentacles protruded from its spinal cord, and strong vitality and Demonic Energy were felt from the tentacles.

The black existence had no eyes. Eyelids were rolled inward and sewn shut.

"Who are you?"

The Goddess of War asked.

The black existence answered with a slow and shaking voice.

"……I am a Black Mage."

"What?"

"Wingless Goddess. Fear. I will drag you down and put shackles on your neck."

Ching!

Achille pulled out the sword. Tentacle strands scattered in the sky. Achille stabbed fast like a venomous snake.

Vroom!

She aimed the sword tip at the guy's forehead, but the sword stopped at an invisible pressure.

"Magic?"

"Authority. The one created by you arrogant Goddesses. Now it has become my monopoly. For this moment, holding my breath was worth it…."

"You are a byproduct of an Evil God. I don't know what you're plotting—"

"There is no plot. I just wish to be the last winner of this era."

Achille's eyes cooled coldly.

Literally, it was a thief who aimed for an empty house and broke in. Even if the cause was unknown, it was a dangerous existence still holding Demonic Energy.

'I must subdue it here.'

If given more time like this, it was obvious it would become too strong to handle.

Just increasing demons to this level was terrifying potential.

When Goddesses had authority it might have been nothing….

'Damn!'

Achille suddenly became impatient. Her chest felt stuffy with the sense of duty to recall her True Name.

Clang!

As the Black Mage stretched out his hand, Achille was flicked away. Achille could not endure the huge shockwave.

Crackle crackle!

Achille barely gained balance and stuck the sword in the ground to stop. Goddesses ran and supported Achille.

"Achille! Are you okay?"

"What is that, exactly?"

"He said himself he's a Black Mage."

"He's out of his mind."

Achille asked.

"Sirin. Can't you guess anything? An Evil God who would leave something like this."

"No. The Demonic Energy itself isn't anyone's specific one. It's literally a mixture of Demonic Energy scattered everywhere in the world."

"This is difficult."

Novilla said as if complicated. It was a story that made the heart tingle.

"It's our original sin. It would be comfortable to think so."

"Original sin…."

"That's right."

"What do we do? He looks strong."

"We must kill him. Using everything."

Achille accepted the sin. If it was an evil byproduct born of Goddesses, an original sin, she had to bear and solve it willingly.

Achille raised the sword again.

"Help me, sisters."

"Alright."

Dash!

As Achille ran at the forefront, Goddesses followed her.

They weren't good at fighting but still better than humans. It was possible because they had innate talent and eyesight.

But the Black Mage did not fight them.

He soared into the sky and created a black sphere in his hand.

Cackle cackle!

Mental waves struck the area. Humans could not endure and many fainted.

Goddesses also suffered. It was one of the tactics mainly used by Evil Gods.

The black sphere fell. It grew in size and swallowed everything nearby.

Goddesses were the same.

It happened in the blink of an eye. Goddesses were trapped in the black sphere.

The black sphere existed hanging on the hill.

Just like….

"Domain."

Achille murmured. It was similar to the appearance when a Mental Realm was transposed to reality.

"No way."

Without Divine power now, was there a means to break this curse-like magic.

Goddesses gathered. They could not hide their embarrassed expression.

It was a dark world where nothing was visible. Trees and grass were withered, and ash-like dust floated in the air.

"It's an unpleasant space."

"We must escape."

"To tear the barrier we need Divine power…."

Goddesses looked at Achille. Achille was suffocated by their gaze.

"S-sorry."

It won't be easy. It was an unexpected attack. Her head was dizzy.

"There's no additional attack. Does he intend to trap us like this and starve us to death."

Sirin relaxed her guard and walked around. Other Goddesses also sat down or only said what they wanted to say.

It was natural to fall into panic as they had no experience of being embarrassed like this.

Only Achille maintained calmness and walked a slightly distant place.

She bit her nails and agonized.

'Think. Think. What would Sion do in this situation?'

Achille realized anew how much hardship her apostle had overcome.

Even in a bleak situation, thinking of the apostle showed hope. Even if it was vague hope.