Chapter 81
Chapter 81: Demon Realm (4)
The Solar Holy Nation.
A theocratic nation that has adopted the Lu-Solace Church, which worships the Sun God, as its state religion.
The king of the Solar Holy Nation is called the Solar Holy King, and is chosen through the selection of sacred relics rather than hereditary succession.
Moreover, the Holy Nation is an extremely radical theocratic state that treats all beings that do not worship Lu-Solace as heretics.
"The heretics brought calamity upon the world!"
Unlike the Empire, which manages the Labyrinth entrance from its capital, the Solar Holy Nation viewed it as the source of evil.
So their Labyrinth entrance was located in a barren wasteland next to the capital.
A wasteland with no fertility—not even an Adventurer's Guild—with a crude underground staircase and wooden door simply left there.
The investigation team of Lu-Solace surrounded that place and continued their investigation.
"What are the ones who came back alive saying?"
A situation where survivors were appearing from this Labyrinth as well.
Even though it was an extremely radical religious nation living cut off from the world, it wasn't difficult to grasp the situation inside the Labyrinth.
"Saint, the testimonies of the survivors all match perfectly."
Everyone on the lower levels died, and the survivors from the middle levels and above survived through cooperation with the Empire.
They said the survivors from the upper levels were still emerging.
"But they joined hands with heretics? And even allied with the Empire!"
What Lu-Solace despised most was the Empire.
In some ways, even more than Black Mages.
They were a mad nation that placed the Emperor—who couldn't even handle Divine Power—on the same level as God.
"Divine punishment shall descend!"
Boom!
Ray Solace, the Saint of Lu-Solace, unleashed Divine Power.
The atmosphere violently trembled, and intense sunlight poured down over the survivors of the Labyrinth.
Along with fierce flames, all the survivors of the Labyrinth burned to ash.
Gazing at the gray smoke and the blackened remains of the Solar Holy Army, the Saint grumbled.
"Possessors……. Those disgusting heretic bastards are definitely ruining the world."
With an appearance that looked childishly young and a height around 150cm.
Every cleric bowed their heads to the Saint, who had the appearance of a child.
"Saint, please calm yourself."
"But the Empire instigated this! Isn't that right? The Possessor Management Bureau? What madness!"
The young-looking Saint used childlike speech to match his youthful appearance.
However, he was the oldest and highest authority of the Solar Holy Nation, having lived over a hundred years.
"Draw out the criminal soldiers. The Empire will probably start another war in the meantime!"
Though his demeanor was childish, his experience was seasoned.
He prepared for the future based on the life he had lived.
"Probably the Northern Archduke will take the lead, so deploy as many young and weak heretics as possible. No, just fill them all with children! That guy can't easily kill the weak! And……."
The Saint suddenly stopped speaking.
An alien energy was felt descending from the high sky.
A shadow was cast over the sun.
Kiieeeeeeek!!
Something resembling a wyvern circled through the shadow gap.
"A new type of monster? It's different from a wyvern, though?"
The Saint's head tilted.
An unidentified flying-type monster resembling a wyvern.
"And on top of it are beings wearing black armor……."
The monster had a saddle on its back, and Black Knights wearing strange helmets were controlling and riding the wyvern.
Kiiing!!
The Saint sharpened Divine Power, creating a long spear-like form.
"Let me try hitting one first and then think."
That was when.
The wyverns lowered their altitude.
Along with this, the screams emitted by the wyverns grew even louder.
"Grraaaaahhh-!!!"
Everyone surrounding the Saint screamed and covered their ears.
Their eyes wavered as if frightened, and some even vomited and wept.
"Why is everyone like this?"
Ray Solace, the Saint blessed by the lofty God.
Unlike him, others couldn't shake off the terror of the descended calamity.
The power to invoke fear was a setting possessed by Siuron's Black Knight, and it was now materialized as an authority.
"What is this!"
While his subordinates were frozen in fear, a massive Black Magic Power erupted centered on the Saint.
[Dark Earth]
[Isolation]
[Constraint of Death]
[Circle of Evil]
The skills of Possessors, incantations of local Black Mages—all manner of things blackened the earth.
The Saint's eyes, trapped in darkness, shone with golden light.
And a twisted smile spread across his lips.
"Heretics dare to use power? Will this be enough?"
It is the time when the sun of Lu-Solace hangs in the sky.
The Saint felt no fear.
He tried to unleash Divine Power and burn everything away.
Kogugugugung!!
A massive wave rose with tremors shaking the earth.
As the wave approached, its form became increasingly distinct.
"D-Demon Realm monster?"
The capital of the Solar Holy Nation and the Demon Realm are far apart.
There should be many cities in between and plenty of armies……
"How in the world—."
The pupils of Ray Solace's eyes revealed the symbol of the sun.
In his eyes, he could see the crimson eyes placed in the distance far away.
Below them, a woman wearing a black veil laughed deeply.
***
Ruelle ascended against the flow of monsters.
It was to comply with Erik's request to catch a Possessor from the spire placed in the heart of the Demon Realm.
'Indeed, the monsters don't perceive me.'
It was dangerous.
However, she believed Erik's words that she would be safe.
According to Erik, Janson was absorbing all attacks directed at her.
'Just like when he was an Imperial Capital Army general.'
She had even experienced it directly.
Without hesitation, she advanced against the surging monsters toward the Demon Realm.
She glanced back briefly.
'That's cool.'
The figure of Erik visible from afar was radiant.
The power he emanated felt truly impressive.
'I should be at least somewhat helpful.'
She knew.
That she was Erik's reverse scale.
So she intended to do whatever she could.
'The Black Mages…….'
She was also a survivor of the Black Mage incident.
She couldn't take the lead in killing them, but she was certainly capable of catching one Possessor.
They burned readily with just a touch of her hand.
'It's taking too long.'
However, the problem was that reaching the heart of the Demon Realm took too long.
It was unavoidable as she had to avoid monsters on the way.
And there were far too many of them.
Boom!
Then a wolf-shaped monster struck Ruelle at breakneck speed.
The speed was so fast that it was difficult to even perceive.
'Ugh!'
She nearly screamed in surprise, but soon came to her senses and calmed herself.
The monster that collided with her became a bloody mess and crashed into a corner of the Demon Realm.
It was a gigantic wolf stretching several meters.
'I really don't take any damage?'
Whoosh!
She thrust her hand toward a passing monster.
Boom!
Something collided, but it didn't hurt, and rather the monster that touched her arm was pushed to the side.
'This way I'll get there quickly!'
She rapidly hurled herself into the heart of the monsters.
Her vision became clear right after entering the Demon Realm, and directly ahead, a massive tower was visible.
'They said there are Black Mages near those red eyes above there.'
Ruelle's footsteps quickened pattering away.
'She's really just charging straight through.'
Erik gazed at the heart of the Demon Realm.
He couldn't see her, but he could feel her presence.
Perhaps it was the effect of receiving his Divine Power?
'That's fortunate.'
He had been inwardly worried that Ruelle might be late.
Seeing Ruelle already approaching the tower, Erik nodded with satisfaction.
"Grraahhhhh!!! B-Boss-! What in the world is the Priest doing-!"
Beside him, Janson was screaming frantically.
Erik casually threw him healing while scolding him.
"Can't you even endure that?"
For someone who had endured the agony of his soul being scorched by Divine Power, why was he making such a fuss……
"Boss! I have all-around stats, so it's like this. If it were brother Du-sik, my arm would have been torn off already."
Janson stopped speaking.
He was flustered by the sight of Jang Du-sik, who was in the middle of the monster horde, swinging a club in combat.
Screech!
Jang Du-sik's arm was torn off.
Immediately, Divine light regenerated his arm anew.
"G-Damn it, Lackey. You lack faith in your brother."
Toward the grumbling Janson, Jang Du-sik thrust the club forward.
"Lackey, learn from Consecrated War-Mage Jang Du-sik!"
Since the battle began, Erik hadn't used any power on Jang Du-sik.
Yet he wielded such insane Divine Power.
'Archbishop tier or higher.'
He had never even consecrated him.
Yet Jang Du-sik's body was imbued with tremendous Divine Power.
Just like clerics.
When Divine Power is used, it refills.
The implication was clear.
'A true Divine Power Mage.'
It was remarkable.
Probably Du-sik was being treated as a kind of religion, trusting in himself.
"Um, doesn't brother Du-sik hurt?"
Then Janson asked Jang Du-sik in a bewildered manner.
"There's nothing more painful than a chestnut."
It meant it hurt, but he endured it well.
Janson recalled the pain of Divine Power and resolved to endure it as well.
However.
"Grraaaaahhhhh! M-My whole body is being burned alive-!"
It seemed Ruelle had collided with something again, and fierce pain erupted.
This time it felt like something was chewing at her entire body.
Erik threw Divine Power again to heal Janson.
And said:
"Everyone, prepare yourselves."
Ruelle's presence was felt right below the crimson eyes.
***
"Director Kim, the headquarters relocation is already complete, so we just need to make our exit."
"Director Thomas should go first. The secretary-general and I will clean up this place before leaving."
Two men in suits prepared to make their escape from atop the spire.
Unlike Thomas, who held various documents, Director Kim held nothing in particular.
Sniff, sniff!
"Isn't it strange? There's a fragrant smell."
"That's true. Is it the lingering fragrance of Divine Power?"
When Thomas asked, Director Kim nodded.
Hearing their conversation, Ruelle held her breath.
'Perfume!'
Originally, she hadn't anticipated such a situation.
She had sprayed perfume before coming out.
Wasn't she in the middle of a date at the Imperial Palace?
Ruelle, dressed in plenty of clothes.
'How did this happen…….'
Thinking about it, the situation felt rather ironic.
She distinctly heard that after finishing the date at the Imperial Palace, she would stop by the Papal Palace.
Absorbed in such thoughts, the two Possessors before her eyes smiled brightly.
"Oh! Our CEO caught the Saint in the Solar Holy Nation!"
"Keu. Our CEO isn't just pretty in the face."
"Director Kim!"
"Haha, my apologies. The CEO should be pretty. Her face and figure are truly unmatched, wouldn't you say?"
The Saint of the Solar Holy Nation was caught.
And who was the prettiest?
Ruelle memorized the important information and pondered which of the two to target.
"Director Kim, this is not the Republic of Korea! Moreover, how dare you speak of the CEO, not just female employees, in such a leering manner?"
Director Kim, who had been a manager at a small to medium enterprise, remained the same even after possession.
However, he was also good at appeasing his superiors.
"I will correct myself."
"Be careful with your words in front of the CEO. She is a tender-hearted person."
"Yes! I will keep that in mind!"
"But, Director Kim. Doesn't the fragrant smell seem to be getting stronger?"
Thomas tilted his head.
An alien fragrance.
"It must be the lingering scent of the Saint's power."
Director Kim's words seemed to be correct.
Bang!!!
Just then, a severe impact occurred, and cracks formed in the barrier of [Isolation] above.
Fierce Divine light tore through the small gap and flowed into the Demon Realm.
"That light, and such an old-fashioned fragrance……."
"A repulsive power."
"……That's right."
Director Kim opened a portal.
The destination was the Demon Realm located in the Eastern Great Forest, near the Solar Holy Nation.
It was the location of the new headquarters of the Black Mage Group.
"Director Kim, please perform a final check."
Wooong!
A black vortex appeared, and Thomas thrust his body in first.
Behind him, a pitch-black shadow followed.
Perhaps it was the man called the secretary-general?
After the two disappeared.
"Ugh, those bastards. Am I gonna be a perpetual manager here too?"
Director Kim began to grumble.
However, his body moved swiftly.
The original plan was to cause the Black Magic Power planted in the previous headquarters of the Black Mage Group to go berserk, then he too would escape.
"Proclamation of Evil Destruction!"
Then a sharp voice was heard from behind.
The moment Director Kim turned his head.
Saaaaaaa!
Golden Divine light touched his back.
Director Kim, marked by five lines below his eyes, was a Possessor yet also a Black Mage with authority.
Divine Power was something even he couldn't overcome.
"Grraaaaahhhhh!!!"
A surprise attack of highly pure Divine Power.
The unforeseen attack didn't even give him time to unleash his authority.
In an instant, the sensation of his body burning was felt.
Through Director Kim's blurring vision engulfed in flames, a gigantic Paladin flew from far away.
"Priest!"
"Erik! Y-You did it."
"You worked very hard! Thank you!"
Ruelle and Erik met.
Before her was a Possessor being consumed by Sacred Fire.
'At this rate, I'll die.'
Whoosh!
Erik pushed back the Divine Power and examined the Possessor.
It was right before death.
Thus, using the experience of treating Janson in the past, Erik attempted to cast healing on the Possessor.
"Grraaaaaahhhhh!!!"
A scream that tore the world apart.
However, many of the body's wounds recovered considerably.
'4th Tier power?'
Erik, who had treated Janson's wounds even before obtaining the Sacred Edifice.
At that time, his body had shattered from excessive Divine Power, but now it was different.
Now that he had formed his Divine Body and opened the 4th Tier, he could handle practically any power.
"Grraaaaahhhhh!!!"
Of course, the pain the Possessor felt from treatment remained the same.
Janson had said he felt the agony of his soul being scorched.
"Five lines."
For a madman who killed tens of thousands of people, even such pain was a luxury.
Erik intensified Divine Power further and treated the man.
Now there was not even a scream.
Only the sound of labored breathing.
"Brother. Why are you saving that guy?"
Jang Du-sik and Janson, who arrived late, gazed at the Possessor in the suit.
"We need to extract what we can extract."
There was no way to let the Executive of the Black Mage Group, whom they had finally caught, die.
"Oh, Boss. If we're lucky, that guy will spill everything."
Following Jang Du-sik, Janson frowned at the Possessor.
Even though the scar was now gone, phantom pain kept returning.
'There's no pain like his.'
The pain of burning the soul along with the wound.
Janson found Erik's treatment more painful than Riferoze's punch.
To do that to the entire body?
His personality might have been lost.
Chirp!
Along with pale smoke, the Possessor called Director Kim regained his form.
"Ooh, brother that guy's waking up."
Hazy pupils gradually scanned the surroundings.
Soon, both eyes stopped, directed at Erik.
And the Possessor called Director Kim opened his mouth.
"P-Please. Kill me comfortably!"