Chapter: 269
The divine energy concentrated in the sword gradually spreads outwards.
This isn’t the divine energy you can see anywhere; it’s the divine energy gifted to me directly by the Shoddy God.
It’s the most divine energy, surpassing that of all the gods.
Even in this place where Tariki’s energy is widely spread, the darkness is powerless before the Divine Grace of the Lord Jushin.
As the area expands, I can see the darkness retreating step by step.
Having confirmed all of this, I took my hand off the sword and sighed.
Maybe it’s because I harbor the Divine Grace of Shoddy God within me, but the effects of the divine realm are indeed manifesting strongly.
Thanks to that, not only can I create the conditions for miracles, but I can also block Tariki from backstabbing us.
What a mess of a prayer to yield such results.
While I gazed at the increasingly imposing divine energy, Grandpa let out a chuckle.
…It was a messy prayer. No matter how I think about it, it was closer to blasphemy than a proper prayer.
Is it because I’m an Apostle of God?
‘No, Grandpa.’
Huh?
‘It’s just that the Lord Jushin likes things like this.’
No god would lend their power to someone who insults them, even if that someone is their apostle, right?
That perverted Shoddy God just enjoys being insulted by cute girls!
It’s clear! Otherwise, there’s no way the divine realm would be spreading like this!
That’s enough nonsense.
‘But I’m speaking sincerely.’
Look ahead. Your plan has only just begun.
Tch. Once again, I failed to reveal the truth of the Shoddy God to Grandpa. But just because Grandpa denies it, reality won’t change.
One day, he’ll realize that Shoddy God is an irredeemable perverted lolicon.
I’ll make him understand.
With that thought in mind, I gripped my shield firmly.
Now, my job is done. All that’s left is to wait for Phoebe and Johan to properly create miracles.
Darkness is approaching.
The moment Grandpa warned me.
Everyone charging towards us collapsed onto the ground.
Thinking it might be the work of the Sloppy Fox, I turned my head, only to see her shaking her head.
You didn’t do this? Then what the heck is going on?
While I was pondering in confusion, I noticed Tariki’s power escaping from the people and heading somewhere.
Is Tariki changing strategies since it’s impossible to overwhelm us with sheer numbers?
What’s he going to do this time? What kind of crazy stunt will he pull to smash me?
On high alert, clutching my shield, I heard the sound of hooves in the distance.
“Cavalry!”
From afar, the cavalry charged, kicking up clouds of dust.
A gigantic horse grotesquely transformed by the Evil God’s magic, and a cavalry unit clad in black armor, scattering black smoke as they charged.
I was no longer a knight but rather a wave made of darkness, a tsunami about to swallow the earth.
Are you planning to break through with a single point?
‘If I step in to stop them…’
Do you have the luxury to do that right now?
…No. Right now, I’m pouring mostly my divine energy into maintaining the divine realm.
Handling the shockwave generated by that cavalry charge would be tough.
You don’t need to handle everything by yourself. Isn’t that why you brought so many?
Grandpa was right. Instead of creating variables by stepping forward heedlessly, I should trust those I’ve brought along.
Suppressing my urge to leap forward, I watched the situation unfold when the Sloppy Fox started moving, her misty foxes rushing towards the cavalry.
Though they advanced towards the cavalry like they did with the city’s people when putting them to sleep, strangely, the cavalry did not fall.
“…Are they not sleeping because they’re already in the midst of a nightmare? Quite an amusing trick.”
While the Sloppy Fox remarked on its amusement, there was not even a hint of a smile on her lips.
She wore a serious expression, an animalistic face fit for the guardian of the forest. As she lightly moved her fingers, the mist in the shape of foxes dispersed, concentrating in the cavalry’s charge path.
On the surface, it looked like a hazy mist; I wondered if it could block the cavalry’s sight, but that mist shattered my common sense with ease.
Boom! It barred the cavalry’s charge, proving itself as a solid wall.
Is this the power held by the forest’s guardian?
The sight was so astounding I forgot even that the Sloppy Fox’s true nature is a perverted monster, but her expression showed she wasn’t pleased.
What’s the problem? You just successfully blocked the charge!
My question was resolved before the Sloppy Fox could answer.
From behind me, a massive roar, even louder than before, echoed.
“It’s chaos all around. Pure chaos.”
While the Sloppy Fox expressed her annoyance, the continuous roars from all sides wouldn’t cease.
Charge. Charge. And charge again.
If the mist was a solid wall, it was as if the cavalry was intent on crashing into it over and over, the madness escalating in volume as time passed.
…Crazy. Was the crowd just a probing attack? What firepower is this?
“No, it’s not just from all around; it’s coming from above as well.”
Young lady! Look up!
Up? What’s coming from above that has the Sloppy Fox and Grandpa shouting?
Instinctively looking up towards the sky, I saw something descending.
A human form falling from above.
With a blackened sword in hand.
…Duke Burrow.
Damn it. You successfully dominated Duke Burrow in that short amount of time?!
Although the Duke was descending rapidly, the sound of him landing was incredibly light. Like a feather landing on the ground.
Then he stood before us, glancing around with a slight smile.
– You’re a child loved by the cursed Armadi.
The voice tumbling from the Duke’s lips was his yet not his.
– Have you held on to hope? Did you think your plans would go as you wished?
Tariki, the Evil God, was using the Duke’s body to communicate with me.
– From the moment you set foot here, the conclusion you face was predetermined. Everything is futile and in vain.
As he spread his arms wide, the evil energy emanating from Duke Burrow intensified.
There was no need for an explanation of why. The dark magic flowing out from beneath the divine realm gaped wide towards the unconscious people.
…Damn it. I have to block this. If not, the people!
“Hmm. It isn’t very wise to make such assertions when the ending hasn’t even been decided yet.”
Seeing him made me rush into action, but the Sloppy Fox was even quicker. The mist she spread in the city cut off the darkness and prevented it from swallowing the citizens.
– Who do you think you are to speak such nonsense, beast?
“Apologies, but only the young lady has the right to treat me as a beast. Get lost, you disgusting Evil God.”
Even while taking Tariki’s blatant fury, the Sloppy Fox smiled.
But it was clear to anyone that she wasn’t relaxed.
Perhaps overexerting herself to block the darkness, sweat was trickling down her forehead.
– You dare to boast when you can’t even protect yourself?
He swung his sword.
There was a considerable gap between the Sloppy Fox and Duke Burrow.
Under normal circumstances, his sword shouldn’t even leave a scratch on her.
But the blade of a master swordsman easily shattered common sense.
The evil energy that flowed from the Duke’s sword became a crucial strike aimed at the Sloppy Fox.
The Sloppy Fox did not respond, being too busy maintaining the spell spreading through the city, losing her composure.
However, that was no problem.
She wasn’t alone.
No tank in the world would leave their wizard unprotected.
I stepped in front of the Sloppy Fox, facing the crucial strike.
I may not have many divine energies left to use right now, but…
It’s fine.
The battle logic I’ve built so far tells me.
I can block it.
Iron Wall says I can withstand it.
With both of their opinions in agreement, there was no reason I couldn’t block the strike.
I fortified my legs against the ground.
Tightly gripped the shield’s handle.
Bit my lip.
I stood to deflect the attack aimed at my ally.
The combined attack of Duke Burrow’s martial prowess and the Evil God’s energy was incredibly powerful.
My body was gradually pushed back.
My arm holding the shield screamed.
The light flowing through Ankhir dimmed under the pressure of the crucial strike.
But that was as far as it went.
The Evil God’s strike burdened my body but could not leave even a tiny wound on Ankhir.
“Oh dear! Is this all you have? Duke Burrow must have grown old! A weak sword, just like a flaccid penis! No wonder there’s no heir to the Burrow House!”
From behind the massive shield, I could see Duke Burrow frowning in annoyance.
Forcing back the new strike aimed at me.
Given my current state, blocking his rapid succession of attacks would be a chore, but I wasn’t preparing to counter.
I could see Duke Burrow lifting his sword and another blade charging from behind him.
– You dare ambush me!
“That’s just a legitimate strategy!”
Duke Burrow hastily twisted his sword to block the blade’s attack.
The clash of the Evil God’s power and the sword’s pure white aura pushed against each other.
Though the situation should have been unfavorable for the Duke, having been attacked unexpectedly while in an unstable state, reality was otherwise.
The Duke, renowned for his martial prowess, was now empowered by the Evil God’s magic.
He was trying to push the blade back with his own strength.
Had he anticipated being at a disadvantage from the start?
The blade didn’t get greedy; it simply withdrew.
Seeing that, the Duke attempted to pursue mercilessly, but that movement failed.
Alsatine, who had been behind the blade, impeded the Duke’s movements with her arrows. The blade neatly distanced itself while waiting for another opportunity to attack.
“Hmm. I feel grateful that I came here. I never thought I’d be able to receive protection from you.”
‘You should be saying that!…’
“Don’t waste time on nonsense! Quickly stop that trash’s magic! You Shoddy Pervert Fox!”
While I bit my lip and observed, the Sloppy Fox started spitting nonsense from behind me.
I found myself responding in annoyance as I tried to think.
Just now, I insulted the Duke, not Tariki.
Yet the provocation still stuck strongly.
This means that even under Tariki’s control, Duke Burrow likely retains a degree of self-awareness.
…Alright. Let’s try an experiment.
“Duke of Impotence! Where are you looking? Aren’t you being pathetic, getting jealous because you can’t get it up? How embarrassing! Maybe you’ve developed a new preference? Are you planning to make your backside the entrance now?”
“…”
“Or did it sting? It did sting, didn’t it? How funny it would be if Duke Burrow turned out to be a gay!”
Just as I intended, Duke Burrow, caught in my words, twisted his waist slightly, allowing some damage as he charged at me.
Hmm. So he still has some self-awareness left.
While under Tariki’s control, he’s sleeping but not in a deep sleep.
Then how do I strategize against him?
If the sleepy Duke can’t wake up, I just need to voice it in his ear to rouse him.
“Did it hurt? You’re hurt, aren’t you? Ha! Who would have thought Duke Burrow was a homosexual?”
What I didn’t intend to do, but it couldn’t be helped.
Provocation was my only option.
Duke Burrow. You better wake up soon.
Otherwise, I don’t know what I might end up saying.
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