Chapter: 656
Once again, the Pope found himself wandering leisurely through the dungeon on the island.
Previously, he had visited alongside Lasha but felt overwhelmed and left. However, there was no such need now.
Unlike before, the Pope wielded the power of the end.
With each step he took, the end drew near within the dungeon.
The rusted iron that had endured for centuries began to crumble.
Traps that had functioned just moments ago malfunctioned and stopped working.
Even the walls that could withstand Lasha’s punches were collapsing, and the artificial life forms lurking inside turned to dust and scattered away.
The power of the evil god, which once threatened to lead the world to ruin, was something an old dungeon like this could not endure.
Upon reaching the end of the dungeon, the Pope opened a door and faced the face of a man inside.
The Hero.
A being symbolizing hope and deserving of being called salvation itself.
He was a hero who never bowed down before any disaster and forged victory in the depths of despair.
Having clashed countless times with him, the Pope respected the Hero.
He was indeed proof of humanity’s greatness and evidence that the gods were right.
“It’s been a while, Hero.”
“Have you become too polite? You used to be a much more ruthless soul back in the day.”
Slowly rising, the Hero lifted his sword.
“It was a time full of vigor. However, it has been hundreds of years since then.”
“Yet you still seek to resurrect the evil god after all these years.”
“For the greatness of our god.”
“You believe you are acting for the sake of the god, but it’s merely your own whim.”
With a wry smile, the Hero raised his energy.
Unlike when he faced the Apostle of the god before, this time, he was genuinely prepared to kill.
The ground shook. Stones fell from the ceiling. The air stopped, and the space the Hero occupied became his domain.
“You truly haven’t changed. You’re still a man of fear.”
“Will you flee?”
“No. There’s no need. You won’t be able to kill me.”
As soon as the Pope finished speaking, the swung sword erased his head, yet the Pope’s voice continued.
“In the past, you failed to kill me several times. As the Apostle of Agra, I committed sins that you sought to prevent. But what was the result? You failed, and I am here.”
“Yeah. So now I just need to correct that.”
“No, no. That’s impossible. Maybe the old you could have, but the you who has faded over centuries cannot kill me. Absolutely.”
The Pope, who respected the Hero of the past, could sense how weak the present Hero had become.
His eyes had lost their sharpness, his once solid heart showed cracks, and the sword he wielded was worn and old.
He was not someone who could kill me on behalf of the god.
“Hero, would you please step aside? I’m not trying to resurrect Agra. I intend to kill Agra.”
“Hahaha! Now that’s amusing! The Apostle of Agra claiming to kill Agra!?”
“Yes. The start and the end must belong entirely to the god.”
Agra had no worth in this world.
His best role would be as a sacrifice.
That would be the ultimate honor Agra could achieve, being offered to the great god in order for him to descend upon this world once more.
“This isn’t rebellion! It’s a chance for atonement for that sinful evil god!”
As the Pope screamed in madness, Garad, who had been hiding his presence, jumped out and stabbed where the Pope’s heart should have been.
For an ordinary person, that wound would have been fatal, but the Pope calmly looked at the sword piercing through his body.
“I didn’t expect another hero to be here.”
“Really? I didn’t think you would still be alive, you annoying bug.”
“The Apostle of the god has briefly visited this place. Is that the role of the Hero now?”
The Pope stood between those seeking to kill him and clasped his hands, raising a prayer to the heavens.
O great god! Grant miracles to your Apostle.
Enable me to face any trial without retreating.
Let the Apostle become my trial so I can prove myself.
“I truly believe you will be glorified.”
Finishing his prayer with a devout heart, the Pope looked at the two heroes with a broad smile.
“I shall pass through.”
“Try if you can.”
“I’ll do my best to stop you.”
That day, part of the island vanished from the earth.
*
Joy and Nebera, at some point, began to feel the gazes of others watching them.
They had started their fight in an instant out of irritation, but they found no way to end it.
If one of them had been overwhelmingly strong, the fight would have ended with a single victor. Unfortunately, both were equally matched.
In terms of magical skill, Nebera was superior.
After all, there was nearly a decade of difference in their experience of studying magic, and considering Nebera had received all kinds of support as a god’s Apostle, this was natural.
However, the reason they couldn’t settle the score was due to Joy’s various peculiarities.
She had gained real combat experience traversing battlefields with Lucy.
The power of darkness learned from Erginius.
And in addition to that, the blessings bestowed by the Fairy Queen.
With these means, Joy was able to not only hold her ground against Nebera but even press her back at times, compensating for her somewhat lacking magical skills.
Of course, Nebera, being seasoned in her own right, couldn’t be easily bested by a slight advantage.
‘I’ve done enough! Step down, brat! For the authority of the Apostle!’
‘You’ve done enough! Kindly back down, as you’re the elder!’
While they silently shouted at each other to give up, both remained unwavering.
‘Don’t they worry about their friends at all!?’
‘Do the followers of the god of magic not care what happens to their Apostle!?’
Since neither side was willing to budge, the heated struggle continued until one of them collapsed.
Thus, both aimed to deliver their definitive strikes against each other.
“Excuse me, I’ll be interrupting.”
As Erginius suddenly jumped in and stirred the magic, both lost their balance and began to fall from the sky.
“AAAAH!?”
“ACK!”
Caught off guard, the two were unable to use their magic and screamed as Lucy caught Joy and Benedict snatched the magic Apostle.
Finally realizing they were safe, both let out a sigh of relief and quickly stood on their feet to voice their complaints toward Erginius.
“What’s the big idea!?”
“Erginius! At least give us some warning before you do that!”
“I had to act without warning. I figured if I didn’t, you two wouldn’t stop.”
Erginius bowed his head slightly, and the two, still huffing, nodded along.
Regardless, it was a fact that they were only able to stop due to Erginius’s intervention.
“I’ve got a lot to say, but first, there’s something to convey to the magic Apostle.”
“What is it?”
“I don’t think of myself as being greater than the god of magic. I am merely a mage researching magic, not an entity that can be compared to magic itself.”
Ultimately, he expressed humility, stating that his ability to study magic was made possible by the god’s mercy, causing Nebera’s lips to curl slightly.
She hadn’t sought him out; Erginius had come to them first and acknowledged being beneath him! Surely the god of magic would be pleased!
“However, the god of magic is rather lazy. After reaching divinity, I expected more advancement in magic, yet here we are, how disappointing.”
“…Do you think that’s because the god of magic has neglected it?”
“Yes. Someone who has reached divinity should lead everyone onto a better path, shouldn’t they? At the very least, I am trying to do so, but it seems the god of magic is not.”
It’s not easy for those born with great power to be diligent, Erginius nodded along while suddenly, his divine form vanished.
Normally, such an event would cause a huge commotion, but oddly, everyone present remained calm.
“…The god of magic must have taken him.”
“Y-Yeah, I guess so.”
There was only one person who could abduct Erginius in this situation.
“Lackey, when do you think that dork will come back?”
“Um, I’m sorry. I don’t know either. The god hasn’t said a word.”
“Why are gods such childish idiots compared to kids? Seriously, all gods are a bunch of morons!”
Although Lucy openly committed blasphemy, no one dared to reproach her.
After all, she herself was an Apostle of the god and everyone somewhat related to her sentiments.
“The extreme enmity between the two isn’t helping.”
Turning her head at the voice coming from behind, Lucy discovered a man wearing an unpleasant grin, bent over.
“What’s with this gloomy weakling?”
“I’m the one who left a mark on your hand.”
“…You’re the perverted little guy?”
“I don’t get why I have to be called a pervert.”
As Ganshu frowned, Lucy burst into laughter.
“Wow, who knew a stenchy little boy could grow up like this? Better off being a little brat forever.”
“Sorry, but this isn’t my body. I’m just temporarily borrowing my Apostle’s flesh.”
“Is this the kind of guy you like? Seriously, did you pick a dork for a date?”
“Ha. You’re much more delightful from a distance.”
With a hollow laugh and a shrug of his shoulders, Ganshu turned his back, indicating her to follow.
“What are you doing?”
“I’ll tell you what Erginius intended to explain.”
“Do we really need to go somewhere else? I don’t want to be with someone who smells strange.”
“It’s not something everyone should hear. This involves the intentions of the gods.”
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