Chapter 80
Chapter 80: Demon Realm (3)
Deep within the Demon Realm.
A pair of crimson eyes opened above a hexagonal pillar-shaped building of dizzying height.
Flicker!
The massive eyes turned their gaze.
The location: the cliff where Erik was standing.
"As expected, it's Thomas."
"You flatter me."
A bloody-red eye gleamed above the tall tower, and below it, Makia in a veil and Thomas in a suit watched Erik's party.
"It was entirely foreseeable that a Saint would step forward against the threat of the Papal See, but I didn't expect the Empire's Sacred Maiden to come along as well."
As Thomas lowered his head, a pale hand emerged from beneath.
Kiss.
The moment pale skin touched lips, a chilling sensation ran down Thomas's spine.
"This is all thanks to your trust in me, Director."
The Black Mage Group's new venture.
As a bridgehead toward the secret origin of Godslaying, the annihilation of the Saint and Sacred Maiden had begun.
Beneath the black veil, Makia's eyes curved like a bow.
"So Thomas, can we capture at least one of them?"
In response to the director's question, Thomas quantified the forces at his disposal in his mind.
'A few Floor Masters from the upper layers of the Labyrinth, plus other large-scale monsters...'
This is Erik, who had eliminated a shareholder of the company.
Though the efficiency was poor, he had even destroyed a descended Black Dragon.
'And he's only gotten stronger since then.'
This is Saint Erik, who receives the favor of God.
He grows stronger just by breathing, and having visited the Labyrinth, he must be even more of a monster now.
Thomas reached the conclusion that it would be quite difficult.
"If we sent Sauron's Black Knight, it might be possible... but with our current forces, it seems difficult."
If there was a barrier, they could just break through and leave. But it was a situation where monsters flowing from the Demon Realm were rushing toward the barrier.
"I expected you to say as much, my Thomas. Even controlling the Floor Masters of the Labyrinth is difficult... How truly irrational is the power of God."
"You speak correctly, Director."
"Moreover..."
Makia paused and narrowed her eyes.
The scenery visible above the cliff had become strange.
"That priestess, isn't she called the Empire's Sacred Maiden now? She's disappeared."
Though her eyes had never wavered, only three people were visible on the cliff.
"Does even the Director's eyes not see her?"
"Quite so. I can't see her at all."
The Empire's Sacred Maiden Ruelle, who had deceived even Makia's eyes.
It was no small matter.
"Thomas, didn't you say she was an NPC capable of favorability work, with only an exceptional appearance and body, utterly lacking in combat ability?"
"My sincerest apologies. Apparently, in reality there have been more changes than I anticipated... I suspect it's the influence of that Riferoze."
"Her again? Everything she's touched has changed in strange ways. Ruelle must be part of that as well."
Makia felt bitter.
By what misfortune, the Saint's weakness possessed unidentified power?
Still, there must surely be a weakness somewhere.
Makia carefully examined the cliff above.
'One clump, a swordsman, and the Saint Erik.'
Either way, they would become enemies to eliminate.
Originally, the two of them had planned to send a Monster Wave at them and leave, but their thinking had changed.
"It wouldn't be bad to gauge our forces at this juncture."
"I shall remain and observe."
Makia decided to leave Thomas behind.
"I'll assign the secretary and vice-grade Possessors to you. Thomas, you mustn't overexert yourself."
"I'm grateful for your concern. I pray for your safe endeavors as well, Director."
Thomas bowed his head.
The business executed upon moving to the Black Mage Group's headquarters itself—that is, the work of killing the Saint and Sacred Maiden.
Though Makia and Thomas were currently in the Demon Realm adjacent to the Empire, their objective lay elsewhere.
"I shall rid myself of that odious Sacred Maiden of the Solar Holy Army—. Khehe."
Recalling her days as a war criminal, living as the absorber of war's damage, Makia drew a deep smile.
"Everything shall always come to pass as the Director wills it."
Makia extended her hand.
Kiss.
***
[You are trapped in an Isolation Spell.]
A [System Notification] appeared before Erik and Janson's eyes.
And it didn't stop there—a massive gray barrier formed around them.
"Ge, brother. Isn't this the power those Black Mages use?"
Jang Du-sik cannot see the status window.
However, he too felt the heterogeneous power isolating him. It was something he had experienced frequently in the past, so how could he not know it?
"Ge, what was it called—severance?"
"Look at Du-sik remembering! This is an Isolation Spell."
As Erik expected, the Black Mages' skills activated against them.
It was a [Skill] of a Possessor, but the Imperial Magic Tower had named it a "spatial isolation phenomenon."
Having grasped the power, the countermeasure was also clear.
"We can either apply enough powerful force to shatter that barrier, or wait quietly for 24 hours and escape from here."
If there was just a barrier, they could simply break it and leave.
But monsters flowing from the Demon Realm were approaching the barrier.
"Huh? Boss. Are those monsters cooperating with each other?"
Erik's party was on a dizzying cliff above the dispute zone.
The cliff near the Papal See was extremely high.
Though the distance was considerable, the approaching monsters were clearly climbing onto the opposite cliff above Erik.
Seeing the monsters move in uniform, orderly fashion, Erik's eyes narrowed.
'Moving this systematically?'
Large-scale monsters carried mid-to-small-scale monsters up the cliff on their bodies.
The monsters that climbed up created bridges with their own bodies like army ants, crossing over to the cliff where Erik stood.
Looking at this sight, Erik gazed at the crimson eye floating in the center of the Demon Realm.
"Janson, do you remember that movie?"
"Is there anyone who doesn't know Lord of the Rings?"
Janson too was thinking the same thing, immediately grasping the implication.
"It seems Sauron has descended. Janson, what was the plot of that movie again?"
Erik had nothing to hide.
With Ruelle, who had concealed her presence, included, everyone knew he was a Possessor.
'This is comfortable.'
Just the fact that he had allies with whom he didn't need to hide—with whom he could be transparent—brought immense relief.
The way he spoke.
The way they discussed countermeasures.
It was comfortable in every way.
However, the problem was that both Erik and Janson had been Possessors for a considerable time.
"Huh, boss, I was possessed 45 years ago, so my memories are..."
Erik too had seen it when he was very young, so he didn't know the detailed settings.
'Combining before and after possession, it's been well over 25 years since I saw that movie.'
Still, it was such a famous film based on a novel that several distinct features came to mind.
"It had the power to command demons and monsters, Sauron's eye could watch over the entire world, and supposedly the darkness would disappear if the ring was destroyed."
After discussing it, no further countermeasures emerged.
"Ge, brother. What happens if we can't find the ring? Back then, didn't that Lucifer bastard also fail while searching for crosses and Bibles?"
"Then we'll just have to beat it to death like we did with Lucifer."
"Well, sounds simple enough."
This much should be sufficient.
An earthling-summoned demon doesn't necessarily follow its original settings.
After all, they beat that Lucifer to death in the end, didn't they?
If it comes to it, suppressing with force is all that's needed.
Moreover, since the descended demon was born from fictional content, the countermeasure was clear.
"Since it's the Lord's eye, it should have power to control monsters."
"Boss, I've heard that Black Knights who sow terror also serve under it."
"Ah! That one who rides wyverns."
Though it was an old memory, as they conversed, more information came to mind.
Based on these things, Erik organized Sauron's abilities.
First, the power to control monsters.
Second, eyes that look down upon the world.
Third, the Black Knight who rides wyverns in allegiance to Sauron.
'The Black Knight isn't visible.'
They seemed to be up to something.
After witnessing this situation, Erik had also dug one trap.
'It will be somewhat dangerous, but if Ruelle does well...'
Thoom!
Having finished his thoughts, Erik soared high into the sky with a weighty leap.
The first place he checked was the Papal See and the cliff before it.
The [Isolation] trapping Erik and the [Isolation] trapping the Papal See overlapped, making everything invisible.
However, the formidable Divine Power contained in Erik's eyes pierced through even this.
'Many Floor Masters from the upper layers and monsters.'
The spectacle of the Papal See resembled the Demon Realm itself.
Massive monsters larger than the 50-meter-high cliff were threatening the Paladins atop the cliff.
Among them were also several powerful Floor Masters from the Labyrinth.
Whooosh!
From below the cliff, a very large Ogre swung its club.
So large was its size, and so fast its speed.
It looked ready to sweep away the Paladins on the cliff.
However, the Astia Religious Order is strong.
'The Holy Father and Sir Julius are managing well.'
Holy War Knight Commander Julius repelled the club with his great sword.
Behind him, the Holy Father honed his Divine Light and drove it down toward the Ogre's heart.
At that sight, Erik was relieved.
'Indeed, outside the Demon Realm, they become large sandbags.'
Demon Realm monsters possessed the same performance and size as Labyrinth monsters.
However, once they left the Demon Realm, their power significantly diminished.
Instant-death patterns and the unique power of negation-type skills came with restrictions.
'Still, their numbers are too many though.'
Erik looked at the swarm of monsters approaching him.
A vast horde of monsters crossed the cliff, approaching Erik.
To which Erik spoke:
"Janson, Du-sik. Kill them all."
***
The Black Mage class was heavily focused on utility rather than the caster's own power.
[Portal], [Severance], [Emergency Escape], and such.
Skills that reduced player travel distance, or could force one to exit raid status by sacrificing offerings.
This was why every guild more or less compelled their members to bring along Black Mages.
Thomas was one such Black Mage class.
'The Papal See is just for buying time, so there shouldn't be a problem...'
Under Sauron's eye, Thomas surveyed the battlefield.
Possessor Thomas had adapted quite well to this world.
There were considerable differences from the game, so the things he could do had also become very diverse.
The Black Mage class, which had been focused on utility, gained the possibility to summon very powerful demons upon becoming real.
'This is a completely different world.'
Moreover, leveraging his original job as a consultant, he had contributed to the revitalization of the Black Mage Group.
As part of this, Thomas had successfully bound the Papal See.
'The physical limits are clear.'
Unlike game characters, people grow tired.
It's obvious.
Soldiers of the Empire died in the Labyrinth of the Great Cataclysm.
Even against Goblins.
'Since they're upper-layer monsters, buying time is sufficient.'
Whether Holy Father or Holy War Knight Commander, they couldn't endlessly withstand the infinite flood of monsters.
Especially not when sending only ones that didn't die easily—large, durable brutes—the Astia Religious Order would have no capacity to aid Erik.
But the problem was...
'Why isn't that guy getting tired?'
Saint Erik.
Flying high into the sky, Erik rained down meteors in all directions, erasing monsters.
Pouring out his supreme Divine Power.
'His wings are gone.'
After all, is he human too?
Thomas watched Erik descend to the ground.
He was trying to get the measure of whether there was any way to deal with him...
'His body ripples with golden light, and power just springs forth?'
After flashing with light once, Erik sat on the ground and continued erasing monsters.
Without wings, his raw power was just as strong as before.
In fact, fighting with just a sword seemed even stronger.
"So he's the first Saint from the Astia Religious Order... A monster! Director Thomas, is that the Astia-style Heavy Swordsmanship you hear about?"
At that sight, Kim, the vice-director beside Thomas, let out an exclamation of admiration.
Though an enemy, it was a display that inspired awe.
Thomas posed a question instead of answering.
"Vice-Director Kim, would a portal surprise attack be possible?"
"It's theoretically possible, but you know if we open a portal, that guy can cross it too, right?"
"Hmm..."
[Sacred Relic Sword of Creation +1]
As Thomas heightened his perception, the item name tag appeared.
"Wait, a Sacred Relic...?"
Though Thomas was generally serious in nature, he couldn't help but shudder at the sight of the Saint's weapon.
Vice-Director Kim too drew out his Black Magic Power to heighten his perception.
"+1 Enhancement? Does the Astia Religious Order reinforce Sacred Relics?"
"...Possessor, Director of the Possessor Management Bureau!"
This is insane.
Thomas gripped his temples tightly.
The Empire's Possessor Management Bureau hadn't shown significant achievements in Labyrinth conquest.
What on earth had they been doing...
"The locals are using Enhancement Tickets?"
Vice-Director Kim was startled.
Currently, only the 32nd floor of the Labyrinth has just been conquered.
[Sacred Relics] and [Mythic-grade] items only drop from the 50th floor and above of the Labyrinth.
But the locals were different.
"Th-they seem to be using Enhancement on existing Sacred Relics or the Moonlight Artifacts of the Imperial Family!"
Just as the Black Mage Group used Possessors to summon actual demons.
The Empire and the Religious Order handled Possessors differently.
"Let's observe for now. There are infinitely many monsters."
Thomas thought there was nothing left to be surprised about at this point.
"But that clump of a guy—what kind of magic is he using that monsters burn up like that?"
"He's not even leaving corpses, which definitely means Divine Power—huh?"
At Vice-Director Kim's question, Thomas had no choice but to be shocked again.
'He's shooting fireballs and Divine Power is detonating?'
The short-haired clump was unleashing magic infused with Divine Power.
The variety of magic used was limited, but the destructive power was the issue.
"A Divine Power mage?"
It was unheard of.
The guy was shooting only very simple magic from range, and mostly buffing himself with Magic Power Enhancement before beating monsters to death with a club.
"But the way he fights is like the Imperial Magic Tower's War-Mage..."
"Like a thug."
Thomas made a face of disgust.
"But, Director Thomas, what about that swordsman below?"
"Vice-Director Kim, please..."
Thomas bit his lip.
Blood trickled down his chin.
'A Possessor...'
[Oath of Protection], [Last Bastion].
A massive sword form rose above the cliff, enveloping the knight and the clump.
This was one of the ultimate skills used by a 'Guardian Knight' who had completed a third class change.
'Using that would injure himself though?'
The effect was transferring damage taken by the party to oneself.
Thomas realized why Erik and the clump remained unscathed.
The magic user swinging clubs in close combat took considerable damage.
How did the wounds disappear so quickly? It was because the Guardian Knight was using the skill.
'The Saint remains unharmed because of that skill.'
Thomas thought he had discovered Erik's secret.
But at the phenomenon that followed, he had nothing to say.
"Th-that Possessor is receiving healing?"
The Guardian Knight was definitely injured.
Bleeding too.
And yet hadn't Erik, floating in the sky, healed the Possessor with Divine Healing?
"...They really did erase the Possessor's penalty."
Thomas gave up any thought of doing anything.
It was time to consider a tactical retreat.
'Where is this sweet smell coming from...'
Amid such terrifying news, a faint, luxurious sweetness wafted annoyingly.