Chapter: 497
In the room filled with the Power of Void, a realm created by the Authority of God arose, causing the Followers of the Void to back away in shock.
The reason they could stand boldly was solely because of their ability to overcome death through the Power of Void.
If void did not exist, their heads fallen to the ground could not attach back to their skin.
“…How.”
A look of bewilderment filled the Apostle’s eyes.
This is nonsensical.
How can that false Saintess wield the Divine Grace of God?
A being created by human hands. It appears to be the closest to the Lord, yet in reality, it is the farthest. How could the one symbolizing the corruption of the Jushin Church wield the Lord’s Divinity?
The Apostle’s eyes constantly trembled at something unfathomable by their common sense, but that did not change the reality before them.
The Power of the Evil God, sealed after losing in the last war, the energy of those who attempted rebellion but failed—
All were powerless before the Divine Grace of God.
“How!”
“I told you, didn’t I? The one you serve and the one I believe in are entirely different beings.”
As Phoebe grinned and replied, Yuden, hovering next to her, swung her sword.
The sword, moving faster than the eye could perceive, threatened the Followers, causing their feet to retreat further back.
As the path to the magic circle opened, Joy hurriedly moved and placed her hand on the returning magic circle.
Thanks to Phoebe’s realm of Divinity, the Evil God’s energy that had infested this place retreated.
Though its influence still lingered, it should not pose a problem for me to intervene now.
Joy exhaled deeply, recalling what she had learned from the Great Wizard Erginius.
Countless magics swirled in this magic circle, but ultimately, it converges and transforms the energy emanating from the Academy grounds.
So, to find the source of this magic circle, I need to locate the functioning element first.
Connections to barriers or energy flowing into the Followers of the Evil God can all be resolved once the source is reached.
“Gaha!”
The Void Apostle, pushed to one side, let out a fierce laugh as if recognizing something.
“Saintess! The hypocrite you serve seems merciful, yet appears quite incompetent!”
“Huh? Why are you barking all of a sudden?”
“Bravado is meaningless! Maintaining this realm of Divinity right now is not from the Authority of God, but from your ability! It’s merely your limited power!”
As the Apostle shot back with eyes bloodshot and veins bulging, Phoebe struggled to hide her bewilderment.
Sharp as a tack.
What that guy said makes sense.
The Lord granted me the ability to create this space of His blessing, but He did not grant me the power to sustain it.
This space is, after all, only a realm formed by my Divinity. While it shines brightly now, there will come a day when the light dims.
“Deny it if you wish! Even spouting lies won’t erase your limits!”
“And?”
“Are you showing off again?”
“So what changes? Ultimately, the fact remains that you all can’t do anything until my power fades. You pathetic losers.”
However, that did not change the current situation. The followers of the Evil God could do nothing but wait.
If Joy can successfully intervene in the barrier before my power exhausts, we win.
“The loser will be you!”
“Ahaha. What a funny joke.”
Phoebe had no doubt they would win.
Her trust in Joy’s ability was strong, but more importantly, this entire plan was devised by Lucy Allen, whom she considered more credible than anyone else, or perhaps she could even say she had faith in her.
“While barking outside the fence, please pray to your ugly god that your dreams come true.”
Phoebe was certain of their victory.
*
Arthur, holding back the bursting pain in his lungs, desperately moved his legs.
Was the trap ahead real, or just an illusion created by the Void?
Determining that was crucial. The moment I misjudge, that trap will become a reality.
Having suffered from misjudgments in the past, Arthur closely examined the trap shape even while running.
Strange parts. Any discrepancies. Oddities.
Ah! The blade part is different!
Fake… maybe?
Ah, whatever! It’s too late to turn back anyway! If it’s real, I’ll just end up with a few more holes in me!
Arthur charged into the trap with his eyes open, bracing for the pain that would come, only to be relieved that such a thing did not happen.
The trap did not block Arthur at all, fading away before it could even touch him.
Having passed another hurdle, Arthur muttered curses inwardly.
Damn it. How in the world did Lucy Allen grasp everything in that forest? If I’m struggling in this relatively less chaotic dungeon, how could she handle all the information from the forest!
Is she even human?!
Aah! Damn! Not again! Strange parts. Strange parts. There’s nothing! That one is real! I have to react!
Blocking the sword strike emerging from his sight, he used wind magic to attack the knight’s eyes, obscuring his vision, and then decapitated him. Arthur steadied his breath and, noticing the darkness closing in from behind, let out a monster-like howl and moved his feet again.
“Aren’t you perfect yet!”
“Well, that’s how it is! If fully taken over, you’d be dead already!”
“I’m going insane! Damn it! How much is left!”
“20%! Just 20% more to go!”
Hearing the little child’s shout, Arthur bit his lip.
After running this long, there’s still 20% left! I could go insane!
His lungs had long been threatening to burst.
His heart was no different. The thing pumping blood throughout was pounding hard enough to break bones.
His arms and legs felt like melting melted wax and were begging for mercy.
Voices insisting on giving up echoed endlessly in his mind.
But it’s okay.
I can hold on.
I can endure.
People don’t just die from this kind of hardship.
If I were that kind of human who’d die from such a trial, I would have perished when training in the Allen Knights!
“Run faster! You’re almost caught up!”
Saying that as if floating in the air with ease!
How the hell am I supposed to run faster than this?!
Even now, I’m mixing my magic power and several other spells to increase my speed!
You might as well say to jump dimensions!
Arthur clenched his lips tighter and pushed himself harder.
He forced the wind behind his back to be stronger.
Yet the darkness following behind him was even faster.
Seeing the darkness encroaching closer to his feet, Arthur’s breath quickened as he desperately racked his blurry mind for a way out.
Is there no way to escape this crisis?! If it were Joy. If it were Brother. If it were Lucy Allen, how would they handle this situation?
“Gah!?”
Feeling his legs give way and scraping along the floor, Arthur tried to force himself up, knowing he couldn’t afford to fall. He desperately grasped the ground.
And then he realized. The encroachment of darkness had momentarily stopped.
…What just happened? Why did the darkness—
No. No time to think about that. I can figure that out after everything is over.
Staggering, Arthur forced himself back up, clinging to his almost collapsing body and continued moving forward.
*
Luca, receiving all the happenings on the ground, listened closely.
The golems they had prepared were destroyed.
Battles between the Sword Saint and the Evil God continued with no signs of calming.
The erosion of the magic circle they aimed for was momentarily halted by the Saintess and the Sword Saint.
It wasn’t hard to guess the implications behind all of this.
“Lady Allen.”
“Hmm?♡ Why?♡ Are you going to declare defeat?♡”
“You plan to make Yuden a hero, don’t you?”
Lucy Allen was thinking of having Yuden solve the issues occurring at the current Academy.
Luca planned to use what he had prepared for Lucy to elevate the star he despised to a higher level.
“Wow♡ Did the Perverted Professor pick up on that?♡ How fascinating!♡ I thought you were too focused on seeing my insides to think of anything else~♡”
The curved eyes of Lucy proved that Luca’s thoughts were indeed correct.
Ahaha. I don’t know what method she used, but Lady Allen clearly understands my true intentions.
She knows what dreams I once held. What made me give them up. And what I sought thereafter. Now, more than ever, what my goals are.
It feels like she could be called not just an Apostle of God, but a Prophet.
However.
“However, the plan has not yet crumbled.”
“Huh?♡ What nonsense are you trying to spout now?♡”
“The barrier tainted by the Power of Void has yet to regain its original color. Even with Lady Partlan’s intervention. This means that the Evil God’s presence still occupies this space.”
While it may seem like the Saintess did something almost miraculous, it remains firmly within human capability. Her miracles having no chance of reaching mythic levels.
The advantage still lies with them.
“And, you know what, Lady Allen? We can certainly become your trial.”
No matter what happens above, it has nothing to do with the current situation. Lucy was in more danger than ever right now.
“What do you think?”
Instead of answering Luca’s question, Lucy partially covered her face with her shield, smiling at the corners of her mouth.
“Should I say it’s scary?♡ Should I cry that the foolish adults are trying to harass a cute girl?♡ I could pretend to cry if you lick the soles of my shoes♡”
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