Chapter 288
Liam and his team braced themselves for battle, keeping an eye out for Cyclamen’s “scream.”
Getting caught nearby could mean experiencing a pain that felt like having one’s brain shaken and a wave of nausea – a sure path to incapacitation.
However, recognizing Liam’s group as a true enemy, Cyclamen fought back more aggressively than before.
Even as an Archbishop, his skills were formidable.
『Combined!』
Zuuuuuh—!
A massive shockwave emanated from Cyclamen.
The Spirit Summoner Erlich couldn’t escape its reach.
“Ugh, uggh…!”
Erlich clenched her teeth and reinforced her barrier.
Fortunately, the barrier she erected collided with Cyclamen’s shockwave at an opposite angle, neutralizing each other with equal force.
Thanks to her mentor Ferangis, Erlich broke free from Cardinal Jephar’s grasp.
Inside, a lucky spirit nurtured by Jephar was still intact.
Erlich, with narrowed eyes, assessed the situation and shouted.
“Gaba! Now’s the time!”
“Got it!”
Martial Artist Gaba aimed for Cyclamen’s upper body.
He multiplied the mass of his protector by 300 times.
As a result, his body became an extremely heavy energy.
Kuwooon—!
With tremendous force, he plummeted toward Cyclamen.
『So scary…! If I had been hit, I would have been squished flat! Ugh…!』
But Cyclamen dodged swiftly.
Gaba, who hit the ground, didn’t stop his assault.
His arms were tougher than steel, and his legs were more threatening than deadly blades.
Swish—!
Bang! Kwang—!
Gaba’s fists and kicks sliced through the air.
Cyclamen adeptly dodged or braced for the impact.
Slowly, damage and fatigue accumulated within Cyclamen.
The issue was that each collision caused Cyclamen’s “scream” to erupt.
『It hurts—!!』
Ziiiiiiing!
“It sounds like my ears are going to split!” Gaba shouted. Cyclamen’s scream couldn’t be blocked just by covering ears.
The tremors seeped through, gnawing at him, even with thick protective gear on.
Reluctantly, Gaba created some distance again.
“Still, we’re making progress. I’ve called for reinforcements, so other Heroes will be here soon!”
Emily cast rapid healing and Holy Magic on Gaba.
The wounds touched by her magic quickly regenerated, and status ailments were restored.
The wound touched by magic quickly healed. The status abnormality was restored.
Emily backed up the team members while also serving as a link to the other heroes.
Liam and his team protected Emily while receiving support.
Because of this, Cyclamen found it difficult to kill Emily.
“Th-the other heroes are coming? Then th-this is a big deal…! If even one of the two from single digits comes, I… I…! Ah, I don’t want to die…! I really don’t want to die….”
Cyclamen flustered and placed the Holy King’s head down.
Then he suggested negotiating with it.
“I-I’ll return the head! I was going to take it because you asked me to, but, honestly, I don’t need this! So please let me go!”
The Holy King’s head was still bleeding.
Liam frowned grimly at the sight.
A red current flared, reflecting his emotions.
“Cyclamen… what do you think a person’s life is worth…?”
Liam ground his teeth, trying to remain calm and avoid losing rational judgment in his anger.
He created an aura of density never seen before on the blade.
Cyclamen, panicking, tilted his head and said, “Huh?”
“It’s a material for making Altife…? I sometimes accept it as a god for usage, but I’m hardline, so unless it’s a single person…”
Before he could finish speaking, Liam dashed out.
His body was like lightning.
Not just a metaphor, but a body that truly contained lightning.
A special skill that easily surpassed the limits of the physical body.
Blue Lightning Bloodline (靑電開血).
With the use of red currents, it evolved into a more advanced form.
Red Lightning Bloodline (紅電開血).
Earlier on.
Liam had not only accepted this as a mere skill but had trained with it as his technique.
He was able to show greater strength and speed than the output in the original work.
“AAAAAAAH—!!”
In an instant, Cyclamen’s right arm was severed.
Though he was a bishop with speed prowess, he couldn’t keep up with Liam’s new speed.
Fortunately, he twisted his body just before the blade made contact; otherwise, his core would have been sliced off.
As Cyclamen’s scream erupted, Arha quickly used reflective magic to protect Liam.
“How many times do you think the same trick will work? Liam, take him down!”
Liam responded by putting strength back into his legs.
The sword with red currents surged upwards.
His target was the bishop’s core.
To take his life in one swift strike!
“Don’t—!!”
The pitch of the scream changed.
Not high but low.
Then, upon contact with Liam’s sword, a crack emerged.
Even with the red currents flowing, the sword couldn’t withstand the enemy’s hardness.
Splat—!
Cyclamen didn’t stop and punched Liam’s stomach with tremendous force.
It was a completely different power than the previous strikes.
Extremely heavy.
“…Cough…!”
Liam spat blood and was thrown back.
Erlich summoned the earth spirit just in time to catch Liam.
Had she not snatched him, he would have undoubtedly crashed through several buildings.
“Please, stop! It hurts!”
Cyclamen shouted.
His tone had returned to normal.
“I told you I’d turn my head back! Why do you keep making it hard for me? The Saint won’t let this go! I want to live too! Just let me go, please!”
Cyclamen complained, swirling with purple mana.
“Hey.”
Arha called out to the whining Cyclamen.
“Shut up. Damn it.”
She activated the Unique Spell that met the conditions.
Arha’s First Unique Spell.
Room of Infinity.
『……!』
Cyclamen was trapped in a translucent cube.
Arha unleashed the energy she had collected to the limit within.
A low scream escaped from Cyclamen.
『It hurts—!』
Cyclamen increased his body’s hardness.
But the Room of Infinity created by Arha sent back the maximum shot aimed at him, absorbing and firing it again.
『Gahhhh—!』
Again and again.
It repeatedly absorbed and targeted the enemy.
『It hurts, it really hurts!』
It was a small purgatory aimed at the opponent until their death.
A work of Arha, known as a genius of Rikeion.
“Huff… huff…”
“Arha…!”
“Hey, Emily. Don’t worry about me; just finish healing that guy. I’m just a bit low on mana.”
Arha said that Liam’s recovery was the priority.
She didn’t want to admit it, but her spell would soon break, and the only one who could handle it was Liam.
“……Got it!”
The current gap was the time Arha had made with all her strength.
Emily couldn’t waste such precious time and started thinking.
Liam had damage to his ribs and organs.
If she took time to use healing magic, she could restore him completely, but she couldn’t afford to do that right now.
Then, there was only one remaining option.
‘Let’s use the miracle of the Saint.’
Resolved, Emily immediately drew out her white mana.
“Emily… no…”
Liam grabbed Emily’s hand, telling her not to do it.
Just as Diphelia had done.
The miracle of the Saint was the ability to heal others by sacrificing one’s own body.
It was called a ‘miracle’ because it could save even those on the brink of death in an instant.
Emily showed her determination not to worry.
“This is my first time using it. And with wounds like this, it won’t harm me at all.”
“But, just a little…”
“Liam, you said it yourself. I’m just doing my part.”
Saint Emily.
Her holy mana seeped into Liam’s body.
In an instant, all his conditions were restored.
“Focus on your role too… You can do it.”
“……”
“Go and take that guy down, Liam.”
Liam didn’t respond further and nodded.
His eyes were strong, reflecting Emily’s will.
Crackle—.
Liam charged towards Cyclamen.
At the same moment, Arha’s Unique Spell was dispelled, and an enraged Cyclamen emerged.
“You bad people! Evil people! I can’t take this anymore! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you all…!”
Furious, Cyclamen was barely able to recover his one arm that had been cut off by the red current.
Moreover, Cyclamen could just barely sense the speed of the charging Liam.
It was the same speed he had already experienced when he lost his right arm moments ago.
Speeding up!
I can adapt!
Sasa-sasak!
Paja-jajak—!
Cyclamen and Liam collide head-on.
Red currents and vibrations spread in all directions.
The two beings engaged in a fight that’s invisible to the eye.
Tsu-zu-zuku—!
Cyclamen chose speed over body hardness.
Bursting with ultrasonic waves, going faster, and faster!
“Uh-hahhh—!!”
Liam won’t back down.
He’s already surpassed merely tracking his opponent’s movements with his eyes.
All five senses and mana.
Instinct. Sometimes, feeling.
Using every card at his disposal, he stabs and slashes at the bishop’s body.
Move your feet.
Until the opponent can’t keep up.
Thrust the sword.
Until reaching the pinnacle of swift swordsmanship.
Lightning-infused sword technique.
Realize its true meaning and embody it.
Unleash the potential of Hongjeong Gaehyeol!
Swoosh—!
Again, Cyclamen’s right arm gets sliced.
Before he can even get flustered, Liam moves even faster and cuts off the remaining arm.
Unable to catch up to Liam’s speed, Cyclamen lost both arms.
“Aaaahhhh—!!”
A high-pitched scream burst out, but Liam doesn’t pull back.
Rather, he digs in deeper, aiming for the creature’s heart.
Seed of the wicked Archbishop, return to the soil!
Crackle—!
Lightning bursts forth brighter than ever.
As the light gradually dims, a conclusion becomes clear.
“…Sorry for interrupting at a good time. It would be troublesome if this guy dies. Kahaah!”
“You…!”
To get straight to the point.
Liam’s sword failed to pierce Cyclamen’s heart.
It should have been enough to penetrate, but an external disturbance interrupted him.
With that shock, a crack formed, and clink! It shattered.
Zzzap—.
Cyclamen’s spear flowed with a current similar to Liam’s.
But the color was neither blue nor red; it was purple.
“Archbishop Pertigle Blurans…! Ahhh! Thank you for the help! I was about to die!”
Archbishop Pertigle Blurans.
Back in the day, during his time as a current student at the academy.
Liam had encountered his human persona, Pertigle.
Perhaps his spear technique was similar to his own.
That’s why he should be seen as a more considerable threat.
“Was it Liam? You’ve gotten quite strong, just as the rumors said. As a successor of the same school, I’m proud.”
“……”
Liam narrowed his eyes, trying to assess the surroundings.
If the archbishop has appeared, it’s going to be quite difficult to turn the tides.
By now, Trisena or Alicia would have been informed, and if they join quickly, there might be a chance, but… huh?
Unexpectedly, Liam let out a sound of surprise.
Mana, felt after so long.
Four years….
Never encountered him even once by chance.
His long arms and legs remain unchanged.
The sharp eyes that freeze opponents haven’t altered either.
He’s right there.
“Vargan….”
Liam called out to him.
With a voice so mixed with emotions that it’s hard to discern its form.
Then, Vargan replies.
“You’ve grown to quite a decent degree, Liam.”
With that signature sly smile.
“I won’t say it’s nice to see you. After all, you’re an ally of the Goddess Church and the Hero.”
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