“We’re not going to just stand around, are we?”
Laguiel asked, having rushed to Utra Castle after confirming the news of the Sword Saint’s defeat.
It looked pretty chaotic from my clairvoyance, but seeing it in person was a whole other level of mess.
Uriel, the Archangel, dragged her hammer along as she muttered, “Wow, these monster brats are something else…” and Sandalphon, who had arrived earlier, smacked his lips.
Sandalphon twirled a strand of his curly short hair around his finger and said, “There’s nothing we can do, Laguiel. Just bring some popcorn.”
“…Is that really what you’re going to say right now?”
Laguiel stared at Sandalphon in disbelief, who shrugged his shoulders.
“Was it boring? I thought it was pretty effective.”
“A little? But it’s a fact, though.”
“Right? You really flew far out there.”
“I was baffled. I mean, what was with the wind…?”
The two Archangels started casually chatting despite two castles being half-destroyed.
Laguiel, rubbing his complicated hair, tried to calm down as best as he could.
They were great in battle, but they could be endlessly playful at times like this.
“…What about Brother Michael and Sister Gabriel? I feel like they’ll be moving in the opposite direction.”
“Opposite direction? We’re serious too.”
“Right. Hey, are you ignoring us?”
“……”
Not that I said they weren’t serious.
Well, I did think that, though.
“Sounding a bit ignored. But I can see why.”
“Right? We do have that tendency. But Michael’s just as bad.”
“That’s true.”
Why are you agreeing…
While Laguiel was feeling dizzy again, Sandalphon chuckled and replied.
“Sister Gabriel is going back and forth between Utra and Kress, healing the residents. Michael is playing the role of the control tower in his castle.”
“Is there really anything to control?”
“Who knows? But you have to maintain appearances. If not him, there’s no one else to do it.”
“What about Metatron?”
“Still MIA.”
So I’ve heard.
Anyway, with both of them being so busy, the only ones from the Angel Guild who could move here were these three.
Thanks to Lady Lily, they had barely held their ground, but just staying still felt a bit off.
“Shouldn’t we go as well?”
“To the Empire?”
“Yeah.”
Lady Lily was currently smashing through the Empire’s castle like it was candy every minute.
Even if there were strong knights or many troops, they wouldn’t stand a chance against the Archangels, not with just the Sword Saint or the Eight Swords.
“If we go and delay them as much as possible… Uh?”
Raquiel’s cheeks were pinched by Uriel’s rough hands.
Hands that felt like they’d calloused from wielding weapons for a long time.
“Is our little bro being a bit too bold? Suggesting we attack the entire empire.”
“Ah, no, that’s not… oh dear…”
What reason do we have to not go?
Besides, Lily, who is currently part of the Angel Guild, is enthusiastically attacking the empire.
Uriel grinned and pulled her hand away.
“You’re right. I’m pretty pissed off too.”
“Then…”
“But we have things to protect.”
She glanced away.
Maybe it was due to the Sword Saint’s influence, but a sinister energy still lingered around Utra Castle.
The Archangels have guild blessings related to light and their stats are superb, so they’re fine, but the residents here are not.
Just coming into contact with this energy could cause them serious harm.
Fortunately, Lily had already wiped out all the residents in the area early on, so there was no damage done, but the residents were still waiting outside the castle.
“What if we go out and the people outside get all slaughtered? Those residents wouldn’t last against even a single imperial knight.”
“……”
“Oh. You don’t have to worry about your castle. Sister Gabriel is there right now. If the Eight Swords are at least on a subordinate level, she can handle it alone.”
“…Sister.”
As expected, when it comes down to it, she’s the reliable one.
Raquiel gazed at the suddenly dependable Uriel with a touch of emotion.
She’s not just the pillar of the Angel Guild for nothing…
“Holy crap!”
Oh come on.
“Sister, please…”
“Oh, sorry. We’re in deep trouble! We need to contact Michael immediately!”
“What’s going on?”
Instead of words, Uriel quickly shared one of the siege war system screens, showing it to everyone.
The system screen tainted in red.
[Someone has intruded into Utra Castle!]
[Intruder – NPC / Kazar Lornbte.]
As soon as they saw the name, Sandalphon and Raquiel’s faces rapidly hardened.
This person…
“This…”
“Yeah.”
Step by step.
Through the mist, a man approached.
With hair as dark as a lion’s mane and eyes like a tiger.
The man, exuding a boisterous vibe, wore shoulder epaulets mixed with red and white fur.
Dressed like a northern barbarian, he jumped forward with a loud thud.
Thunk.
Despite the barbaric appearance, it felt as if feathers were settling down.
He looked at everyone and grinned.
“There are so many chicken heads. This won’t be lacking for my training.”
Such arrogant words.
But nevertheless, the three Archangels couldn’t bring themselves to deny that statement.
I couldn’t do it.
Sizzle.
─It’s Michael. Archangels, prepare for battle immediately. The opponent is one of the Eight Swords of the Empire.
The strongest, excluding the Three Lords.
Blood Fight Lord, Kazar Lornbte.
■
Eastern Continent.
In a situation where most of the region is occupied by the Empire, Leo and the Empire’s forces were rapidly taking control of the east.
The residents, once seeing the overwhelming disparity, had no thought of rebellion, but the problem was the users.
“Attack!”
“Cast skills! Trip them up somehow and drag them down!”
The users who resurrected after death relentlessly attacked to reclaim the castle.
Leo let out a deep breath after sweeping the users away once more through Spirit Manifestation.
“Hah… don’t they ever get tired? Really.”
How many times is this now?
For Deoen’s users, each time they die, the resurrection cooldown increases to 10 minutes, then 30 minutes, and 1 hour.
And starting from the fourth death, the cooldown drastically increases to 10 hours.
Once the resurrection cooldown reaches 10 hours, it effectively becomes impossible to participate in the Siege War, meaning the maximum lives of the users are practically only 3.
The problem is that the users are determined to use up their 3 lives to reclaim the castle.
Of course, it doesn’t matter for regular users whether it’s 3 or 300 lives, but…
“Ugh!”
Whooosh!!
The dark moonlight blade grazes past Leo.
A blade even fiercer than the one he experienced after his second death.
Charging in with a massive greatsword, Black unleashed his dark energy aiming for Leo.
In a one-on-one, it would be easy to handle, but…
Peep-peep~♪
‘…again!’
The rhythm that makes those who hear it frown pierces the ears and lowers all abilities.
Blocking the ears does nothing.
This sound is the ability of a Mythical Item.
Taebaek, the Deputy Guild Master of the Black Moon, decreased Leo’s stats using the ‘Flute of the Abyss’ while launching his spirits to attack.
Similar to spirits, but in different forms and appearances, these were spiritual creatures.
Crackle…!
With Leo’s figure tinged in yellow, a powerful thunderbolt melted the summons.
At the same time, he froze the techniques of the rankers flying in and lifted fragments of the earth using the wind to take out a few more.
Whoosh!
The dark blade seeking an opportunity grazed Leo’s side.
He could evade this too.
‘I’m so tired.’
However, due to the nature of the Siege War, dead users recover health and stamina, and ‘all’ cooldowns reset.
The renowned rankers of the east struck at Leo each time with their ultimate skills, legendary, and mythical items, but she blocked or dodged all of them, somehow managing to hold on.
Dodging and somehow holding on for dear life.
Right now, Lily is an extraordinary entity, but from their perspective, Leo was an even greater monster than Lily.
Leo, for over two hours, had been soaking up the ultimate skills of more than a hundred rankers, killing them all.
He even took out those who resurrected two to three times.
If it weren’t for Naphras’s blessing, it would have been impossible.
“Oh, come on!”
“Attack!”
“Is the Sword Saint at this level?”
“Isn’t he stronger than the Sword Saint? Why is he so strong?”
“You’re telling me Lily is stronger than that person?”
“Stop babbling useless stuff! He’s about to go down!”
But now, he was truly exhausted.
The resurrection item had long been used, and all mythical items were on cooldown.
It was increasingly difficult to borrow power from the Light Spirit.
Now it was really…
“Ugh… no way…”
“It’s over!”
The black sword energy and countless techniques overwhelmed Leo.
“…?”
“Uh…?”
A billowy cloud engulfed Leo.
“Huuh… who is it…?”
“It’s me, Lord Leo.”
“You’re late…”
“I apologize. The Blood Fight Lord moved slower than expected.”
Flap.
Through the cloud, a man clad in a robe appeared, grinning.
In his hands were light green talismans, and as they flew towards everyone, the rankers deflected them in their own ways.
Slashing, tearing, or burning them.
But what mattered was that they had touched them.
The man smiled softly, crossing his hands.
“Explode!”
KABOOM!!!
The talismans all detonated, and as the cloud that surrounded Leo restored him, the man adjusted his twisted hat.
Rustle…
A hulking figure wielding a black greatsword stood up.
He was the leader of those who quickly formed the ranker alliance after dying at the hands of the Empire.
“I knew you were still alive.”
“You are…”
“Do you know me? I’m appearing for the first time today.”
The man, beaming with a peculiar smile, was recognized by the leader, Black.
How could he not know him?
“The Cloud Technique Master, Biron Brennis.”
“…This is embarrassing. But I suppose it’s fortunate to meet you.”
Flap.
“Unlike me, Sister Birang doesn’t have a hand to spare.”
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