Chapter 346 – Confrontation (1)
Sacrid was the city where the characteristics of the Republic of Beldirn were most vividly expressed.
Citizens with rights directly or indirectly participated in the administration of the city, while a variety of cultures and goods flowed in from the Central Continent.
It was a natural current that drew the attention of the people of the Eastern Continent.
On top of that, there were even those from the Central Continent, longing for their homeland or seeking familiarity, who came here.
Truly, it was second to none as a tourist attraction.
"Hahaha! This is my second time here, yet this street never grows dull! Isn't that right, Rubina?"
"Well, spending money is more fun than saving it. Anyway, Geltone! Stop looking at magic items and hurry up! We're going to eat!"
"Yes, understood! But just this one thing…"
Among the busy streets, adventurers could also be found mixed in.
And that was not all.
Wanderers, mercenaries, merchants, nobles—people of all status were enjoying their leisure.
Of course, as there were many people, it was not rare to see someone causing a disturbance in the street, or brawls breaking out.
"Hic, did I really get beaten with a staff by a mage from the Eastern Continent…? And had my artifact taken away? This… must be a dream… yeah, a dream…"
For reasons unknown, there was even a man sitting drunk in the corner of a tavern, lamenting his misfortune.
Thus, this place was a gathering of all kinds of people.
"As always, everywhere is full of vitality."
Sacrid was surrounded by a double wall, divided into outer and inner districts.
At the very top of the city hall, located in the inner center, Supreme Councilor Dumbred looked down upon the cityscape.
"And still, even the followers of the Luas Church here in Sacrid haven't noticed a thing. How delightful."
To deceive the attention of the greatest world religion—this alone stirred an indescribable pleasure.
"Well, even if they were aware, it would already be too late. Whatever the case, our deal will conclude smoothly. Isn't that right?"
"Of course."
From the shadows behind a wall, a black magician bowed slightly.
"The ritual will soon commence."
"I believe it. You and yours have shown unbelievable prowess until now."
Dumbred's gaze turned eastward.
Far in the distance, the cross at the top of the Luas Church came into view.
He sneered irreverently, smiling as if mocking.
"Eternal life…"
A shiver ran through him.
As he uttered the lifelong wish, even his aged, hated body felt like a blessing for today.
Thinking of the imminent future, Dumbred's shoulders shook.
He then burst into mad laughter, shedding all dignity of a Supreme Councilor.
The black magician, leaving behind the laughter steeped in ambition, withdrew silently.
And in a voice inaudible to others, whispered softly.
"'The Nest' is ready."
The sigil on his hand reacted.
Through the curse flowing along his mana circuits, he sensed the other's presence.
"It is now acceptable to draw in the Luas Church. If you command, I shall release more clues as bait."
"Unnecessary."
The black magician's lips moved on their own.
Outwardly, it seemed like he was talking to himself, but in truth, it was a conversation of two.
"Eliminate the rest."
"Eliminate…? But if we do so, won't the bait be insufficient…?"
"The Luas Church is already in motion. Likely they've tracked not only Sacrid, but my very location as well."
The presence beyond the curse, the Fourth Servant, declared.
"Most certainly Asher's doing. That one tracked Viola and Nosa accurately even when there were no leads at all."
Whatever means had been used was irrelevant.
There was no curiosity. For the current situation was what had been desired.
"Therefore, prepare to greet them."
At last, the time to place the final piece of the puzzle had come.
***
The massive dome that covered the area was the result of multiple black magic circles intricately woven together.
While accelerating with
High-level concealment and protection.
If one approached within a certain range of the dome, it would generate a powerful illusion to bewilder intruders.
'Solid.'
He had sensed this since seeing the black magic circle that interfered with the mind of the Quinter Horn demi-human captured by Leira… the level was indeed high.
Even in the magical world brimming with promising talents, there were few who could compose such a circle.
Yet even so, for Verden, it was no major obstacle.
He was one of the foremost authorities on magic circles in the world.
'Breaking it is simple.'
There was no need to use threads of magic power.
Especially since the opponent was an illusion-inducing black magic circle.
Shaaak───!
The distance closed.
As his speed surpassed the threshold, a golden halo appeared around Verden's body.
The halo of [Ainber].
With the light-fueled acceleration, the scenery flashed past.
Then, he calculated reinforcement spells to strengthen his physical abilities.
Next, he precisely controlled his magic power, shaping a blue spearhead at the tip of Orient.
Still not done.
'Imbue the magic power with an attribute.'
He chose spatial magic.
Of course, handling the supreme attribute freely was impossible.
He had experienced the Mado of Space wielded by Arc's Transcendent, and studied it in his spare time, but his mastery was still lacking.
Nevertheless, he could manage a fragment.
For Verden possessed the artifact [Center of the Three Primary Colors], which allowed him to extract only the traits of elemental magic.
He heightened his concentration to the extreme.
In a fleeting moment, a faint violet glow formed on the magic spearhead.
Just then, Verden entered the influence of the black magic circle.
Kyaaaaaa───!
Aaaaaaaa───!
Suddenly, screams echoed from all directions, and the world began to distort grotesquely.
'No, to be precise, my vision is being twisted.'
A magical illusion he had never experienced before.
Unfamiliar.
Yet meaningless.
Such things had no power before willpower.
The Demon King's Robe never permitted its wearer to behold illusions.
Golden light flared from Ainber.
In an instant, his sight returned to normal, and a powerful backlash spread across the entire black magic circle, sending great ripples.
Crack-crack-crack-crack—unable to withstand Ainber's rank, countless fractures spread across the dome.
With eyes flashing, Verden thrust his staff forward at furious speed.
Kwoooooooom!!
Magic power imbued with overwhelming cutting force pierced straight through the black magic circle.
Entry successful.
Only then did Verden sense the ominous presence below, his gaze dropping.
An Undead army, with humans interspersed among them.
Without hesitation, he dove.
The black magicians, seeing this, widened their eyes.
"How could he physically breach the Lord's magic circle…?!"
Though shocked, they issued commands.
Spells unleashed from the Undead.
Arrows and ballistae made of bone.
Various curses flying, calculated to predict his path.
It was a barrage akin to war itself.
Without even attempting evasive maneuvers, Verden charged straight through and landed on the ground.
The Undead were weak to heat.
A blazing vortex swept through the center of the Undead army.
The black magicians, barely managing to raise barriers to protect themselves, lifted their staves.
Temporary immunity to flame.
The dead, who forced themselves through the inferno, screamed as they advanced.
Of course, the effect of
If the hierarchy was raised higher, their immunity could be rendered useless.
Moreover, fire was only one aspect of what composed Verden.
Especially, wide-range annihilation was one of his specialties.
Verden spun his staff lightly, planting his feet.
And the slaughter began.
Kwaaaaaa───!
Waves of gravity shook the air.
Massive boulders rained down from the sky, while from the ground infused with flames, small volcanoes erupted.
A navy-blue sphere vanished among the clustered Undead.
The compressed inferno burst outward, and hundreds of lightning bolts swallowed corpses whole.
Explosions spread in succession, and light engulfed all sides.
One-sided.
Numbers held no meaning.
The battle line of Glory of the Dead, which had been waiting for a full-scale war against the Luas Church, was annihilated within minutes.
"Cough, cough…!"
The battlefield was scorched beyond recognition.
A 5th-tier black magician, half his body charred by lightning, gasped for breath.
"Asher… you truly are capable of killing Lady Viola and Lord Nosa…! But, you will never leave this republic alive…!"
"I'll deliver those very words to the Fourth Servant."
Crack.
A bolt of lightning, along with a boulder, pierced through his skull.
With a brief death cry, the black magician perished.
But this was only the beginning.
From the center of the dome, hundreds of Undead surged forth, with spells, arrows, and bone projectiles raining down.
'Trying to wear me down, are they.'
Simple mana expenditure was no burden to Verden, but… he didn't bother stepping forward.
His role as vanguard ended here.
Blades of sword aura stormed from behind.
Adrian, cutting down every projectile flying toward Verden, stood at the forefront.
At the same time, holy light poured down from the heavens.
Lustrous descended, lowering its altitude near the ground.
On deck, Archbishop Joseph watched the battlefield and commanded.
"Exterminate those who disturb the natural order, in the name of the Goddess Luas."
"With immaculate radiance!"
The Luas Church joined the battle.
Led by the paladin, Shane, the holy knights charged into the Undead army.
***
The battle was utterly one-sided.
There was no danger.
Within moments, they annihilated the reserve forces of Glory of the Dead and pressed forward.
Following the needle of the compass Verden carried.
It was proceeding smoothly.
But inevitably, they were forced to halt.
Not because of the Undead or the black magicians.
"This is…"
At the very center of the black magic circle lay a vast, desolate clearing.
There, two massive gates stood symmetrically. Observing carefully, Verden raised his brows.
'Spatial teleportation array?'
No, slightly different.
Conventional teleportation arrays activated arbitrarily.
These gates, however, were each linked in 'real-time' to different spaces.
The left gate connected to a ruined fortress beneath a gray sky.
The right gate connected to a faded ruin.
What was the intent behind leaving these?
Though Verden tilted his head inwardly, the destination was already decided.
The compass of Black Hour pointed to the left gate.
However…
'It doesn't seem to be the Archbishop.'
Verden glanced back.
Joseph, with two paladins, was gazing beyond the right gate.
He was not simply observing. His eyes held an emotion he could not hide.
Surprise, or perhaps dismay—one of the two.
Could it be that within that place lay the purpose the Luas Church had to pursue Glory of the Dead?
Circumstantially, there was no other explanation.
Countless thoughts intertwined.
After careful consideration, Verden approached Joseph.
"From here, the direction cannot be pinpointed. Thus, we will take the left."
They would divide their forces.
At Verden's proposal, Joseph nodded thoughtfully, feigning deliberation.
"There seems to be no choice. Then take some paladins and priests with you."
"Just the two of us will suffice."
Verden's magical reach was vast.
If the situation grew overheated, they could be caught in the crossfire. A sound reasoning, and Joseph stroked his chin.
"…Indeed, Asher, with the power you displayed just now, you might even prove a hindrance. And the unknown man beside you seems no less formidable."
The hesitation was brief.
Joseph made his decision.
"Then, I entrust it to you."
Joseph and Verden.
They shared a common goal, yet their purposes differed.
Both recognized this, yet neither asked.
For each one's purpose was paramount.
They parted ways, with a promise to regroup here, or in Sacrid.
The forces of the Luas Church vanished through the right gate.
Watching them, Verden too moved forward.
"Let's depart."
"I will take the lead."
Adrian, sword of darkness in hand, shifted through space.
Following him, Verden set foot on an unfamiliar, desolate land.
And there, he faced them.
"So you came to find me after all."
An Undead knight, and an Undead magician, both exuding ominous energy.
Between them stood a man whose presence was obscure.
"It's our first time meeting face to face, Asher."
The Fourth Servant, who led Glory of the Dead.
The powerful black sorcerer awaited Verden and Adrian.
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